The Application Process

Hey guys,

Congrats on the acceptances!

Just out of curiosity, did any of you use any mba consulting services for your apps? What's your take on them?

Hey, thanks pkw209! I did use some consulting services--but those of the free kind!

I downloaded and listened to every single MBA Podcaster that was made while I would jog in the months before application season--this gave me great insight into what it was the admission's officers were looking for in regards to the application. I learned that applicants will be very diverse and each come with different skills and experiences--all valid. Some of us have made $$$, some haven't; some worked for large organizations, some alone. But what I learned is that you have to sell your story to adcoms and make it seem like an MBA is so right for you RIGHT NOW, that your life plan and career progress will be stifled without it. You can't just be a good candidate, you need urgency as well!

I also gave my profile to a few consultants offering a free evaluation and got very limited phone time with a few (15 min call) who just confirmed that my essay topic choice strategy seemed on track. I recommend doing this after you have drafted your first complete set of essays so you have an idea of the different stories that you have to tell. They are good for telling you if you are showing enough to make you a multi-dimensional candidate that they crave so.

Consultants are also great if you are short on time. They know the system well and will focus your efforts from the beginning. They also know each school well so can offer tailored application advice for each school you are considering. They can also edit your essays if you don't trust the reading level of your friends-I advise finding cheaper help with this task if it's only grammar and style you are worried about. Consultants should just help you with the concepts and overall strategy of your apps.

Here is an article link about this very subject: https://www.geekmba360.com/an-in-depth-l ... consulting

In short, the info is out there for free. If have the time, visit schools' websites, listen to MBA Podcaster app tips, and create some great apps on your own. B-school is all about creation anyway, so you might as well take this time to get a solid lesson upfront. But if you're short on time or want to ask an expert if your strategy is good, and can afford their rates (GMAT/application fees are expensive enough!) then don't feel bad about getting professional help. In the end of the application season, great applicants, not applications, are accepted so don't worry too much about how polished or traditional your app is, it comes down to you and your story.

Good luck!

Congrats man. I'm in the city of Chicago now, bond trader. Got a friend from Boston at Booth right now, 1st year student. He's having a great time. Great city. A lot of things to do. Winters suck. And being from a Coast you are going to miss the ocean and mountains, but you're only here 2 years.

So I read thru most of your posts, but where do you "ask nicely for admission?" If it was that easy, I would just ask when I start applying. Haha.

Thanks for your insight. Good luck w your endeavors

ultraeasy wrote:Hey, thanks pkw209! I did use some consulting services--but those of the free kind!

I downloaded and listened to every single MBA Podcaster that was made while I would jog in the months before application season--this gave me great insight into what it was the admission's officers were looking for in regards to the application. I learned that applicants will be very diverse and each come with different skills and experiences--all valid. Some of us have made $$$, some haven't; some worked for large organizations, some alone. But what I learned is that you have to sell your story to adcoms and make it seem like an MBA is so right for you RIGHT NOW, that your life plan and career progress will be stifled without it. You can't just be a good candidate, you need urgency as well!

I also gave my profile to a few consultants offering a free evaluation and got very limited phone time with a few (15 min call) who just confirmed that my essay topic choice strategy seemed on track. I recommend doing this after you have drafted your first complete set of essays so you have an idea of the different stories that you have to tell. They are good for telling you if you are showing enough to make you a multi-dimensional candidate that they crave so.

Consultants are also great if you are short on time. They know the system well and will focus your efforts from the beginning. They also know each school well so can offer tailored application advice for each school you are considering. They can also edit your essays if you don't trust the reading level of your friends-I advise finding cheaper help with this task if it's only grammar and style you are worried about. Consultants should just help you with the concepts and overall strategy of your apps.

Here is an article link about this very subject: https://www.geekmba360.com/an-in-depth-l ... consulting

In short, the info is out there for free. If have the time, visit schools' websites, listen to MBA Podcaster app tips, and create some great apps on your own. B-school is all about creation anyway, so you might as well take this time to get a solid lesson upfront. But if you're short on time or want to ask an expert if your strategy is good, and can afford their rates (GMAT/application fees are expensive enough!) then don't feel bad about getting professional help. In the end of the application season, great applicants, not applications, are accepted so don't worry too much about how polished or traditional your app is, it comes down to you and your story.

Good luck!

Ultra Easy your an inspiration... UCLA is my number 1 choice for entry fall 2011. Did you apply to the full time or part time program?

Thanks guys. I actually lived in the Chicago once before about ten years ago and really enjoyed it. I have lots of family and some friends in the city so it will be an easy transition. Plus, I did some college time in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It was cold. Very cold. One month the "High" never got above 0. After being outside pre-flighting airplanes in 30MPH winds and negative temps, I haven't really been cold since then so the weather won't be a problem. That said, California is a tough state to leave, weather-wise...and I'm in the cold part!

And I did ask the adcoms nicely. You just have to say "please" with your application. That wasn't designed to imply anything meaningful.

UCLA would have been a great time had it been the best choice for me. The school seemed like it would be a pretty great party, all things considered. I applied to the full-time program.

EARTH-SHAKING news here guys, today the myth is busted that scholarship offers aren't made to those accepted off of the waitlist.

I got a call from Booth telling me that I had received a Harper Fellowship, for students who "demonstrate outstanding leadership, academic, and extracurricular achievements." It also means that you are supposed to be extra active in school activities in leadership roles, and, for this honor, they are paying for HALF TUITION!!!

This is incredible, I had accepted the fact that my loan payments were going to be sarcastically huge, but now they're just going to be huge! It certainly takes the edge off, though, so I won't feel so bad about all of those networking drinks that I'll be buying at 7.9% interest.

This offer had as much to do with luck as strategy, but I took several steps after I was admitted to try to secure funds. Let me share what I think worked:

Thank you note to Rose followed by phone call after being admitted. Got my name out there. No mention of money.

Attended admit weekend and got as much face time as possible with Rose and her admission's team. She was very friendly and approachable so she made it easy. I had a good admit friend from Uruguay who also has a knack for laying down the charm so she helped me get her attention at the events as well. She definitely knew my name by the time the weekend ended.

Email to Rose and Admission's officers politely outlining my dilemma: I wanted to go to Chicago but had a much better offer from UCLA with scholarship ($24K Need-Based) and I was feeling financially pressured to go with the smaller tuition bill.

Rose follows up with a 30 min phone call to tell me that Chicago can't match offers or offer need-based aid BUT she wanted to know more about my flight business and what my short and long-term post-MBA plans were. After a pretty thorough conversation, she told me that there would likely be scholarship recipients who will attend other programs and, after hearing more about my candidacy and meeting me in person, I would be competitive for the next round of scholarships...but it may take a while.

I decide to go with Booth, pay the deposit, and email Rose to thank her and know that I was happy with my decision, with or without aid.

After waiting for a month, a call comes with the good news above.


My best advice is to recent admits or those just starting the application process to just keep "nicely" asking for aid and get as much face time as possible with the decision makers once you have been admitted to a program. The worst they can say is "no". Getting in front of them in person is far more powerful than your admission interview and is your best chance to make a good impression on them to influence additional aid. I read somewhere that the best financial aid packages go to the most persistent students. Get some!

This is a fantastic post. Congratulations! I am glad that you got in with a scholarship! Your post truly shows that admissions officers truly do have a kind ear and will try to help when they can.

Wow, that was a great read. Congrats on getting into a great school and for getting the scholarship to boot!

congrats buddy