Research MBA Programs

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So I was pretty conflicted about round 1 vs. round 2...but I can honestly say I would not have out together as strong of an application as I did if I applied round 1....

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@ITmatters and @2010chick -

Did you guys submit your round 1 applications very early or right before the submission deadline? Also, when did you interview?

Thanks for the info!

Just bringing this topic back to life. Still haven't heard anything. Anybody else have any updates? Also @nadia222 I think it's a good idea to have a good network/support group going anyway, cuz Lawd knows it would've been nice to have while studying for the GMAT last year (though these Indian IT guys are pretty slick with their GMAT tricks and what not, I've actually run into a few of them at some local events here, but it would be nice to see some of Us out there lol).

Nope nothing since my interview ....The dreaded GMAT is keeping me busy so I really don't think about it much...@Nadia I must have missed your note above , but I still remember the day I decided I was gonna get an MBA, I was doing a training at one of our refineries and just had one of those moments where I just thought..."what the heck am I doing here"...I work for an oil company (think Bp, Shell, Exxon,Chevron) .Don't get me wrong i love the opportunities that have been afforded to me and the pay is....well you know....but I just feel like I'm dying on the inside a little day by day and becoming some kind of Oil Company Robot lol it sounds silly and kinda hard to explain, both those who have felt it know what I'm talking about. I would say im really passionate about leaving an impact on the business world, through my own wierd combination of creativty and dynamic delivery, but im not developing any of those abilities currently, thus my decision to pursue an MBA...seriously who wants to be a Robot lol so whether it's through a marketing and branding focus or some sort of corporate strategy concentration, I have firgured that part out yet..I just know deep inside I'll find the answer at Bschool.....well if I ever get through this GMAT lol but that's for another post

@TripleDetroit You ain't never lie! It would be good to see more us at those events.
The GMAT had been a struggle for me but I'm improving. Having a support for this GMAT
is crucial. I can't count how many times I have cried because of this test (yes cried) but I'm
a soldier. 720 is an AMAZING score. I hope thy I can score that high but if not
I will settle for a 700.

Now for my introduction since I did being it up, I am Nadia ( as you can see from the screen name)
I attended and HBCU. I'm a member of the illustrious Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Innnnnnnnnnncorporated.
Started my career at JPMorgan Chase as a Credit Analyst, left and entered DuPont's Finance
Leadership Rotational Program: 1st rotation Finance Analyst-IT Security &Controls, and now I am currently
an Accountant for their Fluroproducts business. Post MBA I plant to enter the Asset Management/Investment Management
industry.

Hello fellow future MBAers.

I would like some advice. I applied to ML4T before the R2 deadline on 12/1/2013. I neither received an interview nor a rejection. I'm already anticipating the dreaded ding letter, as I have several friends who interviewed weeks ago. I don't know how to make myself into a more marketable prospect. I'm a career switcher. My goal was to do a PhD in finance, but that dream was derailed after the financial crisis, so I finished with a graduate Econ degree from Duke. I know MLT is notorious for snagging the best talent then adding the MLT brand to the talent. I don't know if I have too much work experience (~7) or what. My GPA was 3.6 in Actuarial Science and my submitted sample GMAT was 680. I'm 33. Do you think that's the issue? Any advice would be welcome.

Hello Mightyo30,

Let me first insert my disclaimer-"I not a member of the MLT Admission Team, and any info given has not been confirmed by MLT.
Ok, now from my research, from reading blogs and posts from MLT fellows and those who were rejected, the most common ding reason is Too much work experience and Too little.

I do know that the practice exam doesn't really mean much because anyone could have taken it for you (I'm not implying that you didn't do it yourself) but
how would they know that? Or you could have also taken the exam without the timer (again I am not saying that you did). So the practice exam is more so for them to see that you have experience with the exam, and that you prepare for taking the actual
exam.


I applied Nov 29th and have yet to hear back. This process will have you doubting yourself...but then I had to put myself back in check.
I know my work experience is excellent because a number of employees, who work for the same company as me left to attend
top 10 programs. So with that being said, please do not doubt yourself, people over thirty do gain admission into MBA programs,
BUT they have to approach the application differently. I am not too sure if GPA is a major factor because I have a 3.86 and took honors courses
since I was a member of the School's honors program.

I am really hoping that they just haven't gotten to our applications, but it has been quite some time now.
Let's keep hope alive. A few round one applicants received invites for interviews in January. My issue is that the program is suppose to
officially start in March (I think) and the gmat is due by Feb 28th. I feel like I am prepared to sit for the exam, but I will not if I
do not receive an interview invite. I hope this helps

mightyo30 wrote:Hello fellow future MBAers.

I would like some advice. I applied to ML4T before the R2 deadline on 12/1/2013. I neither received an interview nor a rejection. I'm already anticipating the dreaded ding letter, as I have several friends who interviewed weeks ago. I don't know how to make myself into a more marketable prospect. I'm a career switcher. My goal was to do a PhD in finance, but that dream was derailed after the financial crisis, so I finished with a graduate Econ degree from Duke. I know MLT is notorious for snagging the best talent then adding the MLT brand to the talent. I don't know if I have too much work experience (~7) or what. My GPA was 3.6 in Actuarial Science and my submitted sample GMAT was 680. I'm 33. Do you think that's the issue? Any advice would be welcome.

In my opinion, you sound like a great top MBA candidate, but not necessarily a great MLT candidate. I believe MLT seeks candidates with less than seven years of experience with a clear career path thus far. However, they do not really spell those requirements out. Does that make sense?

Don't doubt yourself though. If you are rejected by MLT just proceed with your MBA prep by yourself. Maybe leverage an admin consultant if you have the money and put your best foot forward. With a strong application, I am confident that you would gain entry into a good program.

Also, in my opinion, with more and more minority candidates doing the MLT program, it could be refreshing to have minority candidates who are not affiliated with the program.

Just my .02 cents.

Shout out to @PersonalBest!!!! That post brings to mind
a possible method that MLT may use to weed out candidates.
After doing a little LinkedIn snooping. A majority of their candidates
have in the same job for quite some time. Ie Internal Audit Associate
E&Y 2 years, Senior Internal Audit Associate 1.5 yrs. I have seen this trend for a
number of fellows. Now occasionally you do see those who switch companies
every 2 to 3 years.

Now for people in rotational development programs, I am not sure how they view
our candidacy, since we switch jobs every 18-24 months and the jobs are never the same.
Companies want a more diverse workforce and employees who have a broad skill set.
The era of the subject matter expert is diminishing. One rotation may be as a Financial Analyst
for Crop Protection the next may be working as a Accountant or as a member of a major corporate project.I'm not sure if MLT is too fond of these types of programs but I know one thing for SURE...B Schools love them.

I feel like I am running my mouth, but I do want to address one concern that almost caused me to not apply to MLT. Now, after speaking with a few fellows, I know that there are a few members from HBCU's in each class, but I feel that that is not enough. After visiting a few business school, and speaking with a few admission folks, it was quite a shock to find out that most top school barely have any HBCU representation in their entering classes.

Now, when I was encouraged to apply to MLT by a fellow Alumna, I did my research and the first thing that stood out to me, while scrolling through their website, was the schools these fellows came from.Harvard, Upenn, Stanford, Cornell, Darmouth, NorthWestern, Duke, UNC, Michigan, UCLA, and Brown U. There are many others schools that are represented but to a person that graduated from an HBCU, it was very intimidating/encouraging at the same time. From my perspective of the website, I felt that the MBA Prep program was geared more towards minorities who attended Ivy Leaugue/Prominent Universities.

I saw NO representation of black talent from HBCU's. I know there are fellows from HBCU's because I know one personally who just got into Stanford for FA 2014, so I know there is hope for us.I am a very competitive person but at the same time I have common sense. I know for a fact that if its between me (an hbcu grad) vs Sarah Marshall (ivy league grad) I know they are picking Sarah, even if she doesnt have better comps than I do. Thats the way of the world.....so with that being said...I think I just sparked an idea for a Non Profit.[/b]

As someone who graduated with honors from a top 20 university but who is also married to an HBCU man (who might I add has a great career makes more money than me), I wish we would focus more on our shared (although varied) struggles instead of our differences. Yes, being a graduate of certain schools makes it easier to get opportunities than being a graduate of other schools, but that's not always a TWI v. HBCU thing. We quickly forget there's a hierarchy among HBCUs (for better or worse). People who go to the well-known HBCUs (fill in Howard, Hampton, Spellhouse, Fisk, maybe even Tuskegee here) get better opportunities than folks who graduated say Huston-Tillotson in Texas. So, to make this a thing of TWI grads v. HBCU grads further divides us and misses the point. Everyone remember two things. 1) There's a ton of different components that go into the MLT and the broader application process 2) Just because someone gets into MLT doesn't mean the journey is over. The purpose of the exercise is to get into school. Everyone continue to pursue your dream and GET INTO SCHOOL.

At this point, I don't think you can worry about what weight, if any, your undergrad degree holds. I did go to a top college and have not heard anything from MLT either. So you are in good company.

In any event, if any of you will visit Columbia or Stern in the coming months and need a place to crash in NYC feel free to let me know. I am happy to host you in my small yet chic apartment. I may not be home, but you are welcome just the same.