This post is going to be a round-up.

• The Oct. 6 UCLA Anderson chat transcript of our chat with new Admissions Director Mae Shores is now online. An excerpt:

hrishika (Oct 6, 2008 12:20:02 PM)

Hi Mae: This years audio question is a really interesting addition. However, the questions seem to be focused around our opinions rather than experiences - is that a valid statement, or would you like us to draw more from our personal/professional experiences?

MaeShoresANDERSON (Oct 6, 2008 12:22:27 PM)

• The 2009 MIT Sloan Chat with Jennifer Burke Barba and current Sloan students is now online. This was an extremely active chat, and we simply couldn't answer all the questions. Consequently, we will host another MIT Sloan chat on Oct. 23.  An excerpt from last week's chat:

JenniferBurkeBarbaMIT (Oct 7, 2008 12:26:48 PM)

Hi Badger, we have students with all types of backgrounds and varied amounts of experience. Currently there are students in the class with 0-15 years of experience. However, we're much more interested in the quality of your experiences than the brand name of the company you're working for or how long you've been there.

HJ (Oct 7, 2008 12:25:59 PM)

Hi Shauna, is there any differences for applicants who have not joined the info sessions or campus visits?

ShaunaBarryMIT(Oct 7, 2008 12:28:46 PM)

HJ, the more you know about the program, the better you can determine if the fit between you and the MIT Sloan community is a good one. MIT Sloan is a unique community- a small class size- approximately 340 in our entering class and students who are intellectually strong and "doers." I think it makes sense to step foot on campus and also to interact with current students/alumni if this is possible. That said, many students apply and THEN come to visit - the choice is yours.

tria(Oct 7, 2008 12:28:30 PM)

Jen: the MIT website says that you accept GRE scores in place of GMAT. Are the students submitting GRE scores at a disadvantage as compared to people submitting a GMAT score? What is the average GRE score expected?

JenniferBurkeBarbaMIT (Oct 7, 2008 12:28:47 PM)

Tria, we take either test score. No disadvantage if you use the GRE!

• BusinessWeek published "Clearing up an Application Blemish."  And we're not talking about acne -- more like DUIs, academic discipline, and misdemeanors.  I am quoted extensively in the article. The key passage: "'Our advice is, always deal with it forthrightly, succinctly, take responsibility, and move on,' Abraham said. 'What is more difficult to deal with is academic discipline, especially if cheating is involved.'" I would like to add to this quote that if you can mention lessons learned or a time when you faced a similar challenge and handled it responsibly and without succumbing to temptation, you will strengthen your handling to of the blemish. Almost like face wash.
• At many of our chats, more and more schools discuss cancellation of the CitiAssist loan program, which had provided no co-signor loans to international students at US b-schools. This topic came up in both the MIT and Cornell chats. Both schools reluctantly acknowledged that program's demise and an inability to offer no-cosigner loans to international applicants.  Clear Admit has a good summary of the situation. The availability of financial aid is clearly in flux, and it is a topic we will address in all future chats.

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