May, 30, 2020
Columbia Business School has, as they do every year, modified their MBA application essay set for 2021 admission to the January term Class of 2022 and the regular August term Class of 2023. Given Columbia’s overall rank as well as the unique nature of both January (J-Term) and Early Decision for August (ED), it has […]
May, 29, 2020
In this post, I analyze the Stanford GSB MBA (also MBA and MSX) essays and additional information/resume/employment history/activities for Class of 2023 Admission. My analysis of Stanford GSB interviews can be found here. For an overall quick analysis on M7 schools essays see here (Will update to a 2020-2021 version when all the schools post […]
May, 25, 2020
Will 2021 admission rates go up or down at top MBA programs? This is the question I am being asked continuously from fall 2020 admitted and new/potential clients. For those already admitted for fall 2020, the issue is whether to defer and/or just try again for 2021. For new/potential clients, they are just trying to […]
May, 21, 2020
The Indian School of Business is a program that I first really became aware of in 2008 when looking at FT’s ranking data and realized that ISB offered incredibly high ROI for its graduates. Soon thereafter I did a Q&A with ISB’s Hima Bindu, who has since become Senior Director of Admissions. While I am primarily […]
May, 16, 2020
In this post, I will be analyzing the essay question and key components of the HBS Application for the Class of 2023. In addition to discussing overall HBS application strategy and the required essay, I will discuss key parts of the application form, resume, and transcript. I also provide some advice for HBS reapplicants and […]
May, 08, 2020
As I suggested in an earlier blog post, “when you are facing a situation of great unpredictability have multiple winning strategies.” Critical to having an effective strategy for graduate application during these times of great uncertainty is to understand what facts to actually focus on. While I am concerned with the evolving policies of graduate […]
Mar, 31, 2020
The Coronavirus pandemic is a pure example of a VUCA (Volatility Uncertainty Complexity Ambiguity) situation. To get my head around how it would impact MBA students and applicants, I engaged in some scenario analysis and as the situation develops, so is my thinking. In this post I give some initial suggestions for how to think […]
Mar, 24, 2020
In general, whatever HBS does, I assume there is a good chance the rest of the business school world will follow. Harvard Business School is at the top of food chain, regardless in whatever their ranking at the moment might be or relative difficulty of entrance. That has been one of my core assumptions about […]
Mar, 17, 2020
In a further sign of uncertain times, Columbia Business School has extended its final deadline for August 2020 from April to June 1st. Assistant Dean of Admissions, Amanda Carlson, is being completely transparent about this decision: “Columbia Business School has decided to extend its application deadline for the August 2020 incoming class until June 1, […]
Mar, 16, 2020
I am utilizing Professor Paul N. Friga’s Scenario Planning for Coronavirus (https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2020/03/13/using-strategic-thinking-and-scenario-planning-deal-coronavirus-opinion) which is based on scenarios developed by McKinsey’s Global Health + Criss Response team’s analysis. While Frick’s analysis is addressed to higher education institutions, my consideration is the impact on MBA students and applicants. Specifically, I will consider how different scenarios result in […]
