1. Kellogg
2. Chicago Booth
3. Wharton
4. Columbia
5. USC Marshall

BusinessWeek also published its part-time MBA program rankings and its rankings of executive education programs. Its methodology in all three cases focuses on "end-user satisfaction."

The articles and videos accompanying the rankings are recommended if you are considering an EMBA or part-time MBA program. Like everything and everyone else, these programs were hit hard by the Great Recession.

A few highlights from the lead article:

• EMBA student satisfaction has plummeted as students increasingly foot the bill and expect career placement services commensurate with those offered their full-time MBA colleagues.
• Of the 83 EMBA programs suveyed, only the University of Texas at Austin's McCombs School of Business boosted student satisfaction since the last survey.
• "Nearly half of all EMBA programs and part-time programs" reported a decline in application volume in 2009.
• 80% of participating part-time programs experienced a decline in student satisfaction.

The chat will take place in the Accepted chat room.

During our most recent MBA admissions chat, we hosted a busy event with the Consortium. Here are a few excerpts from the transcript.

Linda Abraham (Oct 20, 2009 7:05:14 PM)
To all the school reps, does the applicant ranking influence the evaluation of the application?

WendyHuberUVA (Oct 20, 2009 7:06:22 PM)
Linda, applicants should apply as if the schools do not see the ranking. Rankings are only looked at when we are deciding fellowships, they are not used in the admission decision.

JacquelynnDayROCHESTER (Oct 20, 2009 7:09:08 PM)
Linda: While we do consider an individual's rankings, we look at the application as a whole, therefore we encourage students to focus on submitting an overall competitive application

RTorres (Oct 20, 2009 7:05:50 PM)
What happens with applicants that apply to the Consortium and to the specific MBA programs at schools when they are not accepted into the fellowship? How are their MBA applications handled? Are they still considered by the schools?

ErinNicklesburgWISCONSIN (Oct 20, 2009 7:07:59 PM)
RTorres: Each applicant is evaluated independently by each school in terms of both admission and Fellowship decision. An offer of admission does not indicate a guaranteed Fellowship offer, as they are separate. The admission offer will stand regardless of the Fellowship offer. If a Fellowship offer is not given, the applicant will go into the general merit-based aid pool.

AmyPR (Oct 20, 2009 7:12:34 PM)
What is the difference between the November application date and the January application date? Do chances of acceptance increase one date vs. the other?

LaurieShunneyCORNELL (Oct 20, 2009 7:15:21 PM)
AmyPR- Competitiveness for admission and scholarship may increase in later rounds. In general, we recommend submitting the strongest application possible. If you are prepared to apply during the November round, it may help.

• Tepper
• Darden
• Emory
• NYU Stern
• Wisconsin
• Yale SOM
• Washington
• Rochester
• Kelley
• Cornell
• Marshall

If you are interested in the Consortium, its missions, simplified application process, and fellowships, be sure to participate in the chat in Accepted's chat room.

I also want to let you know that we posted the transcript of last week's NYU Stern Admissions Director Chat with Anika Davis Pratt, Assistant Dean of MBA Admissions & Financial Aid; Isser Gallogly, Executive Director of MBA Admission; Paula Steisel Goldfarb, Senior Director of MBA Admissions & Financial Aid; and Emily Zwanziger, NYU Stern Class of 2010. Check it out in full, but for now, here are a few excerpts.:

naman (Oct 14, 2009 11:13:19 AM)
Isser: Stern MBA is traditionally renowned for finance, probably due to its location in NY. This is also supported in the recruitment profile for the last few years. How competitively are Stern MBAs (in other areas, specifically, consulting) viewed by the recruiters when compared with other top business schools?

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:17:16 AM)
Naman - Stern is great across the board. In consulting, we had recruiters from Bain, McKinsey, BCG, Deloitte & Booz plus many others hire students. In fact, McKinsey and BCG were two of our top recruiters this year for the class as a whole.

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:19:31 AM)
Naman- Another reason we do so well in Consulting is the students IQ+EQ. Not only are our students really smart, but they have superior interpersonal skills. Part of the reason we do the interview process the way we do is to get people with great EQ (emotional intelligence quotient). Recruiters really notice and appreciate that aspect of our students.

lcpink12 (Oct 14, 2009 11:18:58 AM)
Anika: What % of students does a term abroad on exchange? How much does this affect recruiting/interviewing on campus?

AnikaPrattNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:24:16 AM)
LcPink12: Over 300 full-time and part-time students participate in our international programs each year. This includes semester exchange, our popular Doing Business in (DBi) program, and short-term opportunities in the summer. About 60 participated in semester exchange, 250 participated in the DBi trips, and 9 participated in short-term study. Students typically choose their semester to go abroad based on the recruiting schedule for their career of interest. If you want to immerse yourself fully in NYC, the DBi program is ideal because it is a one to two week format.

Linda Abraham (Oct 14, 2009 11:20:04 AM)
Isser what is unique about NYU's interview process that hones in on EQ?

IsserGalloglyNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:29:04 AM)
Linda-There are a few things that are unique about our interview process. It is by invitation only - we only ask to meet you if we are very serious about you after reviewing the application. About 60% of those interviewed are admitted, about 30% of those who apply are selected to interview. The interviews are almost always here in NYC at Stern and conducted by a trained admissions professional. You have 30 minutes to make your case in person to the committee. The interview is not blind. The interviewer will have studied your application and ask you deeper and more specific questions. While you are at Stern, you may visit a class and have lunch with a student (depending on the time of year). If you apply to Stern, save some vacation days and money to fly here for your interview. We take the interview very seriously and it's a unique part of our process.

AnikaPrattNYU (Oct 14, 2009 11:29:09 AM)
Naman: NYU Stern is a great place to be if you want a career change into Consulting. Typically, over half of our incoming class plans on making a career change. At Stern, programs like the Industry Mentoring Initiative (IMI) partner with lead consulting firms and senior executives to mentor students changing careers into consulting. In addition, our student club - the MCA - has a rigorous casing training and prep leading up to consulting interviews -- just to mention a couple of the great resources here at Stern.

If you are interested in NYU Stern, review the chat transcript. The Stern representatives provide meaty, specific answers to a broad range of applicant questions.

So what are my thoughts at the end of a hectic week?

• Accepted's editors have noted a rash of bloopers in applicant essays. While these malapropisms (and too many others to list) can make for hilarious reading, they will not add to your chances of acceptance. Please note.

"Message" and "massage" are very different nouns. A "hands-on massage" is not the same as a "hands-on message."

"Morale" and "morals" or "moral" are also very different. "My team's morals sunk lower than low after she addressed us." creates a very different image than "My team's morale sunk lower than low after she addressed us."

Your essays need proofing!

• I listened this morning to the entire MBA Podcaster episode "What Not To Do On Your Application: MBA Application Pitfalls & How To Avoid Them." Please, please, please before you submit your applications, listen to this show with Liz Riley Hargrove, Associate Dean of Admissions, Fuqua School of Business, Duke University; Rose Martinelli, Associate Dean of Student Recruitment and Admissions, University of Chicago Booth School of Business; Graham Richmond, CEO, ClearAdmit; Kellee Scott, Senior Associate Director of MBA Admissions at USC's Marshall School of Business; and myself. It is excellent and could prevent you from making some serious mistakes.

• I received a lovely note last night from a current client. He wrote:

"Natalie has been absolutely terrific! My essays are really coming along -- I really don't know what I'd do without her.

Thanks for all your help. Regardless of what happens with my B-school applications, I honestly think that accepted.com provides a tremendously valuable service. I'd even venture to say that the vast majority of applicants who do not use accepted.com are putting themselves at a terrible disadvantage. (You and Natalie have made me a believer!)

• In addition, I also received several, outstanding feedback reports from clients using other Accepted editors' services.

I don't think it will surprise any of you -- I strongly believe that the overwhelming majority of applicants can benefit from having their applications and essays reviewed before they submit them. You are much better off if we find your mistakes than if the admissions committee does.

At this point in time, with the earliest deadlines less than a week away, we still have some availability, but it is very limited before Oct. 1. If you have any plans to use Accepted's services, please either purchase or register ASAP.

Best of luck to all Round 1 Applicants!

USC recently updated their essay questions. My comments are in red:

1) What are your short-term and long-term post-MBA goals? How will USC Marshall help you achieve these goals? (750 words) If interested in a dual-degree program, please address in this essay.

This is a straight-forward goals question. As always with this type of question, connect the dots. Let's the reader see that your goals grow organically from your experience and are achievable given your experience and an MBA from Marshall.

2) How will other USC Marshall MBA students benefit from your background, experience, leadership and teamwork skills? (500 words)

What can you contribute to your class? Where at Marshall do you want to contribute. In which clubs and organizations do you want to invest your talents?

I suggest you choose 1-3 examples from your past where you contributed to your school, club, church, or company and show how the very qualities you utilized then you intend to use at Marshall. Is Social Enterprise calling your name? Then perhaps Marshall Net Impact is where you intend to have impact? Perhaps you are a vet. Can you contribute to the Marshall Military Veterans Association. How will you contribute? 

3) Select three from the following and describe: (250 words each)
  a) A challenging international experience
  b) A personal or professional setback
  c) An entrepreneur you admire
  d) Your family, including any ties to USC
  e) Your most significant accomplishment
  f) A situation where your professional ethics were challenged

New. The first issue you must address when looking at #3: "Which three do you choose?". Answer: the three that, when combined with your required essays, allow you to present the most impressive, textured, and comprehensive picture of you. Try to present experiences that are from different areas of your life.

4) Optional Essay: Please add any additional information that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider in evaluating your application. Do not exceed 250 words.

Please see "The Optional Essay: To Be or Not to Be" .

 For Re-Applicants Only:

If you applied within the past two years, please answer the following:
1) What steps have you taken to strengthen your application since your last submission?
2) Select two from the following and describe: (250 words each)
  a) A challenging international experience
  b) A personal or professional setback
  c) An entrepreneur you admire
  d) Your family, including any ties to USC
  e) Your most significant accomplishment
  f) A situation where your professional ethics were challenged

Show that you have grown since your last application. Reveal that you have addressed weaknesses. Demonstrate increased leadership. Present evidence that you have improved enormously since your last application. For more information, please see:

• Take 2: How to Reapply Right to Business School
• Re-applicants

For one-on-one guidance through the Marshall application process, please check out Accepted.com's USC Marshall Application Package or our other MBA essay editing and consulting assistance.

USC Marshall 2010 MBA Deadlines

All application materials including official score reports must be received by the deadline at 12:00 AM Pacific Standard Time.

Applications are considered for one of the specific rounds listed above. Each applicant may only apply once a year. Since space is limited, we encourage you to apply early.

• The recommended deadline for international students and students who want to be considered for a fellowship is January 15, 2010.
• Notification dates may vary for international and dual degree candidates.
• All decisions are posted on the Apply Yourself online application.

As a member of the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants (AIGAC), we are conducting a survey to help us better understand MBA applicants’ goals and needs.  If you are or will be an MBA applicant, we invite you to share your priorities and views on the MBA application process. 

This online survey should take just 10 minutes to complete.  We would love to receive as many responses as possible before the closing date of Friday, March 20, 2009 - and AIGAC will be giving away an iPod Touch and two iPod Shuffles as a token of our gratitude! 

Thanks in advance for your participation!

Simply click here to begin. 

The transcripts from this weeks events are already up!

• 2009 MIT Sloan MBA Application Tips with Jennifer Burke Barba. A few excerpts:

torruda(Jan 5, 2009 12:16:04 PM)
Jen: How does the importance of the cover letter compare to that of the essays for the admission decision?

JenniferBurkeBarbaMIT(Jan 5, 2009 12:16:28 PM)
Torruda, we consider the cover letter to be another essay. It's equally important to essays.

londaizy(Jan 5, 2009 12:16:32 PM)
Jen: What are the top qualities you look for in the admission essays? Is it personality, work experience, or a combination? Any tips on how to make our essays more powerful?

JenniferBurkeBarbaMIT(Jan 5, 2009 12:17:33 PM)
Londaizy, there are no specific top qualities we look for. Each applicant is different and hopefully their different personalities, work experiences and academic background will come through. The best thing to do is answer the questions we are specifically asking. We use a method of evaluation that looks at past performance as an indicator of future success. So in the essays, it is best to stay away from hypothetical responses, and talk about the actual events.

ALIGHT(Jan 5, 2009 12:27:03 PM)
Jen, can you share an anecdote about a memorable essay or cover letter from years past? Is there something that you have read which sticks out in your mind as an effective way an applicant told his or her story?

JenniferBurkeBarbaMIT(Jan 5, 2009 12:28:09 PM)
Alight - the best essays /cover letters are those that tell the story of what happened, including information about how the decisions made impacted both the applicant and other people involved, and end with the end result, not lessons learned.

JonasDivine(Jan 5, 2009 12:38:38 PM)
Jen: In Essay 4, is the admissions committee looking for something specific such as clubs, honors etc. or is this meant to be totally open-ended?

JenniferBurkeBarbaMIT(Jan 5, 2009 12:39:38 PM)
Jonas - E4 is meant to be totally open-ended. Use your best judgment, this is a chance to share with the Adcom something about you that you could not share in the other

JenniferBurkeBarbaMIT(Jan 5, 2009 1:04:03 PM)

I'd like to offer some overall advice. Your essays are the piece of the application that you have the most control over at this point -- focus your time on making them great. You want to come alive on paper, and have members of the admissions committee dying to meet you in person!

myildirim(Jan 5, 2009 1:04:41 PM)
Easier said than done Jen :-)

• 2009 USC Marshall MBA Admissions Chat with Kellee Scott

Linda Abraham(Jan 7, 2009 12:02:07 PM)
Janice, How much is the financial crisis affecting full time hiring this year?

JaniceNishiyamaUSC(Jan 7, 2009 12:04:39 PM)
Linda, we are slightly below our percentage from last year for "employed" second year students. We are finding that companies are generally decreasing the number of full-time hires for this year, but are still actively recruiting interns.

vmuth(Jan 7, 2009 12:05:03 PM)
Hi Veronica, with the increase in applicants and as we are entering later rounds, have you noticed any significant difference in the class profiles thus far compared to previous years?

VeronicaHoUSC(Jan 7, 2009 12:06:33 PM)
Vmuth: Well, our largest round is usually Jan. 15 (Round 2) which has not yet ended, so we are still yet to see the majority of our apps. However, so far, the apps are on par with previous years with a slight increase, and they are competitive

Neda(Jan 7, 2009 12:12:34 PM)
Kellee: How open is USC to admitting students who very recently graduated from undergrad?

KelleeScottUSC(Jan 7, 2009 12:13:39 PM)
Neda, we prefer that candidates have at least two years of full-time post undergraduate work experience before they start. Our average is 5 years. However, candidates who demonstrate a strong case for doing the MBA earlier have a chance.

Next week Accepted is hosting its last Consortium chat for this application cycle. During the "Ask Consortium Alumni Q&A" alumni members of the Consortium will be available to answer your questions about researching schools, the advantages of the Consortium’s extensive network, and perpetuating the Consortium’s mission of enhancing diversity in business education and leadership. Don’t miss this great opportunity to obtain tips from those who have experienced first-hand the many benefits of and MBA degree and Consortium membership.The chat will take place in the Accepted chat room on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at 5:00 PM PT/8:00 PM ET/1:00 AM GMT. Please feel free to join us.

Tell Your Twitter followers about this post: http://is.gd/f4gF

1. Give yourself a break. Put the application away for a day, overnight, several hours, or at least a coffee break. (More is better, but don't miss the deadline.)
2. Print out the essay or any document that you want to proof. For some reason, changing the medium helps to restore your critical perspective.
3. Change your location when you proof. Move to an easy chair or to the kitchen table. Anywhere but where you have been writing and editing forever.
4. Read the essays out loud. E-nun-ciating. Reading aloud will automatically slow you down and prevent you from skimming. Additionally, your ear will catch awkward sentences and errors that your eye alone may miss.

If you want professional editing that saves you time, please check out Accepted.com's professional personal statement and application essay editing.

• Join us for our MIT Sloan Application Tips chat on Monday, Jan. 5th, at 10:00 AM PT/1:00 PM EST/6:00 PM GMT when Jennifer Burke Barba, MIT Sloan's Assistant Director of MBA Admissions, and other members of the MIT Admissions Committee will participate in this chat devoted to mastering MIT's application. Jennifer can answer any questions about MIT’s application process, from early preparation, and the steps you should be taking at this point to the key elements MIT’s adcom are looking for in your essays & interviews!
• On Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 10:00 AM PT/1:00 PM ET/6:00 PM GMT, Kellee Scott, Senior Associate Director of MBA Admissions and other USC Marshall Representatives will participate in an online USC Marshall admissions chat at Accepted.com. Learn what USC Marshall values in an application and how they distinguish among qualified applicants. Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn more about Marshall’s programs and admissions practices. Join us on Wednesday, January 7th and find out the answers to your Marshall MBA questions!

Please join us in the Accepted chat room.

Looking ahead to 2009, we plan to make this web site and our services even better. We will roll out changes on the site throughout 2009.

We are currently wrestling with a question:  Whether or not to continue publishing recent posts from this blog on the Accepted.com home page.  What do you think?

We would really appreciate your taking a minute to answer a quick, 3-question survey and help us design this site in a way that suits you -- or at least a majority of you. Thank you very much for your time.

Best wishes for a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year!