Last year I had a client who called me panic. “I showed my applications to several co-workers and they completely tore apart my essays! What do I do?” This client had a compelling, authentic story. And for context, he was ultimately admitted to every program he applied to. ...
The resume you used to get your last job is not the one you will use to apply to business school. I know, it’s frustrating! You perfected your resume to land a job, only to find that you’re going to have to rework it for your MBA application. I promise you, it’s a worthwhile time investment!...
Whether you're concerned about job stability, visa policies, or long-term planning, the decision to pursue an MBA in uncertain times may be on your mind. ...
Are starting a new job and applying to business school mutually exclusive? Whether your recent career transition was driven by a disappointing bonus, continued layoffs in the finance or tech sectors, or an unexpected job offer, it’s completely normal to wonder how the move will impact...
We love this time of year because we get to connect with so many aspiring MBAs. One of the most common questions we hear is: “I’m planning to retake the GMAT or GRE. Should I wait until I have my final score before hiring an MBA admissions consultant?”...
Are you debating whether to apply via the the Consortium in Round 2 (deadline is Jan. 5th, 2025)? Or perhaps you’re ready to dive in but feeling overwhelmed by the additional essays and their unique focus? Either way, we’ve got you covered!...
Truly spectacular letters of recommendation complement and enhance an MBA application seamlessly. But before agonizing over the content that you want your recommenders to include in their respective letters, make sure you have dedicated ample time to choosing the right individuals....
Did you know that many of the highly valued qualities that make an athlete successful also make a business leader impactful? MBA admissions committees highly value applicants who demonstrate a collaborative spirit, competitive drive, and commitment to pursuing perfection in their MBA applications....
If you’re anything like most MBA applicants, you probably haven’t dusted off your undergrad transcript and taken a close look in several years. Most applicants are understandably focused on their overall GPA (because MBA programs publish a mean or range for each admitted class) and the brand associated with their undergraduate institution (because they have an...
In our recent series on developing compelling MBA career goals (click to read Part I and Part II), I discussed how these goals are an integral component of your ‘personal brand’. So, what is a personal brand exactly and how do you go about discovering yours? What Is a Personal Brand and Why Does It Matter? The...
This time of year, our team is doing a lot of “ding analysis”, which is when someone who applied this past year asks our team to help them understand what went wrong. Below are some of the common pitfalls we see, which we hope will help you know what to avoid as you start the MBA...
Updated 2.4.21 A critical component of a winning MBA application is demonstrating that you are the perfect “fit” for the school to which you are applying and that you are excited about that specific program. This is harder than it sounds! Making an effective case as to why a program is a fit requires a nuanced understanding...
Updated 12.14.20 So, you’re on the waitlist for your dream school? It wasn’t the decision you were hoping for, but the good news is that you’re still in the running. Being on the waitlist means that the adcom really liked you and thought you would be a great fit for their program but, for any number of...
Updated 10.1.20 With Round 2 deadlines roughly three months away, now is a great time to get started on your MBA resume, if you haven’t already. As an MBA admissions consultant, I often find that clients underestimate the importance of the resume portion of their application and are surprised by the number of iterations we work through...
A big part of putting together a winning MBA application is demonstrating that you are the perfect “fit” for the school you are applying to, and that you are excited about that specific program and school. The schools' websites only get you so far; they start to blur together as the top schools all offer cutting...
It’s already February, and while it may seem like you have plenty of time before the first round of MBA application deadlines, there are several things that you can be doing right now to give yourself a leg up on applications this year (and reduce your stress level in the fall). We recommend that you take...
The resume you used to get your last job is not the one you will use to apply to business school. I know - it’s frustrating. You spent hours getting it right to go out into the job market, only to find that you’re going to have to rework that small but powerful document in order...
If you’re planning to apply to an MBA program round 1, it’s go-time! Many schools have already released essay topics and deadlines, so hopefully you already have a strong application strategy and personal brand that you’re leveraging to start thinking about how to approach one of the most critical and time-intensive aspects of the applications: the...
At first glance, the Harvard Business School essay question, which will remain unchanged again this year, seems fairly simple. What more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy? However, after giving it some more thought, many candidates find themselves quite lost, trying to figure out what the adcom is looking for and...
It’s not “we” it’s “me”. For the ladies out there, repeat that one again to yourself. For a large portion of the women I work with each year who are applying to the top MBA programs, at some point in the process we talk about the “W”: not win, not woman, “we”. Women, much more so than...
Last week we presented to a large bank’s analyst class, and one of the first questions we were asked was “when should I start working on my applications if I’m applying in the fall?” It seems so far away...
This time of year, our team is doing a lot of “ding analysis”, which is when someone who applied last year comes to us and asks our team to help them understand what went wrong. Below are some of the common pitfalls that we’ve seen, and that you can avoid as you start the application process...
Business leaders can have an enormous impact on enhancing communities and the world through finding creative solutions to some of society’s most pressing challenges. For example, Coca-Cola’s robust supply chain has brought much-needed medications to rural areas in developing countries, and Google supplies innovative educational technology to school systems in need around the country. What will...
Every week we speak with MBA applicants who are trying to figure out how the MBA application process works and how they stack up to the competition. So, in this series we will track the best questions we’ve received and periodically send out a summary of the answers (think FAQ style) to help fast track the...
More often than not, when I bring-up the topic of how to demonstrate “leadership experience” in an MBA application, the response is “but I’m not in a management position”. Truly, that’s OK. The average age of most entering classes hovers around 26-28, so it’s not a surprise if you haven’t yet started managing a team. The...
This year's MBA applications will be released by the schools sometime in June or July (on average). So what can you be doing now? A lot. If you start now, then you can knock out some of the low hanging fruit and be ready to hunker down once the applications come out. First thing’s first - if you...
Low undergrad GPA? Whether it was because you chose the toughest major at your university, had a little too much fun, or were so involved in extracurriculars that you didn’t have enough time to study, the good news is that this is one of the easiest items to mitigate in your MBA applications. For most people, college...
Over the last few years, the University of California Berkeley's (Haas) Part-Time MBA program has been consistently ranked as one of the top part-time programs in the country. Last year, U.S. News and World Report once again ranked Haas #1 overall, ahead of other longstanding high-ranked programs, Booth and Kellogg. The Haas Part-Time MBA program, including the...
It may be “only January” now, but for most busy MBA applicants, the deadlines sneak-up faster than you think. As such, we compiled a list of best practices from our clients this past year that can help guide you over the next few months. Schedule Your Class Visits Now “I visited all of my target schools the year...
More so than any other year, this year we’ve had a ton of calls from people who the deadlines have snuck up on. Whether you were (or still are) engrossed in the election, busy at work, or simply having too much fun, you’re not alone if you’re just now staring at the MBA application “to do”...
This week’s exit poll is from a client, Harrison, who recently completed the group interview (Team-Based Discussion) at Wharton. Below we summarized his day and experience for all of those round 2 Wharton hopefuls! After arriving in Philly around 10:00am (give yourself plenty of time - you never know how traffic will be), Harrison went directly to...
You can read about each school’s interview process all over the internet, and we can tell you from our experience what it’s like all day long. However, what we’ve found is that applicants really appreciate hearing first-hand from someone who is still sweating from the experience. So, we’ve selected one client for each school who we...
From free consultations with admissions consultants, “ask” forums, peer evaluations, and webinars, to the endless supply of interview reports, and school presentations, there is a ton of free stuff out there to help you on your MBA journey. Here’s how to make the most out of it while avoiding common pitfalls. Disclaimer -Vantage Point specializes in providing personalized...
“Stanford will pay you to attend its business school-but only if you agree to work in the Midwest.”(Business Insider, September 27, 2016) This is likely the most intriguing statement we have heard in years. As MBA admissions consultants we talk to our clients consistently about post MBA plans: including industry, job function and location. With the MBA...
As an MBA applicant, you have probably visited your target schools, spoken with alumni and maybe even spoken with current students to assess the culture and fit of the school with your goals. As we tell all of our clients, the more you know about the schools and what life is really like, the better. Why?...
“If I only had a dollar for every time you pulled me back from the ledge!” A current client sent me the email above the other night right after a back-and-forth where he was worryin g about his GPA and GMAT quant score, both of which are fine. I get it - I’ve been there. Although it’s been...
Hope everyone's MBA applications are off to a fantastic start! Whether you're in marketing now or aspire to take that first marketing class in business school, you probably already know the value of understanding your customer or target audience. So, to help as you move into the essay-writing phase, we've gathered information on a sample set of...
Over the last few weeks, many schools have released their 2016-2017 deadlines and essay topics. The MBA application year is certainly in full swing! If you haven't already, now is an ideal time to set a date for GMAT and research schools. We recommend talking to alumni and visiting the campuses (if summer visits are available...
At this point, many of the top schools have now released their R1 deadlines and essay topics. Please see below for all of the deadlines that we have thus far. As always, continue to check our blog as we update this. Most deadlines should be posted by sometime in July but for now, it's great to...
We've now added Ross and UNC Kenan-Flagler to our aggregated R1 deadlines calendar. Ross and UNC recently released their deadlines and essay topics the upcoming application year - so there's no better time to start than now! Note that UNC has an early action option (the October deadline) and its official "round 1" deadline is in...
Now that Columbia's essay topics are out, we know that many of you have already gotten started! Below, we listed a few tidbits about Columbia to keep in mind as you are developing your story and rationale for "why Columbia". Even if Columbia isn't on your list, we recommend that you take a look at the Columbia...
Columbia is unique among top MBA programs because the timing of your application submission can significantly impact your chances. With its rolling admissions, applying early often works to your advantage. If you're considering applying to Columbia Business School, staying informed about Columbia Business School admissions and Columbia MBA application deadlines is essential. Success in this competitive...
Stanford's application deadlines are as follows: Round 1 - September 21, 2016 Round 2 - January 10, 2017 Round 3 - April 5, 2017 Look for essay topics coming out sometime in June. Time to get started! Contact us to start strategizing: www.vantagepointadmissions.com...
When I was applying to business school, I was lucky to work in an environment (an investment bank) where I was surrounded by MBA graduates. And as such, I was voracious about soliciting their advice and feedback as I started the MBA application process. It was helpful to hear their stories of why they selected particular...
Round 1 applications aren't due until September and October on average, so you have plenty of time, right? Not really. The window of time to visit and sit in on a classes in the fall is extremely short (see below for why sitting in on a class is the most important part!) Sometimes there are only...
