The Reluctant Recommender
Not So Fast
The New Economy
The great recession of 2008 pulled the largest control-alt-delete in this nation’s history outside of the depression. The aftermath has left everyone scarred but smarter. Interestingly, the recession had a positive impact on financing an MBA education. On this tenth anniversary year of the big meltdown, let’s take a look at how you can leverage the post-recession economy to benefit your graduate education.
Before and After
The millennial generation brought with it many new trends, one of which has been an increase in career moves. Gone are the days of working for one company for 30 years and then retiring. But should you be concerned about career flip-flopping when it comes to getting admitted to b-school or landing a job afterwards?
Mixing it Up
Round and Round
RANKINGS: BEST MBA PROGRAMS FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA JOBS (Updated for 2018) - USC MARSHALL, UCLA ANDERSON, NYU STERN
Ranking the best business school programs by the percentage of MBA graduates entering media and entertainment industries (2018).
In prior years, we excluded USC Marshall from our entertainment and media ranking as it fell outside of the business schools regarded as top 15 by US News and Businessweek. However, given the overwhelming strength of Marshall's strength within the entertainment/media, we've updated our 2018 entertainment and media ranking to provide a more relevant assessment.
MBA Career Services
MBA Now or Later?
Using the GRE to Avoid the GMAT
No Time Like the Present
Going back for an MBA is a multi-faceted decision. Unlike Law School, Medical School or even regular graduate schools, where a master’s degree or higher is often tacked onto the end of an undergraduate degree, business school takes some planning. Is now the right time for you to make the break? The market may be saying YES.
Getting an MBA While the World Falls Apart (2018)
There are times when things feel so crazy, out of control, and even hopeless that our own individual pursuits start to feel trivial, selfish, and even misguided.
I can remember vivid moments over the past 10+ years where I had a distinct feeling of living the wrong life, given what was going on around me. When the financial collapse took hold in 2009, I thought to myself "why did I leave corporate law - where I could be part of the solution - to instead help people apply to business school right in the teeth of a recession?" I watched "Making a Murderer" on Netflix and kicked myself for not remaining a lawyer ... but this time not a corporate lawyer, but instead a constitutional attorney like the individuals portrayed early in that documentary series. And now, as police/citizen animus and race problems in America reach new heights, as the EU teeters, as a sitting US President remains clouded in controversy, and as [seriously, enter any of a dozen paralyzing issues] I sometimes am not even sure what I should be doing. But I do know it doesn't feel like enough; it feels to insular and self-absorbed and small. But then it occurred to me: I bet a lot of people feel that way, including my past and present clients pursuing an MBA. So let's talk about that.
Ever Heard of a GRA?
The Changing Fellowship Climate for Internationals
Stephen Covey's 4 Pillars of Leadership: The Definition of Leadership You Want in B-school
Business school applications are all about laying out how you have exhibited the qualities of a leader. After all, this is the quality that b-schools, in general, desire the most in their applicants. A lot of my admissions consulting clients struggle with a succinct definition of leadership. That is, one that they as the applicant can use as a succinct model.
New Rules For Negotiation
Deferring Your Business School Admission
Why You Just Got Dinged (Probably)
These days, in addition to helping our clients get ready for interviews we also meet a lot of new folks who didn't use admissions consulting services to apply - but now are wondering if perhaps they should have. Most often, they are asking for "ding analysis," which is basically "please tell me if I did something wrong and whether I can fix it for next time." We are happy to oblige, of course, and so we see a lot (we mean A LOT) of rejected applications, to a lot of schools.
Tips for Getting Off the Waitlist and into B-school (Updated)
Waitlist season is in full bloom and with R3 notification deadlines wrapping up the countdown clock is ticking for those still waiting in line. Of course it’s inevitable that most of you will be waitlisted at some of your top school choices - after all, getting waitlisted at a stretch school means that you hedged effectively. (Note - my opinion is that an effective hedging strategy should include a stretch, safe-stretch and backup school selections.)
So what can you do at this point in the game?
Finding Time to Apply
