Hello, and welcome back to another edition of Stacy Blackman’s B-School Buzz, where we share the latest goings-on from the MBA applicant and student trenches. This week, our Buzz bloggers share the whys of where they’re going; get ready to dive back into essay-writing mode; and come to terms with the end of their MBA.

Why Wharton?—For those fortunate enough to receive admits from more than one of their target schools, deciding where to go is no easy task. Motown describes some of the factors that lead her ultimately to choose Wharton School, which include the urban location, as well as various aspects related to the student body, culture, academics and career services.

The hunt begins—No one ever said business school was cheap, and even with the great benefit of a scholarship, there are so many ancillary expenses to consider that admitted students often go into freakout mode figuring out how to pay for it all. Cheetarah1980 is thus resigned to diving back into essay mode and applying for every feasible additional scholarship out there.

An ethical slip too close to home—Our newly added Buzz blogger Julianne, aka Sleeping Between Spreadsheets, shares the details of a dismaying situation involving the total ethical lapse of one of her project teammates. Lesson learned: in group projects, and in life, surround yourself with teammates you can trust. Otherwise, you’re only as strong as your weakest member.

The end is bittersweet—Four years and countless hours of labor later, Part-Timer has finally reached the official end of his MBA program, and he can’t help but feel nostalgic about this particularly meaningful period of his life. The MBA leg of the journey may be over, he notes, but new adventures and opportunities await. Best of luck as you write the next chapter!

Do you have a b-school-centric blog? Want it featured on B-School Buzz? Email me at buzz@StacyBlackman.com.

Welcome back to another edition of Stacy Blackman’s B-School Buzz, where we share the latest and greatest from the MBA blogosphere. This week, our Buzz bloggers share advice for new applicants, bemoan a lack of civil discourse, and share their goals, disappointments and challenges.

Advice for new applicants—Those who are just embarking on the b-school application process take note: Ms. HR has several worthy tips for you. From school visits and testing conundrums to essays and budgets, she’s covered many areas that may not yet be on your radar. Also, see Cheetarah1980′s comments, which provide further practical advice.

The challenges ahead—This is a week of reflection and planning for Sanket, as he comes to terms with the disappointment of not winning the BTG scholarship, finds hope in our SBC Challenge, and prepares to challenge himself with GMAT preparation that features brand-new, never-before-seen questions.

Keep it collegial, folks!—The earlier conversation on the merits and flaws of the Consortium generated quite a bit of feedback for The Senator, who has appreciated the uptick in visits to his blog but is less fond of the vicious tone of some of the response emails he’s since received. With dialogue there may be disagreements, but respect among b-school community members is key.

MBA World Cup—As someone who’s played soccer for almost half his life, the recent MBA World Cup 2012 held last weekend at Tuck School of Business held a lot of appeal for Ellipser. In addition to reconnecting with Tuckie friends he’d met through MLT and the Consortium, Ellipser played in three grueling, back-to-back matches: against MIT, Mexico’s IPADE, and Tuck, which ended up winning the tournament. Here’s hoping his aching muscles have finally recovered!

Do you have a b-school-centric blog? Want it featured on B-School Buzz? Email me at buzz@StacyBlackman.com.

Welcome back to another edition of Stacy Blackman’s B-School Buzz, where we share the latest goings-on from the MBA applicant and student trenches. This week, our Buzz bloggers make tough decisions about where to go; get ready to dive back into the job market; and ponder the pros and cons of switching jobs with R1 deadlines just five months away.

And the decision is….—For anyone lucky enough to entertain multiple acceptances, deciding where to ultimately pursue your MBA can be an excruciating exercise. After obtaining feedback from friends and family, Ms. HR looked at cost, end goals, network, fit, and learning style to inform her decision to accept a seat at Vanderbilt-Owen this fall.

The plot thickens—It’s not all case studies, quizzes and competitions at b-school. Like much of America, Ellipser and his classmates share an obsession for the TV show Revenge. Between feverish recaps of this ABC sudser and a discussion of next winter break’s travel plans, it sounds like the Cornell first-year is finding time to disconnect from the madness at least for a little while.

Back to the employment world—Lori of HEC Montreal celebrated the official end of P5 this past Monday and will spend the next week or so applying for jobs. After being in school for eight months, Lori calls the return to world of employment “bizarre” and can’t imagine how she would feel after doing an MBA for two years. “The program must feel like an eternal escape from reality,” she writes.

Is now a good time to change jobs?— Many people wonder whether it’s a good idea to change jobs just five months away from R1 deadlines, so Sanket provides a detailed analysis of the issue as someone who recently changed jobs himself. For good measure, he also includes some final thoughts on what he calls “altered definitions of success.”

Do you have a b-school-centric blog? Want it featured on B-School Buzz? Email me at buzz@StacyBlackman.com.

Welcome back to another edition of Stacy Blackman’s B-School Buzz, where we share the latest goings-on from the MBA applicant and student trenches. This week, our Buzz bloggers debate perceived attitudes of entitlement, celebrate increased scholarship funding, and give in to Spring fever as graduation approaches.

A hot-button topic emerges—Earlier this month, The Senator and Cheetara1980 sparked some serious debate with a post they co-authored on the merits and flaws of the Consortium. This week, Motown shares her strong disagreement with the other bloggers’ assessment and offers her reaction to the idea that under-represented minorities “expect everything on a silver platter with the Consortium.”

How do I love thee?—Ccatcher is counting the ways her love affair with Tepper School of Business has grown, particularly in light of the fact that they have increased her scholarship offer. From her amazing interactions over the phone with current students, to the faculty members and admissions officers who truly seem to care about helping  out a prospective student, ccatcher has a lot of material to support the title of her post: Why Tepper Rocks.

The Tuck Culture—Sanket continues his in-depth and completely personal analysis of various schools, and Tuck School of Business is the latest to get the treatment. After interacting with Tuck students over the last five years, Sanket believes the school has the most cohesive alumni network; has an extremely responsive and collegial community; and is a place that takes a lot of pride in its small size.

I think I’m coming down with something— It looks like a mild case of MBA senioritis is sweeping b-schools everywhere, and Part-Timer is the latest to succumb. As he looks forward to graduating in May, he finds himself less concerned about earning an ‘A’ or a  ‘B’ in any of the classes and plans to do nominal work to get by.  After all, “They call it a B-School for a reason,” he explains.

Do you have a b-school-centric blog? Want it featured on B-School Buzz? Email me at buzz@StacyBlackman.com.

Welcome back to Stacy Blackman’s B-School Buzz, our weekly ramble through the MBA blogosphere to discover what’s been keeping applicants and students humming. In this edition, our Buzz contributors celebrate multiple acceptances, a milestone in b-school blogging, and lay out some of the unexpected costs related to pursuing an MBA.

Cornucopia of good news—March passed by in a blur for Motown, who shares the terrific news that she’s been offered a seat at no fewer than four top schools and waitlisted at one. The tough part: How to decide among this bounty of blessings? “I’m still torn and wish I could divide myself in many pieces to go to all my schools,” Motown says, adding that she plans on attending two admit weekends and will decide by the end of the month.

The celebrating continues—Meanwhile, Ms. HR is also in an enviable position after being admitted to three of her target schools, waitlisted at one, and denied at another. She promises another post soon on the challenges of deciding which school to attend, and expresses congratulations to everyone going through the arduous b-school process.

Intangible Costs of an MBA— Though he jokes that the state of his finances makes him seriously contemplate replacing his bank account with a piggy bank instead, Oxford MBA ’12 Bayo Babalola dedicates his most recent post to apprising readers of the frequently ignored intangible costs—relationships, psychological, health—that prospective applicants and students would be wise to prepare for.

A major milestone—This week, Sanket celebrates his 100th post and 20 months of blogging about the b-school applicant experience. His blog has surpassed all expectations of networking with the MBA community and exploring his own creativity, Sanket says, and he extends a hearty thank you to all who have given his blog such a great response. Follow the link to discover the friendships, inspiration and recognition that has come as a result of this enduring blog.

Do you have a b-school-centric blog? Want it featured on B-School Buzz? Email me at buzz@StacyBlackman.com.

Hello, and welcome back to Stacy Blackman’s B-School Buzz—our regular examination of life in the MBA applicant and student trenches. This past week, our featured contributors have kept busy conducting social experiments; making peace with life events occurring outside the b-school bubble; and getting their student loan situations sorted out.

Be brave and…socialize!—After an eye-opening cultural experience during his recent study abroad trip trip in France, Part-Timer decided to recreate the European tendency to socialize for no apparent reason now that he’s back Stateside. Despite a mass e-mail invite, it seems many of his classmates continue to cling firmly to their “cultural predisposition to individualism.”

Life outside the bubble—The somber note that characterized a few of Ellipser‘s (Johnson MBA ’13) recent posts brings to light one very important aspect of the b-school experience: life outside does indeed carry on. Whether it’s becoming oblivious to the headlines that are griping the nation, or issues of a more personal nature, many MBAs find themselves so enmeshed in the day-to-day whirlwind that it comes as a shock when “real” life intrudes.

Financial drudgery—Figuring out how to pay for your MBA usually involves some degree of stress as you try to get all your ducks in a row. CCatcher has been researching loan options out of India but finds herself incredibly put off by the loan officer’s query about her family’s “net worth.”

No escaping April Fool’s—Lori of HEC Montreal and several others fell “victim” to two of her classmates, who pulled a prank involving the grades for the only P4 class from which they have not yet received feedback. She’s mum on any additional details but concedes the joke was a lot better than another prank she once fell for, “Where I was told that I incorrectly filled out my Birthright Israel forms and was thus being cross-examined.”

Do you have a b-school-centric blog? Want it featured on B-School Buzz? Email me at buzz@StacyBlackman.com.