[分享]Proposals from B-schools' Directors

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Todd Reale
Director, M.B.A. admissions and marketing
Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University

"As competition for a place in one of the world's leading M.B.A. programs has increased, it's more important than ever to distinguish yourself from the crowded pool of candidates. There are many memorable ways to do that -- some good, some not so good.

"First, persistence and determination are good things, but admissions officers, especially in the heart of the application season, are extremely busy people. Frequent contact that borders on obsession sends a message that classmates, faculty, staff, alumni and recruiters may find you to be high maintenance. Don't spam several administrators -- from one school, or several -- with the same question, expecting five, or 50, people to respond quickly to your 'urgent' request. Candidates who send a generic e-mail to 25 admissions directors asking for career advice, admission tips and a list of the benefits of attending their particular school are not likely to get a response from me -- especially if the e-mail addresses of all my colleagues are visible upon opening the message.

"Second, the admissions committee is looking for candidates who 'have it all.' But let's face it -- very few candidates are stellar in every area of the application. The best advice is to be yourself, promoting your strengths, demonstrating your potential and sharing your hopes and dreams in a compelling, but realistic, manner. The prospective student who once claimed he could be the next Michael Jordan of our program, leading us to the pinnacle of b-school success, turned out to be more like Dennis Rodman -- bright and talented, but ultimately a difficult superstar who would have a hard time fitting in with Owen's cooperative, team-oriented culture.

"Third, be wary of what you read in online discussion groups and chat rooms -- there is a lot of misinformation out there and not everyone has your best interests in mind. Also, remember that these public forums are open to everyone -- yes, even admissions officers. One recent candidate bragged to his online buddies about his admission offer and what he thought was a less than generous scholarship offer, explaining to them that his response to me was 'show me the money, honey.' Then he proceeded to write a song he called, 'Todd B. Reale,' sung to the tune of 'Johnny B. Goode.' Needless to say, the candidate was a little disappointed a few days later when he inquired about the possibility of increasing his scholarship award. Sure, it was done without malice -- and it was actually creative and funny -- but it showed incredibly poor judgment on his part. Thankfully, he decided to stay closer to home and attend another school.

"Finally, make a positive impression -- the first time, the last time, and always. Throughout the process, candidates are being evaluated constantly by everyone with whom they interact from the school, especially if their actions stand out at one end of the spectrum or the other. From campus visits to alumni receptions, evaluative interviews to the admission application -- be professional and sincere at all times; demonstrate your genuine interest, but don't be overbearing; ask good questions, but not about things you should already know from a thorough review of the school's website and admissions materials; and don't do anything that you'll later regret in the selection process, or that the admissions committee will later regret after offering you a place in the class."

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Natalie Grinblatt
Director of admissions
Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell University

"Candidates need to tell their story succinctly and well. I realize the word limit for our essays is challenging. However, if you can't get your message across directly, the competition will. Flowery language does not fit well with business writing.

"Beware of fatal flaws. Some candidates make minor mistakes in the application that can lead to a denial. For instance, your computer's spell-check will not pick up the term, 'my roll as a manger.' We see this quite often. Proofing your essays and resumes for typos and grammatical errors should be a given. The other big problem we see is what I call the cut-and-paste fiasco, when people use the same response on all their applications but fail to change the school names. No school wants to see that their competitor is the 'only school for you.' I see this mistake in more than three dozen applications each year. Right there the credibility is shot. In addition, we know the candidate did not answer our essay question.

"Candidates sometimes get tripped up when we ask to which other schools they have applied. We are looking for a consistent theme here or at least valid decisions for applying to the schools. But do not by any means cut down other schools in order to highlight the desire to attend our program.

"Don't leave holes in the application. If you can't ask your supervisor to write a letter of recommendation, explain why. If there are too many unexplained holes in the application, it does not bode well for you.

"For recommendations we suggest a direct supervisor. Others can be someone you know from community service, a former supervisor, a client or a supplier. We prefer you stay away from personal references and peers, as we feel the recommendation is not as objective. Family members are a big no-no. I once read a reference from a father who did not recommend his son for admission. I understand they are no longer speaking to each other.

"In the interview, we may ask questions regarding current business events such as the Enron situation. So, the candidate should scan their most recent issue of The Wall Street Journal. We are also going to assess interpersonal skills. Remember: strong handshake, eye contact and good energy."

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Marcia Armstrong
Associate dean for master's programs
Cox School of Business, Southern Methodist University

"Get over any sense of entitlement you might have. Though great credentials are a good start, you'll have to work hard this year to stand out from the crowd.

"Start to think like the admissions team. Realize they're seeking not only those who will be great M.B.A. students, but perhaps more importantly, those who will be actively sought by recruiters upon graduation, those who will go on to become great business leaders, those who will make great alumni.

"Maybe you have a passion for improving the status of women in your home state or a passion for launching entrepreneurial ventures or a passion for applying free market principles in a formerly closed economy. Demonstrating the energy and enthusiasm that come from real passion is a great indicator of the motivation and drive necessary to successfully complete the M.B.A. program. One note of caution: Be careful about expressing a sports or hobby passion. Your passion for basketball only carries weight here if you're focused on a career in sports marketing or sports management.

"Of course, you're a step ahead of other applicants if you know exactly what you want to do after earning the M.B.A. But let's be realistic. Many people return to school with some sense of what they don't want to do, but may not quite know what they want to do. So what should you do if you really don't know exactly what you want to do? Tell the truth because you cannot fake career interest. Trust me, an experienced admissions team can tell very quickly if you really are focused on a particular career or not. Do not, however, say, 'I really don't know what I want to do.' It begs the question of why in the world you're about to invest a substantial sum of money in obtaining an M.B.A. So, do your homework. To get the most out of your M.B.A. investment, research careers up front and indicate to the admissions team that you've done your research and narrowed down the possibilities to a few that are linked, of course, to your passion."

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Mae Jennifer Shores
Associate director, M.B.A. admissions
Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

"Applicants who fare well are those who have really done their homework on the schools to which they are applying and know why Wharton is a good fit for them. Those who do their homework quickly learn that as admissions committee members, we are not looking for a set candidate profile. What we are looking for is a diverse set of individuals who possess a past record of contribution and success -- within their school environment, career environment, family, and/or community.

"Candidates who can articulate how their past experiences will enable them to learn from, and contribute to, the business school community, as well as how the business school experience is important to their future plans, are the ones who stand out in a competitive pool. It really matters for the candidate to clearly explain his/her career path and reasons for pursuing an M.B.A. Examples that illustrate how our school's academic and social environment match a candidate's own interests are equally helpful.

"Research and a healthy level of introspection are critical success factors in an M.B.A. application. Candidates distinguish themselves by being genuine about who they are -- by sharing their passions and their visions for the future with us."

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Sandra M. Kelzenberg
Director, full-time M.B.A. marketing and admissions
Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota

"Reflect carefully before you start the M.B.A. admissions process. Think about your areas of interest and how they connect with careers. Visualize yourself in these careers and take the time to talk to individuals in similar positions. Spend time researching schools and review their fit with your career goals. Think about your [return on investment].

"After you have thought through your decision, you are ready to choose the schools to which you will apply. NOW is the time to schedule an admissions interview, not earlier in the process. During the admissions interview, sell yourself and how well you fit with the school. Showcase your interests, passions and drive. Don't be afraid to say you tried something and it failed. Explain what you learned in the process. Distinguish yourself and clearly state what value you can add to your classmates and the school, but at the same time know that the candidate who starts every statement with 'I' and ends with 'I'm a great team player' will not impress the interviewer. Don't ask questions like, 'What's special about the Carlson School?' or 'Why should I attend your school?' Know that beforehand.

"Be truthful about what you want out of the program and what your strengths are. Committee members will review your admissions interview comments along with your complete application. If you say your strengths are in one area but your recommendation letters say otherwise, the committee will notice the discrepancy.

"One of the first questions I ask myself after the interview is, 'Would I want this person in class with me, in my group, and why?' Even if the candidate has strong credentials, a 'no' answer to this question can tip the scales against an admissions offer. Finally, follow up with a thank you letter. It makes a difference."

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Kristina L. Nebel
Director of admissions
University of Michigan Business School

"Differentiating yourself in the application process, in many ways, is similar to what you need to do to stand out with a company during your career search. The more business-school applicants know themselves, their goals, the type of environment in which they learn and thrive, and what they want from a program, the more successful they will be in the admissions process.

"Now, there are some things that we have seen that have stood out as less effective. Our first essay relates to a significant professional accomplishment -- a topic typical of many schools' applications. It always is disappointing to me when someone uses this essay to tell me that they have passed the CPA exam or they received an earlier promotion. In the first case, while the CPA is a terrific achievement, we can see that from the resume. We really aren't learning anything new. Regarding promotions, the promotion in and of itself doesn't add much. You need to elaborate on the accomplishments that led to the promotion.

"Another essay relates to a failure and setback that you have faced. A number of applicants choose to use this essay to tell us of a sports failure. This sometimes can work, but you need to be careful. Be sure it has relevance. Telling us you had an injury in high school and didn't make the soccer team often has little impact. In whatever topic you choose, you need to really hit on a key take away of what you learned and how you responded.

"Finally, if you have a poor GPA and do not address it anywhere in your application, that leaves a hole. We want to hear from you as to what was going on that led to your poor performance. Be sure to take advantage of an optional essay to address this kind of issue."

vanillawang

thank you so much!

trifling

thanks for sharing!

andydong

thanx!

laity

thanks for sharing!

very useful perspectives!