We had two great chats this week. Lively, informative, and well-attended. CMU Tepper and Michigan Ross did a great job of responding to participants' questions. The transcripts have already been sent over to our webmaster and should be online and available at our MBA Admissions Chat Transcripts page by Monday.

 Here are a couple of tidbits from each:

CMU Tepper Chat

Linda Abraham (Nov 7, 2005 10:11:07 AM)
Carolyn Gould, how is recruiting going this year? Are there more companies recruiting on campus this year? More interviews scheduled?

CarolynGouldCMU (Nov 7, 2005 10:14:09 AM)
Linda, recruiting is going well this year. We have not counted the number of companies -- we don't tend to do that during the year, since it changes on an almost daily basis. We do have fewer students this year than previously, and we suspect that more students received offers off their internships, so students are not applying for positions in numbers as large as previous years. The employers are also getting the sense that it will be a more competitive year for them this year.

Michigan Ross Chat 

PB (Nov 9, 2005 10:07:10 AM)
Jim: With Round 1 having closed just last week, how does this year seem to be stacking up compared to the past few in terms of total applicants to the Ross MBA program?

JimHayesRoss (Nov 9, 2005 10:09:07 AM)
PB, Based on round 1, it looks like application volume will be up this year.

 Megan Tevlin (Nov 9, 2005 11:04:14 AM)
Jim: How much does our application rely on our recommendations? I have supplied sufficient information to the recommenders that have worked with me the most and seen my abilities in action but both are VERY busy in their own work and life. How much of a disadvantage am I at if they don't answer the recommendation forms adequately? I do not have other people who have as much insight into my abilities to choose from. Suggestions?

JimHayesRoss (Nov 9, 2005 11:06:22 AM)
Megan Tevlin: The recommendation letters are very important since they are the one part of the application that is prepared by someone other than yourself. I would coach the recommenders that their replies need to be fairly expansive in order to paint you in the best light. You should give them plenty of lead time and get started on the recommendation letters early. Then check in with them (tactfully) from time to time to ensure that they are moving this forward.

 Next week presents you with two additional chat opportunities:

1. Rose Martinelli, Chicago GSB's new admissions director, will respond to questions on Monday Nov. 14, 2005 at 10:00 AM PT/1:00 PM ET/6:00 PM GMT. 
   
2. Rod Garcia and Jon McLauglin will be our special guests and respond to your questions at the MIT Sloan MBA admissions chat on Tuesday November 15 at 10:00 AM PT/1:00 PM ET/6:00 PM GMT.
   

If you want to know if application volume is up or down, where MBA recruiting is headed, and what these admissions pros think are the worst or most common mistakes in applying,  come to the chat.