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

Decoding MBA Admission Results For global MBA applicants, round one results are starting to come in. Unfortunately it is the rejections that come first. For a lot of people, plans for getting a Global MBA are part of a lifelong trajectory, the next step in their professional process. If your round one MBA application results are not what you had hoped, there are some useful strategies for moving forward. The first thing you need to do is step back and look carefully at your application to try and understand what went wrong. Did you rush through the application and complete it at the last minute? Maybe you should schedule your time better on round two applications. Similarly, did you ask your recommenders too late? Recommenders need ample time and direction to complete the letters of recommendation if they are to be compelling. We typically advise applicants to approach recommenders 3-4 months before applying and to schedule at least two meetings to discuss recommendation cont...

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...

GMAT or GRE: Which test should I take for business school? A critical component to your business school application are your test scores. While testing doesn’t necessarily work like an entrance exam, it is still significant. Business schools view your GMAT and/or your GRE scores to gauge your academic potential, evaluate your quantitative and verbal skills, as well as to better understand your readiness to be part of a rigorous program. You may be wondering if it matters which test you take, the GMAT or the GRE? Well, here are some things to keep in mind when making this choice: First, consider what schools and programs you are applying to : The good news is, most global business schools are now accepting both the GMAT or GRE score, and have no preference for either exam. Having said this, there are however a few MBA programs that only accept the GMAT. If you are thinking about testing and you have a program in mind, it’s worth checking the school’s specific test requireme...

MBA Interview Prep 3: Difference between admissions committee and alumni interviews 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 res...

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...

Welcome to our two part series on frequently asked questions from MBA applicants! While there are a ton of nuances in the process and lots of things you will encounter that will be highly specific for you , there are some general questions many applicants end up asking. Here are some tips to help you get started as you navigate the MBA application process . Please keep in mind that these are guidelines and there may be exceptions. In which round should I apply?  We strongly advise that applicants apply in round one unless they have some pressing reason that makes them unable to do so. The benefits to applying in round one are numerous. Right off the bat, it demonstrates your seriousness and passion for that particular school. MBA admissions data reveals that international students have higher acceptance rates in round one, and applying in the first round can improve your chances for a scholarship. When you apply in round two you are competing against other applicants fo...

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...

Now that all of the stress is over, your business school decision is made, your new future stretching out in front of you like the yellow brick road, the question is, what are you going to do between now and then? For some of you, there is no choice to be made, because you know you want to stay at your job until the moment you leave for your MBA program orientation. But for some of you, those with a little time, savings, and interest in doing something different before heading back to school in the fall (it’s been a while since you’ve been able to say that , right?), we have a few ideas that you might want to consider. You may have heard friends talk about “gap years”, enviously wishing your parents had let you consider some time to figure yourself out; now might be the time to construct that period of your life for yourself. Work has kept you busy for a long time, and school is about to fill your life with a new set of activities and commitments. Try exploring what’s around yo...