Illuminations (blog)

MBA Tours: what, why, when (and how to use them to your advantage)

It’s MBA tour season again. And along with it comes our advice for using these events to your benefit in the admissions process. First, the what MBA tours, or fairs, are like job fairs for business school candidates. Traveling city to city, they offer a great opportunity for you to attend panels, accumulate admissions and GMAT advice, speak 1×1 with admissions officers from your target schools, pick up brochures, and evaluate which programs are the best fits for you. In addition, it ...

- Thursday, May 9th, 2013

Considering an International MBA?

What an interesting and life-changing proposition. To not only earn an MBA, but to do so in such a unique environment that extraordinary diversity, cultural immersion, and hands-on international experience are a part of your daily life. There are very real factors for why pursuing an MBA overseas may make perfect sense for you. Here are several worth considering: Building a Global Network According to GMAC, 38% of US business school students are from foreign countries. In European business ...

- Wednesday, May 1st, 2013

Spotlight on Duke’s Fuqua School of Business

Last week, in the midst of a vibrant Duke Alumni Weekend, I had the pleasure of spending time at the Fuqua School of Business. It was as if the perfect 70 degree weather and blue North Carolina skies were planted intentionally to impress, however it was my conversation with Director of Admissions Megan Lynam that shed the most meaningful light into what makes an MBA from Duke so special. Did you know: Fuqua operates on six-week terms, which means more opportunity for more ...

- Wednesday, April 24th, 2013

Communicating with the admissions office

You have a question about your upcoming MBA application deadline, so you write up a quick email to the admissions office and hit send. No problem, right? Wrong. The email itself may be perfectly innocuous… or it may just have cost you in the admissions process. Let’s break it down so you can determine when and how it is most appropriate to communicate with the admissions office. Everything is considered It is fair to assume that every piece of correspondence you have with admissions will be added to your application file. ...

- Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013

Spotlight on DU’s Daniels College of Business

Once again, to pay homage to the MBA programs in our Colorado stomping ground, I am pleased to shed light into the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver. I recently took the opportunity to sit down with Allison Sharpe, Graduate Admissions Manager, to learn more about the program. Did you know: Daniels is the 8th oldest business school in the US and one of the first to integrate business ethics into its curriculum. Ethical leadership is woven into the core of ...

- Wednesday, March 13th, 2013

Should I?

Often, we receive questions from MBA candidates who have completed their applications and are now wondering what to do with their time. Is it OK to quit my job now and travel? I was offered a new job; should I take it even though I may be leaving for business school in six months? My company has taken a down turn; should I leave and just spend my time volunteering? I may go into finance; should I take the CFA exam before beginning school? There’s no wrong ...

- Wednesday, February 20th, 2013

Resources for MBA applicants

In addition to the insights that we provide through our blog, speaking engagements, and 1x1 MBA admissions consulting services, each year we always like to take stock of the additional resources that our clients found valuable in preparing their applications. Whether you’re focused on nailing your GMAT or preparing for that final interview, here are some of our clients’ personal recommendations for future MBA candidates: GMAT Preparation Kaplan Manhattan GMAT Veritas Prep Princeton Review “The ...

- Wednesday, February 6th, 2013

Should I apply to business school in round three?

For most candidates, the answer is no. However, under certain circumstances, it makes perfect sense to submit a 3rd round application. Here are some ways to gauge whether you should apply this late in the game, or whether you’d be better off waiting until the 1st round next fall. First, the pros of submitting an application in round 3: If accepted, you get to attend business school this coming fall. Now the cons: Most of the spots ...

- Wednesday, January 30th, 2013

Gratitude during the MBA admissions process

With Thanksgiving upon us, this seems a perfect time to think about all of the people who have helped you in the MBA admissions process thus far. Very often, in the throes of essay writing and interview prep, we get lost in your own heads. We’re sleep-deprived, focused on our own deliverables, balancing full-time jobs on top of it all. Perhaps we’ve even felt the heartbreak of receiving disappointing news from one of our dream schools. We’re likely not thinking about too many other people right now. However, it’s never too ...

- Wednesday, November 21st, 2012

I’ve submitted my round one MBA applications, now what?

Congratulations! If you’re one of the motivated few to get your business school applications in early, you may be wondering what to do with yourself next. Here are a few suggestions: Apply to 2nd round schools You’ve already got great momentum from all of your hard work in the 1st round; why not continue moving forward? Worst case scenario, you develop an additional set of applications and end up with the fantastic news that you’ve “wasted your time” because you were accepted to your 1st round schools. Best case scenario, ...