It may seem to some that this time of year is far removed from any approaching deadlines. And essay topics for the graduating class of 2019? A long ways off.. Well neither is true. Not only that but in particular, this year deadlines and essays are being released quickly. Here's some that are already out:
Harvard deadlines and essays
Columbia deadlines and essays
UNC Kenan-Flagler deadlines and essays
Stanford deadlines
Dartmouth Tuck deadlines
Indiana Kelley deadlines
HEC Paris (1/17 entry) deadlines
INSEAD (9/17, 1/18 entry) deadlines
So now you're caught up as far as I can tell. I source ClearAdmit on the majority of these, but I do also check the admissions websites of major MBA programs this time of year just to make sure I am on top of what is going on. I'd suggest that if you want to stay on top of the deadlines and essay topics for your top choice schools you subscribe to the ClearAdmit blog and/or bookmark the admissions site of your top schools to make sure you are getting the latest news.
John Couke
john.couke@gmail.com
Showing posts with label UNC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UNC. Show all posts
Monday, May 16, 2016
Thursday, June 20, 2013
UNC Kenan-Flagler Deadlines and Essays for 2013-14 Admissions Season
UNC Kenan-Flagler has released their deadlines and essay topics for those aiming to enter their MBA programs starting in the fall of 2014.
Deadlines:
Round 1 (Early Action) -
Deadline: 10/18/2013
Interview Completed by: 12/2/2013
Decision: 12/13/2013
Round 2 -
Deadline: 12/9/2013
Interview Completed by: 1/24/2014
Decision: 2/3/2014
Round 3 -
Deadline: 1/13/2014
Interview Completed by: 3/10/2014
Decision: 3/17/2014
Round 4 -
Deadline: 3/14/2014
Interview Completed by: 4/11/2014
Decision: 4/28/2014
You can (and should) verify this information here.
Essays:
UNC's essay prompts and other related admissions information can be found at their admissions website.
Essay One (required):
What are the 2 or 3 strengths or characteristics that have driven your career success thus far? What are the other strengths that you would like to leverage in the future? (500 words maximum)
Essay Two (required):
Please describe your short and long term goals post-MBA. Explain how: your professional experience has shaped these goals; why this career option appeals to you; and how you arrived at the decision that now is the time and the MBA is the appropriate degree. (500 words maximum)
Essay Three (required):
What personal qualities or life experiences distinguish you from other applicants? How do these qualities or experiences equip you to contribute to UNC Kenan-Flagler? (500 words maximum)
Essay Four (optional):
If your standardized test scores are low, or if you have not had coursework in core business subjects (calculus, microeconomics, statistics, financial accounting), please tell us how you plan to prepare yourself for the quantitative rigor of the MBA curriculum. (300 words maximum)
Essay Five (optional):
Is there any other information you would like to share that is not presented elsewhere in the application?
(300 words maximum)
John Couke
john.couke@gmail.com
Deadlines:
Round 1 (Early Action) -
Deadline: 10/18/2013
Interview Completed by: 12/2/2013
Decision: 12/13/2013
Round 2 -
Deadline: 12/9/2013
Interview Completed by: 1/24/2014
Decision: 2/3/2014
Round 3 -
Deadline: 1/13/2014
Interview Completed by: 3/10/2014
Decision: 3/17/2014
Round 4 -
Deadline: 3/14/2014
Interview Completed by: 4/11/2014
Decision: 4/28/2014
You can (and should) verify this information here.
Essays:
UNC's essay prompts and other related admissions information can be found at their admissions website.
Essay One (required):
What are the 2 or 3 strengths or characteristics that have driven your career success thus far? What are the other strengths that you would like to leverage in the future? (500 words maximum)
Essay Two (required):
Please describe your short and long term goals post-MBA. Explain how: your professional experience has shaped these goals; why this career option appeals to you; and how you arrived at the decision that now is the time and the MBA is the appropriate degree. (500 words maximum)
Essay Three (required):
What personal qualities or life experiences distinguish you from other applicants? How do these qualities or experiences equip you to contribute to UNC Kenan-Flagler? (500 words maximum)
Essay Four (optional):
If your standardized test scores are low, or if you have not had coursework in core business subjects (calculus, microeconomics, statistics, financial accounting), please tell us how you plan to prepare yourself for the quantitative rigor of the MBA curriculum. (300 words maximum)
Essay Five (optional):
Is there any other information you would like to share that is not presented elsewhere in the application?
(300 words maximum)
John Couke
john.couke@gmail.com
Thursday, August 16, 2012
UNC Kenan-Flagler 2012-13 MBA Admissions Essays
Here are the essay questions for applying to the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA for a seat in the class starting in the fall of 2013.
Required Essays:
1. What are the 2 or 3 strengths or characteristics that have driven your career success thus far? What are the other strengths that you would like to leverage in the future? (500 words maximum)
2. Please describe your short and long term goals post-MBA. Explain how your professional experience has shaped these goals; why this career option appeals to you; and how you arrived at the decision that now is the time and the MBA is the appropriate degree. (500 words maximum)
3. What personal qualities or life experiences distinguish you from other applicants? How do these qualities or experiences equip you to contribute to UNC Kenan-Flagler? (500 words maximum)
Optional Essays:
4. If your standardized test scores are low, or if you have not had coursework in core business subjects (calculus, mathematics, statistics, financial accounting), please tell us how you plan to prepare yourself for the quantitative rigor of the MBA curriculum. (300 words maximum)
5. Is there any other information you would like to share that is not presented elsewhere in the application? (300 words maximum)
As always, do confirm application information directly at the Kenan-Flagler admissions pages.
John Couke
john.couke@gmail.com
Required Essays:
1. What are the 2 or 3 strengths or characteristics that have driven your career success thus far? What are the other strengths that you would like to leverage in the future? (500 words maximum)
2. Please describe your short and long term goals post-MBA. Explain how your professional experience has shaped these goals; why this career option appeals to you; and how you arrived at the decision that now is the time and the MBA is the appropriate degree. (500 words maximum)
3. What personal qualities or life experiences distinguish you from other applicants? How do these qualities or experiences equip you to contribute to UNC Kenan-Flagler? (500 words maximum)
Optional Essays:
4. If your standardized test scores are low, or if you have not had coursework in core business subjects (calculus, mathematics, statistics, financial accounting), please tell us how you plan to prepare yourself for the quantitative rigor of the MBA curriculum. (300 words maximum)
5. Is there any other information you would like to share that is not presented elsewhere in the application? (300 words maximum)
As always, do confirm application information directly at the Kenan-Flagler admissions pages.
John Couke
john.couke@gmail.com
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
How to Find and Show Fit with an MBA Program
What is fit? Fit, defined simply, is the linkage between what an MBA program has to offer, and what strengths/abilities/experiences you need in order to position yourself to achieve your goals. MBA programs are quite different from each other. Those that feel the experience at ABC school is going to essentially be the same as the experience at XYZ school are not looking at programs deeply enough. Schools differ on many levels, many of which we will explore in this article. One of the most important things an applicant needs to do is figure out which programs really suit their needs, and once they have found such a program, demonstrate this fit in their application and interview. This works on many levels.
1) It will help you find the right program for you.
This should be self-evident. If you are going to spend 1 or 2 years of your life at an MBA, and develop skills and a network that will last for many years beyond that, you want to be sure you are in the best possible program - for you. As noted earlier, not all programs are created equally.
2) It will help you craft a strong application demonstrating why it is best for you.
This is important. In your application to an MBA, you need to demonstrate why their school is the best choice for you. This works on many levels. First, if you can demonstrate in your application that there is good fit between what the school offers and what you are looking for, you give the appearance of being a safe choice. In other words, if the school offers you a seat, you are likely to take it - because you have shown you value their school. Schools are protective of their yield (the percentage of offers made that are accepted by applicants), as a high yield can lead to increased prestige and even higher rankings too. In addition, demonstrating fit in your application makes you a safe choice because it shows the chances are high that you will be a happy student once enrolled (because you'll be getting what you wanted), as well as a happy alum once you leave the program. Failing to demonstrate fit in your application makes you a bit of a wild card: if they admit you, will you choose to enroll, will you be happy there? What if it turns out this program is not what you were looking for or what you really need? This would not benefit you, or the school.
Given the importance of having a strong fit with a program, it is no wonder that one of the most typical and most important questions you need to answer in essays (and definitely in interviews) is: Why do you want to attend this school?
The list that follows below includes some characteristics of MBA programs that demonstrate how programs differ from each other, and can be used for research, or even towards making clear examples of fit in your essays and interview. It is not exhaustive, but it does serve well as a good starting point.
The Courses
Obviously this is a good initial place to look when considering programs. What do you want to learn, and in particular, in which areas do you hope to be able to do deep dives? Exploring lists of electives is a good way of seeing which programs offer the education you are looking for. Moreover, how are the courses organized? If you want to go into HR management post-MBA, it might be wise to study organizational behavior before your internship. Is this possible? What for the banker aiming to go into consulting? Obviously the MBA offers the typical basket of skills, but will one program make you choose between important electives, where another might allow you to take both? As you consider the ideal courses for you, and even their timing or availability, some programs will rise to the top, while others might eliminate themselves from contention.
Other Academic Opportunities
This section is necessarily broad, because there are so many possibilities to consider. Here are just two:
a) Capstone (experiential) programs: are they offered, and if so in the industry or even with a company that will add value to your experience?
b) Overseas trips or study experiences: can you build networks in the places you need to? How much choice do you have in choosing where you might study, and what you might do there?
Clubs and Extra-Curricular Opportunities
What personal goals have you established for your MBA experience? Do you want to be in a place where not only you but your entire family can benefit from the international experience? All programs have some variety of Partners Clubs or events for family members, but further research will help you to find the programs that are ideal for you. What else is important to you? If you desire to be in an Asian Marketing Club, a South American Business Club, or to even create a new club, you'll find quickly that not all programs are created equally.
The Professors
Who will be teaching the programs you wish to attend? Some professors offer benefits over others, such as industry or region-specific experience, a network in a certain field or a research interest in a particular and focused area. As such, this area of your MBA experience should definitely not be overlooked.
The Characteristics of the Program
Do you value teamwork, or hands-on learning? Again, not all programs are created equal. Are you interested in learning via case studies or lectures from professors? The difference in the experience here is substantial. Are grades given to project teams, or individual members? How is in-class participation graded? Are courses graded on curves, with only (for instance) a fixed number of As offered to students? This will define, in many ways, the amount of competition or collaboration between yourself and your classmates.
The School's Reputation
By this I don't just mean "is the program known for its strength in marketing or finance". This is of course important, but in addition, does the school have a reputation for helping students change careers? Has its graduates been successful gaining employment in certain industries or functions, or in certain parts of the world? What companies come to recruit on campus? Is the brand or name-recognition of the program high in your own country? If so, it may help to open valuable doors for you.
The School's Mission
What does the program exist to do? What kind of leaders are they aiming to create? Does this agree with what you want to do in the future, how you see the world, or how you aim to change yourself?
Atmosphere / Culture and Other Students
This is why it is important to a) visit campus and b) talk with alumni of the program. Because without doing both, it is hard for you to truly envision whether this school is where you want to spend the next 1 or 2 years of your life. How do students interact with each other in class, on campus, and in social events? All schools attempt to forge bonds amongst members of their student body - but not all bonds are created equal. In terms of the other students in the program, this is on one hand very obvious, and on the other difficult to figure out. You may be able to access demographics of previous classes, but you won't know more about your own classmates until you actually choose a program.
The Location of the Program
This is not about the weather. Rather, what opportunities does the program have regular access to? The proximity of a few top Californian MBAs to Silicon Valley is one obvious example, although it should be noted this entrepreneurial region is visited by MBAs from all over the US (let alone other countries too). What kind of opportunities are you looking for in your MBA, and beyond? If your goal is to land a job in a top Canadian company, than Rotman, Ivey or Schulich might inch closer to the top of your list. If learning Spanish or French as a third language is of value to you, programs in Spain or France might work better. If, on the other hand, your goal is to become a specialist in Asian business, a program in China, Singapore, or even Japan might fit best.
Again, this is not an exhaustive list - there are certainly more places to look. The point here is that what you need most might not be the same as others - so find the program that fits you best, and then give specific evidence of this fit in your application essays and during the interview.
More reading (from admissions counselors):
More reading (from schools):
What makes Berkeley-Haas the right MBA program for you? (The Full-Time Berkeley MBA Admissions Blog)
John Couke
john.couke@gmail.com
Friday, May 25, 2012
UNC Kenan-Flagler Releases 2012-13 Application Deadlines
The Kenan-Flagler Business School at UNC has announced their application deadlines for the upcoming 2012-13 admissions season.
Deadline 1 *
Application received by: 10/19/2012
Interview completed by: 12/3/2012
Decision release date: 12/10/2012
Deadline 2
Application received by: 12/7/2012
Interview completed by: 1/25/2013
Decision release date: 2/4/2013
Deadline 3
Application received by: 1/11/2013
Interview completed by: 3/11/2013
Decision release date: 3/18/2013
Deadline 4
Application received by: 3/15/2013
Interview completed by: 4/12/2013
Decision release date: 4/29/2013
* Early action deadline.
The admissions office must also receive official GMAT or GRE (if applicable) and TOEFL scores by the application deadline in order to consider your application in that cycle.
As always, please confirm all information directly with the school. Their official admissions site is here.
John Couke
john.couke@gmail.com
Deadline 1 *
Application received by: 10/19/2012
Interview completed by: 12/3/2012
Decision release date: 12/10/2012
Deadline 2
Application received by: 12/7/2012
Interview completed by: 1/25/2013
Decision release date: 2/4/2013
Deadline 3
Application received by: 1/11/2013
Interview completed by: 3/11/2013
Decision release date: 3/18/2013
Deadline 4
Application received by: 3/15/2013
Interview completed by: 4/12/2013
Decision release date: 4/29/2013
* Early action deadline.
The admissions office must also receive official GMAT or GRE (if applicable) and TOEFL scores by the application deadline in order to consider your application in that cycle.
As always, please confirm all information directly with the school. Their official admissions site is here.
John Couke
john.couke@gmail.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)