HBS recently announced a new joint degree program with Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.  The first students will be admitted in fall of 2008.  It will take students three years to complete the program, and they will earn degrees from both schools.  During the first two years in the program, students will focus on each school’s core curricula and will also attend a joint degree seminar.  In their third year, students can choose from electives at HBS and the Kennedy school as well as courses developed for the program.  Students will also complete two separate summer internships: one in public service or a policy-based position and one in a private sector or non-profit organization.  This is an incredible opportunity to receive a truly integrated education in business and policy from Harvard.

Those interested in this type of experience should also consider Tuck’s dual degrees including:

• MBA/MALD with The Fletcher School at Tufts
• MBA/MPA with the Kennedy School at Harvard
• MBA/MA with the Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins

Columbia Business School offers a dual degree MBA/MIA with Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs.  Haas offers a concurrent degree MBA/MA in International and Area Studies.  And Darden has a joint degree MBA/MA in Government or Foreign Affairs.

These are just a few examples of programs combining business with policy.  If you are interested in these types of programs, be sure to visit the schools’ websites and read the specifics of what is involved with a joint degree versus a dual degree or concurrent degree.  These are exciting opportunities for any student wishing to broaden his or her MBA experience.

The Wharton Club of Southern California has invited Stacy Blackman Consulting to present at a workshop for MBA applicants. For those of you in Southern California, this is a great opportunity to attend a Wharton sponsored event that will provide help with your MBA application process. Manhattan GMAT will also be presenting.

The workshop will be on May 8 at 8:00PM and will take place at Bear Stearns’ offices, located at 1999 Ave of the Stars #3200, Los Angeles, CA.

Here is the description of the event:
This hands-on workshop is more than a basic information session – Stacy Blackman Consulting will cover key aspects of MBA admissions, allowing attendees to actively develop their personal marketing strategy via interactive exercises. Attendees will leave this workshop with practical information to help them succeed and move forward with their applications effectively and confidently.

You’ll also learn how high GMAT scores require more than traditional test prep short-cuts and tricks. One of ManhattanGMAT’s expert instructors will provide you with a brief overview of the GMAT and how you must prepare if you want a top score.

It’s going to be a great event! Sign up here.

BusinessWeek.com recently featured a story on France’s HEC School of Management’s efforts to make an impact in Africa. The initiative will help the Foundation of World Agriculture and Rural Life and the African Cotton Producers Association to “create locally run, industry-specific business programs for African cotton producers in 13 African countries including Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Cameroon.” Current students will have the opportunity to travel to villages and hold meetings with local cotton producers. HEC officials hope their efforts will inspire other business schools to become more directly involved with Africa because there is a lot of talent and need there (see BusinessWeek.com “Africa’s B-School Challenge“).

Schools in the United States are certainly becoming more engaged with Africa. Wharton hosted a Global Africa Business Forum this past fall. Like other schools, Stanford has an Africa Business Club and students can participate in a study trip to South Africa next winter. HBS alum, Monique Maddy, who was originally from Liberia, wrote about her experiences returning to Africa after business school to build a telecommunications company in the memoir Learning to Love Africa. Her company has been the subject of an HBS case study.

There are so many ways to become involved with international projects while at business school. Be sure to research how your schools of choice are making an impact around the globe.

Last week we discussed choosing recommenders. This week we are providing e a few tips on how to prepare your recomenders, specifically how to create a Recommender Package.

First, you should discuss your need for a recommendation with recommenders a few months in advance of the deadlines — this summer if you are applying first round or the beginning of fall if you are applying second round. Giving them a a few months is not only polite but also shows that you are organized and inspires them to take notice of your performance. The bare minimum you can give recommenders is one month.

Next you need to prepare recommenders with a Recommender Package that provides instruction on both process and content. As etc and etc points out you should not assume recommenders are familiar with the application timeline, online submission process, or how to discuss your work.
There are three main components to the Recommender Package:

1. Instructions — First, lay out the schools (with deadlines) that your recommender will be writing a rec for. A simple table can be helpful. Many schools, such as Stanford, suggest that recommenders submit the recommendation at least a day in advance of the actual deadline to ensure your application is complete. Next, address whether each school needs the recommender to answer school specific questions or whether a general letter is acceptable. Finally, briefly explain the online recommendation process as most school prefer online submissions (HBS actually requires online submissions).

2. Your strengths — Explain to the recommender that in order to make the process easier for him/her, you are providing a list of characteristics that you are highlighting about yourself in your application along with a few examples of each characteristic from the time you’ve worked together. Of course, state that the recommender can amend or adjust any of these ideas. Then you should provide a list of at least three strengths (eg, leadership, vision, teamwork) with one or two examples. A recent performance evaluation can be a good place for you start in thinking up strengths and examples.

3. Area of development — Most schools ask recommenders about your weaknesses or areas of development. Rather than shying away from this, make your self-awareness a strength. Give the recommender a growth area for you (again a recent performance evaluation can be a good place to start) as well as examples of how you are working on it. Also you can address how getting your MBA will help you further develop in this area. Then the recommender can speak to your maturity and awareness, showing schools you intend to hit the ground running and improve through their program.

4. Your goals — You can also briefly state your career goals and reasons why you are seeking your MBA. Hopefully your recommender is already aware of your goals, but it can be helpful to give a succinct description that the recommender can use as a reference.
A Recommender Package is a win-win for you and the recommender. It allows you to influence the content of the recommendation and and it makes the process much easier for the recommender. This spring is a great time to start creating Recommender Packages before the essay topics are posted summer and demand your attention.