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Against the Odds: Indian MBA Hopefuls Must Prep for Uphill Battle

May 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Networking

Network with those you know.

Indian candidates face fierce competition on their quest to MBA admission abroad. But that probably isn’t news to you.

India alone offers up the highest number of foreign MBA applicants (43%), followed by China (27%) then the US (6%) according to a 2012 study by the Graduate Management Admission Council. Applicants “from China and India are more than four to five times likely to be turned down for admission than either domestic applicants or those from Europe, Latin America, Africa, or the Middle East,” states a recent article by Poets&Quants on CNN Money.

For MBA programs, the main issue behind the disparity in foreign applicant pool numbers and their slice of acceptances can be attributed to many factors: the sheer volume of applications from a particular background, the schools’ desire to diversify their classes, anticipated student loan debt burdens, and visa hurdles for foreign students who want to work abroad after graduation, according to interviews with MBA officers and another Poets&Quants article.

This is the first in a series of five blog posts oriented to Indian MBA hopefuls on how you can set yourself apart before, during and after (i.e. job hunt) the application process. Your potential success in front of a recruiter is ultimately what many admissions committees are judging too.

“For us, at Duke, we see lots of candidates from India who are strong in a functional role,” says Dan McCleary, Regional Director for India at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business. “The biggest question we ask when trying to decide is how this person going to fair when they are being interviewed for a client-facing role.”

“Getting into business school is only half the battle. We are looking for candidates who can go the distance and get hired by these organizations.”

McCleary goes on to say that over the past four years he’s seen Indian candidates become much more sophisticated in their application approach. They’re not just looking at marketing materials. They’re connecting with business school representatives, current students and alumni. They’re reading blogs to find out insider details. They’re showing a good fit with the school’s curriculum and culture. Those who don’t will stand out — but not in a good way.

“We still see applicants from people who haven’t done their homework, and it becomes more obvious.” McCleary advises, “Pick a smaller set of schools to apply to and connect with more people.”

What can you do to get to know more people at your array of school choices –(which should include your dream picks, good fits, and safeties!)

1. Network with those you know. Ask among your batchmate network or among family friends for referrals to b-school connects. Gauge whether or not it’s safe to ask work mentors or colleagues for introductions to MBA alums (but be careful not to tip off your interest in leaving the company if it’s a sensitive issue). Be prepared with a brief message (about 200 words) detailing why you’re interested in the school and your future career goals. Ask your friends to pass it along in an email introduction.

2. Prepare to ace the first of many MBA interviews. Once you’re connected, inquire about meeting for tea/coffee or stopping in for a brief chat. Or if distance doesn’t allow, set up a phone call or Skype session. Be prepared and respect their time! You should know the basics about the school and why you think you’re a good fit. Come up with good questions so you can get an insider’s perspective. If you feel like you’ve really hit it off, ask for referrals to other alums, a note on your behalf to the admissions committee, and any other advice they can give.

3. Visit the campus, or attend a school-sponsored MBA event. This shows the school that you’re really interested in their program. It’s not the time for you to monopolize the presentation with all your questions, or rattle out your specific profile and ask if you have a chance to get in! MBA programs are more and more looking at emotional intelligence when they decide whom to admit. They want to see that you’re personable and approachable, just as you hope they would be. So show them! Come prepared with one or two insightful questions, introduce yourself to other applicants and current students, and gather contact information for follow-ups.

Bottom line: Prepare yourself now to be the type of student or alum you’d like to network with if you become accepted. Well-informed, articulate, and resourceful.

Feel free to add to the comments on this post other successful methods you’ve used to network on your path toward MBA acceptance!

Stay tuned for more posts in this upcoming series …

- Look at fit, then brand

- Speak to your audience (in their language)

- Find a way to pay

- Prepare for your job hunt now … at home or abroad, what’s best








Michelle Stockman

 

  is a professional journalist, former Columbia Business School admissions insider, and experienced MBA admissions consultant.

Filed Under: MBA Admissions Tagged With: ,

Current Full-Time UVA Darden Student Interview

October 19, 2011 by

Accepted.com is continuing a blog series featuring interviews with current MBA students, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at selected MBA programs. We hope to offer you a candid picture of student life, and what you should consider as you prepare your MBA application.

Here’s a talk with a student who came to the University of Virginia/Darden from South Asia with a background in electrical engineering and IT, transitioning into a consulting career.

UVA DardenI had to wake up pretty early to call you.  Where are you right now?

I’m on my lunch break here in London. Right now I’m completing my internship at a British telecom, in internal consulting.  We’re looking at the kinds of problems that a company faces and determining what kind of solutions should be brought in to resolve them.

Well, I’m going to brush aside British civility and ask you the hard question first.  The brand question. That’s what a lot of students, especially from overseas, are worried about these days when it comes to an MBA.  How can you justify the money and time investment in a Darden MBA, which compared to some schools might not have top name recognition worldwide?

You’re right. Darden doesn’t have the cache of a HBS or Wharton degree, and the school is well aware of this. Officials are making greater efforts to understanding the ranking system, to travel internationally and to communicate the value of the education for the money.  It’s paying off – Darden cracked the top ten for the first time in the most recent Forbes ranking.

So what does this mean for me though? Just like anybody else I’ve got to get my name out there.  I’m the first intern from Darden at this company – so the pressure’s on to make a good impression – for my future and for the school. But you know what, yes, the brand can do a lot of things for you, but the brand is also what you make of it. Go to a school that fits you. MBA’s cost a lot of money and time – and if you don’t find a good fit, it’s not worth it.

So was Darden a good fit for you?

Absolutely. First, I knew that I wanted to get to know my classmates really well.  From prior experience I know that when people attend a school in big cities like New York or London they’ve often got pre-existing networks. Charlottesville is a laid back community, and with a small class size – average around 310 – we got to bond really quickly.

Second, I really liked Darden’s case study method.  The school is best known for its general management curriculum, so in the first year you’re set up really well with the fundamentals. Then with the case studies you’re given a problem set of data, and you have to do the best you can with that set of data. It’s great preparation for my planned career transition into consulting.

Tell me more about this career transition.

I graduated with a degree in electrical engineering, and got my first job in IT at a bank. I got bored pretty quickly, so I left and spent the next five years at a big telecom in Toronto.  I started out as a business analyst and moved into a strategy role. But I started to feel like I was getting to pigeonholed into technology and I wanted to expose myself to other aspects of business. Consulting sounding exciting — a career where I can tap into my past skill set and build new strengths.

What are other popular specialties at Darden?

I know a lot of people going into finance, corporate and investment banking, and asset management.  If you look at the employment report, going into finance is a pretty consistent trend.

How about after graduation – if you don’t want to settle in Virginia, what are your options?

For consulting, I will have absolutely no problem getting traction for a position in a big city – that’s the lifestyle I had before now and where I’d eventually like to settle.  The top three or four consulting firms hire here.

But it also depends on what you’re trying to get into. I had a friend who wanted to get hired by a niche investment management firm – not a traditional big name. He had to put in a really big effort. He spent a lot of his own money going up to New York, introducing himself – showing he was more than a name on a resume. He got the job. But for other big firms, you wouldn’t have to spend anything. They will fly you up to audition.

How did you lock down your internship?

It was pretty straight-forward. British Telecom came on campus – it’s their first year recruiting here. I found the job posting through career services. They invited five or six people back for interviews, and I was the one they asked to come on over.

Moving over to academics, who would you rate as your best professors?

Michael Ho, hands down.  He teaches a course in valuation. One of the dangers with case method is that it can have professors who are not used to teaching, or can teach the wrong way.  He’s a professor who will step in and tell students that they’re not going down the right path, and will help you correct course.

What was one of your toughest times?

If you speak to a lot of students, there’s a period of time called Black November. You’ve preparing for tests on three tough courses, and that’s when you have all the recruiting wrapping up. There was just one day when I had like, three classes and three cases, and I needed to prep for my interviews. I had a moment there when I wasn’t sure I could do it, but everyone has one of those days, at Darden I guarantee you will.

To wrap up, what are the best things about Darden?

It’s a great school where, because of its size, the professors and students socialize together all the time.  With that much contact – you really become friends – and they can reach out and become great advocates for you on the job hunt.


Michelle StockmanInterview conducted by Michelle Stockman, who worked in the Columbia Business School admissions office, has a Masters in Journalism from Columbia, and has assisted Accepted.com clients applying to top business schools since 2007.  She is happy to help you with your application.


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Current Full-Time Cornell Johnson Student Interview

August 16, 2011 by

  

Accepted.com is continuing a blog series featuring interviews with current MBA students, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at selected MBA programs. We hope to offer you a candid picture of student life, and what you should consider as you prepare your MBA application.

Cornell JohnsonHere’s a talk with a student who came to Cornell Johnson with a life sciences/criminology background, then transitioned into an international career in finance.

We hear Ithaca is “gorges” but what about those winters?

I’m a native of Hong Kong and grew up in Toronto, so the winters weren’t a big deal.  Cornell’s proximity to Wall Street was a major advantage during my job hunt.

What did you want out of an MBA program? Did your career goals change once you arrived?

I did want an Ivy League school — maybe it’s Asia — but people are way more aware of names than rankings, and that helps with the job search. I was deciding between Brand Management and Finance, but realized all the good brand management jobs were restricted to Americans. So I dedicated my search to finance, since I don’t have a green card and was not going to add an additional challenge to an already tough process.

What strategies helped you find a job?

Face to face time is so important.  I basically commuted to New York City a lot, made countless phone calls, even flew out to Hong Kong to meet people.  But the effort paid off.

What are you doing now?

I’m working in finance with the cash sales trading group in Citigroup in Hong Kong.

How did you sell yourself to them, without having a finance background?

Honestly, I think my life sciences familiarity gave me a different perspective and helped me sell myself as a special candidate. With life sciences, I’ll have a strength when selling equities in bio tech, pharmaceuticals.

What was your best day on campus at Cornell?

My best day was when I got my internship and full time offer! From then on, I could focus on my classes and social life. I was just cruising by then.

What was your worst day?

There were a few — mostly during the initial job search, when i was looking for an internship. The process was competitive, and first semester is always intense. It was very difficult to balance the academics and the job search.

Who were your favorite professors and why?

My Chinese professor was fantastic, because she really, really took the time out to make sure I learnt my Chinese well in preparation for class. I also really liked my accounting professors Margaret Shackell Dowell and Mark Nelson. Accounting wasn’t my forte, but they let me take my time to make sure I really understood the concepts.

Can you recommend any cozy places to warm up, and fill up?

Plumtrum, Sangam and State Street Diner.

And finally why do you think you got the job you want?  Any tips for incoming students on the job hunt?

Yes, network early! Get your resume ready early, be confident in yourself, be realistic, and also have backup plans.

Michelle StockmanInterview conducted by Michelle Stockman, who worked in the Columbia Business School admissions office, has a Masters in Journalism from Columbia, and has assisted Accepted.com clients applying to top business schools since 2007.  She is happy to help you with your application.

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Current Full-Time Duke Fuqua MBA Student

May 11, 2011 by

  

Accepted.com is continuing a blog series featuring interviews with current MBA students, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at selected MBA programs. We hope to offer you a candid picture of student life, and what you should consider as you prepare your MBA application.

Here are some excerpts from an interview with a current full-time Duke Fuqua MBA student who is a career switcher –- from case study writing to investment banking.

How did you manage this career transition?  It’s been a tough couple of years on the job market.

 My goal was New York.  Recruiters really want to get to know you — and the beauty of Fuqua is that it’s only an hour-long flight from New York.  I would fly up every Thursday night for a semester and spend Fridays going to women’s events sponsored by the banks. Other people who couldn’t go up as often as I did would take off a week from school and schedule back-to-back informational interviews. 

Now, you would think that people that were closer, like Columbia or Wharton, would have a bit of an advantage.  But I found out that because they were so close, recruiters expected them to be around all the time. Senior level bankers would cancel interviews on them frequently because they were so close.  We may have been there less often, but because we came from farther away, our time was more respected. 

Wow. You put in a huge effort to get your face out there.  Did you get any support from the school in your job hunt?

Yes – the alums were amazing.  Fuqua is a 30-year-old business school, so we don’t have decades and decades worth of alums out there yet.  But they really want to build the brand so they are amazingly supportive. The career development office – they’re ok – but it’s really the alums who are very supportive. Team Fuqua does transcend the two years.

What stood out for you about Fuqua as you were doing your MBA research?

A lot of schools are “pigeonholed” as strong in one particular area, like marketing or finance. I wanted a well-rounded program because I was interested in finance, but I wasn’t quite sure.  If I ended up doing something like consulting, recruiters might wonder why I chose Wharton.  In my opinion, Fuqua is strong in every area, not just one area.

What was the ‘x’ factor that made you say yes to Fuqua?

There’s a phrase you hear all the time –- Team Fuqua. People really look out for each other here. For example, during internship recruiting season, people who wanted investment banking jobs came back before second semester started and we spent a week prepping each other for interviews.  We were going to compete against each other for the same jobs – but that sense of teamwork is so strong that there was no question we’d help each other out so that we could all perform our best.

What was your best day at Fuqua?

I’d gotten the “rep” as someone who was really involved in Duke’s entrepreneurial push. I was asked by the provost to address the board of trustees and implore them for direct funding toward entrepreneurship. The board included some pretty remarkable people. I found out they were really inspired by my story and it sounds like they are really onboard.

Worst day?

It was during first term –- finals week. I had forgotten what it was like to be a student and I was completely overwhelmed. I was flying up to New York every weekend, getting about 3 to 4 hours of sleep during the week. I was just exhausted.  I didn’t know how I was going to handle all the work I had to do.  But I met a 2nd year in the hallway who said, ‘This is literally the worst it will be.’

So I’m a glutton for punishment.  B-school is going to be intense, but I still want to go! Any tips on Fuqua’s application process?

The interview is huge.  Current students conduct them. As teamwork is so important here, you should have a good story about how you motivated a group, how you held them accountable, and how you dealt with any conflict that came up.  This is CLUTCH.  Also, Fuqua, for both good and bad, is largely student run. They’ll want to know you’re going to make a positive impact –- but don’t overreach.  Have a couple of really solid ideas that you’re super passionate about, rather than a laundry list. They know the workload, and they’ll know the difference between sincerity and bluster.

Who were your favorite professors?

- Bill Mayhew – Accounting

- Shane Dikoli – Managerial accounting

- David Robinson – Entrepreneurial finance

- John Graham – Corporate restructuring

Across the board the teaching style is mostly case study – except for certain classes, like statistics.

Are there any innovative programs starting up right now?

There is a major push for entrepreneurship across the entire Duke campus. One of its new goals is to become a center for entrepreneurship — much like MIT and Stanford. P4E (Program for Entrepreneurs) is a second year program that allows you to bring your idea to school, find teammates, and earn up to 25 percent of your credit focusing on a start up.

There’s also the Health Sector Management program –- it’s the top health-related business program in the country. 

What about international exposure?

Duke is extremely focused on becoming an international school. Fuqua has opened satellite schools in Shanghai and Dubai to really make Fuqua a global brand.

There’s also the GATE (Global Academic Travel Experience) program. You take a class on the region you’re going to and then you travel there at the end of the term.  You spend half the time doing cultural activities and then you meet with high-level business executives.  I went to Istanbul and Dubai – two Muslim cities that are incredibly different and provided amazing perspective.

Finally, the class itself is extremely diverse – 36% of the students are international.  There’s a strong Indian presence as well as a strong South American presence.

Any last words of advice?

Go where you feel comfortable – the interview process clinched the decision for me.  The Team Fuqua spirit is real – people really do watch out for each other here.

Interview conducted by Michelle Stockman, who worked in the Columbia Business School admissions office, has a Masters in Journalism from Columbia, and has assisted Accepted.com clients applying to top business schools since 2007.  She is happy to help you with your application.

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Filed Under: Duke Fuqua, MBA Admissions Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Haas Full-Time MBA: A Current Student Interview

July 23, 2010 by

Accepted.com is continuing a blog series featuring interviews with current MBA students, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at selected MBA programs. We hope to offer you a candid picture of student life, and what you should consider as you prepare your MBA application.

Here’s a talk with a student from Berkeley Haas, a top MBA program based in the Bay area, with close proximity to the e-industry and biotech clusters in Silicon Valley.

You’re in laid back Berkeley.  With the mountains, food, and ocean nearby how do you get anything done? What’s the best way to plan for your two years to get the most out of it?

Coming in, all of my colleagues and myself thought this would be our last time in school, so that naturally led us to try and get involved in all the activities.  But that’s a bad idea if you want to make the most out of your experience. You just end up being really busy, and not doing anything substantial. I suggest choosing one main activity where you have a leadership position, and then have one or two others where you’re casually involved. And at Haas, grades are not emphasized–meaning not given to on-campus recruiters–so do what you can in school and don’t overload yourself.

How close did you stick to your originally stated goals from your application?

I wanted to make a transition from health care consulting into industry in the short-term, and that has definitely worked out for me. I used to be a consultant in Tokyo, and now I’m working at Genentech in San Francisco. My long-term plans have changed though. Originally I thought I wanted to start my own company helping medical device companies bring products more quickly into Japan. But I think Haas’s proximity to Silicon Valley has made me become more e-tech savvy. So that’s why at Genentech, I’m in the biotech e-marketing group.

So you were pretty focused on health care.  That’s been a good match for you at Haas?

There may be a preconception that Haas is entrepreneur tech-focused MBA program and that’s because of the proximity to Silicon Valley. Lots of people do come with tech backgrounds. But the curriculum has a very strong general management focus, with lots of different courses for many types of industries. I had many health care oriented classes to choose from. And they have an MBA/MPH joint degree if you want to pursue that route.

Why did you choose Haas?

It was tough. Basically, it came down to the fact that I couldn’t cheer for any other football team in the country.  Berkeley’s my alma mater.  But also–there are so many good programs out there, so I really focused on my career path and where I could see myself living in the future. I’m a California native, so I couldn’t see myself putting up with the snow in Boston.  And I’m married, so I wanted to think about my family and where we would be most comfortable. My point is that reputation or ranking isn’t everything.  Once you get into the upper echelon of schools, rankings don’t matter–you have to go where you feel comfortable. Northern California was the choice for me.

What did you find out the school offers that you couldn’t find out from the website or an information session?

Haas has a unique and collaborative student culture. We really work in teams, where one minute we might look like we’re having fun, and then another minute fighting–which is actually constructive debate.  Your age and experience here don’t matter–people don’t judge you on that.  As long as you are making a commitment to engage you’ll be embraced and valued.

What about your favorite classes?

The classes I wouldn’t miss are 1) Core Marketing by Professor Rashi Glazer. It’s very interesting and very educational and that’s saying a lot because many of us already had some marketing background, but we all learned something. 2) Operations by Terry Taylor. Very good at explaining operations to beginners.

What kind of leadership training or mentoring do you receive at Haas?

Curriculum-wise, there were optional leadership seminars that people could sit in on.  Haas is also revamping its core curriculum next year, to focus on developing innovative leadership. Outside of class, the clubs definitely help you develop your leadership skills. If you get selected for a leadership position, you really get to be in the driver’s seat.

How much help has career services been to you? 

Career services is excellent.  It’s unique in that our career advisors are allocated to an industry vertical. They have significant contacts, experience and credibility amongst recruiters.  That’s a real help to first years trying to secure an internship.

Can you tell me about your best day so far on campus?

When I helped plan for the annual health care conference and all our planning, hard work and late nights came together. Our panelists struck up good discussions and debate, and people got really engaged, especially due to the health care reform passage that was going on at the time.

Worst day?

A bad interview, and then walking into a class unprepared because I had spent so much time preparing for the interview, and then getting cold called.

It’s the Bay Area, so we have to ask about the food. Best restaurant?

If you’re ready to ante up some cash, there’s Chez Panisse, the restaurant that invented California cuisine.  But there are also good eateries at a low cost all around campus, so just explore. My favorite that just opened is a Japanese place called Ippuku.

Last words of advice?

A lot of people coming into business school have high aspirations and want to pick the school they think will look the best on their resume. I would say, de-emphasis rankings and think ahead to what you want out of your career. Select a school that will help you meet those goals.

 

 Interview conducted by Michelle Stockman, who worked in the Columbia Business School admissions office, has a Masters in Journalism from Columbia, and has assisted Accepted.com clients applying to top business schools since 2007.  She is happy to help you with your application.


 

Filed Under: MBA Admissions, UC Berkeley Haas Tagged With: , ,

NYU Stern Langone MBA: A Current Student Interview

May 4, 2010 by

Accepted.com is continuing a blog series featuring interviews with current MBA students, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at selected MBA programs. We hope to offer you a candid picture of student life, and what you should consider as you prepare your MBA application.

Here are some excerpts from an interview with a current NYU Stern part-time MBA student from a marketing background.

What’s the best way to plan for the part-time Langone MBA program so you get the most out of it?
Get your employer on board because you need a lot of flexibility. A major part of the MBA is not just class, it’s about events. For example, Stern might have a venture capitalist talking about how to start a business at lunch time, or 4 pm. And you might want to attend clubs that meet during work hours.

How did you get your boss on board?
When the semester started I put all the upcoming events I was interested in on my calendar. If i knew there was a conflict with work, I’d ask my boss if I could stay an hour extra a different day, or even go in on a Saturday.  Sometimes he would say, ‘Don’t worry about it. Just go.’

What about managing your time to get the most out of the experience?
I think it’s very important to get involved early if you want to make a good network  It’s better to hang out with people early on because that’s when people start forming their groups, otherwise it’s harder to break in. I went for two semesters in Westchester, so if you really want to be involved you have to go to the city. There you’re better off because you can meet more people. I got involved in the social enterprise club which is great and aligns with my post-MBA goals.

How close did you stick to your originally stated goals from the application?
In my application, I mentioned that I want to stay in my current job and industry. That’s truly what my thought process was.  But when I joined school I met people doing different things, and started thinking about going in a new direction. I’m in the process of figuring out where I want to be.  I wouldn’t say I’ve made a drastic shift, but I’ve made a shift.  I can still use a lot of things that I’m doing now in my next career. I think that I’ll be going towards consulting or product management.

What classes and professors have been the most interesting?
The strategy and marketing courses.  Strategy with Marciano and Marketing with Jeffery Carr.

What about the New York location?  How did that affect your experience?
The NYU website says you’ll have access to a lot of leaders and that’s really true. You have a lot of good speakers pass through campus.

What about part-time vs. full-time?  Do you think you’re making any compromises in your experience there?
Most of the professors are the same, so the quality of the curriculum is the same. Career services I would say is for full-time students, as they are more focused on the full-time people who are going out looking for jobs. The general perception is that part-time is for people who want to keep working in their industry. It’s not geared toward people who want to make a career transition.  But if you want to make one, they will help you.

Were you able to apply what you learned in real time?
I would say so far the courses taken have been very broad. I wouldn’t say I’ve applied everything, more like 30 to 40 percent of what I’ve learned.  But there have been some “aha!” moments where I’ve been able to contribute at work.

What kind of leadership training or mentoring have you received?
I think the best training I’ve received is from my peers. There are people who are second or third year in the program who can tell you how to approach looking for a job, or these are the great classes to take. I know NYU has a lot of programs where you can engage the faculty, take them out to lunch–especially for entrepreneurs–the faculty is very receptive.

How much time would you say you dedicated to school each week?
About 6 hours in class and then I dedicate 12 hours a week to studying and events.

What do you know now that you couldn’t glean from the website or admissions events?
The part-time program is very finance heavy. A lot of students are from the banking industry. It can be a little difficult for someone not in finance trying to make a transition meeting people who are non-finance.

Best day?  I attended a global business conference arranged by one of the clubs and that was really good for me because I met a lot of people from across the world. My interest does lie in emerging markets and I met people from India, like heads of banks.

Worst day?  A class on Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm.

By Michelle Stockman, who worked in the Columbia Business School admissions office, has a Masters in Journalism from Columbia, and has assisted Accepted.com clients applying to top business schools since 2007. When not advising Accepted’s clients, she is a multimedia producer with works published by Agence France Presse, Economist.com, WSJ.com, The Times of India, and Hindustan Times. She is happy to help you with your application.


Filed Under: MBA Admissions, NYU Stern Tagged With: , , ,

Columbia Full-Time MBA: A Current Student Interview

April 27, 2010 by

Accepted.com is continuing a blog series featuring interviews with current MBA students, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at selected MBA programs. We hope to offer you a candid picture of student life, and what you should consider as you prepare your MBA application.

Our first stop?  New York City. Here are some excerpts from an interview with a current full-time Columbia MBA student from a finance background.

What’s the best way to plan for the two years so that you get the most out of it?
Point blank, you gotta know what you want to do. Especially now in this recession economy. I had a lot of friends who came into school with the assumption they would figure out their career plan in their first year–and they were left behind.  School starts in August, and recruiting starts in September.  It’s over very quickly and if you don’t get an internship, you’re not going to get a full-time offer.  So if you don’t know what you want to do, you might want to defer your plans to apply.

How close did you stick to your originally stated goals from your application?
My goal was to get into Columbia, and my second goal was to get into the value investment program.  So I followed my goals to the “T.”

So you were pretty focused on finance.  That’s been a good match for you at Columbia?
Absolutely. I came specifically for the value investment program, which you’re allowed into through interviews and write ups.  It’s an entire second-year specialization that allows direct access to industry practitioners.

What about the New York location?  How did that affect your experience?

It’s absolutely tremendous. Really, in any field the opportunities are in New York City. If you’re an investment banker you have access to Wall Street, such as morning phone calls with all the investment banks. Your professors are multimillionaires who’ve made it on Wall Street. One of them made phone calls on my behalf at internship time, which I thought was unheard of.  So the dedication of their time–from an internship standpoint it’s invaluable.

Any trade-offs?

I have a 600 sq. foot apartment without a second bedroom or even a desk to study. It’s not nice if you’re working your tail off and you have a wife who doesn’t think you’re paying enough attention to her and you have no place to get your studying done. I would chose to live close to school or the library.

What did you find out the school offers that you couldn’t find out from the website or an information session?

I guess the good access to the professors.  I was going through job recruiting and I was reached out to by multiple professors who said they would put out in a good word for me.  They will put out their neck out for you.  It was really something I didn’t anticipate.

What kind of leadership training or mentoring do you receive at Columbia?

Every class in the core curriculum now has a portion dedicated to leadership training, such as ethical decision making. All clubs have individual mentorship programs. And in the value investment program, which is opened to 30 people a year, those who make it into the program have a mentor matched up to them for their desired work location in the future.

How much help has career services been to you?  How much job search have you had to do on your own?
Career services is instrumental in setting up resume critiques, mock interviews, and actual meet-ups. But I think the most important part of the Columbia experience is the clubs.  The real vital knowledge about internships and connections is in the clubs.

Can you tell me about your best day so far on campus?

Making it through the interviews for internships and getting an internship offer. You go through 5 to 7 interviews a day, that can last an hour and a half, where you pitch your stuff and it gets pretty intense.  But it was worth it in the end when I got good news.

The challenges?

The unavoidable part is definitely choosing between your significant other, socializing, making good grades, and your career search.  You can really only do three at the most and usually it’s best to stick to two out of the four.  You need to really map out your plan about what you’re okay letting go of and where you really want to focus your time, then stick too it–or you’re not going to make anybody happy. I had a professor say that everybody likes hot tea and iced tea, but nobody likes tepid tea.  You don’t want to be tepid.  You have to decide where you’re really going to excel.

Last words of advice?

Know what you want to do before you get here. A lot of people are very focused. Competition is tough, so executing a well-thought out plan will get you ahead.

 Interview conducted by Michelle Stockman, who worked in the Columbia Business School admissions office, has a Masters in Journalism from Columbia, and has assisted Accepted.com clients applying to top business schools since 2007.  She is happy to help you with your application.


Filed Under: Columbia University, MBA Admissions, MBA Goal Tagged With: , , , , ,

Part V: The Do’s and Dont’s of Audio and Video–Application Style

April 7, 2010 by

Here’s the final part of the series: Video, Let’s Get Technical

Imagine you’re a pro rock-climber, contemplating the 300-foot granite face looming above. To succeed, you need to visualize how you’ll make it to the top. It’s the same with video. Envision what you want to see on the screen, then plan, plan, plan ahead!

Storyboarding

Like an essay or an audio clip, first write an outline and script.  With video, you will also create a pictorial guide called a storyboard.

Print out several copies of a template. Draw out each shot. It doesn’t have to be complicated at all. Use stick figures.  Just make a quick sketch to envision what you’ll see through the camera.

Each shot should last between 3 to 5 secs. Under three seconds, people might have a hard time grasping what is going on, and over 5 secs, people generally become bored.  When you’re speaking to the camera, however, you can hold the shot for a little longer–like 7-8 secs.  So for a one minute clip, you’ll need about 12-15 different shots. (EXTRA TIP: Abroadview.org gives some great tips about choosing visuals for your script.)

Under the picture, write the portion of the script that you plan to say.

Variation of shots:  Sequence and distance

As you tell your story, make sure to show a sequence at various distances from the camera. For example, when filming the DJ sequence, you could start like this:

Shot 1:  Establishing shot of room with DJ equipment (The viewer can see your entire body, standing near the DJ equipment, facing a crowd)
Shot 2:  Medium shot. (Closer to the DJ booth. Midriff to just above your head with your hands visible on the turntable.)
Shot 3:  Close-up shot. (Your fingers on the turntable)
Shot 4:  Establishing shot again (This time with the camera behind your head capturing the silhouette of your back and the crowd dancing below you)

Shooting Tips

1.  Hold the camera steady.  For each shot, remain stationary and count for at least 10 seconds. You can cut the footage down later in your editing program to the appropriate length. Don’t zoom in and out.  For the interview portions, use a tripod if possible.

2.  Position of people in the camera.  When you are speaking to the camera, shoot yourself straight on–like a news reporter.  

GOOD

This is a nice shot because I’ve centered myself in the middle and the camera is capturing a shot just over the top of my head. I look like I’m about to speak directly to you.

EXTRA TIP: If you are using a camera with a built-in microphone, this is also a good distance to stand for the interview portion, as you’ll be close enough for the camera to pick up your voice.  Stand too much farther away, and it may be hard to hear you.

BAD

Too much space over my head in the camera frame.

BAD

Way too much space over my head and I’m not centered.

SOUND

Make sure you and any other camera operator use headphones to verify the sound is being recorded. 

If you’re outside, stay conscious of your surroundings.  If a car goes by while you’re trying to talk, wait until it passes.  If you’re trying to speak where there is loud music, choose another place. It may drown out your voice and make you hard to hear. Or, you can record your voiceover in a quiet place and edit it over the music.

EQUIPMENT

Don’t spend lots of money on equipment.  There are several inexpensive options for video:

1. Borrow a friend’s equipment or use a smartphone.  Just make sure that you know how to upload the content of the camera into an editing program.  Here’s how you can enter your iPhone footage into iMovie.

2.  Buy a Flip camera.  Here’s a link about how to capture footage into iMovie or Moviemaker.

3.  Here are a couple of how-to videos for editing with iMovie or Moviemaker.

Final Tips

You could possibly shoot the whole thing by yourself, but I wouldn’t recommend it.  Have someone else film the portions where you are looking directly into the camera, then takeover for the other parts.

Practice and memorize what you are going to say directly to the camera.  If you’re not good at memorization, narrate the whole thing–until the end. Make sure you include a small snippet where you are directly addressing the audience.

Above all, remember to smile.  This will naturally increase your energy and make you pleasant to watch. 

Have fun and happy shooting!

 

By Michelle Stockman, who worked in the Columbia Business School admissions office, has a Masters in Journalism from Columbia, and has assisted Accepted.com clients applying to top business schools since 2007. When not advising Accepted’s clients, she is a multimedia producer with works published by Agence France Presse, Economist.com, WSJ.com, the Times of India, and Hindustan Times. She is happy to help you with your application.

 

Filed Under: College Admissions, Grad School Admissions, MBA Admissions Tagged With: ,

Part IV: The Do’s and Dont’s of Audio and Video–Application Style

March 25, 2010 by

Let’s get Technical . . . with Audio.

As your story is the most compelling part of your audio clip, there’s no need to sweat the technical stuff.  Several inexpensive, user-friendly recording options are probably sitting right in front of you, on your computer.

For Mac users, the podcast recorder in GarageBand is your best bet.  Record your voice using the computer’s internal speakers (works best on a laptop) or a Skype-type USB headset.  The program helps you export the final product to iTunes in .mp3 format–which is easily uploadable to various school sites. Here’s a basic tutorial, and an intermediate version (starting at 1.30 the instructor offers tips on how to edit within the tracks.)

For PC users, Sound Recorder is the built-in Windows audio tool, but it’s not user friendly. There are numerous other Windows-oriented editing programs you can buy and download, but I recommend Audacity. It’s free and relatively easy to use.  Check out this podcast tutorial.  (It’s a bit hard to see on a laptop, but if you hit command and the “+” sign you can enlarge the screen.)  Also, on PC’s you have to use a Skype-type USB headset as your microphone. Otherwise you’ll need to purchase an external microphone that you plug into your computer.

For external audio recorders, I recommend using equipment like a Zoom or an Olympus LS-11. But there is really no need.  Sure, if sailing is one of the most important activities in your life, it might be cool to add the sound of the waves and the seagulls to your audio mix.  But if all you’ve got is a hand recorder, it will most likely sound scratchy unless you’ve got a really good mic.  Basically, if you don’t have prior experience recording and mixing audio, I suggest you stick to narrating your story into a computer.  Production will be much easier and still sound great. 

Here are the Top Five Tips for your audio recording:

1) Write as you speak: As you’re writing, speak aloud so that you use language you would normally use for speaking, rather than for writing.

2) Use headphones: When you do record your audio, make sure to use headphones so that you know what you sound like.  But don’t just trust what you hear. Sometimes there are different controls for how loud the microphone is picking up your voice, and for your headphone volume. Recording programs and devices should have a visual indicator for your voice level. 

In Garageband, it looks like this in the editing window when you play back what you’ve recorded:

GOOD

See how the bars are green, a little more than midway into the window? This is a good level.
 
BAD

In this example, my voice is too loud.  This is called peaking and your voice will sound tinny. This means you are too close to your microphone. Move back, or speak more softly so that your voice is in the “GOOD” range.

BAD

In this example, my voice is too low.  I either need to speak up, or move closer to the mic.

3. Practice, and do a test export. Before you record, practice saying your script aloud at least 5 times.  Print it out so that you can underline words you want to emphasize.  You should also time yourself, to make sure that you are staying within the allotted limit. Also, record a short 10 second snippet and practice exporting it into the school’s acceptable format.

4.  Think like your audience. The admissions committee is going to be listening to hundreds, maybe thousands of these clips.  Most people will probably use Garageband–so if you choose to jazz up your piece with one of the audio jingles they provide–most likely someone else will too, and you will sound less unique!  What is going to make you stand out the most is your story.  So again, and I can’t emphasize this enough–unless adding extra music or sound is part of YOUR story–DON’T add it in!

5. Record in front of another person, and smile.  This will help you to visualize your audience, and help you sound more like you are telling a story, rather than just reading off a page. By smiling, you will automatically boost your energy, and sound more interesting as you speak.

Stay tuned for the final Part V of the series: Let’s Get Technical . . . with Video.

By Michelle Stockman, who worked in the Columbia Business School admissions office, has a Masters in Journalism from Columbia, and has assisted Accepted.com clients applying to top business schools since 2007. When not advising Accepted’s clients, she is a multimedia producer with works published by Agence France Presse, Economist.com, WSJ.com, the Times of India, and Hindustan Times. She is happy to help you with your application.


Filed Under: College Admissions, MBA Admissions, UCLA Anderson Tagged With: ,

Part III: The Do’s and Dont’s of Audio and Video–Application Style

March 23, 2010 by

Content is King (or Queen)! . . . for Video

You’re no Kathryn Bigelow, ladies.  And you’re no James Cameron, gentlemen. It’s their job to push boundaries with the armies of cinematographers and CGI artists at their command.  When you’re brainstorming your application video clip, forget all the slick effects–unless that’s part of your prior training. Keep it simple and focus on the story.

Before you even start brainstorming content, make sure you’ve got the technical gear to make it happen. This will dictate what kind of story you can tell, and save headaches down the road.

Follow these two steps before you choose video:

1.  Gather your equipment.  You’ll need a camcorder, a tape or memory card, a firewire that will transfer the footage to your computer, and a computer editing program.

2.  30-second test shoot. Film anything for thirty seconds. Then practice transferring the footage into your editing program.  Export the clip into a format the school will allow you to upload to their website. If you can get all that done, you’re ready to do video. Otherwise, just stick to audio.

As I mentioned in Part II of this series, make a list and then outline your clip.

Take a look at the sample video outline below. Let’s say that you choose to write about a personal hobby that makes you unique, like working as an electronic music DJ.  I find it easiest to plan out a video clip in seconds.  These times are approximate, but should give you a rough estimate of how to structure the video.

0 – 10 sec: Write a 10 sec. introduction that you would say directly to the camera.
Introduce where you are, why you are there, and why the activity is important to you.

10 – 25 sec: Write a 15 sec. narration. You will record this over a series of images that show an action in progression. 

For example, as you explain how you learned to be a DJ, you could show images of yourself setting up your equipment, turning on the speakers and turntable, a close-up of you grooving with your headphones on, then a shot of a crowd dancing below you.

30 – 40 sec:  Directly address the camera again.  Use this as a transition to state how you have used this hobby to enrich the lives of others. If you change locations, you can film yourself walking into the new place.

40 – 55 sec:  Write another 15 sec. narration. You will record this over a series of images that show an action in progression. 

In this DJ example, you could explain what you learned about leadership through sharing this hobby with others. Let’s say that you started an after-school DJ class for disadvantaged kids. You could show images of yourself entering the school, talking to the class, then advising them at the turntable.

55 – 60 sec:  Directly address the camera one more time. You can end on an image of you talking to the camera while the kids are grooving in the background. State why you love to be a DJ.

As you can see, you must be concise when writing for video.  Use simple language and get right to the point!  Above all, show a process so that you’re giving the ad comm a visual story to follow.

Stay tuned for Part IV in the series: Let’s Get Technical . . . with Audio.?

By Michelle Stockman, who worked in the Columbia Business School admissions office, has a Masters in Journalism from Columbia, and has assisted Accepted.com clients applying to top business schools since 2007. When not advising Accepted’s clients, she is a multimedia producer with works published by Agence France Presse, Economist.com, WSJ.com, the Times of India, and Hindustan Times. She is happy to help you with your application.

Filed Under: UCLA Anderson Tagged With: , ,
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