*Please note that no client details are ever shared in SBC Scoop or otherwise without complete sign off from client.

Just about a year ago our client Emily was starting to freak out. Every time she looked at her applications for four MBA programs, all she could see was a pile of work to be done with nothing complete, and worse, no sense of when she would get it all done. It was just overwhelming.

When Emily had her first meeting with her consultant and set up a strategy for her applications to HBS, Stanford, Wharton and Kellogg, the answers seemed manageable. Discussion with her consultant helped her set up a plan to prepare her recommenders. Though she did not consider herself a strong writer generally, they had already brainstormed a few good ideas to start developing. In other words, no single piece of the process was all that intimidating when they spoke. However, when Emily would sit down a few days later to get to work, all she could see was big pile of incomplete applications, a long to-do list, and a hectic eighty-hour work week at her hedge fund to work around.

Emily’s consultant could tell she was about ready to panic, and when she heard Emily’s long list of concerns, knew just what to do. They needed a plan for when to do what: a timeline that she could follow over the next three months. First, they created a master list of what needed to be done and attached a rough time estimate to each. With four applications to write, they estimated Emily would need ten to fifteen hours to complete the work and essays specific to each one. They budgeted time to contacting recommenders and looking into her network of contacts for alumni to speak with. They also looked up sample GMAT class schedules and factored in study time for the test retake she had already planned.

The master list was almost as frightening as the unfinished applications, but the next step was to attach each task to a specific timeframe. They found items that Emily would start this week and others she would kick off the next week and the week after that. After talking about Emily’s writing style, they budgeted a few hours each Saturday afternoon to give her enough time to sit and think clearly, but not so much time that she would get stuck.

With a timeline in hand, Emily felt reassured. She explained her own tendency to leave things to last-minute marathon sessions, so she felt great knowing what would get done in what order. Emily’s consultant also suggested finishing her applications several weeks ahead of the fall deadlines in order to give her time to think and reflect on whether the application was exactly what she wanted to send, with enough time built in to make any changes. They both felt the timeline would squash the panic and give Emily enough structure to make sure her best foot was forward, and sure enough, she was admitted to both Stanford and Wharton.

Read more case studies and contact us to learn how Stacy Blackman Consulting can help you attack your daunting applications.

MBA students and applicants live and breathe through social media, which is a good thing, considering the growing demand in the business world for employees with honed social media skills. According to a recent Financial Times article—which quotes me—this relatively new form of social dialogue is revolutionizing the way business schools interact with applicants, students, companies and alumni.

Social media is a topic that interests me greatly, as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube make up a huge part of my company’s communication efforts and help reinforce my brand reputation. Last year, I wrote a post for my U.S. News blog in which I discussed some of the courses in social media now available at business schools. In it, I explain that familiarity with the various forms of social media communication is no longer enough; graduates have to be able to transfer this experience into the commercial landscape.

Harvard Business School professor Misiek Psikorski, who teaches a course called Competing with Social Networks,  agrees, telling FT that social media presents a new way of approaching markets, and “It is critical for our students to understand these media.”

One important point that I make in the FT article concerns managing one’s online presence, particularly where b-school applicants are concerned.  MBA admissions committees are increasingly tech-savvy, and often research applicants’ Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn accounts to confirm information on an application and generally check for appropriateness in his or her online persona.

If you have concerns about how you might be perceived by AdCom, read this SBC Scoop on Matching Your Face(book) to Your Name, which explains in detail how one client handled this situation.

Today’s students don’t see social media as a trend; rather, this is a generation that has grown up with the Internet. Business schools, like any enterprise, must adapt and evolve to this new reality in order to prepare graduates who can develop and manage marketing strategies that address the nuances of the online world.

*Please note that no client details are ever shared in SBC Scoop or otherwise without complete sign off from client.

Our client Terrence looked like a stellar candidate except for one very common concern: after three attempts in six months, he just couldn’t nudge his GMAT score above a 620, with a weak quant score. He had never had any trouble with math before and even minored in economics, but something about the test was simply holding him back. Some self-study and an intensive course beforehand didn’t help. In every other respect, Terrence looked like a great candidate, with excellent recommendations, a well-rounded set of interests, and stellar community involvement.

Terrence had mentioned to his consultant that two years ago he had been thinking about various graduate programs. He had thought a bit about law school or medical school, but was strongly leaning toward a degree in public policy or urban studies. Terrence remembered that he had taken several tests, including the LSAT and the GRE, and done well, which had only increased his frustration with the GMAT.

Terrence’s consultant reminded him that nearly every MBA program now accepts GMAT or GRE scores, including the top-ranked institutions. They dug up his scores and found that his quantitative scores were at least somewhat better, and the percentiles looked great – 95%. Thinking about it from an admissions perspective, it certainly couldn’t hurt to submit a GRE score instead of his poor GMAT score. While the pool of GRE candidates is more diverse and includes many prospective graduate students who aren’t pursuing quant-related degrees, it is still an interesting and diverse pool where, most importantly, Terrence’s scores stood out.

Terrence’s situation fit well with the reasoning many schools have given for accepting GRE scores for admission- they are looking to attract the type of well-rounded candidate who might be considering other types of degree programs alongside an MBA. Terrence and his consultant felt confident that using his GRE scores instead of the GMAT would show him in the best possible light and and allow the rest of his application to be the focus. Terrence applied to several schools and is now happily attending UVA Darden.

Read more case studies outlining a range of typical MBA applicant situations.

Struggling with your GMAT and looking for a comprehensive strategy? Contact us to help your application stand out.

*Please note that no client details are ever shared in SBC Scoop or otherwise without complete sign off from client.

Our client Bill came to us wondering if his atypical background would hurt his chances when applying to MBA programs. He had been working for the family business, a manufacturing company in Baltimore, for three years out of college. He worried that when compared to the many applicants coming from consulting or financial backgrounds, his story might not measure up. His consultant assured him that coming from a family business might in fact help him stand out, so long as they addressed a couple of specific concerns.

Bill hadn’t been planning to go into the family business in college, so he majored in philosophy, but when his father passed away unexpectedly he stepped in to help run the business alongside his aunt and uncle, who were partners in the company. He found he loved working in the company and his interest in entrepreneurship and the wider business world was sparked. Fortunately, since Bill was helping partly with the firm’s accounting, he was already taking math and accounting classes at night, which helped show off his quantitative skills. His consultant advised him to study and retake the GMAT to shore up his quantitative score, which he did as well.

That done, they turned their attention to his recommendations. Bill was most concerned here, since most of his coworkers and supervisors were his relatives. Bill and his consultant brainstormed some ideas for recommenders they could approach outside the company. In the last year, Bill had built a strong relationship with a retail vendor that had been supplied by his company for over a decade. Since this vendor was evaluating Bill on many similar criteria to a direct supervisor and was an objective, outside source, they thought it would be a good fit. Bill’s vendor was happy to help out.

Bill’s consultant also found out that he volunteered as an tutor for adult ESL students most weekends. Bill had started years ago and included it as a line in his resume, but assumed because it wasn’t a private business pursuit that it wouldn’t factor into his application. His consultant thought differently, though, and reminded him that long-term volunteering showed dedication and a greater social awareness. The program’s organizer was happy to help Bill out with a recommendation.

Bill felt confident that his family business-based app could stand up next to candidates coming from a corporate background, and he was right- he was admitted to Tuck and Darden and chose Darden to a be a little closer to home.

Are you wondering how to make your unique profile work in your MBA application? Contact us to learn more about Stacy Blackman Consulting services.

Are you more concerned about other aspects of your profile? Read our case studies to see how other applicants approached their MBA applications.

*Please note that no client details are ever shared in SBC Scoop or otherwise without complete sign off from client.

Our client Todd came to us as a college senior at MIT, with a computer science major and a successful angel funded start-up in his background. While Todd’s experience seemed like the ideal fit to start a career in Silicon Valley, Todd was more interested in developing his general management skills. Todd had learned about the Harvard 2+2 program that accepts college seniors into the HBS MBA program and allows them to work for two years prior to matriculating.

Todd wanted to continue his graduate studies, and also decided to apply for a PhD program in engineering as well as trying for the HBS 2+2 program. We knew that Harvard was specifically interested in candidates like Todd who have many academic options and are focused on continuing their education. Since MBA applicants typically have two or more years of experience before applying, many high potential college seniors decide to focus on law, medicine or other grad programs.

Todd had both impressive academics and a history of mentoring at-risk youth. Because of a difficult family upbringing, Todd was sympathetic to kids who needed someone to support them in their goals. He was highly focused on giving back, which is a trait that HBS values.

Todd needed help approaching his HBS 2+2 application because MBA programs value different attributes than a purely academic program like a PhD. We helped Todd identify some of his key leadership qualities, like working on a team to put together his business plan and volunteering.

In approaching Todd’s application strategy we took all of these great leadership attributes, combined with his academic success, and made a compelling case for this future as a business leader. By highlighting his specific experiences as a leader in his startup competition team, we showed that Todd had excellent interpersonal skills tied with exceptional intellectual and analytical skills. The overall package was an ideal fit for HBS 2+2, and Todd is excited to start the program next fall after an enriching two years working at a large technology firm.

Are you applying to the HBS 2+2 program? We have experience positioning applicants like you for success – contact us to discuss further.

To read more SBC Case Studies, click HERE

*Please note that no client details are ever shared in SBC Scoop or otherwise without complete sign off from client.

A few years ago, our client Priya was starting to wonder if she should apply to business school at all. Her stated goal was to attend one of the top three ranked schools in the U.S. and was planning to apply only to those programs. However, as her consultant worked with her on her applications, it became apparent that her chances of admission were less than ideal. Priya had taken a few swings at the GMAT and while she had improved, test-taking was a significant weakness for her and her scores topped out at a 640. She had a few years of work experience but promotion freezes had left her stuck at her initial position without advancement. Rather than throw in the towel, Priya and her consultant went back to the start and asked why she wanted to apply to those top three schools.

Priya wanted to work in corporate finance at a specific Fortune 500 firm after graduating, and chose the top schools where that company heavily recruited. Priya and her consultant decided that she had put the cart before the horse, and decided to turn things around. Since an MBA was very important for her to achieve her career goals, she decided to look at schools ranked in the top 50 that would be a better fit. Working with her consultant, Priya emphasized the strengths of her application, like her specific, concrete career plan, in order to de-emphasize her weaknesses.

Priya found a great fit in UNC’s Kenan-Flagler school. Though it was not as competitive for admission as the very top schools, it still frequently ranks in the top twenty lists, and offered a concentration in Corporate Finance that Priya found appealing. She made the most of the academic and networking opportunities and found a job with her chosen finance firm after graduating using the skills and contacts she gained, rather than relying completely on recruiting. Priya is happily moving up the ranks and is encouraged by the fact that her firm’s CEO obtained his MBA from a school that rarely even appears on an MBA ranking list!

If you need an MBA and would like guidance on the right schools for your profile, contact us for a profile evaluation.