Education Consulting Services for Study in USA, UK, Canada & Abroad - The Red Pen

MBA Interview Prep 4: How to Thank Your Interviewer By the time you’ve finished your final interview, we are sure you are heaving a huge sigh of relief, thrilled to be done with this long and exhaustive MBA application process. But before you turn off the application part of your brain, there is one last thing you should think about – thanking your interviewer. This is a very simple thing, but it can end up confounding many, and some applicants end up sending out a convoluted thank you note, or an overly eager page-long email that negates their positive interview. While it is not requirement, sending a thank you note is a gesture that shows you appreciated the interviewer’s time, and valued the experience. It’s also a chance to cement their impression of you, and to follow up with questions. So let’s talk about how to ace that thank you note so you can finally relax. Brevity is the soul of wit – Your thank you note should be succinct and to the point. Think sonnet, not Haml...

On a business school waitlist – what should you do? MBA round one and early results are out and some of you may be celebrating with exciting news, while some of you may be dealing with rejection from the business school that was at the top of your list. For those of you who have been placed on the business school’s waitlist, it’s unsettling and disappointing because there is no clear decision, but keep in mind that being placed on the waitlist isn’t a rejection; rather the admissions committee has decided to continue evaluating your application. While there is no guarantee you will be taken off the waitlist, you should use this time wisely in the event the waitlist opens up. Since being in limbo can be confusing, here are tips five for what you should do: 1. To wait or not wait: First off, you have to decide if you are willing to give up a guaranteed spot at another school for the possibility that you may be accepted from the waitlist. If the MBA program you are waitlisted f...

Applying for an MBA in the upcoming application cycle? Consider these guidelines for effective time management If you are thinking about applying to MBA programs this year, or even thinking about thinking about MBA programs this year, you probably feel like you have plenty of time to apply. And of course, you do have a lot of time, right now, in this moment, to apply to business school. But the problem with time is that it just slips away from us, doesn’t it? We have countless applicants who, despite signing on early, end up scrambling to make their deadlines. While the pressure of deadlines might be your best motivation, the reality is that the best work submitted to universities is work that has been carefully drafted over a period of time. Applicants who manage their time well and work progressively on their materials not only submit stronger applications, but they tend to have internalised their goals, stories and strengths in ways that help them communicate comfortably du...

What are ‘MBA Goals’ and Why Do They Matter ?    Strange as it might sound, one of the things that really stumps MBA candidates, when they work on their business school applications, are questions focused on their career and personal goals. More than one applicant has been surprised, and a little overwhelmed, when they realize that a core part of their MBA application is the articulation of clear, well-considered short and long-term goals. If the underlying premise of every business school application is an argument for “Why MBA, Why Now”, then your goals are going to be a vital part of your application. Business schools see your goals as the best argument for why you need to pursue an MBA abroad counselling at all. The lack of a strong, logical and understandable goal trajectory can severely impact your chances of being seriously considered at your target schools. Additionally, knowing your goals helps you pick programs that align with your profile and...

 Letters of recommendation: Leave nothing to chance   As you prepare your applications for study programs abroad – whether bachelors, masters or MBA – you are likely focused on your personal essays, college selection and standardized testing. Each of these is an extremely important part of the application process and should not be overlooked. However, another critical aspect of your application will be the letter of recommendation (LOR). Do not make the mistake of thinking that all you need to do is request an LOR and the recommender will do the rest. Your LOR, like everything else, requires planning and attention from you. Why are LORs important? Carefully cultivating your recommendation letter is important because it is a third party endorsement of you and also often serves as a corroboration of other parts of your application. US undergraduate admissions officers say that that recommendation is the single-most influential factor in admissions decisions at selecti...

Dinged Everywhere? Don’t give up – Here’s what you can do Okay, so it seems the worst has happened. After a long and arduous application process, despite all your hard work, you didn’t get accepted to a single MBA program where you applied. We realise this is disappointing, even demoralising, as you struggle to understand why this happened, what you should do and whether you should reapply. Our advice to the applicants who approach us for help is to take some time off and gain some perspective to make informed decisions. What went wrong Figuring out where the application went amiss is the first step in this process. Start by taking an objective and thorough look at your application materials. Or, if you don’t feel like you are really able to look at them dispassionately, ask a friend to take a look, or work with a consultant who can conduct a ‘Ding Analysis’ – a detailed review of your MBA application materials. Some schools offer feedback on applications, so if this is an opt...

MBA or Master’s, which one’s for me??? Often times after completing a bachelor’s degree, students are confused about which path to follow. The question that arises is whether they should get a job right away or pursue higher studies abroad with the hope of improving their employment opportunities and/or securing better compensation packages. We get many inquiries from Indian students in their second and third-year of college exploring their options, in particular whether they should pursue a master’s degree or apply for an MBA at international universities. What you should do really depends on your goals. Both the MBA and master’s degrees are designed to help you increase your knowledge and build your skills. The fundamental difference between an MBA and a master’s program is that an MBA is a post experience program. If you aspire to study at a global business school, whether in the US, Canada, UK or Europe, you require a minimum of three years’ work experience at the point...

Many Indian MBA applicants interested in doing their mba abroad counselling know the M7 , the top seven business programs in the US, because they are highly ranked names that are globally recognised. But the reality is, there are so many amazing programs out there, which offer a better fit and real advantages for their students. And restricting yourself to the M7 might not be realistic, or beneficial, for you. We interact with admissions officers and representatives from programs all over the world through campus visits and information sessions in Mumbai, and membership in professional organisations such as AIGAC . This helps us dig deep and understand how certain programs can help Indian applicants get the most out of their business school experience. These interactions enable us to give our clients more information about fit, philosophy and opportunities, and are also exciting ways to learn about what’s new at business schools, what the school has to offer applicants and what ...

3rd in a 4-part series on MBA interviews Different institutes conduct interviews in different ways, and knowing the format for these interviews beforehand can help you prepare. While all interviews are aimed to learn more about the applicant, in terms of their personality, motivations and whether he or she would thrive in that program, the style and focus of alumni interviews are often different than those conducted by the admissions team. For some schools, including Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan, and Carnegie Mellon Tepper, a member of the admissions committee (AdCom) leads the interview. For other programs, such as Columbia Business School, Stanford GSB, Chicago Booth, and Northwestern Kellogg, alumni, typically those living in the region, interview potential candidates. In general, for AdCom interviews, the interviewer has read some or all of your application materials, including the resume, essays, and forms as well as your letters of recommendation. This means they have...