The Tuesday Q&A: European Debt Crisis and Post-MBA Jobs

QUESTION: I’m considering applying to MBA programs in Europe, but I’m a little worried. How has the debt crisis affected job placements in European business schools? ANSWER: A valid concern, my friend. And one I am sure maaaany MBA-aspirants are thinking at this very moment. Now, I’m no macroeconomist and I wouldn’t want to make any broad assumptions, but looking at employment statistics of the most recent MBA graduates, the biggest change we see is… well, no change at all. For …
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From Our Consultants: Getting a Head Start on 2013

Application deadlines for MBA programs that start in 2013 are a looong ways away. Hell, b-schools haven’t even finalized their class lists for 2012 yet, so there’s no reason to start thinking about those 2013 apps, right? Nnnope. Round 1 deadlines may not be coming for 6 months, but that doesn’t mean you have 6 months to sit around and twiddle your thumbs. On the contrary, it means you have 6 extra months to improve your profile and increase your …
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The Tuesday Q&A: Connecting with Your Interviewer

QUESTION: I’ve got an interview coming up and I did some due diligence on my interviewer and found his current job and background. Could I mention it during the interview, or would that sound offensive? ANSWER: Ah, the old “stalk ‘em on the Internet” trick. I love it. And I love how you call it “due diligence”; sounds way less creepy than saying you “Googled their name, looked ‘em up on LinkedIn and even found their photos on Picasa.” You …
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GMAT Trends and How They Will Impact YOU

The people over at the GMAC – you know, the folks behind the good ol’ GMAT exam – have access to some unique data. Data which they recently packaged into a verrry interesting report about the current state of graduate study around the world: who’s applying, how many people are applying, and where all those people wanna study. The data, collected over the past 5 years, is plentiful. And, full disclosure, not that fun to sift through. But there are …
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The Tuesday Q&A: Are Lofty Career Goals a Bad Thing?

QUESTION: I’ve just started working on my essays and I’m starting to second-guess my long-term goals. Are there any significant risks if your long-term goals are grand? Say, finding a treatment for AIDs or cancer, or, feeding the hungry in Africa? ANSWER: Wow, those are some big goals, dude. And some might say, unrealistic. Now, I don’t want to say that, because who am I to tell you that you won’t find a cure for cancer or feed the hungry …
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Register Now: The Art of the Indian MBA Application Webinar

Applying to business school is challenging for anyone, but especially for Indian applicants. You have a unique set of obstacles to overcome, beyond scoring well on the TOEFL. Coming from such a competitive applicant pool, it’s often hard to stand out from the pack. Especially when many people in that pack are scoring exceptionally high on the GMAT. And then there’s the small number of spots reserved for International students, and the many other cultural barriers standing between you and …
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Introducing: Precision Essay MBA Application Bootcamps

Getting an MBA is hard. And getting into b-school is the first challenge. There’s a lot to know – from figuring out where you should apply, to understanding what the admissions committees are looking for, to determining how to case your personal story. It’s a daunting process, and having an edge over the competition requires a lot of preparation and knowledge We know a little something something about that (we’ve been helping applicants navigate the process long enough, after all) …
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The Tuesday Q&A: How to Handle the HBS 2+2 Interview

QUESTION: I’m a senior in college and I have an interview for the HBS 2+2 program. Since I have limited work experience (a couple of internships), can I focus on how I’ve led extracurricular groups at school? And what else should I focus on while I prepare? ANSWER: First off, congratulations on getting an interview for HBS 2+2. That is a hiiiighly selective program, so getting an interview is no joke. Wahoo! So, what should you discuss in that interview? …
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What B-School Teaches You… That the Real World Can’t

The first thing people ask themselves when they’re considering getting an MBA is “do I need it?” And the question that typically follows, and one we hear quite often around here, is: “What is b-school gonna teach me, anyway?” Both are very fair concerns. You’re gonna be spending some serious cash on business school, so you better be sure it’s worth the investment. So, what can business school teach you that the real world can’t? Well, our knee-jerk reaction to …
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The Tuesday Q&A: Should I Interview On-Campus, or Off?

QUESTION: I’ve been invited to interview at Wharton and I have the option of doing my interview in India in the next week, or on campus in 3 weeks. While I’d like to visit campus for my interview, I’m just not sure if i can make it happen in such a short time frame. Is not visiting going to look bad for me? ANSWER: Suuure, happy to offer up some thoughts. I have spoken with adcoms directly about this exact issue. …
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