Application Advice

MBA Career Goals – Crafting a Compelling Short-Term Vision

You’re probably aware that ambitious, yet realistic MBA career goals are critical to a compelling business school application. Not only that, understanding how business school will accelerate or pivot your career path is essential to justifying the financial and time investment required to pursue an MBA. Many clients we speak with have a general sense of what...

Stanford GSB Essay Tips

Dreaming of Stanford GSB? You're likely thinking about your essays. This guide will help you stand out in a highly competitive applicant pool. Here's everything you need to know to craft a compelling application. Stanford GSB Application Overview 2021-2022 Stanford GSB Application Deadlines Round 1 – September 9, 2021* Round 2 – January 5, 2022* Round 3 / Deferred Enrollment – April...

GMAT and GRE Myths Debunked

As an MBA admissions consultant, I often see applicants struggle with choosing between the GMAT and GRE. The decision can feel overwhelming. Should they take the GMAT or GRE? When should they prepare and sit for the exam? What GMAT or GRE score is ‘good enough’? These are the right questions to ask but, as with nearly...

MBA Essay Advice – Chicago Booth

With the Round 2 deadline quickly approaching, you might be sitting down to tackle your Booth application over the holiday break. Chicago Booth offers numerous points of differentiation. Its urban location and innovative, flexible curriculum set it apart from other top programs. If you’re applying to Booth, here is what you need to know. Application Run Down Deadlines Round...

Are You Behind? Your Round 2 Application Plan

If you’re planning to apply to an MBA program in Round 2, establishing a comprehensive Round 2 Application Plan is essential to meeting your deadlines without compromising quality. Ideally, you already have a strong application strategy and personal brand, allowing you to focus on one of the most critical and time-intensive components: your essays. If you’ve...

Essay Advice – Dartmouth Tuck

If you’re looking for Essay Advice – Dartmouth Tuck, you’re in the right place. You may have seen that Businessweek recently reaffirmed its #2 ranking for Tuck amongst US MBA Programs. While specific rankings are of debatable importance, there’s no doubt that Dartmouth Tuck has amazing attributes to offer – beautiful surroundings, a personalized experience, and...

How to Tackle Kellogg’s Video Essays

With Kellogg’s 2021-2022 Round 1 deadline quickly approaching, our admissions consulting clients have been asking how best to prepare for and tackle Kellogg’s video essays. For context, let’s think about what Kellogg is trying to learn about you from this portion of the application. Since the school leverages alumni (like myself!) to conduct the vast majority of...

Essay Advice – Columbia Business School

Working on your 2021-2022 Columbia Business School application? Here is what you need to know: Application Run Down Columbia is one of the only top schools where the timing of when you click “submit” can matter. Since Columbia has rolling admissions, it’s often to your benefit to submit your application early. This is an important one to stay...

Essay Advice – Kellogg School of Management

Kellogg’s 2021-22 application is open! If you’re considering applying to Kellogg, here is what you need to know: Application Run Down The deadlines are as follows: Round 1: 15 September 2021 Round 2: 5 January 2022 Round 3: 6 April 2022 (please do yourself a favor and don’t wait for Round 3) There are two required essay questions, which remain unchanged from...

The HBS Essay: Where to Start

At first glance, the Harvard Business School essay question seems fairly simple. It remained unchanged again for the 2021-2022 application cycle. The prompt asks: What more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy? However, many candidates feel lost after considering this question. They struggle to figure out what the adcom wants. They wonder...

Essay Advice – University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business

Michigan Ross’ full time MBA application is live! This midwestern stalwart prides itself on its collegial culture and focus on action-based learning. Its location in one of the preeminent ‘college towns’ and passionate alumni network also count as some of this program’s key selling points. If you’re considering applying to Michigan Ross, here is what you need...

Essay Advice – UVA’s Darden School of Business

And so, it begins…the first 2021-22 MBA application is live! Last week, the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business opened their application. It includes a variety of short answer essay prompts. Admissions tweaked the prompts slightly from last year. Darden will continue to offer an early decision round. You can choose binding or non-binding options. In...

How to Develop Your Personal Brand

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 personal...

MBA Career Goals – Part I: Crafting a Compelling Short-Term Vision

As an MBA admissions consultant, I help clients with several critical tasks. First, I help them develop their ‘personal brand’. This is often the most important element. A strong, authentic personal brand is the backbone of success. It drives your entire application. It is the marketing pitch you present to schools that demonstrates three key things. First,...

Unemployed (or Have an Employment Gap) and Applying to Business School? Here’s What to Do

As an MBA admissions consultant, I often help clients with one concern. They want to know how to address an employment gap in their MBA application. The past year brought upheaval. More prospective MBA candidates than usual faced job changes. Many experienced periods of unemployment. They fear admissions committees will view this negatively. They worry about...

Researching MBA Programs When You Can’t Visit

Updated 2.4.21 Researching MBA programs is critical for a winning application. You must demonstrate ‘fit’ with your target schools. This requires understanding both yourself and the program’s culture. This is harder than it sounds! Making an effective case as to why a program is a fit requires a nuanced understanding of both yourself / your goals and...

Announcing Small Group MBA Workshops for Deferred Admissions Applicants

Let’s Get Efficient Deferred MBA admissions candidates: Get expert support through our new Small Group MBA Workshops. We're offering the benefit of working with a Vantage Point MBA consultant in small, high-value sessions. You'll receive personalized feedback. You'll also learn from your fellow participants. Whether you're just getting started or halfway through, these sessions empower you with...

Tackling the HBS Essay? Start with This Step

Updated 11.30.2020  At first glance, the Harvard Business School essay question, which remained unchanged again for the 2020-2021 application cycle, seems fairly simple. What more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy? However, after giving it some thought, many candidates find themselves quite lost, trying to figure out what the adcom is looking for...

Debunking Three Myths About the GMAT/GRE

As an MBA admissions consultant, I find that clients and prospective clients, especially those early in their MBA journeys, are often fraught with anxiety and indecision about standardized testing. Which test should they take? When should they prepare and sit for the exam? Is their score ‘good enough’ or should they retake the test? These are the...

There ARE Dumb Questions: Pitfalls to Avoid in Your MBA Interview

Updated 9.17.20 After interviewing countless MBA candidates for Kellogg, I can solve the mystery of whether your questions matter. They absolutely do. To remain competitive, you must recognize the specific MBA interview questions to avoid. The inquiries you choose demonstrate your level of interest, your listening skills, and your professional engagement. Second, they often demonstrate how well...

How to Tackle Kellogg’s Video Essays

With Kellogg’s 2020-2021 Round 1 deadline quickly approaching, my admissions consulting clients have been asking how best to prepare for and tackle Kellogg’s video essays. For context, let’s think about what Kellogg is trying to learn about you from this portion of the application. Since the school leverages alumni (like myself!) to conduct the vast majority of...

Be The Mosquito!

“If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito.” — Betty Reese In the current environment, the days slowly tick by. Fear often feels unavoidable. Many of us feel helpless and long for the recent past when life felt normal. I know I often do! Sometimes my...

Researching MBA Programs When You Can’t Visit

A successful MBA application demonstrates your alignment with a specific institution. While official websites provide foundational data, school marketing materials often blur together. Top-tier programs all highlight cutting-edge coursework, acclaimed faculty, and premier corporate recruitment networks. Consequently, researching MBA programs when you can’t visit requires a shift toward subjective metrics: institutional culture and personal compatibility. This is...

How to Be a Leader at Work, Even When You’re Not “At Work”

Every MBA applicant must demonstrate leadership at work, regardless of title. A consistent "habit of leadership" differentiates top candidates. Remote work has reduced traditional opportunities like elevator pitches and spontaneous meetings. But clear ways to stand out still exist. Here's how to demonstrate leadership during crisis—no matter where you work. Why You Must Step Up NowMBA applications...

Still in College? HBS 2+2 and Other Deferred MBA Programs May Be For You

  As a college senior, you may wonder if your initial career choices will impact your grad school prospects. If you are seeking flexibility, a deferred admission MBA might be the ideal path to ensure you are appealing to top programs while gaining professional experience. These questions are difficult to answer. After graduation, your career can take many...

What Matters in Choosing an MBA Program

How to Choose an MBA Program: Start With Rankings Rankings from U.S. News, Forbes, and The Economist offer a useful starting point, as they show how the market perceives each school. However, have you noticed how widely they vary? Rankings change by source, methodology, and even year. As a result, this volatility highlights an important truth: you...

These 3 Bullets Should Be On Your MBA Resume

As you apply to business school, using strong MBA resume bullet examples can significantly improve how admissions committees perceive your experience. However, not all resume bullets are created equal! Merely describing your accomplishments often fails to highlight your leadership potential. Admissions committees evaluate leadership as a primary metric. As such, below is a list of three bullets...

Don’t Quit Your Day Job!

MBA applications take up a TON of time!! Studying for the GMAT, visiting schools, writing essays, and prepping recommenders all take effort. We estimate the average applicant spends 150–250 hours applying to business school, depending on the number of schools. That’s essentially a serious part-time job on top of your day job. Every year, I speak with...

Avoid These Three Application Pitfalls

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 three common MBA application pitfalls our team frequently identifies during 'ding analysis.' Avoiding these mistakes is crucial as you...

HBS is Due in Less Than Two Weeks

For those 2018-2019 Round One MBA applicants out there, if you haven’t had the “oh sh#t” moment yet, then you’re probably not paying attention. Harvard Business School applications are due in two weeks. Starting with HBS on 9/5, round one applicants face a crazy couple of weeks as they finalize their applications and make last minute changes...

VP Weekly Three: Top Three Questions About the Waitlist

Finding yourself on the MBA waitlist can feel frustrating after months of hard work. However, being waitlisted doesn't mean sitting idle—most schools welcome updates that strengthen your candidacy. We've received countless questions about the MBA admissions waitlist over the past month. Here are the top three questions answered to help you navigate this critical phase. 1) Will...

VP Weekly Three: Top Three Questions About MBA Letters of Recommendation

The MBA Letters of recommendation often creates anxiety. This is especially true if you've recently changed jobs or prefer not to tell your employer about your business school plans. We constantly hear from candidates unsure who to ask—or worried that admissions committees will read into who skipped writing their MBA recommendation letter. Below, we answer the...

Writer’s Block? Ideas for Starting Your Essays on the Right Path

Many business schools have started releasing their 2017–2018 applications. These releases include the much-anticipated essay questions. For some applicants, this is the fun part. For others, it is the most stressful part. Boiling down your accomplishments, passions, and goals into 500–750 words is difficult. But step one is having something to write about in the first...

Non-Traditional Applicant: Weakness or Strength?

Are you a non-traditional MBA applicant worried your background hurts your chances? Many applicants ask: "I'm a non-traditional applicant — how do I offset this weakness in my application?" Others wonder: "I think that my non-traditional background is a strength in my application because it differentiates me from all the consultants and bankers — do you...

School Choice: How to Decide Where to Apply

"Where should I apply?" This question starts every MBA school selection journey. It's a question that requires diligence and introspection. You want to be thoughtful about MBA school selection for several reasons. Let us guide you through the process. So limit your list strategically. Choose schools that make sense for you while maximizing admission chances. So, you...

The Truth about Round 3

If you’re wondering where the last 5 months went, how they flew by in a blur, you’re not alone! Missed the first two MBA application deadlines? You're not alone. Some candidates even miss three. It happens more than you think. Now you're facing a tough choice. Apply in Round 3? Or wait until next year? We...

Full-Time or Part-Time: Which MBA is Right For You?

Deciding between a full-time vs part-time MBA? You're not alone. Many professionals struggle with this choice. Both options offer the same valuable degree, but the experience differs significantly. I served as admissions director at Chicago Booth's Evening and Weekend MBA Programs. I love discussing FT vs PT options. In the past, 'part-time' suggested a lesser, less rigorous...

How to Use Free Advice for Your MBA Applications

Want free MBA application advice? There's plenty available - from forums to webinars to school presentations. Here's how to use free MBA admissions resources effectively while avoiding common pitfalls. Disclaimer -Vantage Point specializes in providing personalized admissions strategies to applicants aiming for the top schools. So to clarify, this post is not about how to use customized guidance...