MBA Admissions Mashup: Admissions Tips, Exchanges, and Women in Business

by Clear Admit, Dec 14, 2016

Welcome back! Every Wednesday, we share a round-up of the latest news from MBA admissions blogs at the top business schools. And, today were sharing insights from women-focused conferences and networking dinners, advice from Booth and HBS for Round 2 applicants, and a look at educational opportunities abroad.

First for those of you considering Round 2 applications (most deadlines are within the first two weeks of January!),U. Chicago Boothoffered up someadvice and inspirationregarding theiressay. We designed our 2016-17 essay as a platform to give you some inspirationand choicein how you tell your story. When you look at this collection of distinct Chicago Booth moments, youll see our community engaged in everyday life. Dont hesitate to draw on that vision and have fun with the process.

TheHarvard Business Schoolblog, HBS Voices, provided5 pieces of application-related advicefrom current students, including advice for reapplicants. I had been dinged from HBS once and wondered if it was worth applying a second time. Although uncertain of whether or not Id be accepted to the program, I wanted to give it another shot. Fortunately, and likely due to some divine intervention, I was accepted to the program. I was absolutely elated when I received the good news.

Its no secret that the ratio of men to women in business schools is heavily slanted towards men, but many programs and organizations are working hard to reduce this disparity. One way to do this is to create ample opportunities for women to connect whether it be small networking events or large scale conferences.

AtUC Berkeley Haas90 women MBAs converged on One Market STreet in San Francisco for aWomen@Haas Networking Dinner.Keynote speaker Eileen Treanor talked about her ambition to become a chief financial officer and how her 2014 EWMBA paved the way for her to become CFO of Lever, a San Francisco-based SAAS company providing talent acquisition software, and with a staff reflecting 50/50 gender balance.

On a larger scale, 300 people attended the 2016 Carolina in Business Conference held atUNC Kenan-Flagler. Sarah Scully, MBA 18,recounted her experience at the event, including panel discussions and the keynote speaker. Conference attendees noted that womens success in the corporate world depends on changing attitudes towards mens roles in home life. When men and women share the responsibilities involved with raising children, both parents careers benefit.

Aside from classes, conferences and networking events offer ample opportunity to learn while in business schools. But what if your wanderlust called out to you? Exchange programs, treks, and short-term overseas courses may just be the answer.

AtIESE, several students spent asemester at CEIBSin Shanghai, China. Two of them, both MBAs 17, Gabriela Barbier Avanzini and Lucia Alcazar Cuartero gave a first-hand account of their time there as they prepare to return to Barcelona. When asked why they chose to do their exchange at CEIBS, Alcazar explained that before coming to China, for me China was like a black box. I did not know much about it so I wanted to spend some time there. Now I am very much amazed, it is like a dragon that is awakening. The purchasing power of the people is increasing and the demand for consumer goods is incredibly high.

Many business schools offer one- to two-week courses for those interested in specific industries. AtNYU Stern, several students partook in aDBi course in Milan, Italy. While the course itself was certainly fascinating and educational for me, I also really enjoyed the fact that I was traveling with so many classmates, many of whom I had not previously known prior to the trip. Whats interesting about theDBiis that since its an actual course, students lottery for it just as they do for all other courses at Stern. That said, its a great opportunity to meet both full-time and part-time students. I dont have too many opportunities to interact with the latter so this was a unique situation in which we were able to get to know one another while exploring a new country together.

Thats all for this weeks edition of MBA Admissions Mashup! Catch us next week!