Rahul signed up with Stacy Blackman Consulting for a two-hour feedback session on his unsuccessful application from the prior year. With a 760 GMAT and a near perfect GPA from an Ivy League school, Rahul was surprised that he failed to receive even a single interview invitation from his applications to HBS, Stanford, Columbia, and Chicago. With better-than-average numbers, I had a feeling that Rahul needed to focus on the qualitative factors to make his case for admission.

When I read through Rahul’s application to Stanford it was clear that there was room to improve his essays and his recommendations. Rahul’s career goals were a logical extension of his current job in consulting – he planned to return to the firm and advance to partner, ultimately specializing in the technology side of the firm and focusing on developing that side of the business. However, he never explained WHY technology was a passion for him, or WHY he was so devoted to his firm that he wanted to make his career there. Though in conversation Rahul was passionate about his path, it came across as a default answer in his essay.

“What Matters Most” is a tough essay topic for every candidate. In Rahul’s case he focused on his family and particularly his relationship with his grandparents who had immigrated to the United States from India and embraced a new culture and way of life. Again, Rahul’s admiration for his family and forebears was captivating in speech, but did not translate in writing.

As for Rahul’s recommenders, they praised his work, but did not advance his cause. None of them addressed Rahul’s career goals in any depth, and they did not highlight his exceptional work as compared with his peers. Overall it seemed as if Rahul was a strong contributor to his firm, but he didn’t come across as the next generation of leader and superstar there. When we discussed this issue, Rahul explained he had not shared his career goals or any of his other essay topics with his recommenders. As a result, I guessed his recommenders were not as invested in his success and may have lacked direction in writing the letters.

Rahul was receptive to my feedback and continued to work with us to reapply to HBS and Stanford, while adding Wharton, Michigan and Kellogg as new schools on his list. Rahul devoted himself to essay writing, and the results reflected his infectious enthusiasm for his work and his personal life. He also set up lunch meetings with his recommenders to go over his strategy and plans for re-application. With his recommenders in the loop on his overall goals they supported him with enthusiastic letters, and even helped him take on new projects related to technology at the firm in the year before he went to school.

Rahul was ultimately admitted to Wharton and the Kellogg MMM program.

We have so many client stories and each one is different. Even applicants who appear to have similar bios are unique when we peel back the layers. View more client case studies here.

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

Fit is a crucial aspect to demonstrate in your Kellogg MBA application. The close knit community values leadership and teamwork. At the same time, diversity in experience, background and thought is valued among the developing leaders of Kellogg. Doing your research on the programs, activities, clubs, classes and professors at Kellogg will be important as you approach your essays. While you are reading and conversing with students and alumni, keep in mind how you envision your own background adding to the community. What will you bring to Kellogg and how will Kellogg take your career to the next level?

The advice we give in every application is also relevant to Kellogg: make sure to choose a range of experiences in your professional and community life for your essay topics. When approaching any MBA application essay, be as specific as possible in every example to authentically communicate your unique leadership and teamwork style.

Make sure to review the Kellogg MBA deadlines before starting your applications to make sure you have plenty of time to write and review your essays.

Essay #1
MBA Program applicants – Briefly assess your career progress to date. Elaborate on your future career plans and your motivation for pursuing an MBA. (600 word limit)
Kellogg’s career goal essay remains the same as in previous years, and is a straightforward question. Since you have a fairly limited amount of space to explain your entire career path, focus on the high points. Rather than running down your entire resume of achievements, think about highlighting turning points or decisions. Consider your proudest accomplishments, and determine whether those stories are useful background for your career goals, or if they belong in Essay 2 or Essay 4.

As you describe your career background, describe the experiences that are most relevant to your future career plans. If you are a management consultant now and want to become an entrepreneur, what transferrable skills can you define and describe?

Having done your research on Kellogg MBA’s academics and resources will help you answer the question about your motivation to pursue a graduate degree at Kellogg. Choose specific classes, professors and programs that fit into your career goals. Think about clubs and conferences that are unique to the Kellogg MBA and will advance your career. Your motivation to pursue an MBA at Kellogg should also show that you are interested in being an active part of the community if possible.

MMM Program applicants – Briefly assess your career progress to date. How do the unique characteristics of the MMM Program meet your educational needs and career goals? (600 word limit)
The Kellogg MMMprogram grants students both an MBA and MEM. The purpose is to teach applicants how to think holistically about product and business. The idea is to fuse technology and business and prepare candidates for careers in a new global economy. If you are applying to the MMM program, you’ll have to show how the MEM degree will prepare you more effectively for your career goals than the MBA alone. Be able to articulate what is unique about the Kellogg MMM program as compared to the MBA and other joint degrees. Know the classes you want to take, the professors you hope to work for, and how the MMM experience will be an asset in your future career.

Essay #2
Describe your key leadership experiences and evaluate what leadership areas you hope to develop through your MBA experiences (600 word limit)
The Kellogg MBA seeks to make “strong leaders stronger.” Therefore, you will want to demonstrate that you are a strong leader, and that a Kellogg MBA can make you stronger. Answering this question effectively requires a candid self evaluation. Think about your key strengths and development areas in the realm of leadership. When you look back at your key leadership experiences, what did they all have in common? Can you identify a particular behavior or approach you take in your leadership style? Are you directive, collaborative, or a teaching leader? When people choose to follow you, why do they do so? How do your friends and colleagues describe your leadership style? Sometimes referring to performance reviews at work can show how others view your strengths and weaknesses.

Once you know your own strengths as a leader, it’s easier to identify some areas for development. If you are great at motivating people, but not as strong in driving follow through and results, you might want to develop your directive qualities. If you are good at pushing results, yet alienate your team members, developing a consensus based leadership style may be worth your focus. Once you have identified your areas of growth, describe the specific Kellogg MBA resources to help you reach your own leadership potential.

Essay #3
Assume you are evaluating your application from the perspective of a student member of the Kellogg Admissions Committee. Why would you and your peers select you for admission, and what impact would you make as a member of the Kellogg MBA community? (600 word limit)
It’s important to note the subtle change in this question since three years ago, when the Kellogg MBA asked what “in your background, values, academics, activities and/or leadership skills [would] enhance the experience of other Kellogg MBA students” This list of potential areas that you might want to pull from can help guide any brainstorming. Also note that the Kellogg MBA is seeking candidates who will make an impact. What experiences in your past might demonstrate your ability to create impact in a community?

Doing your research is essential here. What will you contribute to the Kellogg MBA community? Investigating the activities, people and projects available at the Kellogg MBA will help you determine what you would like to be involved in. Once you determine what you are interested in participating in, you will want to clearly explain what you have to offer.

Your peers might be interested in: your ability to bring unique company or industry knowledge, attract interesting speakers to your club of interest, or manage teams in the classroom or in a club. Think about the attributes you can bring to the table and how you will drive value for the Kellogg MBA community.

Essay #4
Complete one of the following three questions or statements. (400 word limit)
Re-applicants have the option to answer a question from this grouping, but this is not required.

a) Describe a time you had to inspire a reluctant individual or group.
This behavioral question requires a very specific example to work effectively. The intention for this question is to see an example of a past experience that indicates how you will behave in the future, potentially when you must inspire a lackluster team or colleague at Kellogg and in your future career. You will want to choose an example of a time when you were ultimately successful in achieving your goals and/or learned a valuable skill in motivating others. Make sure you include details about exactly what you did and said to address the situation.

b) People may be surprised to learn that I….
An open ended question that is ideal for any differentiating factor. If you are a typical Indian IT applicant who actually grew up in France on a vineyard, this is the place to discuss it! Think about what aspects of your background that might be interesting, unique, and surprising in the context of the information you have already shared in this set of essays. Do not forget your overall application strategy, whatever topic you choose should be relevant to your story.

c) The riskiest personal or professional decision I ever made was…..
Risks sometimes lead to great rewards… and sometimes they don’t. For this essay you can choose either a risk that worked out, or one that didn’t. The key part to highlight in your response is why you made the decision and what inspired you to take the risk. It will be illuminating to know what you consider risks to be (in your personal or professional life) and your process for determining whether to take a risk. While the outcome is less important than the process, describing what happened as a result of your risk is usually a good closure for this essay.

Required essay for re-applicants only – Since your previous application, what steps have you taken to strengthen your candidacy? (400 word limit)
When determining how to strengthen your reapplication, you likely improved aspects like GMAT score, formulated an alternative transcript or become more involved in extracurricular activities. Whatever advances you have made since the last time you applied, make sure you can clearly explain what you did and how it makes you a stronger candidate. Think beyond the benefits in the MBA application to how your progress rounds out your experience. For example, an improved GMAT score could have helped you brush up on your quant or verbal skills to be more prepared for demanding MBA classes.

I worked with Janet nine years ago, and our work together spanned two application seasons because she did not quite meet her goals the first time around.  Working with Janet reinforced an incredibly important application rule, one that I now always keep in mind when working with clients.

Janet had very strong numbers:  3.6 and 720, and she had solid work experience in the marketing field.  Although all of this was great, as her consultant, I was most excited about what set her apart:  a great passion and talent for the violin.  Many of her extra-curricular and volunteer activities centered around this interest.

In creating Janet’s applications to Kellogg, Wharton, Columbia and Cornell, we talked a lot about the violin.  This was especially pertinent because it tied in to her career goal of managing a symphony in a major city.  We were both pleased with her final applications, which showcased her accomplishments, while also helping to set her apart from others in the applicant pool.

That year, Janet was admitted to Cornell and denied from the other three schools.  Although she was excited by the Cornell admit, we were both puzzled by her overall results.  We truly thought her application rocked it!  Janet was set to enroll at Cornell, when she was able to elicit some feedback from the Kellogg admissions committee (something that is very uncommon now).  Kellogg gave her bits of feedback that were not terribly helpful.  But there was one nugget that spoke to us.  Kellogg told her that her application made them wonder why she was applying to an MBA program instead of an arts management program.  She was very impressive, but they were not confident that the MBA program could actually help her reach her goals.

As we reviewed her application, we understood more clearly that she had done a very good job of presenting her case:
past –  a strong track record of success
future –  focused career goals
However, we needed to build a stronger case for why an MBA was a logical bridge between past and future.

Lesson learned – it’s not enough to wow an MBA program with all of the great things that you have done, and will do.  You also need to help the b-school understand that they can actually help you reach your goals.  While we knew that going in, we got so carried away with crafting a terrific and unique story that we forgot to pay attention to this very important rule.

Janet took a risk and turned down Cornell.  She reapplied to Kellogg, which was her first choice, as well as Columbia, and then applied for a first time to Haas and Stanford.  This time she tweaked her goals to focus on the business end of driving an arts organization and transforming the arts and the public’s perception of the arts.  She made it clear that her leadership, marketing, and management skills would develop in an important way in an MBA program.  She was admitted to Kellogg and Haas and eventually enrolled at Kellogg.

To read more SBC Case Studies, click HERE.

Earlier this month, as part of our Facebook 1,000 Final Stretch Contest, I asked you for suggestions on how to improve our blog, our Facebook page and my Tuesday Tip videos.  Over and over you suggested that we discuss: 
“diverse experiences of people…”
“specific backgrounds and their weaknesses…”
“backgrounds of people we have helped…”

Sounds like you want some case studies!!  So I thought about the best way to do this, dug into my client database, contacted clients, asked for permission to anonymously feature them and…

WA-LAH!  Introducing the newest weekly feature on the Stacy Blackman Consulting blog:  SBC Scoop. 

SBC Scoop will provide an inside look at our client experiences.  I hope that reading about our clients, understanding the advice they were given, and viewing the results, will help you on your quest for an MBA.  

Our first SBC Scoop case study is about a client who decided to ask for a deferral.

Our client, “Jason’s” father was diagnosed with cancer a few weeks after he started working with us.  This was a difficult situation, but he decided to forge ahead with his applications, as this had been his plan for a long time, and his father’s prognosis was unclear.  Jason applied to four schools: Wharton, Kellogg, Michigan and Tuck.  He put together a very strong package and was ultimately admitted to three of his target schools: Wharton, Kellogg and Michigan.  Unfortunately, over the next few months, his father’s health greatly declined and Jason felt that he needed to be near his family in southern California, to help support them.  Jason moved from his home in San Francisco, down to Los Angeles, and put his business school plans on hold indefinitely.  Of the three schools that he received admits from, he was torn between Wharton and Kellogg as his first choice.  He decided to contact those two schools and ask for deferrals.  We discussed the situation with him, and although deferrals are rarely guaranteed, this felt like as good a reason as any to request one.  We were optimistic that if he honestly relayed his story to the admissions comittee, and conveyed his enthusiasm for the programs, they would be sympathetic. 

What ultimately happened taught us a lot about deferrals.  Wharton granted a deferral and he ended up attending one year later.  I am sorry to report that my other alma mater, Kellogg, declined his request.  Obviously, this made Jason’s decision very easy and he still went on to have a great experience at one of the top business schools in the world.  This was Kellogg’s loss, but for us certainly highlighted the uncertainty around deferral requests.  It’s never a good idea to plan for a deferral to be part of your strategy.  Obviously, life can be unexpected, and in case something comes up, it’s nice to know that a deferral might be an option.  Yes, a possible option, but never something to count on.

So, what do you think?  Does this outcome surprise you?  Let me know in the comments below, and let me know what you think of SBC Scoop as well.  If you have ideas for profiles to feature, you can also suggest them below.

Forget about business being the root of all evil. Today, more and more non-profit organizations are realizing that good stewardship requires someone at the helm with business savvy.

An article published yesterday in the Financial Times, Building on MBA Know-How, finds that as the foundation sector looks to become more accountable and effective in allocating their grants, they are increasing their hiring of business school graduates and sending staff on MBA or executive programs.

More forward-thinking organizations have dropped the academic model that once guided them to embrace an approach shaped by the idea that social or environmental problems require the combined focus of different sectors – including business, reporter Sarah Murray writes.

Mark Kramer, managing director of FSG Social Impact Advisors, which advises foundations, corporations, governments and non-profit organizations, identifies a new wave of foundations that are instead focusing on promoting change through advocacy and helping non-profits become more effective.

“All these things require organizational and management skills, budgets, business plans,” he says. “And that is a very different way of thinking from that old approach, which said you just needed the idea and everything would fall  in place.”

MBA programs are also changing with the times, as more schools now offer a variety of electives in areas such as non-profit management and social entrepreneurship, making the training more attractive for foundation executives. FT highlights departments and centers for public and non-profit management exist at schools such as Haas School of Business, Kellogg School of Management and Yale School of Management.

Meanwhile, the research and educational programs of centers such as the Kenan Institute at Kenan-Flagler Business School focus on how private sector resources can serve the public interest. And Stanford Graduate Business School runs a course on strategic philanthropy through its Center for Social Innovation.

Professor Nora Silver, director of the Center for Non-profit and Public Leadership at Haas School of Business, explained the details of a fellowship program forged through a partnership with the Packard Foundation, in which an MBA graduate participates in courses and development programs at both Haas and the Packard Foundation.

“From the foundation’s perspective, they want more diversity in the foundation world – and not just ethnic or gender diversity but diversity of thinking and skills,” Silver says.

“My hope is that this will also enlighten the foundation as to what the MBA has to offer.”

* * * * *

Registrants of the upcoming MBA Tour events in New York City and Washington D.C. will have a chance to win one of Stacy Blackman Consulting’s fantastic MBA essay guides. Once you’ve signed up for one of the events, email matthew@onqcommunications.ca with your full name, and you’ll be entered to win!

We are on Facebook – join the Stacy Blackman Consulting group, or become a friend of Stacy Blackman.

I am on Twitter too…click to follow me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/stacyblackman

Fit is a crucial aspect to demonstrate in your Kellogg MBA application. The close knit community values leadership and teamwork. To understand what Kellogg offers to prospective students, note the areas of excellence demonstrated in the academic program, from Marketing to Finance. As Kellogg MBA’s Dean Dipak C. Jain explains, the Four Pillars are “instrumental in advancing the Kellogg MBA’s dual mission of creating knowledge and producing socially responsible global leaders, The Four Pillars — intellectual depth, experiential learning, global mindset and values/people skills — [provide] our students with the balanced tools to succeed at the top levels of any organization.”

As you determine your application strategy for this set of Kellogg MBA essays, think about how the Kellogg MBA community reflects your own background and goals. In addition, make sure to choose a range of experiences in your professional and community life. When approaching any MBA application essay, be as specific as possible in every example to authentically communicate your unique leadership and teamwork style.

Essay #1
MBA Program applicants – Briefly assess your career progress to date. Elaborate on your future career plans and your motivation for pursuing a graduate degree at the Kellogg MBA program. (600 word limit)

The Kellogg MBA career goals essay takes a standard approach, asking for your past experiences, your future goals, and how the Kellogg MBA program fits into your plans. Since you have a fairly limited amount of space to explain your entire career path, focus on the high points. When did you face a turning point or make a big decision about your career? What were some of your proudest accomplishments?

As you describe your career background, keep in mind any aspects that will relate to your future career plans. If you are a management consultant now and want to become an entrepreneur, what have you learned and experienced that will help you with those plans?
Having done your research on Kellogg MBA’s academics and resources will help you answer the question about your motivation to pursue a graduate degree at the Kellogg MBA program. Choose specific classes, professors and programs that fit into your career goals. Think about clubs and conferences that are unique to the Kellogg MBA program and will advance your career.

Essay #2
Describe your key leadership experiences and evaluate what leadership areas you hope to develop through your MBA experiences (600 word limit)

Answering this question effectively requires a candid self evaluation. Think about your key strengths and development areas in the realm of leadership. When you look back at your key leadership experiences, what did they all have in common? Can you identify a particular behavior or approach you take in your leadership style? Are you directive, collaborative, or a teaching leader? When people choose to follow you, why do they do so?

Once you know your own strengths as a leader, it’s easier to identify some areas for development. If you are great at motivating people, but not as strong in driving follow through and results, you might want to develop your directive qualities. If you are good at pushing results, yet alienate your team members, developing a consensus based leadership style may be worth your focus. Whatever your own unique approach, determine what you could use a little bit of help with and describe the specific Kellogg MBA resources to help you reach your own leadership potential.

Essay #3
Assume you are evaluating your application from the perspective of a student member of the Kellogg MBA Admissions Committee. Why would your peers select you to become a member of the Kellogg MBA community? (600 word limit)

It’s important to note the subtle change in this question since last year, when the Kellogg MBA program asked what “in your background, values, academics, activities and/or leadership skills [would]l enhance the experience of other Kellogg MBA students” While you have more latitude this year in answering the question, it may help to refer to this list for brainstorming ideas.

Doing your research is essential here. What will you contribute to the Kellogg MBA community? Investigating the activities, people and projects available at Kellogg will help you determine what you would like to be involved in. Once you determine what you are interested in participating in, you will want to clearly explain what you have to offer.
Your peers might be interested in: your ability to bring unique company or industry knowledge, attract interesting speakers to your club of interest, or manage teams in the classroom or in a club. Think about the attributes you can bring to the table and how you will drive value for the Kellogg MBA community.

Essay #4
Complete one of the following three questions or statements. (400 word limit) Re-applicants have the option to answer a question from this grouping, but this is not required.

a) Describe a time when you had to make an unpopular decision.
This question requires a very specific example to work effectively. The decision could be one that had ethical or moral implications, or perhaps demonstrated your courage and tenacity. It could be a decision you made at work or in an extracurricular setting. Whatever the story, make sure it demonstrates core attributes you want to communicate to the admissions committee. Though you are only asked to describe the decision, a satisfying result to your decision would be welcome to conclude the essay.

b) People may be surprised to learn that I….

An open ended question that is ideal for any differentiating factor. If you are a typical Indian IT applicant who actually grew up in France on a vineyard, this is the place to discuss it! Think about what aspects of your background that might be interesting, unique, and surprising in the context of the information you have already shared in this set of essays. Do not forget your overall application strategy, whatever topic you choose should be relevant to your story.

c) I wish the admissions committee had asked me……

This is a great question to help you fill in any gaps in your application strategy. What did you want to communicate to the admissions committee and weren’t able to in any other essay? Here’s your chance. You may want to use this space to highlight special leadership or teamwork examples or to differentiate yourself from your peers. Whatever topic you choose, make sure you can compose a concise and specific example and outline your own thinking and motivation.

Required essay for re-applicants only – Since your previous application, what steps have you taken to strengthen your candidacy? (400 word limit)

When determining how to strengthen your reapplication, you likely improved aspects like GMAT score, formulated an alternative transcript or become more involved in extracurricular activities. Whatever advances you have made since the last time you applied, make sure you can clearly explain what you did and how it makes you a stronger candidate. Think beyond the benefits in the MBA application to how your progress rounds out your experience. For example, an improved GMAT score could have helped you brush up on your quant or verbal skills to be more prepared for demanding MBA classes.

*