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QUESTION: I also have a question about “fit.” When asked about “why this school” in an essay, what is the best way to answer? If I say about the name of the course and the name of the professor who teaches the course I like, would that be enough? How deep should I dig? ANSWER: Here’s the thing about explaining your fit at a school: it’s important. And one big mistake LOTS of applicants make is not digging deep enough. …
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QUESTION: [This question came to us from a friend on Quora.] Why should I choose HBS over Stanford GSB? ANSWER: Great question, eh? First off, anyone who has to choose between these two world class programs… well, that’s a GREAT problem to have. In most respects, you really can’t go wrong.  But let’s say you DID have to choose. Why should you choose one over the other? [Just a note: I hate to pick sides here (since we send so many …
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We’ve all read the rankings. We all know what US News thinks of b-schools in the United States, and what the Financial Times thinks of b-school programs around the world. But what do real people think? You know, the people who actually went to these programs. Why did THEY choose to get their MBA from that specific program? And what makes that MBA program unique? Well, let’s find out. We asked our team of consultants to share the #1 thing …
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QUESTION: I have always liked Kellogg, especially when I went to visit the school a few times. I really want to go there, but I’m not sure if I can get in. A little about me: I attended a top undergraduate program in China, where I majored in management. I then got a Master’s in the US from a top-10 university. I have a 3.3 GPA, 750 on my GMAT and a TOEFL waiver. I’ll have two years of full-time …
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QUESTION: I keep hearing you say that people should start their applications early. But the essay prompts won’t be out for a few more months still. What can I really do now? ANSWER: This is a very good question. Why? Because I know there are so many people reading this right now, just sitting around and waiting for those application essay questions to be released. And let me tell you, you’re wasting precious time, my friends. It’s true the essays …
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Looks like the folks behind the GRE are really ramping up their efforts to de-throne the GMAT as the go-to standardized test for b-school admissions.  The GRE has taken a backseat to the GMAT for… well, forever in the world of b-school admissions, and while some MBA programs have begun to accept GRE scores, the GMAT still reigns supreme. But with new changes announced on Tuesday by the Educational Testing service (the company that created the GRE), that may finally …
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QUESTION: I am an Indian male working for an IT company. I have about 9 months of job experience. I understand that business schools get a lot of applications from Indian IT males each year and it is very difficult to stand out in such a crowd of applications with almost similar profiles. I am thinking of quitting my current job and working for an NGO. Will that improve my chances at a business school? If yes, then should that …
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We all know the MBA application process is a tough one. Between researching programs, writing essays, visiting schools, finding recommenders, and, oh yeah, holding a job simultaneously, it’s all too easy to get lost in the shuffle. Like most things in life, it helps to have a plan. And to stick to it. Because, trust us, the last thing you want to do is try and cram everything in the month before those deadlines. [It’s ugly. Very, very ugly.] The …
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