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13 06, 2016

The Best Test for Your MBA: GMAT or GRE?

By MBA Ivy League|2019-01-03T17:10:24-05:00June 13th, 2016|Chicago Booth, Columbia, Darden, EMBA, Fuqua, GMAT, GRE, Harvard, HBS, IE, INSEAD, Kellogg, LBS, MBA, MBA Admissions, MBA Essays, MIT Sloan, NYU Stern, Ross, Stanford, Wharton|0 Comments

If you’re applying for your MBA this year, you’re probably in the midst of starting to study for the GMAT – the traditional test needed to apply to U.S. business schools.

However, what you may not be aware of, is that more and more business schools are now using the GRE and valuing it just as equally within the MBA admissions process.

So, what’s the difference between the GMAT and the GRE, and does taking one over the other have any benefits or disadvantages?

In the U.S., having a GMAT score is going to be more common than an GRE score in terms of MBA admissions. However, the GMAT is very heavy on quant and math skills, and if you’re interested in getting your MBA so you can continue to excel in your career in an industry like communications, social media management, strategy consulting, HR, advertising, entrepreneurship, or something that requires strong verbal and written skills OVER mathematical ability to succeed, then you seriously may want to consider if taking the GRE instead of the GMAT is the better test for you.

That’s right: the GRE is the stronger test to take if you think you can score very high on verbal.

In this same vein, the GMAT is the test to take if you’re a financial analyst, use numbers in your everyday role at work, or are working or planning to work in the investment banking industry on Wall Street, or in anything related to finance.

Need a good GMAT to GRE score converter? Or simply want to see how your scores measure up? Try this chart here:

Your GRE verbal scores run across the top of the chart, and your GRE quantitative scores run down the left-hand side. This chart can be used backwards too, so if you know what you got on the GMAT you can find that number first and find out how it compares to the GRE, and then make the best choice from there!

I will also say that the GMAT is still the most common business school test for U.S. business schools, including HBS, Wharton, Stanford, Chicago Booth, Kellogg, and Columbia but that’s starting to change, while the GRE is still the more common of the two tests in the U.K., Canada, Asia, and Europe.

So, if you’re living overseas, or thinking of applying to a non-U.S. MBA or EMBA program, INSEAD, Said (Oxford), and Judge (Cambridge) with the exception of The London School of Business (because it draws so heavily from the financial industry in terms of its applicants) all prefer the GRE.

The “Top Ten” though in the U.S. is making the change, and depending upon where your skill set lies, consider which test – the GMAT or the GRE – is going to give you the best possibilities!

[I’m a former Harvard admissions interviewer, and a Harvard graduate and run the MBA & EMBA business school admissions firm MBA IVY. Contact us for a free profile evaluation today, and get into the school of your dreams!]

Your Odds Of Getting In To A “Top Ten” Business School
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Your Odds Of Getting In To A “Top Ten” Business School
Chicago Booth, Columbia, Darden, EMBA, Fuqua, HBS, Kellogg, MBA, MBA Admissions, MIT Sloan, NYU Stern, Stanford, Wharton

9 06, 2016

Your Odds Of Getting In To A “Top Ten” Business School

By MBA Ivy League|2019-01-03T17:10:43-05:00June 9th, 2016|Chicago Booth, Columbia, Darden, EMBA, Fuqua, HBS, Kellogg, MBA, MBA Admissions, MIT Sloan, NYU Stern, Stanford, Wharton|0 Comments

What does your MBA profile look like, and how will MBA adcom really see your MBA or EMBA application?

That is always the question. For starters, know that your MBA profile is composed of a variety of things: Your GMAT score, your work experience, your application essays (demonstrating your leadership and management skills), and your admissions interview (if you get that far in the MBA application process).

So, given the above, what are things that can help you hit a home run with some of the most elite business school programs around like HBS, Wharton, or Stanford? In other words, THE top business schools.

First, your GMAT score is going to be the most important thing, in my professional opinion. A high score, and by high I mean 730+, can get an applicant in to one of the top MBA programs, who perhaps didn’t have as stellar work experience as the applicant standing next to him (or her). A high GMAT score, in other words, makes everything possible.

Second: work experience. The adcoms at the most competitive schools tend to value experience at “known-name” companies over lesser known ones: a.k.a. companies that are leaders in their industry and/or Fortune 500 firms.

Working at one of these firms will help you get attention in the admissions office, as it is a competitive game and working at a top firm not only means you had what it takes to get there and gain some footing in your career at an ambitions level, but more importantly, that you made it through these firms highly selective screening process.

In other words, they vetted you first so the adcom basically highly weighs that silent and unspoken recommendation.

On this same line of thought, working “for-profit” organizations will skew higher on the adcom’s radar than those applicants who might work in the non-profit sector. I’m not saying one can’t in from the non-profit side, because that isn’t true at all, I am just saying that as these elite MBA programs value drive and ambition at the highest level, they are attracted to applicants who are already demonstrating they can play on the field.

The area of the country you work in also matters. An MBA applicant who works for Morgan Stanley or Deloitte in NYC, and has a 730 GMAT and can demonstrate both strong leadership and management ability through the examples they choose to speak about in their essays, is going to have an easier time than the guy (or woman) sitting in Indiana who’s working for a unknown firm.

Location matters, because again, the adcom sees this as an example of DRIVE, as they perhaps not even consciously believe that if you can success in a large city (whether it be New York or Houston) and compete in such a competitive marketplace for your job, it lends just a little more weight.

So, what are your odds of getting in? Check back next time when I’ll profile three actual MBA applicants, so you can clearly see what is required to gain acceptance to the top MBA business schools around!

[I’m a former Harvard admissions interviewer and a Harvard grad, and currently run the MBA & EMBA admissions firm www.MBAIvy.com Check out my website and request a free evaluation today!]

The GMAT Score You Need to be a Competitive MBA Candidate!
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The GMAT Score You Need to be a Competitive MBA Candidate!
GMAT, MBA

1 06, 2016

The GMAT Score You Need to be a Competitive MBA Candidate!

By MBA Ivy League|2019-01-03T17:25:37-05:00June 1st, 2016|GMAT, MBA|3 Comments

As a former Harvard admissions interviewer and a Harvard graduate, people are always asking me about their GMAT scores and “if I think they’ll get in.” Test scores are certainly one large aspect of the entire MBA admissions process, although allow me to stress that many other things including, most importantly, your professional experience, your future goals, your internships, and how an MBA degree now logically and purposefully ties in to everything, as well as your rec letters and resume all matter a lot, too. That said, what score DOES it take to get in? In my view, one needs a GMAT score between 680- –> 720 to be considered competitive at the “Top Ten” and Ivy League schools, and anything over 720 will put you in a completely different (i.e. read: excellent) ballpark and that is what you should shoot for in terms of really making a great impression with the ad com. I have also found that in working with my own MBA clients over the years, that those who actually take an organized 6-8 week class do slightly better than those who study alone with a book or online. I have also found that scores tend to weigh just a little bit more for international candidates, as it is the best way to evaluate skills across cultural boundaries (i.e. we may not know the name of your undergraduate college in India and how that really compares, so tend to lean just a little more on scores for non-U.S applicants). However, in terms of taking the test more than once — go for it! Two times, certainly. A top score will place you in a top school…especially if you have the strong corporate work experience at a known-name company to back it up. The overall goal is to make you an extremely strong candidate and not give them a reason to say no. A high score will make that even harder.

[I’m a former Harvard interviewer and a Harvard graduate, and currently run the MBA admissions firm MBA IVY, out of New York. Like more information? Check out my website, and fill out my contact form today! www.MBAIvy.com]

12 03, 2016

The Hail Mary MBA Pass! Final Deadlines Still Exist!

By MBA Ivy League|2019-01-03T17:13:39-05:00March 12th, 2016|Darden, EMBA, Fuqua, GMAT, GRE, Harvard, HBS, IE, INSEAD, Ivy League, Kellogg, LBS, MBA, MBA Admissions, MBA Essays, MIT Sloan, Ross, Wharton|0 Comments

So, let’s say you applied to business school this year and…you didn’t get in. Yet, you really, really want to start an MBA program in September of THIS year, and not have to wait an entire full year before even being able to begin. However, it’s late in the game. Really late as most of you know: most deadlines have passed…but noticed I used the word “MOST” = as of today’s date (March 12, 2016) there are still schools out there – top schools – top MBA programs, with deadlines you can still make if you start now.

So, what are these schools, and should you even really bother? Most will be surprised to learn that some of the Round 3 deadlines still out there, are at some of the most competitive MBA programs around, and even though most of these schools have already compiled their incoming class list there is still room for “adjustments.”

People will decide to go to other schools, saying yes to one means saying “no” to others and that leaves OPENINGS. Schools will also “hold” spots until the very last date of the admission process, and even if you are wait-listed, getting in off the wait-list and not having to wait an entire FULL YEAR just to be able to begin the MBA program of your dreams that you would rather start THIS September than next…makes an MBA application now a “Hail Mary” end-of-game pass into the endzone, but a pass that I recommend.

It’s like this: if waiting another year is going to be more annoying to you than anything, if you can’t stand having to put your life on hold, then throw that ball and take the chance that maybe, just maybe you can actually get in. All you stand to lose is the price of the application. What you can gain could save you TIME, a lot of time, by putting your career and education right on track, and we all know that time and opportunity is something you can’t exactly get back.

So, the schools with deadlines still open as of today’s date (March 12, 2016):

So. again, let me stress, there are still spots. Every admissions officer I’ve ever talked to tells me, year after year, that they always hold at least “a few” spaces for the student who comes to them late, yet who they know would make a strong contribution to the class. If the admission committees didn’t believe this, and put action behind their words, there would be no “Round 3!” The schools would have a Round 1 and Round 2 and that would be it. Round 3 is there for a reason, and yes, people do actually get in.

So, wouldn’t it be nice if that was YOU? Remember: it’s not over until it’s over. So, if you’re depressed about not getting in this year and the idea of having to spend yet another year at your current job before you can even BEGIN to make headway into your future, then just look at the list, choose your schools, and take the step and apply. Throw another hat into the ring. Make that pass into the end zone. Take your application, give it your best shot in these weeks to come and you may just be pleasantly surprised. Sometimes that pass wins the game!

And, worst case scenario, you that much ahead for a serious start to your MBA future next year.

[Considering an MBA or EMBA? I’m a former Harvard admissions interviewer and a Harvard graduate, and currently run the MBA admissions firm MBA IVY out of New York. As one of the top MBA admissions firms in the country, we help the most competitive students and professionals get into the business school of their dreams. Contact me for a free initial consultation today! www.MBAIvy.com ]

The Round 3 MBA: Should You Apply?
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The Round 3 MBA: Should You Apply?
EMBA, GMAT, HBS, INSEAD, Kellogg, LBS, MBA, MBA Admissions, MBA Essays, MIT Sloan, Ross, Wharton

27 01, 2016

The Round 3 MBA: Should You Apply?

By MBA Ivy League|2019-01-03T17:13:05-05:00January 27th, 2016|EMBA, GMAT, HBS, INSEAD, Kellogg, LBS, MBA, MBA Admissions, MBA Essays, MIT Sloan, Ross, Wharton|0 Comments

The Round 3 MBA: is it worth it? Whereas most of you think it’s probably too late in the game to apply for your MBA at a top school if you’re even looking at Round 3, and that you would just be wasting your time, I’m here to say that isn’t necessarily true. While most students have in fact already submitted their MBA applications and got them in either right before or right after Christmas, applying for a Round 3 MBA can still work and actually be a valuable strategy and course of action in certain situations.

The biggest deterrent here is that, yes, most of the top business schools have already made a large chunk of their admission decisions, so by the pure math alone, the smaller number of spaces left for Round 3 students are going to make admission in this round more cut-throat and harder, BUT there are still spots left at every single one of the schools, and if you’re qualified, have strong professional experience, a viable GMAT score for the school you’re targeting, and perhaps just didn’t apply Round 1 or 2 because of various time-intensive projects you were involved in at work, excessive business travel for a global client, finishing up your time in the military, or were in the process of switching jobs…a Round 3 MBA can and does make perfect sense, and will to the admissions committee too.

In other words, there are still spots, and if your reasons for waiting seem perfectly professionally understandable and valid then wouldn’t it be so much better to apply now and get your life going in the direction you want it to go in (a Fall 2016 admission to a solid MBA program) versus waiting an entire full year in order to even begin the process and try again.

There is a lot to strategy in this too – if for some reason you don’t get in this Round, you will have something to examine and go over for months (and at that point, I would recommend a consultant who can help you fortify your application as well as analyze what happened and what perhaps went wrong) before you then apply again. In other words, if needed, it gives you a second chance to make the best application possible.

Again though, let me stress, there are spots. Every admissions officer I’ve talked to tells me, year after year, that they always hold spaces for the student who comes in late, yet they know would make a strong contribution to the class. If the admission committees didn’t believe this, and put action behind their words, there would be no “Round 3.” Everyone would apply Round 1 and Round 2 and that would be it. It’s there for a reason, and yes, people do actually get in.

So, wouldn’t it be nice if it was you? Don’t delay another year. Worst case scenario, all you lose is your application fee, but what you can gain by taking the challenge is a serious start to your future THIS year.

Remaining MBA deadlines for 2016:

[Considering an MBA or EMBA program? I’m a former Harvard admissions interviewer and a Harvard graduate, and currently run the MBA admissions firm MBA IVY out of New York City. As one of the top MBA admissions firms in the country, we help the best students and professionals get into the business school of their dreams. Contact me for a free initial consultation today! www.MBAIvy.com ]

Applying For A Round 1 MBA or EMBA? Make Your Resume Shine!
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Applying For A Round 1 MBA or EMBA? Make Your Resume Shine!
MBA Admissions, resume

28 07, 2015

Applying For A Round 1 MBA or EMBA? Make Your Resume Shine!

By MBA Ivy League|2019-01-03T17:28:03-05:00July 28th, 2015|MBA Admissions, resume|2 Comments

Are you applying for Round 1 MBA or EMBA this year? One of the best things you can do to stand out from all the rest, is to make sure your MBA resume shines! You absolutely must get your professional resume in the best possible condition before you submit, and by following these simple tips, you’ll already be ahead of the game (and the competition) in this year’s MBA & EMBA business school admissions process:

1. MBA TIP #1 – DO SOME RESEARCH: Take the time to google a few sample resumes in your field and for the particular school you’re applying to, so you know what a professional resume actually looks like for that program.

Some of the MBA programs (like Chicago Booth, for instance, have their own preferred format, and the preferred format is the one I strongly recommend you follow).

Linked In is a great resource for the industry examples, and the school’s own website is often a good resource for samples that match what they want (Most schools will give you samples if their format at all differs from industry standard.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come across people with strong, good experience, but their resume is just not formatted properly, or it’s formatted in a way that just doesn’t look professional and competitive in terms of the other applicants in their industry – and that is the one things that will get you dinged fast.

Your resume matters. It’s actually the very first thing an admissions committee will look at when reviewing your MBA or EMBA application, so do your homework and try to get it right.

2. MBA TIP #2 – KEEP IT TO 1 PAGE: Two pages if you have more than 8-10 years experience (usually more relevant for the EMBA), as most of you applying to full-time MBA programs will, and should, have less than that. It doesn’t matter how many different facets of the business day you are in charge of at your job, what matters if you can succinctly summarize this experience in a way that comes across as being professional, focused, and to the point, while also highlighting your accomplishments.

The MBA admissions committee is trying to get an overview of your professional background, not read a manifesto. Keep it streamlined, tight, focused and NEAT, which by the way, usually means justified margins. Then, if your experience warrants it, your resume will get attention. In other words, don’t ever give them a reason to say no.

3. MBA TIP #3 – MENTION NUMBERS: The top MBA and especially EMBA programs love to see numbers. That means numbers of employees you manage, number of projects that come through your department, average number of sales, budget you handle, etc. Admissions officers also like financial or monetary numbers, even if you’re just giving a general estimate, as it helps them gauge not only the size of the company you work for, and where you fit in their hierarchy, but more importantly, it reveals your level of responsibility.

Do you manage $1.2 million in assets for your investment bank employer? Or, perhaps you oversee $750K in current active contracts for your operations department? Mention these facts, and you’ve suddenly raised the admission committees’ awareness of your level of experience. If you have numbers like these at your disposal (even if their just averages), AND you can freely share, make sure you mention them as this will only help.

4. In summary, the MBA resume is slightly different from a regular resume you might use to using when you apply for a job. The MBA resume is all about highlighting your experience in a way that focuses on your ability to be a leader.

In this regard, it is better to create a resume that’s more general than “tech” or “niche” specific. The MBA admissions officer reading through your application, may not necessarily know the technical language of your field, but by following all of the above tips and not giving them a reason to say no, they will certainly know a competitive resume – and candidate – when they see one!

I’m a former Harvard admissions interviewer, and a Harvard graduate, and currently run the MBA & EMBA admissions firm MBA IVY out of New York. I specialize in helping clients get in to the most competitive ‘Top Ten’ MBA & EMBA programs in the U.S and abroad, including HBS, Wharton, Chicago Booth, MIT Sloan, Kellogg, Columbia and LBS (just to name a few!) Contact me to set up a free consultation today! www.MBAIvy.com

8 06, 2015

Top MBA Admissions Books to Buy, If You’re Applying to a “Top Ten!”

By MBA Ivy League|2019-01-03T17:34:50-05:00June 8th, 2015|EMBA, GMAT, Harvard, HBS, Ivy League, MBA Essays|2 Comments

Are you thinking about applying for your MBA or EMBA this year at a top school? In my opinion, the below are the best books around for students looking to ace the most competitive MBA or EMBA essays and applications and increase their changes of getting in to a top business school program.

So, if it’s your dream to get in to HBS, Wharton, Kellogg, Booth, Columbia, Stanford, MIT Sloan, NYU Stern, Ross, Darden, Fuqua, INSEAD, Said, Judge, or LBS (just to name a few) go ahead and take a look at my personal “best” list below. The first two, in particular, are winners even if you’re not looking specifically at those schools, or feel they are out of your league.

Click on each book for more details, to learn what it takes to master the road to MBA and EMBA success.

1. 65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays

2. 50+ Successful Wharton Business School Essays

3. How To Get Into INSEAD

4.How to get into the Top MBA Programs

[I’m a former Harvard Interviewer and a Harvard graduate, and currently run the MBA & EMBA admissions firm www.MBAIvy.com out of New York. I specialize in the “Top Ten” most competitive MBA & EMBA programs. So, still thinking about applying? Contact me for a free consultation today!]

26 03, 2015

“DINGED” : Why Your MBA Application Didn’t Make It

By MBA Ivy League|2019-01-03T17:34:32-05:00March 26th, 2015|Darden, EMBA, Fuqua, GMAT, GRE, Harvard, HBS, IE, INSEAD, Ivy League, Kellogg, LBS, MBA, MBA Admissions, MBA Essays, MIT Sloan, Ross, vanderbuilt, Wharton|0 Comments

If you applied for your MBA degree this past year, you might (unfortunately) be all too familiar with what the word “dinged” means in the context of MBA applications.

To put it bluntly for those who don’t know, it means that you didn’t get in – that you were rejected from your ideal school. Turned down. Cast aside. Thrown away. Stripped of your dreams, and basically told in no uncertain terms: NO.

And, if you’re like most MBA applicants, especially those who applied to some of the most competitive MBA or EMBA programs around (including but not limited to HBS, Wharton, Kellogg, Booth, Stanford, Columbia, or MIT Sloan) and THEN got rejected when you thought you were really in the running…you probably actually have no idea at all what happened, or why you were, in fact, turned down at all.

Admissions committees leave you in dark when it comes to not getting in.

But, if you are now thinking of applying again for next year, after you already got rejected and you have already made this failed first attempt, you really need to understand:

1). Why you were “Dinged,” and

2). Exactly what you need to do to repair and improve your chances this year when you submit your application again.

Too many applicants simply try again with the same application! This is a horrible, horrible, plan of action as getting “dinged” was not just an oversight of the admissions committee. It means that there was something wrong with your application that you, now, absolutely need to understand, repair, and fix.

So, it’s not just all about taking the GMAT again and trying to raise your GMAT score (though that’s always a good thing), BUT your GMAT score more than likely truly didn’t make or break you. Something else did, either in your essays, your job experience, your interview or perhaps you have something on your social media sites online that really shouldn’t be out there if you’re trying to make a good impression (and, yes, they do look).

Most of the time though, it’s usually about knowing how to add more detailed examples to your MBA essays that better exemplify your points, fine-tuning your “story” or career narrative so it really shows your “journey,” and either gaining extra experience on the job, or better highlighting and emphasizing certain experience you already have but perhaps overlooked along with discussing your goals and skills in a way that can make you look even more valuable as a potential candidate to admissions.

However, you MUST first understand why you were turned down. You can’t improve if you don’t know.

I am currently offering a flat rate “Ding Evaluation” if you have been turned away from one or perhaps many of your choice schools. Understanding what happened before you apply again is key, so you have the time to make the serious improvements you need.

You can contact me through my website below, and specify “Ding Evaluation” in the note and we will figure out what went wrong for a great new application and chance at your dreams!

I’m a former Harvard interviewer and a Harvard graduate and currently run the MBA admissions firm MBA IVY in Manhattan. I work with students all over the world, and you can reach me through my website: www.MBAIvy.com

Interested in a Top EMBA Program? What You Need to Know
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Interested in a Top EMBA Program? What You Need to Know
Darden, EMBA, Fuqua, GMAT, Harvard, HBS, IE, INSEAD, Ivy League, LBS, MBA Admissions, MBA Essays, Ross, Wharton

27 02, 2015

Interested in a Top EMBA Program? What You Need to Know

By MBA Ivy League|2019-01-03T17:33:39-05:00February 27th, 2015|Darden, EMBA, Fuqua, GMAT, Harvard, HBS, IE, INSEAD, Ivy League, LBS, MBA Admissions, MBA Essays, Ross, Wharton|0 Comments

So, you’re interested in an EMBA degree. How do you know though if you’re right for an EMBA degree versus a regular, full-time MBA program? Obviously, the better the school the better your future professional career, and graduating from a top EMBA program like Kellogg, MIT Sloan, or Columbia University’s joint-EMBA with the London School of Business means you’ll be headed for success in your field.

You have experience, solid experience, and that’s what makes the EMBA different from those with only 3-4 years lower level experience who are applying for a regular MBA. In other words, if you’re even thinking about an EMBA – an Executive MBA – you are already at the top of your game; the higher reaches of your career. You are already at an executive level within a known-name firm, or perhaps you’re a very successful entrepreneur with your own company, and you have the drive and ambition to push your vision even further.

The following is what the top EMBA programs look for in a candidate: solid, committed professionals who have strong and proven experience in their industry, that they can bring to the table.

An EMBA degree is all about forming connections – putting the best of the best in the same room, so strategies can be shared, ideas brainstormed, future business plans made, and networks shared. The EMBA is more than just a degree where the meat of what you learn comes from a professor or from a case study or book. The EMBA is a place where you are interacting and associating with a group of extremely impressive and successful peers – classmates who are already at the highest levels of their career and now want to go higher.

An EMBA, especially from a top school can put you there. The degree is an experience that helps fill in any gaps in your business education; that gives you a credential that perhaps is now necessary for you to move up in your company or firm. It is meant as a platform from which you can jump off even higher in the business world. It’s meant for leaders who still fully intend to be a part of their current company and business growth full-time.

So, again, the top EMBA programs for 2015: Wharton, Booth, Kellogg, Columbia, NYU Stern, and Fuqua, just to name a few (and, again, Columbia’s joint program with LBS (London School of Business) makes it one of the best in my opinion, as you get incredibly interesting global experience and the ability to form serious contacts in both NY and London).

In summary, the EMBA is a serious degree that can make a serious difference.

[I’m a former Harvard interviewer and a Harvard grad, and currently run the MBA & EMBA consulting firm: MBA IVY out of Manhattan. Contact me for a free consultation today! www.MBAIvy.com]

5 11, 2014

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