NC Penn Club Event

Hmm.. well all I can say is .. I have been attending a lot of events.. umm seems like a waste of time.. but sometimes I just think.. i dont meet a lot of applicants on a day to day basis.. haha.. lets go meet some! (lol.. na.. thts not really a reason! )

None of my school/ college friends are apping.. or plan to either. But I have made a few very close friends along the way.. and have been making more.. and I guess I visit these events more for them than for me alone. hehehe.

I jus like sharing silly tidbits from these events.. makes me a lil less tense about the entire process.. the wait.. the right decision.. or rather the right selection to start with.. I wonder if there is anyone like me?? why does everyone around me look so DEFINITE! hehe..

Ok. enough blabbering.. now.. wanted share some stuff i had jotted down about this event.. Five Universities were present at the Hyatt - Wharton, Harvard, Kellogg, MIT Sloan and Stanford and this is what they had to say…

About GMAT/ GPA

Well just like everyone always says.. they are only a PART of your application.. hehehe.. but I think accd to the AdCom, the Essays and recommendations are definitely more important. (am not sure here.. its like a black hole and you can never figure out how they think.. ) Like they said.. this is one part of your application you cannot change.. it is what it is.. (more so for the GPA than the GMAT)

About Essays

A LOT of self reflection is required! (dear god.. bless me with the strength.. to do a self reflection! hehehe)

Read a lot about the school you are writing the essay for.. the ‘fit’, the values, the goals should reflect in your essays. (and they mentioned the Essays should be truthful and passionate.. its a dangerous balance!)

Answer the questions being asked.. Dont put in stuff you want them to know about you! (you could use the optional essay for that)

Read your own story.. Proof read..

About ExtraCurricular Activities - Community service anyone?

LOL.. i think this was their favourite question. They were all very emphatic that you DONT need to have community service as an Extra Cur. Maybe you are a workaholic! maybe you are too busy with work and family to have any extra curricular.. that is OK Tell them that.. tell them things you are passionate about, show them commitment and persistence in anything you do, talk about fondness of music, of sports - dont be conventional! Be yourself. This is the only chance you have to paint a picture.. so paint an unique picture!

About Recommendations

Every school has a different format for recommendations and they want you to follow it. The sad part here is that the Recommendor will end up doing a lot of work.. (so plan for that.. cos its not necessary that your recommendors are at leisure to write your recommendations and you dont want a hotch potch job.. a LOT depends on that.

Read applications of schools - see what they are looking for. Sometimes they want the recommendation directly from the recommendor, sometimes they want a sealed copy with the entire application. You can also sign a waiver, refusing to look at the recommendations (which is what you should technically be doing.. even without the waiver) It is easy for them to tell if you have tampered with the Recos.. cos you have written the essays and if the same stuff reflects in your Recos.. you are in deep trouble. Here, it is important to note that.. you can talk about your goals and aspirations to your recommendors but dont share your essays with them. Also, if there is communication/ english language problem, you can mention that in the extra/ optional essay provided to you. Oh n one more thing.. when you recommendors are writing about you, stating examples will always work better than generalization like he goes Out on a Limb (explain why and how)

About Interviews

Hmm.. now they had something interesting to say here.. Interviews is the only place where you can truly showcase yourself to adcom. You can put your views, thoughts across to them and they can decide on how the entire package looks. Interviews are as important (maybe more sometimes) than your essays. Every school has a different policy for Interviews.. keep that in mind.. do your research well!

Couple of things to keep in mind during your interview

- Be who you are.. if you are reserved - that who you are.. dont try and over do it in the interview.

- Interviews check your cultural fit, academic fit with the school.

- You can ask questions too! Rather you should as questions. Interviews are not for intimidating the applicant.. they are to get to know the applicant better.

- Follow the interviewers lead.. don’t entirely take over an interview. Use Common Sense

General questions which are asked are about who you are, why MBA, why this school, leadership examples, ( you dont need to have a leadership position but you can still have examples to showcase.)

Thats about it I guess.. thats all I can remember for now.. I hv to get going with the list of schools.. I am the height of Procrastination.. i dont hv a final list yet! but I will hv one soon!

I came across a good quote.. You create your own Universe as you go along!

What Should NOT be in your essays! :-)

Hehe.. I still haven’t started writing.. no draft ready yet.. I guess I am just waiting for the right time (shubh mahurat??) hehe..

Came across this..

Update on shortlisted schools?? Hmm I think have a rough idea.. will publish it soon.

Overwhelmed!!!

Wow.. I thought GMAT was the biggest hurdle, trust me and all others who have taken the GMAT out there.. GMAT is the easiest part So get it out of the way as soon as possible… (STOP PROCRASTINATING!)

We have to shortlist 5 Univs for GMAT, so if you hv done ur research before hand and are crystal clear about the schools you are going to send your applications too.. Yippee!! your battle is half done But if you are like me, and chose schools on gut instinct rather than research, you are in for long sleepless nights

Its such a maze.. and  there are so many options!!! I think only my friends will be able to relate with my situation right now. I took my friends shoe shopping one day! (all I needed was decent running shoes!!) the shopkeeper showed me Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Fila, (and others… cant remember!)  then under Nike they showed me three diff types and styles again did the same for others.. Some had inbuilt air, some cushioning, some were jus plain jazzy.. When I entered the shop I knew what I had come to look for.. Focus was clear, had the credit card, knew shoes would be expensive.. but what i did not realize were the various parameters I had to keep  in mind before buying that perfect pair of shoes! Apart from too many choices,  there were other problems (this time with me) I hv BIG feet, can hardly ever get a gal size shoe (thats me!) I dont like weird colors, i had a fixed impression of what i wanted, and I did not want to compromise.

I am not sure if i shud say Sadly.. but Sadly enough my MBA application process is pretty similar to my shoe story at the moment. It actually maps out pretty well to it I think this time I will have to substitute friends with Alumni, current students, fellow applicants and information sessions otherwise there is no chance I will ever come to a sensible decision.

I have found some great links on student/ applicant blogs. I will be updating those on the side bar.. so watch out for them.. apart from that, if you have any tips, suggestions, want to wish me luck or plain empathise with me.. drop me a comment!

Target - Sept 2008?

My first post! A new blog!

I guess the main aim is to feel I am not alone in the entire MBA Application process! hehe.

Disclaimer: Am not a good or diligent blogger but I will try to keep the world.. or rather jus Word Press right now.. posted about my MBA application ‘journey’ if you may call it that!