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Consortium 2012 MBA Application Questions, Deadlines, Tips

October 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Consortium 2012 MBA Application Essay Questions

My comments are in blue. This year’s core application questions are identical to last year’s, and I’ve posted their guidelines from 2009 as well below:*

The following essay questions provide us with an opportunity to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses, experiences, and any other traits and abilities that are considered relevant to your educational goals and long-term career objectives. Please include your full name and essay number or subject on each page. Type your essays in a standard size 8 1/2? x 11? MS Word document. Please limit each essay to no more than two double -spaced pages.

Core Essay #1 (Required): Please describe your short and long term goals post-MBA. How has your professional experience shaped these goals and influenced your decision to pursue an MBA degree?

This is a straightforward MBA goals question. Connect the dots between your past and your dreamed of future; show how the MBA is the bridge between the two.

In discussing your professional experience, don’t regurgitate your resume. Highlight specific, influential, and impressive events or projects in your career to bring out both what you like and are good at.

Core Essay #2: Is there any other information you would like to share that is not presented elsewhere in the application? You may also use this essay to provide further explanation of employment gaps, test scores, etc. (Optional)

This is a question with a split personality. On one hand, it is open-ended. On the other, the Consortium says that this is the place to provide context for anything that might need explaining. Use it for that purpose. If you are one of the lucky ones who doesn’t need to “provide explanation,” then you can use this optional essay to provide a different perspective on your candidacy by revealing something new, something not present in the required MBA essays.

If you would like professional guidance with your Consortium application, please consider Accepted’s MBA essay editing and MBA admissions consulting or our Consortium Packages, which include advising, editing, interview coaching, and a resume edit for the Consortium application.

Consortium 2012 MBA Application Deadlines

Application Deadline November 15 January 5
GMAT® and/or GRE Taken by November 1 December 20
Admission Decision Varies by school Varies by school
Fellowship Notification Mid March Mid March

Linda Abraham By , President and Founder of Accepted.com.

If you would like tips like these for your non-Consortium schools, please see our 2012 MBA Application Tips

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MBA Applicant Blogger Interview: Abhishek’s Journey

September 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Next up in our series of featured MBA applicant bloggers is Abhishek, author of the blog, “Beyond GMAT: The Quest Begins.” Please enjoy Abhishek’s thoughtful answers and use them to help you make your way through the MBA admissions process.

Accepted: First, can you tell us a little about yourself – where are you from, where did you go to school and when did you graduate; and what prior degrees do you hold?

Abhishek: I am Abhishek Chakravarty, a middle class Bengali Brahmin boy born in Palamu, in the tribal state of Jharkhand, India. I went to Sacred Heart School, the only English medium school in the district of Palamu and later graduated from Manipal Institute of Technology in Karnataka, India as an electrical and electronics engineer in 2007.

Accepted: When do you plan on applying to business school? Which schools will you apply to? Do you think you’ll apply to a “safety school”?

Abhishek: I will apply to b-schools this year for full-time MBA curriculums commencing in 2012. I will apply to top US and non-US (India and Singapore) business schools. My application spectrum includes one from the Top 10, three from the Top 20 and two Safety Schools. (Two considering the fact that I want to get back to work latest by 2014. Fingers crossed!).

Accepted: How many times did you take the GMAT? Are you happy with your score?

Abhishek: I took the GMAT once and got a 710. Although I feel I underachieved by 20-30 points, I am not complaining; a 710 would still make me competitive for top b-schools provided I have stellar apps.

Accepted: Does cost play a factor in where you’re applying? Do you plan on applying for financial aid or scholarships? Has your current job offered to pick up part or all of your b-school tab?

Abhishek: Coming from a middle class Indian family, cost of the b-school is definitely one of the factors that will determine where I am applying. I understand that getting a top MBA is a significant investment and I need to figure out all possible sources of funding that would help me attend a particular b-school. In that light, scholarships become hugely important.

My post MBA plans are to enter the core Information technology consulting business. And since my current company is more of a services company, it offering to pick up all or part of my b-school tab is more or less ruled out, and is not an option really.

Accepted: What courses or experiences or people have motivated you to go to business school? How?

Abhishek: I am well versed in technology processes and I foresee a paradigm shift towards the way we look at technology. However, I lack formal management skills and definitely need better insights into the details of just how an enterprise takes shape, and survives. Also, the recent technological developments and changing business scenarios around these developments make a strong case for attending a b- school. Needless to say, a top MBA will not only expand my professional horizons but also equip me with strong networks to give my career a boost in the right direction.

Accepted: How has the current economy affected your decision to attend business school?

Abhishek: The current world economy while extremely volatile is also full of opportunities. It’s best to sit back, get your business basics right and learn from the present failures. I am an optimist all the way, and while the current economy does not emit great vibes, I sense a lot of activity in the technology domain. I want to be done with business basics and bolster my networks while things look down, because when they start looking back up (and we all know they will), I want to see myself as somebody who used the volatility to his advantage.

In the end, the current economy has not affected my decision to attend business school.

Accepted: Why did you choose to blog about the MBA application experience?

Abhishek: With a full-time job and simultaneously preparing for the GMAT, I came across a lot of issues that needed to be addressed. These issues ranged from what to study for the GMAT to where to apply after one had the GMAT score ready! And I always found most answers on the MBA blogging forums. Since I myself was a recipient of such useful data and information while I prepared for the GMAT and as I apply to b-schools, I decided to tell my application journey as well and add to the store of very useful advice. It not only helps future GMAT aspirants in their quest to the best GMAT, but also keeps fellow applicants informed and motivated about important b-school info and save a lot of valuable time.

Do you want to be featured in Accepted.com’s blog, Accepted Admissions Almanac? If you want to share your MBA admissions journey with the world (or at least with our readers), email us at mbabloggers@accepted.com.

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MBA Applicant Blogger Interview: Motown, Ms. HR, and Mads Mom’s Journey

September 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment

  

Next up in our series of featured MBA applicant bloggers are Motown, Ms. HR, and Mads Mom from the blog, “Fortune 800: Our Journey to an MBA.” Please enjoy their thoughtful answers and use them to help you make your way through the MBA admissions process.

Accepted: First, can you tell us a little about yourself – where are you from, where did you go to school and when did you graduate; and what prior degrees do you hold?

Ms. HR: I was born and raised in Michigan. I grew up right outside of Ann Arbor (Canton) so it was no surprise that I wanted to attend the University of Michigan. I graduated from the University of Michigan (GO BLUE!!!) in December 2007 with a BSE in Electrical Engineering.

Mads Mom: I grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio, but was never an Ohio State fan, although everyone assumes that I should be because I am from Ohio. Obviously, I did the complete opposite and went to the University of Michigan where I graduated in 2007 with a BA in Sociology.

Motown: I was born and raised in Detroit, MI. I also went to the University of Michigan and graduated in 2008 with a degree in Civil Engineering and minor in History.

Accepted: When do you plan on applying to business school? Which schools will you apply to? Do you think you’ll apply to a “safety school”?

Ms. HR: I’m planning on applying this year in either round 1 or 2. It depends on when I complete the best application possible for me. I have about 7 schools on my list as of now but I plan on narrowing that list down to 5 schools. My top 3 schools are Cornell, Vanderbilt and Kellogg. I’m DEFINITELY planning on applying to a safety school. I know where I want my career to go and I need an MBA to get there so I’m anxious to get started.

Mads Mom: I am planning to apply to business school for Fall 2012, during round 1 or 2. I have not narrowed my list of schools down yet, but some possible schools include University of Michigan, UCLA, Berkeley, NYU, and Cornell. I will definitely be applying to a “safety school” because I ultimately want to go back to school next year no matter what.

Motown: I’m pretty set on Round 2. That’s when I will have my transcript available for the class I am currently taking and when I know I will be very confident in my application. Also, I want to interview and apply at the same time. Not to mention, I want to visit some schools this Fall before apps are due. I feel like a lot of business schools are great, and I will be happy attending any of the schools I’m applying to, which is why I don’t have a ‘top’ choice. I am applying to 6 schools, 2 are Consortium and the rest are a range of safeties and reaches.

Accepted: Why do you want to go to business school? What are some of the factors motivating you?

Ms. HR:  I want to build some fundamental knowledge on business and HR. Coming from an engineering background I feel like it’s a necessity in order to be successful in my career change to HR Management. The main motivating factor for going back to school is most HR leadership rotational programs require an MBA or Master’s in HR. I know that an MBA will give me that fundamental knowledge so I can be successful in my future career. Another motivating factor, is just my pure passion for HR. I’ve had to work on some projects with HR and after every project I felt like running straight over to HR. I know without a doubt that’s where I’m supposed to be.

Mads Mom: I am a career changer, so I want to go back to business school because I plan to break into the new career field of high tech marketing. Some of the factors that are motivating me include the fact that I want to get into a career that combines my two passions for technology and design. Going back to school will give me the foundation I need, and the possible pay increase doesn’t hurt either.
 
Motown: I’ve always had a passion for helping out Detroit. So once I looked at my grad school options and did some research, I realized that an MBA was the best fit for me. I would love to increase my business acumen, expand my network, and hone in on my leadership skills. I desire to first pursue non-profit consulting and then eventually open a non-profit back in Detroit that focuses on urban and economic development.

Accepted: Does cost play a factor in where you’re applying? Do you plan on applying for financial aid or scholarships? Has your current job offered to pick up part or all of your b-school tab?

Ms. HR: Cost is a factor but at the same time it’s not really. If I get into my top choice school I doubt I would turn it down due to cost. I’ve done some research and there is money out there that you can get. I will be working extra hard to try and nail down some scholarships. I also plan on applying for financial aid. My current job does tuition reimbursement but I would have to go to school part time. I would like to take the time off and just focus on school and take in all a full time MBA has to offer as well as expand my network.

Mads Mom: At this point in time, cost is not really playing a factor in where I am applying. I definitely plan on applying for financial aid and scholarships, but I pretty much don’t want the factor of money to deter me from going to a great school. My current job has not yet offered to pick up part of my tab, but I haven’t asked or persuaded them yet either.

Motown: Cost definitely plays a factor, which is part of the reason I am applying through the Consortium. I also looked into schools that have loan forgiveness programs since I am interested in the non-profit/social enterprise space, which does not pay as lucratively as some other jobs. I will be applying for financial aid and seeking out scholarships/grants as well. My current job doesn’t offer to pay for business school for people that want to go FT.

Accepted: Do you plan on returning to your pre-MBA job (in a more prestigious/lucrative position) after you finish business school? Or do you plan on moving to a new function or industry?

Ms. HR: Eventually I would love to come back and work at my current company. I really enjoy working here but at the same time I would like to work elsewhere for a little bit to gain a different perspective and really see if the grass is greener elsewhere.

Mads Mom: I do not plan on returning to my pre-MBA job because it is in a totally different industry that I want to get into.

Motown: I’ve spoken to a few MBA’s at my company, so it’s not totally out of the picture. But for now, I plan on moving into a new company within a totally new function.

Accepted: What courses or experiences or people have motivated you to go to business school? How?

Ms. HR: The main thing that motivated me to go to business school is the exposure I’ve had to HR at my current company. That exposure made me realize HR is where I would like to go with my career. An MBA will help get me there. Another motivating factor was hearing the career paths my HR colleagues took. Knowing that an MBA helped some of them tremendously I’m more than willing to go back to school so I too can have some of those same opportunities.

Mads Mom: My mother has a number of degrees and if there was someone that motivated me to go to business school it would be her. Personally, I decided that I wanted a career change and to get where I wanted to go I knew I was going to need and MBA to get there.

Motown: As far as coursework, at Michigan I took this really cool class where we worked with a village in the Dominican Republic where we helped them filter their own clean water. That really changed my perspectives on technology and the possibility of leveraging it to help communities. Also, last fall one particular conversation I had with a JD/MBA was really inspiring and made me finally decide that an MBA was for me in order to reach my future goals. For a long time I thought MBA’s were just people that did investment banking, I had no idea about the wide range of careers that MBA’s could have!

Accepted: Why did you choose to blog about the MBA application experience?

Ms. HR: At first I was really against blogging. I didn’t think I would have enough time to write or enough things to say. It was Mads Mom that kept on pushing it and I’m so glad she did. Now that I’m in the groove of things I’m really glad we are documenting our journey. Hopefully it will help current and future applicants out and we will always have detailed memories of our journey. Without question, I’ve learned a lot from our readers. I think the collaboration between us and the readers benefits everyone. Also for me, blogging makes me think long and hard about the b-school process and I hope this in depth thinking will help me build a great application.

Mads Mom: While doing all my b-school research I came across a number of blogs, and just figured that maybe someone would want to read about mine. I knew I was going to be extra busy because I have a little girl, so pushed for Motown and Ms. HR to get into it together and it seems to be working out great. It’s fun to just write a quick note, even if no one reads it, so that you can look back and remember what you went through to get to where you want to go.

Motown: I personally love blogs and read them all the time. So when Mads Mom suggested it, I was excited about it. It’s great to just document this whole, introspective process and be able to look back and see how far we have all come!

Do you want to be featured in Accepted.com’s blog, Accepted Admissions Almanac? If you want to share your MBA admissions journey with the world (or at least with our readers), email us at mbabloggers@accepted.com.

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The Role of Women in the Business World

May 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

  

A lot has been written lately about equality and inequality in the business world, specifically addressing the question: has the past decade seen MBA programs and corporate businesses making more room for women or less?

Businessweek recently reported in “B-School Gender Mix Changing, Slowly” that a growing number of women are attending business school.  According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the number of females taking the GMAT in the U.S. has risen 10 percent in 2010 in comparison with the numbers from 2000.  Elissa Ellis-Sangster, director of the Forte Foundation—a consortium of 36 business schools working to increase the number of women pursuing MBAs—noted that 31.2 percent of applicants to Forte-member schools were women in 2010, which is a step up from 28.5 percent in 2005.

Moreover, GMAC notes that around 54 percent of full-time MBA programs in 2010 said they implemented “special recruitment efforts” to try and bring more women to their schools. An even more impressive statistic comes from Forte-member institutions, which found that 100% of schools host women’s outreach programs.

Rosabeth Moss Kanter, a Harvard Business School professor who wrote the book Men and Women of the Corporation, comments that there has been a great amount of progress since she began teaching.  Now 36 percent of Harvard’s incoming class is comprised of women, a step up from 25 percent in 1985.

Yet, another article, this time in the Financial Times, discusses the difficulties around convincing boards to include larger numbers of women. Former UK minister, Lord Davies, wrote an independent review of women on boards, suggesting that a voluntary target of 25 percent be implemented for FTSE 1000 boards by the year 2015.  However, Penny de Valk, chief executive of the Institute of Leadership and Management, has spoken to many business leaders who claim they “find it very difficult to find women for senior leadership positions.”

There is clearly a connection between the low numbers of women in top management positions and the difficult time business schools have recruiting female students.  Most believe the main reason is that women want a balance between their work and family life. Another reason cited is the cutthroat environment on Wall Street, which fits more of a male then a female stereotype. Lastly, business school is expensive and since women have a stronger aversion to risk according to the FT article, they are less likely to make the commitment.

However, the business world needs to meet Lord Davies’s goals. It clearly must begin thinking in more creative ways about how to make more room for women at the top of the corporate ladder – as well as on the way up.

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Indiana Kelley 2011 MBA Application Questions, Deadlines, Tips.

December 26, 2010 By

Indiana Kelley 2011 MBA Essay Questions

This Indiana Kelley 2011 MBA Application tip post is one of a series of posts providing MBA application and essay advice for applicants to top MBA programs around the world. You can access the entire series at http://blog.accepted.com/acceptedcom_blog/tag/2011-mba-application-tips. My tips for answering Kelley‘s essay questions are in blue below.

Your essays will give us an idea of your personality, perspectives, and opinions and will let us know how closely your professional objectives match the objectives of the MBA program.

Below you’ll find five essay areas. All applicants must answer number 1. You must also choose two of the next three essay questions (2 through 4). Number 5 is optional. Please limit each essay to no more than two double-spaced pages.

Finally, please include the essay number and your name at the top of each sheet.

We encourage you to be informative, creative, and concise.

Mandatory:

1. Please discuss your post-MBA short- and long-term professional goals. How will your professional experience, when combined with a Kelley MBA degree, allow you to achieve these goals?

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

Choose two of the next three:

2. Describe an ethical dilemma that you faced in your professional career. How was it resolved and what did you learn from the experience?

First realize that an ethical dilemma is not a choice between right and wrong. It is a choice between conflicting values or the lesser of two evils.  Briefly describe the dilemma you faced. Then describe the pros and cons of the available options and discuss how you handled the situation. Don’t forget the lessons learned.

3. Suppose you had to choose three people—people alive now or people from another era—to travel with you on a cross-country automobile trip. Who would you choose and why? What would you hope to learn from them? (Think carefully about the company you want on those long stretches through Nebraska or Kansas.)

Have fun with this question and use it to show a non-professional side of you. What  books, movies, sports, artists, or thought leaders would you love to spend time with? Who from the past has fascinated you.  More important than the person you choose is why you picked these individuals and what you would like to learn in those endless stretches through Kansas and Nebraska.

4. Describe what there is about your background and your experiences that will contribute to the diversity of the entering class and enhance the educational experience of other students.

What is the distinctive stone or hue that you will add to the mosaic that is a Kelley class. Think about this diversity question broadly, not just in ethnic or professional terms. What are you going to add? Is it an enthusiastic commitment to Barak Obama, a local environmental cause, your church, or a hobby, sport, or art form? Is it an unusual personal background? Perhaps, overcoming distinctive challenges?  And then, how will this unique facet cause you to contribute?  Will it lead to involvement in a specific club or Kelley project? An active role in classroom discussions on a specific topic?  Interest in a particular program? Show your knowledge of Indiana Kelley as well as your  fit with this great MBA program.

Optional:

5. Is there anything else that you think we should know as we evaluate your application? If you believe your credentials and essays represent you fairly, you shouldn’t feel obligated to answer this question.

It is almost impossible for three essays plus a bunch of boxes, a transcript, and a GMAT score to represent fully the uniqueness and talents of a truly impressive candidate. That comment has nothing to do with writing style and everything to do with the complexity of accomplished human beings. While I certainly agree that if you have nothing to say, you should say nothing, you should have something valuable to add in your optional essay.

If you would like help with your Indiana Kelley MBA application, please consider Accepted.com’s Indiana Kelley School Packages or our essay editing services.

Indiana Kelley 2011 MBA Deadlines

Domestic and International
Applicants:

Deadline Notification
Early Nov 1 Mid January
Priority Jan 5 Mid March
Third Mar 1 Late April
Final Apr 15 Late May
 
Consortium applicants

Deadline Notification
Priority Nov 15 Early February
Final Jan 5 Mid March

 

  By Linda Abraham, President and Founder of Accepted.com.

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Consortium Interview: How is it Different from other MBA Interviews?

December 21, 2010 By

 

As expected, our second Consortium Application Strategies Q&A was just as successful as our first, with lots of good questions and loads of new information offered from the Consortium and from participating schools.

Here is an excerpt from the chat on Consortium interviews:

Linda Abraham: Juan asks, “I’m curious about what I should expect at my Consortium interview?”

Travis McAllister-CONSORTIUM: I’m going to refer this one to the schools because the Consortium interview is going to vary. I will say that when you are expecting your Consortium interview, you can choose between a member school representative or a Consortium alum. I tell anyone who has called me that it varies by individual person. We have guidelines and prescriptions about what they can or cannot ask in your interview, but it’s still going to vary by person. So I want to refer to some of the member schools who have or will be conducting Consortium interviews for this round.

Jon Fuller-MICHIGAN ROSS: There probably is a degree of variability if you are interviewing with an alum or if you are interviewing at a specific member school. But again, the guidance that we get is that the interview is supposed to be school neutral, so you probably won’t experience a whole lot of questions based specifically on the school. For instance, if you came and had an interview at Ross, I’m not going to ask you your nitty-gritty thoughts of why you want to come to Ross and espouse the virtues of our program verses any of these other programs or anything like that. The Consortium interview is a general interview where the interviewer’s comments are going to be made available to all of the schools you are applying to through the Consortium. So as such, the approach that we and others take is that it’s more of an assessment of how this person is fit for an MBA in general. How clear are their goals and ambitions and what they want to do with their MBA? How is their professionalism? How is their teamwork in general? And again, the assessment is not supposed to be how that is looking through the lens of our specific program, but how that information is of value to Consortium programs as a whole. So if you’ve been doing your due diligence as you’ve been writing those essays and trying to make an assessment for yourself in terms of why you want to do this, that’s pretty good preparation for hopefully being successful about the interview process.

Jim Holmen-INDIANA: In many respects the Consortium interview is going to be, with the exception of it not being school specific, no different than any other admission interview that you may encounter at any other school. And I would prepare for it the same way that you would prepare for a job interview: getting a sense of your accomplishments and your past experiences. Often the best preparation for an admissions interview is making good progress in your application for admission and your admission essays. Because often the interview provides you the opportunity to bring your application to life a bit and to help us better understand your career goals, your reasons for pursuing an MBA, and what you will be able to attribute to your MBA program, and the kind of accomplishments and the impact you’ve had on past organizations that you’ve been a part of.

Visit our website to view the full transcript or listen to the mp3 of the Q&A.

What do you hope to be asked during your MBA admissions interview? Let us know what you think when you enter Accepted.com’s Facebook Fans MBA Face-Off Contest! You could win interview prep resources valued up to $50!

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Consortium Application Strategies: A How-To Q&A Session Tomorrow!

December 7, 2010 By

Applying to b-school using the Consortium’s application has many benefits, including convenience and member perks. But with all of your focus on a single application, you’re going to have to make sure that you get it exactly right. Learn how to create an effective Consortium application strategy with Rebecca Dockery, the Consortium’s Recruiting Director, in an interactive admissions Q&A on Wednesday, December 8, 2010 at 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET / 1:00 AM GMT. There will also be a panel of admissions directors from participating schools available to answer your questions.

If you are applying through the Consortium, then come learn insider tips and advice on creating a compelling Consortium application, and in turn, enhancing the mission of creating diversity in the business world.

Register now to reserve your spot for the Consortium Application Strategies Q&A!

What time is that for me? Click on the link to find out the exact time for your location.

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Consortium: Interview with Admissions Directors

November 18, 2010 By

Last week’s Consortium Q&A was a huge success and tons of important issues were addressed by Rebecca Dockery, the Consortium’s Recruiting Director, and a panel of representatives from top MBA programs, including Dartmouth Tuck, Emory Goizueta, Michigan Ross, NYU Stern, Rochester, UCLA, UNC, USC, UT Austin,.

To review the entire discussion, please read the full transcript or download the MP3.

Here is an excerpt from the Q&A that we found particularly illuminating:

Linda Abraham: The next question is, “How important is it that I rank my schools on the Consortium application?”

Karen Marks DARTMOUTH: It makes no difference; it’s not a factor in admissions decisions. It comes into play during the fellowship component, but in terms of your admissions decision, it doesn’t play in at all.

Jon Fuller MICHIGAN: When the Admissions Committee gets an application, the rank list is electronically blacked out, and that is not actually released until we’ve already made our admissions decisions. That is just our own internal process for that. So just as it was mentioned, the ranking plays no factor in admissions decision or in membership; it really only comes up from a fellowship perspective.

Shana Basnight EMORY: I would just advise that you do your due diligence before you lock in your ratings because once you do, they are set in stone and you can’t change them. So whether you get a chance to visit different campuses or talk to different alums that have attended different schools, do as much research as you can before you completely drop the Consortium application and put in your rankings because you only have one chance to do them.

Jon Fuller MICHIGAN: I think candidates spend some time thinking about whether there is a way to increase the likelihood of them getting a fellowship by how they rank a school, and there is  a lot of agony that goes into that. The advice I give to candidates is that if Ross is your first choice, then you should rank us first. If another school is your first choice and we’re your second choice, then you should put us second and you should put that other school first. Because just as it was mentioned, it’s an individual decision based on the school; it just goes down the rank order of the process that is explained relatively well through the

Consortium documentation that is available on their website. But don’t try to over-think because it just doesn’t work. So rank the order in terms of your enthusiasm of how much you want to attend that particular program.

Rebecca Dockery CONSORTIUM: I’m going to give you an Amen!

Jon Fuller MICHIGAN: Thank you!

Kellee Scott USC: Just to add a little more relief hopefully to this effort with the rankings, the process is that you are only allowed to hold one fellowship that you can call Consortium, but that doesn’t stop other schools from offering you school based scholarships if you qualify for them. So the rankings may say that you are only allowed to get one scholarship that is called Consortium, but if school #3 and #4 really want you, that doesn’t stop them from offering you aid outside of the Consortium scholarship, or offering you any kind of merit based money outside of the Consortium scholarship. So you are not limited in this process; the rankings do not limit you in any way.

View the full Q&A transcript or listen to the mp3 recording of the event now!

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Filed Under: Admissions Consulting, Consortium, Dartmouth Tuck, Emory Goizueta, MBA Admissions, Michigan Ross, NYU Stern, UCLA Anderson, UNC Kenan Flagler, USC Marshall Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Consortium Admissions Strategy Q&A TODAY!

November 4, 2010 By

Are you interested in applying to business schools through the Consortium? Do you want to contribute to the mission of creating diversity in the business world? Do you want to learn how to create an effective application strategy for the Consortium?

Now is your chance to get your questions answered and increase your chances of getting accepted to the Consortium.

Join us later today, Thursday, November 4, 2010 at 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET / 12:00 AM GMT* for an interactive Q&A session with the Consortium’s Recruiting Manager, Rebecca Dockery.

There will also be a panel of admissions directors from participating schools available to answer your questions. If you plan on applying to any of the following business schools through the Consortium, then this Q&A will be particularly relevant to you: Emory Goizueta, UNC Kenan-Flagler, USC Marshall, Dartmouth Tuck, NYU Stern, UCLA Anderson, Michigan Ross, Texas McCombs, and Wisconsin School of Business.

Register now to reserve your spot for today’s Consortium Admissions Q&A!

* Due to time zone differences, the chat will begin on the next calendar date for the indicated time zones.

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Filed Under: Admissions Consulting, Consortium, Dartmouth Tuck, Emory Goizueta, MBA Admissions, Michigan Ross, NYU Stern, UCLA Anderson, UNC Kenan Flagler, USC Marshall Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Consortium Admissions Director Interview

October 26, 2010 By

If you attended our recent Consortium Q&A, then you know that we had an overwhelming number of questions and simply not enough time to address them all. Rebecca Dockery and Stacy Thomas, Consortium Recruiting Directors, have agreed to answer the remaining questions here on our blog.

So here you go…a continuation of last week’s Consortium Admissions Q&A interview:

  • When is the best time to apply through the consortium?

You should apply one year before you plan to start school (i.e. if you want to begin classes in Fall 2012, apply in Fall 2011).  

  • What would you say is the number one item prospective students often overlook but is extremely important to admission into the Consortium and their desired b-school?

The Consortium’s common application makes the process of applying easier for applicants, but there is still plenty of work for an applicant to do. Applicants should fully research their schools of interest, visit as many schools as possible, attend recruiting events, and communicate with recommenders and interviewers to ensure that supporting documents are submitted on time.

  • Is the diversity essay looking for a response that revolves around your ideology or your actions?

To be invited for membership in The Consortium, an individual must demonstrate a commitment to The Consortium’s mission using examples from his/her professional or community activities.   

  • What type of career background do most Consortium applications come from?

Consortium applicants come from a wide variety of academic and professional backgrounds, and are pursuing numerous career paths. One of The Consortium’s greatest assets is the alumni network, where applicants can find contacts in almost every industry and function.

  • Is there a better chance of consideration for Consortium Membership and Fellowship by applying in the first round versus the second round?

The timeframe in which admission decisions are released by member schools varies greatly, and can range from December to early March. All Consortium membership and fellowship decisions are made in mid-March, regardless of when an application was submitted. 

For more information on The Consortium please listen to the audio clip or view the full transcript from last week’s Q&A session.

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Filed Under: Admissions Consulting, Consortium, MBA Admissions Tagged With: , , ,
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