My bulging inbox reflects the activity and reality of MBA admissions at this time of year: MBA admissions offices looking forward to a couple of weeks off and MBA applicants heading into the last mad rush to submit quality applications by the early January deadlines. We're busy, but amidst the many orders and essays coming in and out, there are other items of interest. Let's take a peek:

• Acceptances. We are already hearing from applicants accepted to programs like Chicago,  Columbia, Cornell, Tuck, UNC, and others. These emails are among my favorite. A definite perk of my job. Congratulations to those of you who got the call, email, or fat envelope! What a wonderful way to go into the holidays. If you are one of those with the delightful dilemma of  multiple acceptances or simply someone who is having second thoughts about the school that accepted you, try to attend the admit weekends. They are valuable.
• Interview Invitations and Interview Reports. I have a good number of both flowing through my inbox. We have recent and excellent interview reports in the MBA Interview Feedback Database from Harvard, Stanford, Kellogg, Columbia, Chicago, and many, many more. Take advantage of this rich resource, and please share your interview experience after you interview so the database keeps growing and stays fresh.
  

If you have received an interview invitation or receive one after the new year, please keep in mind these Accepted resources to help you prepare:

• MBA Mock Interviews and Interview Coaching.
• MBA I.V.: Mainline to Top MBA Programs
• MBA Interview Feedback Database

Also, if your interview includes a school visit or you attend an admit weekend, take a picture or two and participate in Accepted's Beautiful B-School Photo Contest. At the moment, your chances of winning Amazon gift certificates worth up to $200 couldn't be better.

• Waitlists.  Emails about waitlists are just starting to trickle in. I will write more about the topic in the early months of next year. In the meantime here are a few resources for you:
• The Nine Mistakes You Don't Want to Make on an MBA Waitlist
• "Waitlist Purgatory"
• "5 Keys to Unlock the Waitlist Lock"

• Rejections. Yes I do hear about rejections, mostly from people who turn to us after having been rejected.  As I wrote last year, the best response to a rejection is self-reflection and analysis, not despair. There is still time, although not much time, to prepare a couple of good applications for the early January deadlines, not to mention later deadlines. If you aimed too high round 1 in this highly competitive year, consider applying to schools that support your specific goals but are slightly lower ranked overall. Also, evaluate your application. Did you fail to present yourself at your best? Or are you a victim of intense competition and the numbers. 
  

If you want an objective and informed evaluation of your application, please  keep in mind Accepted's Application Evaluation. And of course if you want an experienced wordsmith, coach, and critic to help you present yourself to the admissions committee, Accepted still has editors available to advise you and critique and edit your essays before round 2 deadlines.