"Pay no attention to the man (or woman) behind the curtain!” That seems to be the philosophy of most admissions offices. But for many applicants, transparency is an important part of the admissions process. If its not, it should be.
This is a quick one, but a worthy one. "Leadership" might very well be the most "cussed and discussed" (hat tip, Harry Truman) word in the MBA landscape, given the prominence given to the concept by schools and candidates alike. But what I find surprising is that the word - which can be viewed so many ways - often takes on this strange meaning in b-school contexts, which is sort of a stand in for "accomplished." The idea of leadership has become titles and roles and responsibilities and kudos. Sort of a "he who has the most ribbons is the leader" kind of a dynamic. And while I will be the first to admit that leadership can indeed sometimes be about accolades (often leadership qualities get people recognized and/or recognition can give someone a platform from which to lead), it sort of misses the point. And nothing hammers that home like the Golden State Warriors, who were recently crowned NBA champs.
Here are some quick tips for maximizing your business school visit:
UCLA Anderson comes out on top when it comes to sending graduates (as a percentage of all graduates in 2014) back into the entertainment & media industries. NYU Stern is respectable second, with Michigan Ross a surprising third. Hands down, Anderson is the place to be if you're into entertainment and media and want to work for a related firm in the industry.
So you've been rejected at business school? Solicit feedback from the admissions committee, alumni or even current students. This is the first step in successfully getting in the subsequent year. Then assess your feedback efforts through this questioning framework: