Michigan Ross 2009 MBA Application Questions, Deadlines, Tips
MICHIGAN ROSS 2009 MBA DEADLINES
Deadline Date Notification
Round 1 Oct 10, 2008 Jan 15, 2009
Round 2 Jan 2, 2009 March 15, 2009
Round 3 March 1, 2009 May 15, 2009
International students are encouraged to apply in Round 1 or 2.
MICHIGAN ROSS 2009 MBA ESSAY QUESTIONS
The application is identical to last year's application, and I have only tweaked my suggestions from last year.
Although Ross' questions may appear superficial or generic, don't be fooled. Ross does not want generic answers. Your answers need to connect to Ross' multi-disciplinary action projects and commitment to action-based learning. You need to show the admissions readers why you belong at Ross, not at Top B-School.
The remainder of my tips are in red below.
Provide response to the following four essay questions, each on a separate page. At the top of each page, please include your full name and a complete statement of the question being answered.
Use at least 11 point font and 1.5 line spacing.
Required questions
You must answer the following four questions:
Long Answers: (500 word max)
1) Briefly describe your short-term and long-term career goals. Why is an MBA the best choice at this point in your career? What and/or who influenced your decision to apply to Ross?
The successful answer to this question will show fit with Ross. Your response to the last part of the question will make or break the essay and possibly your application. How is Ross going to help you achieve your short-and long-term goals? What aspects of the Ross program convinced you to attend? If you spoke to current students or recent alumni, say so. Let the reader know you've done your homework.
2) Describe your most significant professional accomplishment. Elaborate on the leadership skills you displayed, the actions you took and the impact you had on your organization.
Clearly your most significant professional accomplishment should reveal leadership and have had impact on your company. What challenges did you face as a leader? How did you handle them? If you can, quantify the impact of your accomplishment.
Short Answers: (300 word max)
3) If you were not pursuing the career goals you described in Question 1, what profession would you pursue instead? (for example, teacher, musician, athlete, architect, etc.) How will this alternate interest contribute to your effectiveness in solving multi-disciplinary problems?
Maybe you are someone who struggled with your career choices. You had a close second before you chose your current professional goal. Then you should have a relatively easy time answering this question.
If you always seemed pretty directed and haven't wavered since you decided against being a firefighter in first grade, then you may have a little more difficulty with this question. In the latter case, use the question to reveal another side of you. Perhaps you would be a professional basketball player and your team skills would be relevant at Ross. Or you would work as a serial entrepreneur and bring your entrepreneurial pizzazz to Ross.
4. Describe your experience during a challenging time in your life. Explain how you grew personally, either despite this challenge or because of it.
Challenge comes in so many shapes and sizes that it is very difficult to give general advice on this one. You have to be on the other side of the challenge to know how you grew as a result. You may have conquered the challenge. You may not have entirely overcome it, but you will be changed and usually strengthened by having faced it. Describe the challenge, how you handled it, and how you grew as a result.
For most applicants, this will be a non-professional essay.
Optional Question:
Is there anything else you think the Admissions Committee should know about you to evaluate your candidacy?
Do not use this essay like a storage room, my son's bedroom closet, or even a large salad: a place to put everything. Focus on one facet of your life or an experience that is important to you, reveals the human being you are, and isn't described in other parts of the application. Write about it here.
You can of course also use this essay to "explain" a weakness, but I hate to end your application on that note if it can be avoided. So weigh your options. If you have something to explain, do so. If you can tuck the explanation somewhere else in the application, more power to you. If the best place for the explanation is this last essay, so be it.
Attributes :-http://blog.accepted.com/
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Harvard Business School 2009 Essay Tips and Deadlines
Harvard Business School 2009 Essay Tips and Deadlines
My comments are in red.
Harvard Business School MBA Application Deadlines
Application Submission Notification Date
Round 1 October 15, 2008 January 21, 2009
Round 2 January 6, 2009 April 2, 2009
Round 3 March 11, 2009 May 13, 2009
Harvard Business School MBA Essay Instructions and Questions
All applicants must submit answers to four essay questions. The first two questions are required of all applicants. The remaining two essays may be in response to your choice of the next four sub-questions.
Joint program applicants for the Harvard Medical School, Harvard Law School, and Kennedy School of Government must provide an additional essay.
Essays Questions:
1. What are your three most substantial accomplishments and why do you view them as such? (600-word limit)
This is practically Harvard's signature question. It has been around for years and it goes to the heart of Harvard's values. It wants highly accomplished students entering its program. It wants leaders.
At least one and probably two of the three accomplishments should show leadership and/or teamwork with the emphasis being on leadership. I also like to have this essay show some breadth. My ideal would be to have one professional, one community, and one personal accomplishment in this essay, but that breakdown is neither set in stone nor imperative.
2. What have you learned from a mistake? (400-word limit)
People of initiative err. They must learn from those mistakes to be effective leaders.
A friend went to her daughter's graduation and quoted the valedictory address, "In school you learn lessons and then take tests. In life, you have tests and then learn lessons." If you view your mistakes as experiments, lessons, or tests, you can grow and make sure you don't repeat them. Show HBS through this essay that you are the kind of person who learns from your mistakes.
Again, try to have this question reveal you making your mistake, preferably in a leadership capacity, and applying lessons learned in a sphere of your life not covered by other essays. In the best HBS applications, each essay uncovers a different facet of the applicant and his or her experience. Together they paint a portrait of a dynamic, talented leader with initiative and exceptional ability.
3. Please respond to two of the following (400-word limit each):
1. What would you like the MBA Admissions Board to know about your undergraduate academic experience?
This question was optional last year and mandatory the year before that. When introduced, I thought it was going to produce monotonous, boring essays, but it didn't. To my pleasant surprise, I reviewed several of these essays as part of our quality control program, and they were revealing, excellent essays.
This question reflects Harvard's interest in early career applicants and really gives them a chance to shine. This essay represents HBS' attempt to see patterns over time. What you choose to include here will obviously vary depending on your experience and the rest of your application, but my ideal answer will discuss a leadership experience from your undergrad career to show that you are a natural leader with a history of leadership. Remember: HBS wants to develop leaders, not create them.
2. Discuss how you have engaged with a community or organization.
New question. As you answer this question, once again keep in mind Harvard's single-minded focus on leadership. Did you motivate, inspire, plan, or organize? If you did, what were the results of your actions? Did you increase revenue? membership? communal impact? "Community or organization" is very broad so you could answer this question and relate it to work, but most of you will want to answer this question with non-professional initiatives in your community.
3. What area of the world are you most curious about and why?
New question. If you are curious about a region, that curiosity should manifest itself in action. Visiting is one form of action, but it is not the only one. Also, don't neglect to answer the "Why" part of the question. Harvard seeks to understand what makes you tick.
4. What is your career vision and why is this choice meaningful to you?
Harvard is one of the few, if not the only, top business school that has made the goals question optional. And even this one is a little different than the typical "What do you want to do and why do you want to do it?" The interesting twist to Harvard's question is "career vision." With Harvard's focus on strategy, Harvard is asking you to develop your career strategy and discuss its importance to you. But don't leave your answer on an entirely theoretical plane. Bring it down to earth with your plan for implementing that vision. In other words writing that you seek "a career leading an innovative enterprise, providing work-life balance, and allowing me the opportunity to contribute to my community" sounds great. But it will also sound a lot like other people's visions. You need to have some idea of how to achieve that vision, define it more narrowly, and explain why it resonates with you.
For more on the concept of vision, please see "The Parable of the Three Stone Masons."I believe that HBS is attempting to identify those who are like the third stonemason -- perhaps with less religious fervor but with well... that kind of vision. They are still working hard, with feet on the ground, but they radiate enthusiasm for a distant goal and pride in their ability to contribute to something much larger than themselves.
My comments are in red.
Harvard Business School MBA Application Deadlines
Application Submission Notification Date
Round 1 October 15, 2008 January 21, 2009
Round 2 January 6, 2009 April 2, 2009
Round 3 March 11, 2009 May 13, 2009
Harvard Business School MBA Essay Instructions and Questions
All applicants must submit answers to four essay questions. The first two questions are required of all applicants. The remaining two essays may be in response to your choice of the next four sub-questions.
Joint program applicants for the Harvard Medical School, Harvard Law School, and Kennedy School of Government must provide an additional essay.
Essays Questions:
1. What are your three most substantial accomplishments and why do you view them as such? (600-word limit)
This is practically Harvard's signature question. It has been around for years and it goes to the heart of Harvard's values. It wants highly accomplished students entering its program. It wants leaders.
At least one and probably two of the three accomplishments should show leadership and/or teamwork with the emphasis being on leadership. I also like to have this essay show some breadth. My ideal would be to have one professional, one community, and one personal accomplishment in this essay, but that breakdown is neither set in stone nor imperative.
2. What have you learned from a mistake? (400-word limit)
People of initiative err. They must learn from those mistakes to be effective leaders.
A friend went to her daughter's graduation and quoted the valedictory address, "In school you learn lessons and then take tests. In life, you have tests and then learn lessons." If you view your mistakes as experiments, lessons, or tests, you can grow and make sure you don't repeat them. Show HBS through this essay that you are the kind of person who learns from your mistakes.
Again, try to have this question reveal you making your mistake, preferably in a leadership capacity, and applying lessons learned in a sphere of your life not covered by other essays. In the best HBS applications, each essay uncovers a different facet of the applicant and his or her experience. Together they paint a portrait of a dynamic, talented leader with initiative and exceptional ability.
3. Please respond to two of the following (400-word limit each):
1. What would you like the MBA Admissions Board to know about your undergraduate academic experience?
This question was optional last year and mandatory the year before that. When introduced, I thought it was going to produce monotonous, boring essays, but it didn't. To my pleasant surprise, I reviewed several of these essays as part of our quality control program, and they were revealing, excellent essays.
This question reflects Harvard's interest in early career applicants and really gives them a chance to shine. This essay represents HBS' attempt to see patterns over time. What you choose to include here will obviously vary depending on your experience and the rest of your application, but my ideal answer will discuss a leadership experience from your undergrad career to show that you are a natural leader with a history of leadership. Remember: HBS wants to develop leaders, not create them.
2. Discuss how you have engaged with a community or organization.
New question. As you answer this question, once again keep in mind Harvard's single-minded focus on leadership. Did you motivate, inspire, plan, or organize? If you did, what were the results of your actions? Did you increase revenue? membership? communal impact? "Community or organization" is very broad so you could answer this question and relate it to work, but most of you will want to answer this question with non-professional initiatives in your community.
3. What area of the world are you most curious about and why?
New question. If you are curious about a region, that curiosity should manifest itself in action. Visiting is one form of action, but it is not the only one. Also, don't neglect to answer the "Why" part of the question. Harvard seeks to understand what makes you tick.
4. What is your career vision and why is this choice meaningful to you?
Harvard is one of the few, if not the only, top business school that has made the goals question optional. And even this one is a little different than the typical "What do you want to do and why do you want to do it?" The interesting twist to Harvard's question is "career vision." With Harvard's focus on strategy, Harvard is asking you to develop your career strategy and discuss its importance to you. But don't leave your answer on an entirely theoretical plane. Bring it down to earth with your plan for implementing that vision. In other words writing that you seek "a career leading an innovative enterprise, providing work-life balance, and allowing me the opportunity to contribute to my community" sounds great. But it will also sound a lot like other people's visions. You need to have some idea of how to achieve that vision, define it more narrowly, and explain why it resonates with you.
For more on the concept of vision, please see "The Parable of the Three Stone Masons."I believe that HBS is attempting to identify those who are like the third stonemason -- perhaps with less religious fervor but with well... that kind of vision. They are still working hard, with feet on the ground, but they radiate enthusiasm for a distant goal and pride in their ability to contribute to something much larger than themselves.
Duke Fuqua 2009 MBA Application Questions, Deadlines, Tips
Duke Fuqua 2009 MBA Application Questions, Deadlines, Tips
Duke Fuqua 2009 Deadlines
Deadline Notification
Early Decision Oct 15, 2008 Nov 14, 2008
Round 1 Oct 27, 2008 Dec 19, 2008
Round 2 Jan 7, 2009 Mar 10, 2009
Round 3 Mar 16, 2009 Apr 23, 2009
Duke Fuqua 2009 MBA Essay Questions
My comments are in red.
Three short answer questions and one long essay question must be completed before submitting your application. Prepare your essays carefully. The Admissions Committee considers your responses to the following questions important in the selection process. Please respond fully and concisely using 1.5 line spacing.
For the short answer questions, please restrict your response to a single page each. For the long essay question, please restrict your response to two pages. Please avoid using a font size smaller than 10-point.
Candidates who applied to Fuqua between September 2007 and April 2008 are considered reapplicants. All reapplicants are required to complete the Reapplicant Essay in addition to the Applicant Essays.
All applicants have the opportunity to submit an optional essay to explain any extenuating circumstances of which the Admissions Committee should be aware.
Duke is very proud of its community: Team Fuqua Consequently, it carefully chooses team members. The questions below are an opportunity for you to introduce yourself as an individual, a member of your community or team, and as a professional and future leader. As the questions show, all facets are important to Fuqua.
Duke has shuffled the essay deck this year. It is asking for three short essays (as opposed to two last year) and one long essay (as opposed to two last year.) It is asking two new questions and has removed the element of choice that was part of last year's application.
Applicant Essays
Short Answer Essays - Answer all short answer essay questions.
1-What do you hope to gain from The Duke MBA? How does it fit into your short- and long- term goals? If you are interested in a joint degree or the Health Sector Management program, please address in this response.
Connect the dots between your past experiences your future goals and show how Duke's MBA program will bridge the gap between the two. (For different ideas on structuring goals essays, click on the link.)
I don't think I can overemphasize the importance of this essay in establishing your credibility as a serious candidate. I know I have harangued you regularly about the importance of goals in MBA admissions and I am doing it again. Just keep in mind that this essay will reveal whether you have done your homework -- personal introspection, career networking, and school research -- or not, as the case may be.
2-How will you contribute to the overall experience of your peers at The Duke MBA?
Very similar to last year's #2. What are you going to add to Team Fuqua? Is it an enthusiastic commitment to Habitat for Humanity, a local environmental cause, your church, or a hobby, sport, or art form? Is it an unusual personal background? Perhaps, overcoming distinctive challenges? And then how will this unique facet cause you to contribute at Duke? Will it lead to involvement in a specific club or Fuqua project? Interest in a particular program? Again show your knowledge of Fuqua as well as fit between you and the program.
3-Discuss a person, event or experience that has significantly shaped your life and explain why. Note: The goal of this essay is to get a sense of who you are, rather than what you have achieved professionally.
New question: What or who has had profound, lasting impact on you? Describe the person or event and its impact. Please don't limit your description of impact to the emotional or intellectual. How does it influence your behavior? This essay probably will reflect a non-professional facet of your life.
Long Essay - Answer the long essay question below.
1-Today, companies must navigate through complex and interdependent issues. They must deal with health and security matters, environmental impact questions, and diversity and cultural concerns. Leaders need adaptability, imagination, and emotional intelligence as well as business acumen.
Upon graduation, a Duke MBA will be a leader of consequence - able to deal simultaneously with complex matters and engage skillfully with colleagues, clients, and community. What impact do you hope to have as a leader of consequence?
New question. What role in the world would you like to assume? Where would you like to have impact? What cause is important to you? Where have you contributed in the past?This is more about vision, values, and life goals than strictly professional goals.
The best essays here will be connected to past involvement so that your goals for the future seem plausible no matter how grand.
Optional Essay (not required)
1-If you feel there are extenuating circumstances of which the admissions committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g. unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, significant weakness in your application).
Why isn't your current supervisor writing your rec? Why did your grades dip during the first semester of your senior year? Why is there a six-month gap on your resume? What are your responsibilities while working for a family business after having left a prestigious investment bank and why did you make the change? Answering any of those questions (but not all) could be the topic of your optional essay. And of course an infinite number of similar subjects could be worthwhile discussing in the optional essay.
Reapplicant Essay
All reapplicants are also required to complete the Reapplicant Essay below. Please limit your response to two pages.
1-Write an essay describing how you are a stronger candidate for admission compared to the previous year's application.
Attributes :-http://blog.accepted.com/
Duke Fuqua 2009 Deadlines
Deadline Notification
Early Decision Oct 15, 2008 Nov 14, 2008
Round 1 Oct 27, 2008 Dec 19, 2008
Round 2 Jan 7, 2009 Mar 10, 2009
Round 3 Mar 16, 2009 Apr 23, 2009
Duke Fuqua 2009 MBA Essay Questions
My comments are in red.
Three short answer questions and one long essay question must be completed before submitting your application. Prepare your essays carefully. The Admissions Committee considers your responses to the following questions important in the selection process. Please respond fully and concisely using 1.5 line spacing.
For the short answer questions, please restrict your response to a single page each. For the long essay question, please restrict your response to two pages. Please avoid using a font size smaller than 10-point.
Candidates who applied to Fuqua between September 2007 and April 2008 are considered reapplicants. All reapplicants are required to complete the Reapplicant Essay in addition to the Applicant Essays.
All applicants have the opportunity to submit an optional essay to explain any extenuating circumstances of which the Admissions Committee should be aware.
Duke is very proud of its community: Team Fuqua Consequently, it carefully chooses team members. The questions below are an opportunity for you to introduce yourself as an individual, a member of your community or team, and as a professional and future leader. As the questions show, all facets are important to Fuqua.
Duke has shuffled the essay deck this year. It is asking for three short essays (as opposed to two last year) and one long essay (as opposed to two last year.) It is asking two new questions and has removed the element of choice that was part of last year's application.
Applicant Essays
Short Answer Essays - Answer all short answer essay questions.
1-What do you hope to gain from The Duke MBA? How does it fit into your short- and long- term goals? If you are interested in a joint degree or the Health Sector Management program, please address in this response.
Connect the dots between your past experiences your future goals and show how Duke's MBA program will bridge the gap between the two. (For different ideas on structuring goals essays, click on the link.)
I don't think I can overemphasize the importance of this essay in establishing your credibility as a serious candidate. I know I have harangued you regularly about the importance of goals in MBA admissions and I am doing it again. Just keep in mind that this essay will reveal whether you have done your homework -- personal introspection, career networking, and school research -- or not, as the case may be.
2-How will you contribute to the overall experience of your peers at The Duke MBA?
Very similar to last year's #2. What are you going to add to Team Fuqua? Is it an enthusiastic commitment to Habitat for Humanity, a local environmental cause, your church, or a hobby, sport, or art form? Is it an unusual personal background? Perhaps, overcoming distinctive challenges? And then how will this unique facet cause you to contribute at Duke? Will it lead to involvement in a specific club or Fuqua project? Interest in a particular program? Again show your knowledge of Fuqua as well as fit between you and the program.
3-Discuss a person, event or experience that has significantly shaped your life and explain why. Note: The goal of this essay is to get a sense of who you are, rather than what you have achieved professionally.
New question: What or who has had profound, lasting impact on you? Describe the person or event and its impact. Please don't limit your description of impact to the emotional or intellectual. How does it influence your behavior? This essay probably will reflect a non-professional facet of your life.
Long Essay - Answer the long essay question below.
1-Today, companies must navigate through complex and interdependent issues. They must deal with health and security matters, environmental impact questions, and diversity and cultural concerns. Leaders need adaptability, imagination, and emotional intelligence as well as business acumen.
Upon graduation, a Duke MBA will be a leader of consequence - able to deal simultaneously with complex matters and engage skillfully with colleagues, clients, and community. What impact do you hope to have as a leader of consequence?
New question. What role in the world would you like to assume? Where would you like to have impact? What cause is important to you? Where have you contributed in the past?This is more about vision, values, and life goals than strictly professional goals.
The best essays here will be connected to past involvement so that your goals for the future seem plausible no matter how grand.
Optional Essay (not required)
1-If you feel there are extenuating circumstances of which the admissions committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g. unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, significant weakness in your application).
Why isn't your current supervisor writing your rec? Why did your grades dip during the first semester of your senior year? Why is there a six-month gap on your resume? What are your responsibilities while working for a family business after having left a prestigious investment bank and why did you make the change? Answering any of those questions (but not all) could be the topic of your optional essay. And of course an infinite number of similar subjects could be worthwhile discussing in the optional essay.
Reapplicant Essay
All reapplicants are also required to complete the Reapplicant Essay below. Please limit your response to two pages.
1-Write an essay describing how you are a stronger candidate for admission compared to the previous year's application.
Attributes :-http://blog.accepted.com/
Dartmouth Tuck 2009 MBA Application Questions, Deadlines, Tips
Dartmouth Tuck 2009 MBA Application Questions, Deadlines, Tips
Dartmouth Tuck 2009 MBA Application Deadlines
Application and CSQ Due
Early Action Round Oct. 15, 2008
Nov. Round Nov. 12, 2008
Jan. Round Jan. 7, 2009
April Round Apr. 1, 2008
Tuck 2009 Essay Questions
Tuck's 2009 questions are almost identical to last year's questions. My comments are also virtually identical, but I am placing them here for your convenience. Just a few, minor tweaks on my part. The comments in red below are mine.
Please respond fully but concisely to the following essay questions. Compose each of your answers offline in separate document files and upload them individually in the appropriate spaces below. Although there is no restriction on the length of your response, most applicants use, on average, 500 words for each essay. There are no right or wrong answers. Please double-space your responses.
1. Why is an MBA a critical next step toward your short- and long-term career goals? Why is Tuck the best MBA program for you? (If you are applying for a joint or dual degree, please explain how the additional degree will contribute to those goals.)
Note that the MBA is a "step" towards a goal. That means you have to briefly discuss the path you have been on and then reflect on your reasons for wanting an MBA and specifically a Tuck MBA to go in the direction you want to go. You have to know a lot about Tuck as well as your goals to respond effectively to this question. Why do you want a program that stresses the integration of business functions? Why do you want a small, tight-knit program? Which of Tuck's strengths appeal to you? How will they help you achieve your goals?
2. Tuck defines leadership as “inspiring others to strive and enabling them to accomplish great things.” We believe great things and great leadership can be accomplished in pursuit of business and societal goals. Describe a time when you exercised such leadership. Discuss the challenges you faced and the results you achieved. What characteristics helped you to be effective, and what areas do you feel you need to develop in order to be a better leader?
This question is also a repeat and reflects the importance Tuck, like many MBA programs, places on leadership..
Have you inspired a troubled teen to apply himself academically? Have you chaired a fund raiser that raised a record amount of money? Have you captained a sports team that led your intra-mural or company league? Have you been a team lead on a project that came in early and under budget? Are you head of a sales team? These could all be examples of leadership. How did you inspire your teammates to achieve? Answer all elements in the question -- despite and within the 500-word limit.
3. Discuss the most difficult constructive criticism or feedback you have received. How did you address it? What have you learned from it?
Leadership development is an important part of the Tuck program. Within that facet of Tuck life, self assessment and peer assessment play an important role. Can you take and grow from criticism? Show the adcom reader that you can learn from criticism by demonstrating that you already have done so. Provide the feedback and if necessary explain why it was difficult for you to address. Then describe the steps you took to respond constructively. Finally, show the results: what you learned and ideally how you now effectively handle situations that triggered the initial criticism.
4. Tuck seeks candidates of various backgrounds who can bring new perspectives to our community. How will your unique personal history, values, and/or life experiences contribute to the culture at Tuck?
Tuck may be small and rural, but it is no backwater. And it is fiercely proud of its diversity -- in all senses of the word. It also wants people who will contribute to the school. When I visited Tuck for the International Educational Consultants Conference, I was struck by the variety of events within Tuck and the larger Dartmouth community. Clearly, to answer this question well you must reflect on your background, but you also need to study the activities, clubs, and programs available at Tuck. What are the distinctive elements of your background? How will it enable you to contribute at Tuck?
5. (Optional) Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere that may be helpful in reviewing your application (e.g., unusual choice of evaluators, weaknesses in academic performance, unexplained job gaps or
changes, etc.). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application.
It is almost impossible for 4 500-word essay plus a bunch of boxes, a transcript, and a GMAT score to represent fully the uniqueness and talents of a truly impressive candidate. That comment has nothing to do with writing style and everything to do with the complexity of accomplished human beings. In my opinion this "optional essay" is optional in name only.
6. (To be completed by all reapplicants) How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Please reflect on how you have grown personally and professionally.
Straightforward. What has changed that would compel Tuck to admit you this year when it rejected you last year?
Attributes :-http://blog.accepted.com/
Dartmouth Tuck 2009 MBA Application Deadlines
Application and CSQ Due
Early Action Round Oct. 15, 2008
Nov. Round Nov. 12, 2008
Jan. Round Jan. 7, 2009
April Round Apr. 1, 2008
Tuck 2009 Essay Questions
Tuck's 2009 questions are almost identical to last year's questions. My comments are also virtually identical, but I am placing them here for your convenience. Just a few, minor tweaks on my part. The comments in red below are mine.
Please respond fully but concisely to the following essay questions. Compose each of your answers offline in separate document files and upload them individually in the appropriate spaces below. Although there is no restriction on the length of your response, most applicants use, on average, 500 words for each essay. There are no right or wrong answers. Please double-space your responses.
1. Why is an MBA a critical next step toward your short- and long-term career goals? Why is Tuck the best MBA program for you? (If you are applying for a joint or dual degree, please explain how the additional degree will contribute to those goals.)
Note that the MBA is a "step" towards a goal. That means you have to briefly discuss the path you have been on and then reflect on your reasons for wanting an MBA and specifically a Tuck MBA to go in the direction you want to go. You have to know a lot about Tuck as well as your goals to respond effectively to this question. Why do you want a program that stresses the integration of business functions? Why do you want a small, tight-knit program? Which of Tuck's strengths appeal to you? How will they help you achieve your goals?
2. Tuck defines leadership as “inspiring others to strive and enabling them to accomplish great things.” We believe great things and great leadership can be accomplished in pursuit of business and societal goals. Describe a time when you exercised such leadership. Discuss the challenges you faced and the results you achieved. What characteristics helped you to be effective, and what areas do you feel you need to develop in order to be a better leader?
This question is also a repeat and reflects the importance Tuck, like many MBA programs, places on leadership..
Have you inspired a troubled teen to apply himself academically? Have you chaired a fund raiser that raised a record amount of money? Have you captained a sports team that led your intra-mural or company league? Have you been a team lead on a project that came in early and under budget? Are you head of a sales team? These could all be examples of leadership. How did you inspire your teammates to achieve? Answer all elements in the question -- despite and within the 500-word limit.
3. Discuss the most difficult constructive criticism or feedback you have received. How did you address it? What have you learned from it?
Leadership development is an important part of the Tuck program. Within that facet of Tuck life, self assessment and peer assessment play an important role. Can you take and grow from criticism? Show the adcom reader that you can learn from criticism by demonstrating that you already have done so. Provide the feedback and if necessary explain why it was difficult for you to address. Then describe the steps you took to respond constructively. Finally, show the results: what you learned and ideally how you now effectively handle situations that triggered the initial criticism.
4. Tuck seeks candidates of various backgrounds who can bring new perspectives to our community. How will your unique personal history, values, and/or life experiences contribute to the culture at Tuck?
Tuck may be small and rural, but it is no backwater. And it is fiercely proud of its diversity -- in all senses of the word. It also wants people who will contribute to the school. When I visited Tuck for the International Educational Consultants Conference, I was struck by the variety of events within Tuck and the larger Dartmouth community. Clearly, to answer this question well you must reflect on your background, but you also need to study the activities, clubs, and programs available at Tuck. What are the distinctive elements of your background? How will it enable you to contribute at Tuck?
5. (Optional) Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere that may be helpful in reviewing your application (e.g., unusual choice of evaluators, weaknesses in academic performance, unexplained job gaps or
changes, etc.). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application.
It is almost impossible for 4 500-word essay plus a bunch of boxes, a transcript, and a GMAT score to represent fully the uniqueness and talents of a truly impressive candidate. That comment has nothing to do with writing style and everything to do with the complexity of accomplished human beings. In my opinion this "optional essay" is optional in name only.
6. (To be completed by all reapplicants) How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Please reflect on how you have grown personally and professionally.
Straightforward. What has changed that would compel Tuck to admit you this year when it rejected you last year?
Attributes :-http://blog.accepted.com/
Columbia January 2009 Accelerated MBA Program: Essay Tips and Deadlines
Columbia will review application for its accelerated program between April 30, 2008 and October 8, 2008. It promises a response in eight weeks.
January 2009 Accelerated MBA Essay Questions and Tips
(My comments are in red. The black text is from Columbia's web site.)
The following essay questions are part of the application to Columbia Business School. In addition to learning about your professional aspirations, the Admissions Committee hopes to gain an understanding of your interests, values and motivations through these essays. How you answer these essays is at your discretion, there are no right answers and we encourage you to answer each question thoughtfully and honestly.
Reapplicants: If you have applied to Columbia Business School within the past year, you are required to submit only the re-applicant essay: How have you enhanced your candidacy since your previous application? Please detail your progress since you last applied and reiterate your short-term and long-term goals. Explain how the tools of the Columbia MBA will help you to meet your goals and how you plan to participate in the Columbia community (Recommended 750 word limit).
Dual Degree applicants: Please address the following questions within your response to Essay 1: Please indicate the Dual Degree programs and schools to which you applied or intend to apply. Please discuss how the Dual Degree will enhance your short-term or long-term goals, and at which school you intend to begin your studies.
1) What are your short-term and long-term post-MBA goals? How will Columbia Business School help you achieve these goals? (Recommended 750 word limit):
This is a forward-looking goals question. While you shouldn't ignore the factors that contributed to the development of your goals, the bulk of the essay should be about the future. What do you want to do immediately after completing your MBA? 5 years later? How will Columbia's program help you achieve your goals? Which of Columbia's strengths and programs are critical to your success? And be specific!
Also, since this is the J-term application, it should be very clear from your response to this question that your goals don't require a summer internship and are not changing careers. For example, you intend to return to your current employer, or go into a family business, or return to your own business. When the readers finish reading your essay, they should be convinced that you don't need a summer internship and you do need an MBA form Columbia's Accelerated program to pursue your goals.
2) Master Classes are the epitome of bridging the gap between theory and practice at Columbia Business School. View link below. Please provide an example from your own life in which practical experience taught you more than theory alone. (Recommended 500 word limit) :
View with Real Player: http://merlin.gsb.columbia.edu:8080/ramgen/video1/faculty/MasterClass-promo.rm
View via Google: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4698876883776961370&hl=en .
I also recommend you read the section of CBS' web site about Columbia's Masters Classes.
To me the masters classes are CBS's attempt to integrate the various business functions and provide a real general management element to a program that tended to keep those silos distinct.. To respond to the question you need to bring an example from your life when you applied theory successfully. Ideally, you would want to use an example where you used management principles to guide your team, office, company, or club in solving a problem or completing a project.
3) Please provide an example of a team failure of which you've been a part. If given a second chance, what would you do differently? (Recommended 500 word limit) :
When have you been part of a team that came in last. Or that came in second when it should have come in first? Or that failed to close the deal? Or did finish the project, but over budget and late so that your firm lost the client?
And more importantly, what have you learned from the experience? How would you attempt to change the outcome if you had the chance? When would you seize the initiative? When would you encourage others? When would you sit quietly and let someone with complementary strengths take center stage.
While the particular incident you choose should complement other elements of your essay and ideally discuss some interest, activity, or experience not discussed in other essays, the key part of this question is the second one.
For more assistance, please see:
Admissions Tip from Dr. Pausch 's Last Lecture (Part 2)
Flaws Make You Real
Personal Statement Tip: Our Response Defines Us
Personal Statement Tip: Failure Questions
4) Describe for us your greatest passion in life. (Recommended 250 word limit) :
Demonstrate your enthusiasm for whatever you choose and include the reasons why you are so passionate about your topic. Finally, if you are "passionate" about Subject X, make sure Subject X is an active and significant part of your life, something you devote time to. Writing checks or having strong feelings won't cut it.
(Optional) Is there any further information that you wish to provide to the Admissions Committee? (Please use this space to provide an explanation of any areas of concern in your academic record or your personal history.) :
Obviously you could use this optional essay question to address a weakness in your application, but in my mind, it is also open-ended enough to allow you to discuss a diversity element in your personal background or simply some unique area of interest. Also, tucking a weakness explanation somewhere else would allow you to end the application with a strength and not a flaw.
Attributes :-http://blog.accepted.com/
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