Oxford MBA Application Tips | MBA Admissions | Accepted Admissions Consulting Blog

Oxford Said 2013 MBA Application Questions, Deadlines, Tips

Oxford Said Business School Essay Questions:

1) Explain why you chose your current job. How do you hope to see your career developing over the next five years? How will an MBA assist you in the development of these ambitions? (750 words)

This question presents a slight twist on the classic goals question. In addition to wanting to know how you see your future and how an MBA will help you there, it asks you to explain why you chose your current job. Don’t say it was the only job offer you got. What motivated you to apply? What do you like about it? Given your work experience, how do you see your career developing in the short-term after you graduate. They don’t ask here if you want to be president in 2028. They’re just asking about the next five years. Finally, how will an MBA get you from today to your desired tomorrow?

Tell anecdotes and use vivid examples to really make this essay come alive. (Please see Essays That Stick Webinar and Roadmap to Bold & Brilliant Essays Webinar)

2) What should Oxford expect from you? (750 words)

Interesting question. Can they expect you to get involved in specific activities? Which ones? How would you like to contribute to the school? Any activities you would like to initiate?

Do you have a business idea you want to develop as part of Oxford’s entrepreneurship project? Are you also thinking of participating in the strategic consulting project? Any places you would like to go on an optional student trek ?

Oxford is giving you 750 words here. You have the room to show how you have contributed in the past and how you intend to contribute at Oxford. If you are getting the idea that you need to know something about the program before you respond to the question, you’re getting the right idea.

If you have specific ideas (along with relevant past experience), you can also mention how you will represent the school after you graduate.

Re-applicants will need to complete the two essays mentioned above and a third essay on the topic:

3) What improvements have you made in your candidacy since you last applied to the Oxford MBA? (250 words)

This is they key question for all MBA reapplicants. What has changed that will make you a more compelling applicant this year than you were last time you applied?

Oxford Said Application Deadlines:

	Application Deadline
Stage 1	12 Oct 2012
Stage 2	11 Jan 2013
Stage 3	8 Mar 2013
Open Field	23 Mar 2013 up to 28 Jun 2013

If you would like help with your Oxford Said application, please consider Accepted’s MBA essay editing and MBA admissions consulting or our Oxford Said School Package which include advising, editing, interview coaching, and a resume edit for the Oxford Said MBA application.

By Linda Abraham, president and founder of Accepted.com and co-author of the new, definitive book on MBA admissions, MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools .

Oxford Picture courtesy of Dipfan.

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best

http://www.accepted.com Linda Abraham

If any readers would like a profile evaluation for Oxford Said, please provide the following information:
1) Brief description of your full-time work experience.
2) Your GMAT or GRE. Percentiles preferred.
3)
College info: The name of the college, your GPA or grade average, your
major, year of graduation. For any graduate degrees, please provide the
same info. If you grades are low, please indicate if there were
extenuating circumstances.
4) Significant college and post-college extra-curricular activities or community service, especially leadership experience.
5) Important certifications like CFA, CPA, FSA, or CA.
6) Your post-MBA goal.Or if you just have a question about MBA admissions, I’ll do my best to answer it.
Pingback: Oxford Said 2012 MBA Application Questions, Deadlines, Tips. | MBA Admissions | Accepted Admissions Consulting Blog
Spencer Waldorf

Hi Linda,
I’d really appreciate your thoughts:
1) Started career in big 4 accounting firm, early promoted to senior associate. Worked on very high profile hedge fund/PE engagements. Left after four years to pursue interest in investment business as financial advisor. Enjoyed the investment/portfolio management aspects of it, but not the sales side. Left to work at large private equity firm in accounting and middle office (as institutional experience was not strong enough to move directly to investment side), however, I wanted more exposure to that business because that is where I would ultimately like to end up.
2) 710 GMAT (73%Quant, 92%Verb, 92% Overall)
3) Penn State – 3.2, No extenuating circumstances, just poor freshman year. Accounting, w/ Business Law Minor, 2006.
4) Directed cell phone collection campaign for several years to benefit victims of domestic violence. Active participant in other volunteer capacities.
5) CPA
6) Management consulting and then potentially a transfer into private equity later in my career.
- http://www.accepted.com Linda Abraham
  
  Spencer,
  
  After your freshman year, how were your grades? could you break out your GPA? Also, how were your quant grades?
  
  Best,
  Linda
  - Spencer Waldorf
    
    GPA was 2.7 freshman year. Other years were 3.0 – 3.6. Quant grades were mixed as well. Freshman Calc – C, Economics (Micro/Macro – B- Avg, Statistics – A).
    - http://www.accepted.com Linda Abraham
      
      You would be competitive at Oxford and probably at LBS. In the U.S., consider NYU Stern, Duke, Darden, Cornell, and UCLA. Chicago and Columbia would be stretch programs, but worth a try given your goals; you might want to give them a shot.
      
      Best,
      Linda
http://www.accepted.com Linda Abraham

Sorry for the delayed response. Somehow I missed the notification of your post.

You have a competitive profile for Oxford. I’m optimistic.

Best,
Linda
- Nvc
  
  Thank you for your positive response. Have a few clarifications.
  
  My target schools are
  
  Europe – Oxford, LBS and HEC Paris.
  US – NYU and Booth
  Asia – NUS, Nanyang and ISB.
  
  How competitive would I be for these schools? Also, I have a few points which might potentially hinder my chances. How do I overcome them?
  
  1). I would not be able to provide the recommendation of a current supervisor since this might hinder my chances of a promotion/they might not let me work of high value deals since they would know that I am not planning to stay there for the long term. Since B Schools need 2 referees, whom can I provide as a referee? I have a supervisor at my former firm whom could provide me with one. Who else can I look to? Is there any criteria that B Schools look for in a reference (For example, what if the reference knows the candidate for a short period of time?). Do I need to explain this in my essay?
  
  2). So far, I do not have a promotion although I sacrificed one when I decided to leave my ex employer to move to a smaller firm. How do I explain this scenario in my essays?
  - http://www.accepted.com Linda Abraham
    
    You have a competitive profile for all the schools on your list. To answer your questions:
    
    1) Not being able to ask a current supervisor for a rec is a common situation, and the reason you give is the most likely (and acceptable) reason. A former supervisor is a wonderful alternative, especially if his or her supervision was fairly recent. A professional colleague or client is another possibility. The key criterion: Does the recommender know you well and professionally? Can they comment positively on your professional performance and the qualities bschools value? If the answer to these two questions is yes, then they would be good recommenders. You may also want to see Recommenders and Recommendations.
    
    2) Don’t explain it. Just show how you have grown. Discuss your responsibilities in your new position. Show that your role and duties expanded. Prove that your move to PE from JP Morgan was a good move. The schools care much more about your achievements and actual responsibilities than about title. Please see Admissions Wants Leadership Not Labels.
    
    If you would like help with your MBA applications,, please let me know.
    
    Best,
    Linda
    - Nvc
      
      Thank you Linda. I would definitely take up your services once I start my application process.
      
      Another couple of questions. Would Wharton be feasible with this profile? What areas could I improve on?
      
      Also, does a recommender need to know the candidate for a specific time period to be eligible? Booth wants a recommender apart from work supervisor and i am thinking of asking someone from my Non Profit to write me one. However, he knows me only for 6 months. Would this be a disadvantage?
      - http://www.accepted.com Linda Abraham
        
        NVC,
        
        You’re welcome. We look forward to working with you.
        
        Yes, Wharton is feasible and even a good choice give your background and goals. It’s just very hard to get into.
        
        Six month is on the lower side, but if he worked closely with you and can write an enthusiastic, substantive recommendation, I wouldn’t say no just on that piece of information. The question becomes “Is he the best one?” if he is, that six month figure wouldn’t preclude him from being a recommender for you.
        
        Best,
        Linda
Pelle

Hi Linda,

can you please comment on my profile for Oxford Said:

1) Approximately 6.5 years of work experience in big4 (should be around 7 by the time I start MBA), split between audit and M&A advisory. Promoted twice. I have also worked in 4 different countries on two different continents.

2) Weak part – 620 GMAT (Q42 V34)

3) BS in finance with a GPA of 3.55 and a MS in accounting with a GPA of 3.85, both from San Diego State University.

4) 3 years of management experience, some community service. Several internships during college and worked as a research assistant to an economics professor. Ran my own business for apprx 2 years.

5) US CPA and L2 CFA candidate

6) continue in M&A but for a bank.

Additional info:

- accepted to one of Europe’s most competitive PHD programs in finance but decided not to go.

-non native english speaker.

-should be able to provide strong recommendations.
- http://www.accepted.com Linda Abraham
  
  I believe Oxford and Said are stretch programs for you. That GMAT, especially the quant, is a significant hurdle. Your work experience would have to be particularly rich for them to overlook that score in favor of your excellent grades.
  
  Best,
  Linda