Hi,
1. I am thinking of applying to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Chicago, maybe Kellogg. I think I can get my act together and apply to one first round and the others second round. Does anyone have advice for how to approach this - i.e. HBS is my top choice, so I assume best to apply second when I have had some experience/practice/more time on my essays. Or should I just apply to all second round? I have written drafts of my essays but they're not very good..I need to ask for recommendations very soon (hoping within a week) if I apply for any first round.
2. How many schools does a typical applicant apply to?
3. I am thinking of asking for the following recommendations. Does anyone have advice?
Harvard: three recommendations, two professional
Stanford: three recommendations, two professional (one current), one peer
Wharton: two, preferably from supervisors
Chicago: two, at least one from supervisor
Kellogg: two, at least one current
I am thinking of asking:
1. EITHER: A past supervisor who is an "executive director" level in finance at a bulge bracket, who I think really liked me, served as a mentor and can probably give a good recommendation, though I get the feeling he wants me to stay within the firm so not sure how that will impact it. He was Penn undergrad and did not attend Business School
VS
A past supervisor who is an "Associate" level in finance at the same company, so less senior as the Executive Director. He also really liked me and we had a great working relationship. However, he is less senior.
------> Which would you suggest? I think either one would write a great recommendation, but the associate is a lot more dependable (I know i can be 100% frank with him), however, the executive director is two ranks senior
2. I just changed to another office within the company, so I would only have been working with these people for ~2 months. Do you think I should explain why I cannot ask these people for recommendations, or should I wait for 2nd round to ask them to write a recommendation??
3. I am thinking of asking my undergrad thesis advisor to write a recommendation - he is a currently HBS faculty. However, I am not sure how good a recommendation he would write because it's been 3 years since I've seen him. I know he liked me during the process but it's not like I worked closely with him every day. I don't really have any other suitable non-professional recommendations from the last 2 years that I think would be impressive.
Does anyone have any advice????? I really appreciate it. Completely lost.
1. I am thinking of applying to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Chicago, maybe Kellogg. I think I can get my act together and apply to one first round and the others second round. Does anyone have advice for how to approach this - i.e. HBS is my top choice, so I assume best to apply second when I have had some experience/practice/more time on my essays. Or should I just apply to all second round? I have written drafts of my essays but they're not very good..I need to ask for recommendations very soon (hoping within a week) if I apply for any first round.
2. How many schools does a typical applicant apply to?
3. I am thinking of asking for the following recommendations. Does anyone have advice?
Harvard: three recommendations, two professional
Stanford: three recommendations, two professional (one current), one peer
Wharton: two, preferably from supervisors
Chicago: two, at least one from supervisor
Kellogg: two, at least one current
I am thinking of asking:
1. EITHER: A past supervisor who is an "executive director" level in finance at a bulge bracket, who I think really liked me, served as a mentor and can probably give a good recommendation, though I get the feeling he wants me to stay within the firm so not sure how that will impact it. He was Penn undergrad and did not attend Business School
VS
A past supervisor who is an "Associate" level in finance at the same company, so less senior as the Executive Director. He also really liked me and we had a great working relationship. However, he is less senior.
------> Which would you suggest? I think either one would write a great recommendation, but the associate is a lot more dependable (I know i can be 100% frank with him), however, the executive director is two ranks senior
2. I just changed to another office within the company, so I would only have been working with these people for ~2 months. Do you think I should explain why I cannot ask these people for recommendations, or should I wait for 2nd round to ask them to write a recommendation??
3. I am thinking of asking my undergrad thesis advisor to write a recommendation - he is a currently HBS faculty. However, I am not sure how good a recommendation he would write because it's been 3 years since I've seen him. I know he liked me during the process but it's not like I worked closely with him every day. I don't really have any other suitable non-professional recommendations from the last 2 years that I think would be impressive.
Does anyone have any advice????? I really appreciate it. Completely lost.
