B-Schooled: Get Your MBA Admit

Communicating what your classmates will learn from you and how you'll be an asset to the MBA program you attend is monumentally important. This episode covers ways to get that information across through your resume and essays.

Often times, it's quite a challenge to fit an application, data-form or essay response into the space provided when restrictive character or word counts are in play. This episode focuses on specific ways MBA applicants can edit down essays and short-answer responses without compromising the power of their stories, anecdotes or statements.

This episode covers a quick admissions update from Harvard Business School before diving into why it's important for you to demonstrate your knowledge of and fit with the MBA programs you're applying to – and how you can do so in both your written materials and your interview responses.

This episode discusses why all business school candidates need to be able to clearly explain why they need an MBA, especially if they are in one of four applicant buckets where it's important to clarify the need for a business degree. Common reasons for getting an MBA are covered, as are reasons that might be realistic but are best left out of one's application materials.

Our host Erika is joined once again by former Kellogg admissions director Beth Tidmarsh for a discussion specifically about behavioral MBA interviews (i.e., "Tell me about a time when..." questions). They cover the types of behavioral questions candidates can expect, advice on how to answer those questions, pitfalls to avoid, and more. They also role-play a few questions and responses for listener...

In this episode, we welcome back Jay Bryant, a former MBA admissions director who is now a liaison between business schools and ETS, the company behind the GRE® General Test. Our host Erika and Jay will answer questions that listeners sent in about: Differences between the GMAT and the GRE General Test How MBA programs view the two main admissions tests Why admissions tests cover specific subjects...

Our host Erika is joined by former Kellogg admissions director Beth Tidmarsh for a discussion about MBA interviews. They cover the types of questions candidates can expect, advice on how to answer those questions, what adcoms are looking to get from you out of these interviews, and more.

In this episode, our host Erika welcomes Bill Chionis, one of Stacy Blackman Consulting's experts on part-time (PT) MBA programs. They have a discussion about: Whether or not we've seen an increase in interest in PT programs since COVID hit The benefits of PT program vs. a traditional 2-year MBA Similarities and differences between part-time and full-time MBA programs How employers look at PT prog...

This episode covers: What candidates should make of recent news headlines about "soaring" MBA application numbers due to COVID, and Important context about dings, after HBS's Round 1 interview invites, Round 2 deferral and release notifications went out yesterday.

In this episode, we welcome Jay Bryant, a former MBA admissions director who is now a liaison between business schools and ETS, the company behind the GRE® General Test. Our host Erika and Jay will have a discussion about: What Jay's been hearing from MBA admissions teams over the past few months regarding what COVID-19 has and hasn't affected in the admissions process Common questions about the n...

After you submit your MBA applications, should you contact the admissions committee with updates on your candidacy? What should you do if you find an error in your materials? Should you start preparing for your interviews now? This episode answers those questions and more, and advises listeners on the best way to make use of their time between submission deadlines and their interviews.

This episode covers how to make the most of the data form—or the actual online application itself—and why you shouldn't underestimate its importance. We'll cover: Optional fields Common questions applicants have about confusing fields and dropdowns The awards section(s) How you can use the data form fields to strengthen your candidacy

This episode covers how to prepare for the various kinds of video essays (pre-recorded, live with known questions, and live with randomized questions) several MBA programs require, as well as general tips on what you should wear, where you should record, and more.

This episode covers some last-minute things to think about, do and not do as Round 1 deadlines loom.

This episode covers: - How you should think about and position your short- and long-term career goals in both the short-answer responses on business school applications, as well as in career-related essays. - What you should do if you have no idea what your career goals are, or if the main reason you want to go to b-school is to explore different options for your future career path. - Whether it's...

This episode covers common questions MBA candidates have about reapplying -- including specific advice for those who first applied in spring 2020's extended Round 3 (aka "the COVID round") or who originally applied to a 2+2 or deferred admissions program while still in college.

Your resume is perhaps the single most important part of your application materials. This episode covers how to maximize that one precious page.

Round 1 deadlines start to hit a little over a month from now, so while you're in the midst of essay writing, make sure you don't make any of the 6 common mistakes we'll cover in this episode.

In this episode, Erika is joined by Kellogg JD/MBA and fellow SBC consultant Gina for an in-depth discussion about how applicants can use the MBA application process to reflect on what they really value and what kind of work might make them truly happy.

Since in-person campus visits and traveling information sessions aren't happening for a while, MBA admissions committees are offering several different types of virtual experiences and online information sessions to help prospective students get to know their programs better. This episode answers the questions: Are these online sessions valuable? How should they be approached? Should they be treat...

This episode details: The most important recommender criteria What you should do if you can't ask your direct manager for a letter What you should do if you don't want anyone at your company to know of your MBA plans If it's OK to use college professors or extracurricular contacts as recommenders Whether seniority or alumni status matters Whether "side letters" are effective What you should do if...

The coronavirus has upended the MBA journey for those starting programs in the fall, for those who requested but were denied deferrals, and for those who will be applying this year. In this episode we'll be sharing our thoughts on 5 questions related to how COVID has impacted the MBA process, including: If you're admitted to a top school but already know in-person classes won't be the norm for a w...

In a continuation of last week's episode on "candidacy question marks" – or red flags on an MBA candidate's record – this week's episode covers what to do if you: have employment gaps in your career, are unemployed when you apply, get laid off or fired after you submit your materials, or have something like a DUI or honor code violation from college on your record.

This episode covers what to do about "question marks" — or possible red flags — in an MBA applicant's candidacy, including: A low GPA A low test score A few low grades within an overall decent GPA A lack of extracurriculars A lack of work experience, and "Too much" work experience (or when an applicant is older than the rest of the candidate pool) Additional issues will be covered in Part 2 next w...

In this episode, Meg — a former University of Chicago Booth admissions committee member and current SBC admissions consultant — joins Erika to discuss some of the biggest things they see MBA candidates wasting their precious time on during the application process. They address: Their most-hated question MBA candidates often ask *Why* it doesn't make sense to worry about certain things in the admis...