If you’re like many MBA hopefuls applying to business school this year, you’ve begun to map out your application approach and are daydreaming in earnest about what it would be like to attend your top choice program. As you consider your own qualifications – both your strengths and your weaknesses – you may wonder, what matters...
Are you familiar with The Consortium, including their MBA member school and The Consortium fellowship fellow program? If not, you should be! Formally known as The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management (CGSM). This amazing nonprofit’s mission is to “enhance diversity and inclusion in global business education and leadership”, which is something we can all rally...
How to network and why exactly networking is important is something we’re frequently asked by our MBA admissions consulting clients. In an already subjective and sometimes vague process, “networking” can seem particularly abstract or worse, can simply be another “thing” on your long MBA application to-do list. While there’s no hard deliverable attached to networking, we believe...
One of the most common concerns we hear from clients is that their low GPA will prevent them from being accepted to the MBA program of their dreams. 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...
In recent years, we’ve seen significant growth in deferred MBA programs at the top business schools. A trend that started primarily with the HBS 2+2 program and Stanford Deferred Enrollment has now come to Wharton, Chicago Booth, Columbia, MIT Sloan, Kellogg, Darden, and Yale. The list of deferred admission (or enrollment) MBA programs continues to grow every year. As a...
HBS 2+2 is the ‘OG’ of deferred enrollment (or deferred admissions) MBA programs. It launched in 2007. Since then, it has earned a reputation as a spectacular opportunity for superstar college seniors and recent master’s graduates. What Is HBS 2+2? On a basic level, HBS 2+2 (and other deferred enrollment MBA programs) allows college seniors to secure a...
If you are currently in your senior year of college or enrolled in a graduate program that you began right after graduation, this article is for you. While it might be tempting to coast through to the summer, we urge you to consider whether you should apply to deferred enrollment MBA programs. What Are Deferred Enrollment MBA...
Congratulations on your Round 1 business school acceptances. Despite the challenges of limited in-person networking, you succeeded in a highly competitive year. A subset of you may have even received offers of scholarship money to help offset the very significant cost of attending a full time MBA program. Congratulations! Scholarship offers complicate your decision. While advantageous, these awards...
That’s the question facing many MBA applicants at this time of year. The Round 2 deadlines are quickly approaching in January but waiting until Round 1 next year means delaying matriculation until fall of 2023. So which timing is right for you? As with all aspects of the MBA application process, it depends. To help you make...
Deciding where to apply? Our newly updated Comparison of Top MBA Programs can help! This sortable tool ranks top business schools by class size, average post-MBA salary, and top recruiting industries. It also includes the key criteria (GPA, GMAT, etc.) to help assess where you are likely to be a competitive applicant. Being thoughtful about school selection...
If you’re wondering how to find the best MBA admissions consultants, this article is dedicated to you. While I can’t claim to have all of the answers, I can give you my perspective as someone who has been on both sides of the table: I worked with an MBA admissions consultant when I was applying to...
In the already subjective MBA application process, “networking” can seem particularly abstract. What exactly is networking in this context? Do you really need to do it? How do you get started? What Is Networking? Let’s start there. Some folks think networking is very transactional or artificial (i.e. schmoozing), where you reach out to someone to “get something” like...
*Updated June 7, 2021 It's that time of year! The top MBA programs are starting to release their deadlines and applications. Now is the time to pick your first school and start drafting essays in order to be ready for the September and October deadlines. Over the next few weeks, all of the deadlines and essay topics...
In a climate where there has been increased debate about the ‘value for money’ you get from a traditional full time MBA program, you may wonder whether a one-year MBA program is an option worth considering. After all, the cost of attending these programs can be significantly lower than their two-year counterparts. At Kellogg, for instance,...
When evaluating top MBA programs, rankings such as those published by U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, The Economist, and several others, are a logical starting point and can provide a general pulse on how the market feels about each school. That said, have you ever noticed how widely rankings can vary by source, depending on...
If you were lucky enough to emerge from the Round 2 business school application process with one or more acceptances in hand, congrats! It was competitive year, made even more challenging by the inability to visit and network with schools in person. A subset of you may have even received offers of scholarship money to help offset...
Choosing the right MBA programs has never been easier with our side-by-side comparison of the top MBA programs....
Let’s Get Efficient With the launch of our new Small Group MBA Workshops, we’re offering the benefit of working with a Vantage Point MBA consultant in small, high value sessions where you'll receive some personalized feedback alongside learning from the questions and feedback of your fellow participants. Whether you’re just getting started, looking for a starting point,...
Updated 1.14.21 One of the most common concerns we hear from clients is that their low undergrad GPA will prevent them from being accepted to the MBA program of their dreams. 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...
As the first semester of ‘business school in a pandemic’ comes to a close, we reached out to our past clients who are currently on campus to see what things have really been like. They graciously provided insights on everything from virtual classes to Zoom interviews to the MBA social scene and, while nothing about this...
Peruse any of the MBA admissions sites or forums and you’ll find that most of the dialogue is geared towards full time programs. While much of the advice translates to part time programs, clients I speak with who are interested in the latter option often rue the lack of specific resources. As such, I thought it would...
Updated 10.29.20 You were invited to interview with Wharton, congrats! You’re one step closer to getting accepted. You might wonder what your odds are from here. Well, Wharton interviews roughly half of all applicants, but only accepts one in five. So, they’re looking to cut the interview pool by slightly more than half. You have probably read about...
Updated 10.23.20 That’s the question facing many MBA applicants at this time of year. The Round 2 deadlines are quickly approaching in January, but waiting until Round 1 next year means delaying matriculation until fall of 2022. So which timing is right for you? As with all aspects of the MBA application process, it depends. To help you...
In recent years, we’ve seen significant growth in deferred MBA programs at the top business schools. A trend that started primarily at Harvard Business School with the 2+2 program and Stanford GSB has now come to Wharton, Chicago Booth, Columbia, MIT Sloan, Kellogg, Darden, and Yale. The list continues to grow every year. As a college senior,...
If you’ve recently hit submit on your MBA applications, after doing a little happy dance that you no longer have to spend every free moment on essays, your attention will quickly turn to the interview portion of the process. Most schools will release interview invitations over the next month or so (if they haven’t already) and,...
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...
Phew…you just hit submit on your last Round 1 MBA application! At first it’s a huge relief, as pulling double duty with a full time job and seemingly endless versions of your essays (not to mention all of the stress and uncertainty with the current state of the world) were enough to make your hair fall...
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...
With Kellogg’s 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 their...
If you’re a round one MBA applicant and you haven’t had the “oh sh#t” moment yet, you’re probably not paying attention. Starting with HBS on 9/8, round one applicants face a crazy couple of weeks as they finalize their applications and make last minute changes before the deadlines. The team at Vantage Point MBA is here to...
As an MBA admissions consultant, I've seen time and again how networking in advance of applying to MBA programs can make all the difference between a standout and forgettable application. Yet, I'm often surprised by how often this part of the process is overlooked, especially now when many programs have gone virtual. Although some parts of...
*Updated August 10, 2020 By now, most of the top MBA programs have released their application deadlines and essay topics for the 2020-2021 season. Below we’ve summarized what’s out so far so you can stay on top of it. First, it is important to remember that when you apply matters significantly. For instance, Early Action programs often have...
Perhaps it’s because this summer has been…untraditional to say the least, but time is flying by. The earliest Round 1 deadlines are approaching in only six weeks! That realization may strike fear in many of you, which is understandable, but try to harness the panic as motivation to plan for how you will use the remaining...
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...
Last week, Vantage Point MBA Senior Consultant, Katie M., hosted a webinar on GMAT Club’s YouTube channel on a very timely topic: networking for your MBA applications. In the already subjective application process, “networking” can seem particularly abstract or can be simply another “thing” on your long MBA application to-do list. What is it exactly? Do you...
It’s already February. You may feel like there is plenty of time before the first round of MBA application deadlines. However, there are five things you can be doing right now to strengthen your applications and reduce stress later. Review the list below and start planning your timeline for the year. Assume that everything will take...
If you’re wondering where the last six months went, how they flew by in a blur, you’re not alone! If the first two application deadlines for the top MBA programs somehow got away from you, you’re also not alone! And now you’re probably questioning if it’s worth applying in round 3 or waiting until next year. While...
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...
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...
HBS is due in 13 weeks. This is the time of year when many applicants realize that the crazy project from work, your wedding planning, or whatever else has been a major time commitment has left you feeling pressed for time in what is actually a longer process than you originally thought. As such, this is...
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...
An insightful applicant asked me last week “when have you seen an applicant fail?” I love this question. And as I thought about the applicants who had come to us asking for an assessment of what went wrong last year, there was one thing their applications had in common: lack of a clear theme....
As you’re applying to business school, your resume is like your executive summary: it should concisely tell the story of how you’ve grown and developed over the course of your career as well as provide an indication of your focus areas and motivations. However, not all resume bullets are created equal! Simply describing what you did...
A winning HBS essay strategy can make the difference between a good and a standout application. Many candidates struggle to know which stories best highlight their leadership and personal growth. At first glance, the Harvard Business School essay question seems fairly simple. It will remain unchanged this year. What more would you like us to know as...
Picture this: in an interview you’re asked a question about something that went wrong in a past job. Instead of simply explaining what happened, you find yourself shamelessly spinning a story about how you had a feeling all along that whatever “it” was would fail but your hands were tied. In different versions, this propensity to...
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...
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...
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...
It's already February, and while it may seem like you have plenty of time, there are several things that you can be doing right now to give yourself a leg up on applications this year. Take a look at the list below, start laying-out your timeline for the year, and as always, we offer a free 30-minute...
The short answer is “it never hurts to ask”. Over the years, many of our clients have gotten the amazing news that they have been selected for a scholarship from at least one of their desired MBA programs. Sometimes, however, the money comes from a second or third choice instead of that coveted first choice school....
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...
