Research MBA Programs

Hi Everyone,

The last 4 to 5 weeks have been great eye openers for both me and the applicants I am currently working with. While some schools such as Kellogg have faired really really low on Networking as the responses that people are giving aren't that great- YES- A lot of existing students in Kellogg have not given a great response rate this year. However, many MANY applicants have been able to create good conversations with applicants from Wharton, Stanford, Ross, Duke and many more. One applicant recently told me that he had a one hour chat with someone from the admissions committee at Ross ( University of Michigan).



Some information in this post might sound repetitive but am sharing it again as it is very relevant to the context I want to create here. I will get to the point RIGHT AWAY: Some of you asked for the Agenda for the near future- And I wanted to write to the masses and address this - the initial efforts will primarily be on

"¢ NETWORKING
"¢ WHY THIS SCHOOL
"¢ SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM GOALS


Some of the most important things to remember while you will be in these activities:

Every School will ask you: What are your short term goals and HOW WILL OUR SCHOOL HELP YOU ACCOMPLISH THEM?

1. Face Rejection from a lot of people: While you network, you will face a lot of rejection from people. Some of these rejections will be passive and will show up in the form of "NO RESPONSE" from 80% of the people you reach out to, the active form of rejection will be when someone tells you - "Why are you reaching out to me?" - YES! It happened, and will happen with you as well- However, this is not a reason for you to stop. Remember- our only intention for networking is to identify the strongest reasons for "WHY IS THAT SCHOOL IMPORTANT FOR ME?" We want to use those reasons in our essays and our interviews and give the admissions committee a real representation of their school
2. BE PERSISTENT: I shared a very important video recently on www.interviewninjas.com If you have not watched it already, go watch it now. It is a free networking video resource for all the TOP TIER MBA Applicants. This video will help you create a strong machinery for a good networking practice( NO GYAAN- Very crisp and RELEVANT). Use the steps mentioned in this video to prepare an excel sheet of the people you reach out to, and use an automated machinery to get more and more people respond to you. If someone does not respond to you for three days, you do not have to THINK OR REFLECT OR DECLARE THAT THE WORLD DOES NOT LIKE YOU. You simply have to take ownership of waking people up.
3. ELEVATOR PITCH: Get your Collateral Ready: When you get on a call with someone, it can get very awkward if you do not know the right questions to ask. The goal of the call is NOT TO BUILD RELATIONSHIP with this person. The goal is to GET HIM TO GIVE YOU INFORMATION THAT FITS in this equation- Your past + MBA = YOUR UNIQUE GOALS - You have to assess how your target MBA program will help you accomplish what you want out of your participation in their MBA Program. The networking initiative will involve the following
a. ELEVATOR PITCH
b. RIGHT QUESTIONS( These questions will depend on your current handicaps- and you and I will address it based on aspirations, your current work experience, and your understanding of your skill sets). This will be initiated right after your Goals are set in order.
c. INITIAL Introductory Email( A lot of applicants underestimate the importance of the initial email. Get this point straight guys- If they do not respond to your first email, it is very likely that you will not be able to connect with them. So, what you write to them is VERY VERY IMPORTANT)


Networking is ONE AREA that is going to bother you a lot if you do not get it right ahead of time. And hey- DO NOT STOP IN THE WAKE OF REJECTIONS BY PEOPLE. They are not against you- do not take it personally. The reality is that they do not know you. You just need the attention of 25% of your target list. Do not waste your conversations with these guys and ask the right questions, and take notes.

Do whatever it takes- GET AN ADMIT

Jatin