MBA Admissions Advice from the Experts

We recently wrapped up our fall Forté Forum events and now offer a series of webinars to further support you in the pre-MBA process. This week, I hosted our first “MBA Admissions Advice – General Application Tips” webinar.

The panel of seasoned MBA Admission Representatives 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:

“We look at your undergrad record, graduate experience, as well as your GMAT tests. The reason we are looking at this, is the Admissions Committee wants to get a good sense of your ability to handle the rigor of the MBA program,” Patricia Harrison, Associate Director of Admissions, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.

“One of the first things we look at is your resume. I cannot stress enough the importance of putting together a polished, professional resume that is comprehensible to someone that does not work in your industry,” Soojin Kwon, Director of Admissions, Ross School of Business at Michigan

“Make sure you speak to the recommender ahead of time… and also make sure it’s going to be a positive recommendation,” Debby Herczeg, Admissions Coordinator, University of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of Business

“The essays and interviews are my favorite part of the application, because I get to know the most about who you are as an individual through the interviews and the essays,” Kelly Wilson, Executive Direction, MBA Admissions, Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon

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.

When Getting Your MBA - Considerations for Your Partner

Your life is about to be changed by the MBA experience: you are preparing to expand your knowledge base and your network, to embark on a program that will launch a new and exciting phase of your career. This experience will also change the lives of the people around you, most notably that of your partner. Last year, I started making my list of target programs two weeks after getting engaged. It became very clear that I wasn’t taking my MBA journey alone and that I needed to involve my fiancé in the decision making process. Here are a few of the issues we discussed as I put together my list of target schools:

-Location, Location, Location: After making a list of the programs that would best enable me to achieve my career goals, we discussed location. If we had to move, was the school located in a city that my fiancé would want to live in? Did we know anyone living in that city that could function as a support system? Was a long-distance relationship an option for us? Would we be willing to move again after graduation to pursue career opportunities?
- Partner’s Career: If you are moving with your partner, talk about how your partner’s career will be affected. Will he or she be able to grow in their career if they move with you? Will he or she have to change their career path, and are they ok with that?
-Debt: As you are thinking about financing your MBA, consider the amount of debt you’ll have to take on and what implications that will have on your lifestyle after school. It was helpful to discuss the timeframe for paying off student loans and how that would affect our future.
-During the MBA: During the MBA, you will be extremely busy with your academics, career search, and club opportunities. Talk about how your partner will be involved in the community you are entering. Do your target programs offer opportunities for partners? Is that something that is important to you?

Though it can be overwhelming to consider all of these issues as you are taking the GMAT, writing essays, and lining up recommendations, it is helpful to decide which of these factors are going to influence your decision about which school to attend. Hopefully, by considering them early in the process, you’ll be able to successfully embark on an MBA at a program that is fulfilling for both you and your partner.

Julia Suarez, Forté Fellow Class of 2012
Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University

Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon: Women and the MBA Workshop - Forte Sponsor Event

The Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon's Masters Admissions Office and the Tepper Women in Business (TWIB) cordially invite you to Women and the MBA: A Workshop hosted by the Tepper School of Business. This workshop is ideal for all women who are interested in learning more about the MBA, whether business school is an immediate or distant destination. The Women and the MBA workshop offers you a unique opportunity to explore the value of an MBA. You will engage in a variety of presentations and panel discussions focusing on the MBA experience, work/life integration, and the culture specific to the Tepper School. We will even give you helpful hints for your MBA application! You will have an opportunity to interview, attend class, and interact with current students, faculty, alumni, and fellow prospective students.

How to Register: Online registration is available at http://www.tepper.cmu.edu/womenandthemba.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Krystal Brooks in the MBA Admissions Office via email at kbrooks@cmu.edu or at 412-268-9932.