For applicants who are fortunate enough to have received interview invitations, be sure to check out our Invitation Tips.

Of course, many applicants are spending the holiday weekend wondering if they will be receiving interview invitations from HBS and Stanford. Often applicants ask whether WHEN they hear about an interview from these schools says anything about their chances for admissions. The answer is no, but let’s go straight to the source for confirmation.

Derrick Bolton address the topic on the Stanford MBA Blog. “Please be assured,” he writes, “that your likelihood of admission bears no relationship to when you receive your interview invitation; the timing of your invitation simply depends on when we review your file – and there is no pattern to application review.” He says that the Round 1 interview invitations go out from now until mid December every business day even during the Stanford school holiday from Dec 24, 2007 to Jan 1, 2008. They try to send all interview invitations by Jan 11, though some will go out later and some applicants may be asked to join the waitlist without an interview. Finally though, he stresses, “no matter when you receive your invitation to interview, you have the same chance of admission as any other candidate.”

HBS delivers the same message on their frequently asked questions:
“Interview invitations are extended on a rolling basis throughout the course of each application round. The timing of your interview does not imply anything about the status of your application nor does it impact your candidacy. Invitations to interview may be extended up until the notification date and are a positive indicator no matter when you receive them.”

Current and former members of the armed forces possess numerous skills that admissions boards value in an MBA candidate. Real-world leadership experience, the ability to strategize and think on their feet, and being able to work well under high-pressure situations are just a few of the advantages a veteran brings to the table when applying for business school. The ability to increase earnings potential and career opportunity is leading many current, retired and reserve military personnel to pursue a graduate degree. Whether the goal is to rise in the ranks or transition into the civilian world, an MBA can provide a competitive advantage for veterans.

Business schools that participated in a Military MBA survey reported, on average, a 48% growth in enrollments of students with military backgrounds between 2006 and 2007, while two schools — the University of Virginia, Darden School of Business and Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management – reported the largest growth in military student enrollments.

Mba.com offers a downloadable MBA planner, Operation MBA, specifically designed for active duty, reserve and National Guard personnel ready to take this crucial step as part of their career plans. The guide includes key information such as why veterans should consider a graduate management degree, how to transfer from a military to academic setting, what types of MBA programs are available, and a timeline to help plan out the application process from start to finish.

Several schools welcome applicants with military experience into their MBA programs. In fact:

• When allowed by state and university regulations, they will waive the application fee for military persons who have been on active duty within three years of applying.
• They also have committed to making financial aid available to qualified military personnel who have transitioned from the service in the two years prior to enrolling in their program.
• They will also provide a one-year deferment if admitted military students’ plans are delayed by their service branch.

For a list of military-friendly schools, and links to participants who offer a unique perspective on how they have used their military background to maximize the business school experience, click here.

A GMAT critical reasoning question from PrepForTests to test your logical abilities.

Check your answer.

As the Wharton Blog announced today, Wharton MBA Round 1 Mid-Release Decisions have been posted: Round 1 applicants are advised to check their application status through their online application accounts. Each applicant will receive one of two decisions: an invitation to interview or deny without an interview.

Be sure to check the blog for interview tips which include:

*Interviews are blind, meaning that the interviewer will not have seen your application.

*Interviews may include behavioral questions, asking for details and examples of past events in your life to see how you’ve responded (with the assumption that past performance predicts future behavior)

*No advance preparation is required. Questions include topics such as why you seek an MBA, why you feel you are a good fit for Wharton (vice versa), what your career goals are, how you spend your spare time, what you value, about what you are passionate, etc.

*All interviews carry equal weight (no advantage to interviewing on-campus or with an admissions staff member)

On November 28th you will have the opportunity to talk to Princeton Review‘s GMAT guru, Tom Stern, during their GMAT Conference Call, with guest speaker Stacy Blackman. The call will start at 6:30PM PST and last until 7:30PM PST. You can be in your car, at home, or wherever is convenient for you.

To register for the conference call, please reply to kated@review.com with your name, address, and when you are planning to take the GMAT.

Add the following to your calendar:
GMAT Conference Call, with GMAT guru Tom Stern and guest speaker Stacy Blackman
Date: Thursday, November 28, 2007
Time: 6:30PM PST – 7:30PM PST
Location: wherever you are at 6:30PM PST

Manhattan GMAT has a new Santa Monica location. This new space adds to their Southern California classrooms in Encino, Irvine, Pasadena, West LA and Westlake Village.

According to the Manhattan GMAT blog, they will launch the new location with a free class on November 27th.

The Manhattan GMAT website states that they “will host two 9-session classes there beginning this December to kick off the holiday season. The first of these comprehensive GMAT preparation courses meets on Sunday evenings beginning December 2nd and the second course meets on Monday evenings beginning December 10th. The courses will run through February 2008…”

Check here for more details.