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

Our client Luis had been weighing his options for a while before he began working with his Stacy Blackman consultant. His list of target programs included the top 3 most-competitive programs. While they were all excellent, Luis faced challenges as compared to the application pool for those full time MBA programs. He had fairly strong GMAT score of 710, and over ten years’ worth of work experience at his company, a sports management firm. He had joined right after college, loved it and excelled with three promotions over ten years, and had both clients and his boss- the owner of the firm- ready and eager to write stellar recommendations for him.

So what was the problem? It was exactly that extensive experience, Luis’ consultant informed him. Luis had just celebrated his 33rd birthday, and while that alone was not necessarily a major strike against him, it put him well above the average age for the top full-time MBA programs. More directly, it was his current position and experience. Luis had risen to a vice president level in his position, with a strong track record over a number of years. Luis was the sort of MBA applicant who had more than potential, he had realized actual management experience. That was wonderful for Luis, but made it difficult to show how he could truly gain from a full time MBA program. Typical recruiting out of even the best full time program would be far too junior for Luis’ level of executive experience.

But Luis felt stuck. He had just about hit the ceiling at the company, which was relatively small and privately owned. Luis felt he needed the knowledge and contacts an MBA program would provide to continue to advance his career and potentially start his own firm. Along with applying to the top three programs with his consultant’s help they decided to approach another option: an EMBA program.

Luis and his consultant discussed why Executive MBA programs could be a perfect fit for Luis. He could continue working while attending a program with a curriculum intended to challenge students further along their career path and looking toward the next step. His fellow students in the programs would be his peers in terms of both their experience and age, so he would be making contact with a cohort of students in similar situations. Furthermore, his profile – the same GMAT scores and resume he felt would make him a fit for a full-time MBA – was even more compelling to the top EMBA programs.

Luis put in a solid attempt for the full time programs, and ultimately decided to attend Kellogg’s EMBA program. Luis is still working and finishing his EMBA at Kellogg, and plans to start his own management agency when he’s done.

Read more case studies covering a range of real client stories.

On its website, MIT Sloan states that “innovation and collaboration [are] at the heart of what we do.“ Your task is to remain focused on your overall application strategy and choose two key stories that can showcase your achievements at school, work and extracurricular activities. At the same time, keep in mind that MIT is seeking interesting students to build a class that can learn from each other and continue the tradition of innovation.

Remember to choose examples from the last three years of your life, as specifically directed in the instructions, for the most relevant and recent examples.

Because MIT Sloan does not require the standard “career goals” essay, your work background will be mainly communicated through the required resume and cover letter. The resume should be approached in a similar way to other MBA application resumes. Avoid industry lingo, communicate your measurable achievements, and focus on aspects of your job that involve leadership and teamwork.

Make sure to double check your deadlines for this season before making your MBA application plans.

MIT Sloan Cover Letter
Please prepare a cover letter (up to 500 words) seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA program. Your letter should describe your accomplishments, address any extenuating circumstances that may apply to your application, and conform to standard business correspondence. Your letter should be addressed to Mr. Rod Garcia, Senior Director of Admissions.

Think about how you would approach a cover letter for a job application. You would think about the requirements of the position, and pick the most relevant achievements from your past experience to showcase. Approach this cover letter in the same way to make a strong case for your selection into the MIT Sloan class. Just as with a professional cover letter, make sure you introduce yourself and explain why you are seeking admission to MIT.

The cover letter is also your opportunity to make the case for your fit with MIT Sloan. Note that the cover letter format will require a marketing approach that focuses on key points that will make you a great MIT Sloan student, rather than the narrative style of the typical career goals type of essay. Personal touch points with current or former MIT Sloan students are a great way to learn more about the school, and may give you the most personalized information about the school targeted to your situation.

Essay 1: Please describe a time when you had to convince a person or a group of your idea. (500 words or fewer, limited to one page)

The two behavioral questions in the MIT Sloan application require you to describe your past accomplishments and experience on a very pragmatic level. A key part of the MIT Sloan set of essays is the focus on understanding how you work, think and act. The instructions ask you to provide a brief overview of the situation, and then follow the situation with a detailed description of what you did. This requires being very specific about your thoughts and actions as you respond to each essay question.

This question is seeking to understand how you work with a team when you are not necessarily in charge. A work or extracurricular example where you demonstrated emotional intelligence would be ideal here. When did you realize you needed to convince someone to accept your idea? What was your strategy and how did you read group or individual dynamics to successfully sell in your concept? This essay will demonstrate your ability to lead from within a group, or to manage up in situations when you are not in charge.

MIT Sloan Essay 2: Please describe a time when you overcame a personal setback. (500 words or fewer, limited to one page)

Setbacks can be either a result of your own actions or of circumstances, and the most important aspect of a setback is how you were able to overcome the situation. Leadership can be effectively formed through difficulty and MIT Sloan is interested to see how you react to setbacks. Are you someone who can effectively navigate disappointment? How do you react when challenged? Are you able to learn from experience?

Use most of the allotted space to describe your reaction to the setback rather than the background story. As you recount your setbacks it will be crucial to demonstrate what you have learned. Think about why you selected each experience and what change and growth resulted from the situation. This essay is your opportunity to demonstrate your maturity, flexibility and leadership qualities.

MIT Sloan Supplemental Information (Optional)
You may use this section to address whatever else you want the Admissions Committee to know. (250 words or fewer, limited to one page)

If there are any areas of concern, this is the correct place to address them. Strike an upbeat tone here and avoid excuses. Explain your issue clearly and focus most of the essay on the correction for the issue. For example, if you had a disciplinary issue in college, spend most of the issue demonstrating that you learned from the experience and have been an ideal citizen ever since.

If you do not have a weakness to address here, it’s an ideal opportunity to provide any information that you were unable to work into the other three essays. If you have an unusual background, hobby or extracurricular experience, this may be an opportunity to provide that information to the admissions committee.

We can help you approach your MIT Sloan MBA application. Contact Stacy Blackman Consulting to learn more.

*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.

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.

The University of Southern California announced Tuesday it has received a $10 million gift that will create expanded scholarship opportunities for military veterans, with additional support for those studying in the USC Marshall School of Business, as well as the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.

The Schoen Family Scholarship Program for Veterans Endowment, established in 1986 by USC trustee William J. Schoen (MBA ’63) and his wife, Sharon, adds crucial support for veterans at a time when members of the U.S. armed forces are returning home in large numbers.

“I believe that our veterans deserve an excellent education at an outstanding university,” says Schoen, a U.S. Marine veteran. “Our support for veterans goes back to when I went to USC. The reason that I was able to go to USC was that I applied for a scholastic scholarship and was awarded one.”

Schoen is chairman of the board of Health Management Associates (HMA), a Florida-based hospital corporation that owns and operates hospitals primarily in the southeastern and southwestern United States. Prior to his retirement, Schoen was HMA’s president, chief executive officer and chairman of the corporation.

With the most recent gift, the Schoen family has contributed a total of $16 million, and to date the endowment has provided $1.2 million in financial support to 173 students at the university.

Full-time MBA students at the USC Marshall School of Business are eligible for the Schoen Family Scholarship Program. For Aren Nazarians, a Marine veteran who earned his MBA from Marshall in 2010 and received support from the Schoen endowment, the scholarship fund represents the importance of the lasting legacy the Schoen family is creating.

“My education at USC would not be possible without the generosity of my benefactor, William Schoen,” Nazarians says. “The unique thing about a scholarship is the personal connection between the donor and the recipient. As students, we know that a scholarship is not a handout, and we owe it to our donors to make that investment count.”

Business education is about to flip, says Indian School of Business Professor Arun Pereira, who predicts the days are numbered in which MBA students sit passively in lecture halls, soaking up (or not) the brilliance of their professors as it emanates from behind the lectern.

In a recent Economic Times piece, Pereira writes that advances in technology and new research on effective learning practices are ushering in more effective methods for getting tomorrow’s business leaders to synthesize the material and attain deeper levels of learning. Traditional lectures are passe, says the ISB professor, who notes that more and more of his colleagues are recording short lecture clips with voice-overs that students view prior to class so they arrive primed for active learning activities—a flip of the traditional classroom model.

As MBA programs increase the flexibility of their curricula and offer joint courses across disciplines, business students in the future may find themselves sharing coursework with others who have no interest in management. Pereira believes this mix in the classroom will require greater innovation to meet the needs of such diverse groups.

Citing the commonly accepted wisdom that the best way to learn something is to teach it, Pereira says more business school classes should be taught using role-playing and prototyping so that students teach key concepts more organically than exams and quizzes might.

“Questions in exams that require students to simply reproduce information are generally not valuable in ensuring impactful learning,” says Pereira. In order to go beyond the expected, or the status quo, students should be expected to pose questions as part of the answer to indicate that they’ve reflected on the issue sufficiently to ferret out complexities that might not be immediately obvious.

This approach works far better, he explains, because “It molds students into thinking and questioning managers, and builds a constant thirst for knowledge that is the foundation for life-long learning—critical for any manager or executive.”