Come the the Forté Forums!

by Shari Hubert, Associate Dean of MBA Admissions, Georgetown University McDonough School of Business

Shari Hubert
Georgetown University
McDonough School
of Business

As the Associate Dean of MBA Admissions at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business, I am proud that we are a Forte Sponsor School and welcome the newest Class of 2015 Forte Fellows. They are strong women embarking on their MBA and pursuing careers in business, non profit, and government. They are fortunate to have an organization as committed to the advancement of women in business as the Forte Foundation. From undergraduates and pre-MBAs, to MBAs and women in diverse professional arenas, Forte has and continues to be a thought leader in the space and provides women the tools, professional development and strong networks to be successful in their careers.  

At Georgetown, we have increased our number of Forte Fellows to 20 this year to demonstrate our level of commitment to attracting and recruiting more women into MBA programs. We look forward to partnering with Forte during the Forte Forums taking place across the US and in London and Toronto.  I encourage you to register to attend one of these events as well.  The Forums provide an opportunity for women thinking about business school to speak one-on-one with representatives from all of the Forté member schools. There will also be a panel of admissions officers providing helpful tips on creating the best application possible, and a panel of business school alumnae to talk about the value of an MBA education and their business school and career experiences.

Forté’s website also contains lots of useful information about business school, careers in business, and shares the stories of women who have gone before you. It is a great networking, mentoring and educational tool.  For additional information on how Forte can help you achieve your goals, visit www.fortefoundation.org

Nailing the Interview: The 2 Most important questions

Ding. An email pops into your inbox and your heart flutters in anticipation when you see it’s from first choice business school. Congratulations! We want you. Yes, you! All you have to do is prove to us that you are who you say you are- a confident leader, ready to advance your business career.  The key to winning in the interview is preparation and confidence. Ultimately, no one knows you and your experience better than you do. But what questions should you expect?

Two important questions EVERY business school will ask you are: “Tell me about yourself” and “Do you have any questions for me?” Make sure you nail them.

The TMAY question is essentially a 2-4 minute chronological career synopsis that you design to surface information that is most relevant to your listener.  Think of the TMAY as a table of contents that will announce the key themes of your candidacy and will open the way for deeper discussion. Read over your personal statement and essays to pull out significant learning or measurable accomplishments from your experience to serve as these value themes.

The TMAY is a crucial question to nail.  Here is an easy way to frame your answer:

1.       Start with your introduction- where you graduated college, other relevant degrees (Master’s etc.) and then tell them where you want to take them, specifically through past work experience, community involvement etc.

2.      Summarize your career progression chronologically, highlighting 3-5 relevant themes where you have quantifiable impact (ie. leadership, analytical problem solving, passion for social impact, working across cultural borders etc).

3.      Closing Statement- reiterate your interest in the particular school and stress the logical and convincing reasons this schools is a good fit for you and you for them.

Let your preparation take you the rest of the way and always have questions for the interviewer ready to go. Remember it’s a two-way conversation and the right questions from you signal your thoughtful preparation and interest. Good luck!

Teresa Delgado, Forté Fellow
MBA 2014, Georgetown University McDonough School of Business

 

Sign up to receive updates to Forté’s blog by email or RSS feed!

MBA Admissions Advice From the Experts - November

This past November, a seasoned MBA Admission Representatives from Columbia, UCLA, Indiana, and Emory discussed topics such as preparing for the GMAT, work experience and leadership, letters of recommendation, writing your essays & preparing your resume, and finally the interview process. Here are a few quotes from the panel:

On work experience – “Students in the classroom, will benefit from the insights you bring to the classroom, based on the variety of your rich individual experiences,” Amanda Carlson, Assistant Dean of Admissions, Columbia Business School.

Who should I be asking for my recommendations? – “Another good option is a client… they can give an interesting perspective into your performance and leadership capabilities,” Lindsay Haselton, Associate Director of MBA Admissions, UCLA Anderson School of Management.

On essays – “We learn about you by looking at your resume and the information you provide in your application…but the question I ask myself after reading an applicant’s essays is, have I learned anything more about this applicant, now that I have read their essays? … I want to be left with the feeling that this is someone I really want to have in our program,” Jim Holmen, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, Kelley School of Business at Indiana.

On GPA & GMAT – “We are looking to see that you are prepared for the rigor of our program,” Libby Livingston, Director of MBA Admissions, Goizueta Business School at Emory.

Take some time to listen to the complete webinar online:

MBA Admissions Advice – General Application Tips

Arrion Rathsack, Manager of Sponsor Relations and Programs, Forté Foundation

P.S. Join us for an upcoming webinar to gain all the information you need to know about getting your MBA. From financing your MBA to getting advice on the application process to hearing from women of color who’ve sought their MBA, the webinars will put you in touch with successful businesswomen who can provide you with the answers you’re looking for to make this important decision.

Ten Tips for the MBA Application Process

1) DEFINE YOUR CAREER GOALS (short- and long-term) and how an MBA fits into your plans. Make sure an MBA is a necessary step because it is a big commitment and you want to make the right choice.

2) TALK TO PEOPLE who have gone through the application process.

3) PICK THE SCHOOLS YOU APPLY TO CAREFULLY. Find the best “fit” programs for you, which may not necessarily be only the “top” schools.

4) ATTEND ADMISSIONS EVENTS – Forté Forums, MBA Fairs, admissions visits to your city. You may end up meeting important admissions officers or future classmates.

5) DO YOUR RESEARCH. Review the schools’ websites and talk to current students, alumni, officers of students groups you’re interested in, friends, and friends of friends to get specific information about each program to include in your application.

6) Make sure you know the schools’ DEADLINES and each component you need for the application – Official GMAT score, transcript(s), recommendations, essays, and application.

7) GIVE PLENTY OF LEAD TIME TO YOUR RECOMMENDERS (1-2 months). Discuss your reasons for pursuing an MBA so they can write meaningful letters on your behalf.

8) If possible, VISIT EACH SCHOOL you are applying to. Talking to students and getting a feel for the school in-person is invaluable and also shows the school you are interested.

9) PUT IN YOUR TIME when creating your “story” in the essays. Write essays that only you can write and be confident in yourself. Make them as interesting and personal as possible. The admissions committee reads a lot of essays so make yourself stand out!

10) Have a few key people REVIEW YOUR ESSAYS before you submit them to make sure you answer the questions, that your overall story makes sense and your grammar and spelling is perfect.

GOOD LUCK!

Jaime Streem, Class of 2013
Forté Fellow & MBA Candidate, University of Chicago Booth School of Business

Making the Most of MBA Admit Weekends

Admit Weekends are a fun way for you to get to know the business school at a more personal level. However, the flurry of people and events can sometimes be overwhelming. Here are some tips to making the most out of Admit Weekends:

· Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. You will most likely be on your feet throughout the day, walking to multiple event locations and taking a tour of the school campus. Bring a medium sized bag to put the information that you receive throughout the weekend. I would recommend keeping your hands free to make shaking hands and jotting down quick notes as easy as possible.

· Remember names and ask for contact information. Even if you decide not to attend that particular school, more likely than not, your paths are bound to cross again at case competitions, conferences and even at your first company after business school.

· Attend all of the events, even the unofficial ones. Many times prospective students and/or current students will go to another location to unwind after the official events. This is a great opportunity to get to know people one on one.

· If you are not from the area, set aside some time to explore the city. Some factors to consider are city size and density, transportation and weather. Can this place offer the lifestyle that you want?

· Do you have a partner that will be in the area while you are in school? Ask about the types of groups and events that are offered to partners.

· Talk to everyone you can. The current students are a wealth of information regarding business school life and are there to answer your questions. Equally important, get to know the prospective students because most of them will be your future classmates. Ask yourself, can I see myself developing close friendships with these people?

· Keep an open mind, relax and have fun!

My Truong, Forte Fellow
USC Marshall Class of 2012

Forte MBA Webinar Series starts October 5!

Whether you've attended a Forte Forum or are still undecided about your MBA, a Forte Forum webinar is for you. Continue to do your research, learn about different programs and be prepared for the applications process by participating in our Forum webinar series. Join us for an upcoming webinar to gain all the information you need to know about getting your MBA. From financing your MBA to getting advice on the application process to hearing from women of color who’ve sought their MBA, the Forum webinars will put you in touch with successful businesswomen who can provide you with the answers you’re looking for to make this important decision.

Learn More and Register Today: www.fortefoundation.org/online

Apply in the Sky introduces the smart way to manage your MBA applications

Applying to business school is remarkably time-consuming and stressful, even for the savviest applicants. But it can also be a valuable and enlightening process – characterized by months of self-reflection that encourages you to synthesize thoughts on past experiences and future goals. At Apply in the Sky, we’re former applicants who understand your hopes and challenges… and have experienced the pain points in the process. Below are three tips on smarter ways to manage your applications, based on our personal experiences:
1. Give yourself enough time to be thoughtful. MBA applications are not something you should start a month before deadlines. Essay writing, itself, can require weeks of introspection, before you start writing. Familiarize yourself with requirements early on (tip: requirements and essay questions for over 50 schools are provided at Apply in the Sky), and keep a note pad handy to jot down inspiration, which may come when you least expect it.
2. Know what you’re in for. For the uninitiated, MBA applicants should prepare for a chaotic jumble of requirements. But the process need not be difficult to manage. The problem is: most applicants don’t realize how overwhelming the organizational challenges are until they’re mid-way through. By understanding what to expect upfront, you can be proactive in your organizational approach. (Tip: Apply in the Sky organizes it all through one simple interface, where you can write essays, seek feedback, and focus your time on crafting more thoughtful applications.)
3. Seek out tools to manage your time. While there are many test prep and consulting services, existing tools neglect to address the time management necessary to prepare successful applications. Traditionally, applicants have relied on a scattered mix of spreadsheets, emails, reminders and to-do lists, but this has changed.

Apply in the Sky is the first online workspace to help you streamline, manage and organize your MBA applications, across schools. To learn more, visit www.applyinthesky.com. (We offer Forté Members a 15% discount!) Best of luck as you embark on this process!
Emily, Chiara & Ryan
The Apply in the Sky Team

INSEAD The Business School for the World - Forte Sponsor Event

INSEAD’s full-time MBA programme hosts Information Sessions & Master Classes Worldwide. Click here for events in your country. Join us at one of these events to learn more about our MBA Programme and admissions process, and to meet INSEAD alumni local to you. With two fully-integrated campuses in Europe and Asia and over 70 different nationalities in the classroom, no other business school offers such a multicultural experience. The accelerated 10-month curriculum develops successful, thoughtful leaders and entrepreneurs who create value for their organisations and their communities. Our alumni often say that their year at INSEAD was life-changing. Contact us at mba.info@insead.edu.