Toronto Rotman School of Management MBA Deadlines and Essays Announced
The newest batch of University of Toronto MBA deadline dates have been announced for the Rotman School of Management, beginning early next October.
Rotman MBA Deadlines
Round One
Deadlines: October 1, 2018
Notifications: December 14, 2018
Round Two
Deadlines: January 7, 2019
Notifications: March 8, 2019
Round Three
Deadlines: March 4, 2019
Notifications: May 3, 2019
Round Four
Deadlines: April 29, 2019
Notifications: May 31, 2019
Head over to the official Chicago Booth website for more application information.
Toronto Rotman School of Management MBA Essays
In addition to the Rotman MBA deadlines, the business school has also unveiled its newest essay questions. A new statement from the school reads:
“The full-time MBA program at the University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management attracts top talent from an incredibly diverse range of professional and academic backgrounds around the world so we don’t really have a typical candidate. In admissions, we look for intellectual horsepower, experience, and impact, communication, and presence.
Beyond that, our admitted students stand out by doing interesting things with their personal and professional lives — something we describe as the ‘spike factor’; what are the things that you have done in your life that demonstrate Passion/ Grit/ Resilience/ Innovation/ Drive/ Ambition and more? This can cross all or any aspects of life outside of work – hobbies, volunteerism, awards, entrepreneurial ventures, sports and the arts. We believe that exposure to a rich diversity of viewpoints makes for a superior learning experience, and pride ourselves on building a diverse class of exceptional individuals who will go on to make the School proud as professionals and alumni.”
Rotman’s unique essay asks applicants to provide “1-3 of your ‘spikiest’ pictures” to the supplemental item section, which you can find here. With the photos, applicants must “illustrate your ‘spike factor,’” with up to 1000 words.
Applicants must also “list 3-5 attributes or characteristics that best describe you, with one word per piece.”
Lastly, applicants must provide a video and time-written response, which is as follows:
“The video interview component is a required part of Rotman Admissions process designed to give all candidates guaranteed “face time” with the Admissions Committee and showcase your personality, characteristics, passions, and values.
You will have an opportunity to test the technology, and then will be asked two taped questions, followed by a real-time written response (no video with this component.) Both questions are personality/values based and are designed to be answered without any advanced preparation and will only take a few minutes to complete. The written question is designed to simulate the typical email communications you will create as a Rotman MBA student. After completing your questions, you will receive a confirmation email and unique URL to input into this section of the application and complete the live component. Good luck and have fun with the process!”
Georgetown’s Newest MBA Application Essays Have Been Announced
The Georgetown University McDonough School of Business recently announced its newest application essays for admission to its full-time MBA and all-new Flex MBA programs.
According to the business school, which announced the new essays on Thursday, August 15, “Applicants can now choose one essay among three essay prompts, allowing them to showcase what they believe sets them apart from other applicants, either their leadership experience, how they have overcome challenges, or their values and beliefs.”
Shelly Heinrich, the McDonough School of Business Interim Associate Dean for MBA Admissions, says, “It’s important to us to that our students represent a diversity of backgrounds, experiences, cultures, and more—and we realized that professional and personal experiences showcasing this diversity do not always fit neatly into a single essay prompt.”
“We want to give applicants the flexibility to distinguish themselves from a competitive applicant pool,” Heinrich adds.
Applicants may submit one of the three following Georgetown MBA essays during their application process, in 500 words or less:
- Describe a situation when you were asked to lead outside of your comfort zone. What leadership characteristics did you exemplify in this situation that allowed you to succeed?
- Describe a situation when failure has been your fuel. What was your failure (or when did you not succeed to your full potential), and how did you use this as motivation to move forward and be successful in a future situation?
- Describe the personal brand that you will bring to business school using examples or experiences that support how you’ve developed it. How do you believe your personal brand will strengthen the McDonough community? As you complete your MBA program, how do you hope to see your personal brand evolve through the transformative experience of business school?
Hopeful entrants to the Georgetown McDonough full-time and Flex MBA programs may apply on October 9, 2018; January 7, 2019; April 1, 2019; and May 1, 2019. Click here to learn more about the school, its MBA programs, and admissions process.
The Lehigh Expo, Columbia Stats, and More – New York News
Let’s explore some of the most interesting stories that have emerged from New York business schools this week.
Lehigh Expo Showcases Students’ Creativity – Lehigh College of Business & Economics Blog
As part of the recent Lehigh University College of Business and Economics School Expo, nearly 600 Lehigh students across all disciplines showcased projects, many of which were “outcomes of capstone courses that leverage intense study in a chosen field.”
One project of note was Danielle’s Buddy, a device developed by eight Lehigh students, including Emily Randolph, ’19 to “locate children with autism who might become lost.” According to the article, the device, which comes equipped with GPS, WiFi, and Bluetooth, attaches to “the pants or shoelaces of a child with autism and sends a signal to caretakers if the child wandered from a particular area or became lost.”
Students in attendance at the recent Lehigh Expo / Photo via lehigh.edu
Learn more about more exciting Lehigh Expo presentations here.
New Columbia Business School Study Uncovers Significance of the Mortgage Market as a Barometer in Presidential Elections – Columbia Business School Blog
In a study that has the potential to influence how the American public views “the relationship between the economy and national elections for years to come,” Columbia Business School professor Charles W. Calomiris and Georgetown’s Alexis Antoniades recently published research that finds that the mortgage crisis of 2008 was “five times more impactful on voting behavior than rising unemployment.”
Professor Calomiris writes:
“We all know that Americans vote with their wallets. When times are tough, incumbents are punished at the ballot box, and when America’s economy is thriving, those in the White House are often rewarded. This new research shows us that when it comes to mortgage markets, that’s not necessarily the case.”
Read more about the duo’s groundbreaking research here.
Columbia Business School Reveals 2018-19 Essays and Deadlines – MetroMBA
The incoming batch of MBA deadlines and essay questions for the newest class of Columbia Business School grad students has been officially revealed.
For admission during the 2018-19 academic year, students must answer the following questions:
Goal: What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (50 characters)
Essay #1: Through your resume and recommendations, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals over the next 3-5 years and what, in your imagination, would be your long term dream job? (500 words)
Essay #2: How will you take advantage of being “at the very center of business”? CBS urges those undertaking essay number two to watch this video from Dean Glenn Hubbard (250 words).
Essay #3: Please provide an example of a team failure of which you have been a part. If given a second chance, what would you do differently (250 words)?
Optional Essay: What else would you like to tell the Columbia admissions committee? You can use this space to provide your explanation if there any areas of concern in your own academic or personal history. This essay does not need to be traditionally formal and can include bullet points (maximum 500 words).
Check out the upcoming MBA deadlines for CBS here.
Columbia Business School Reveals 2018-19 Essays and Deadlines
Right after the eve of graduation, Columbia Business School formally introduced its newest essays and deadline dates for the upcoming 2018-19 academic year.
Columbia Business School MBA Essays (2018-19)
Goal: What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (50 characters)
Essay #1: Through your resume and recommendations, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals over the next 3-5 years and what, in your imagination, would be your long term dream job? (500 words)
Essay #2: How will you take advantage of being “at the very center of business”? CBS urges those undertaking essay number two to watch this video from Dean Glenn Hubbard (250 words).
Essay #3: Please provide an example of a team failure of which you have been a part. If given a second chance, what would you do differently (250 words)?
Optional Essay: What else would you like to tell the Columbia admissions committee? You can use this space to provide your explanation if there any areas of concern in your own academic or personal history. This essay does not need to be traditionally formal and can include bullet points (maximum 500 words).
Columbia Business School MBA Deadlines (2018-19)
Early Decision (January) – October 3, 2018
Merit-Based Deadline – January 4, 2019
Final Regular Decision – April 10, 2019
The Secret to Writing a Successful MBA Career Goals Essay in 2018
The MBA application essay is still the most feared part of most applications. Whether you have to write 1,000 words or just 500, saying everything you need to say in a concise, intelligent, and appropriate manner isn’t easy for everyone. In fact, it can be incredibly frustrating. And while every school asks different essay questions, there’s one question you’re almost guaranteed to see, “What are your short-term and long-term post-MBA career coals and how will School X help you achieve these goals?”
The career goals essay is one of the most common and also most difficult essay questions. On the surface, it seems simple, but there’s a lot of work required if you want to wow the admissions committee (adcom). It all starts with the question.
Breaking Down the MBA Career Goals Essay
Before you can write your career goals essay, you have to break it down into digestible and answerable pieces. There are six pieces to the career goals essay that you’ll need to consider before you begin writing.
1. Where are you now?
Before you can talk about your goals, you have to know where you are now and so does the adcom. This means that your essay will need to concisely describe your current position so that you can better explain your goals.
2. What are you short-term goals?
Short-term and long-term goals are not the same. Short-term goals refer to your immediate plans after graduation. Is there a particular industry where you want to work? Do you have a job or promotion in mind? Where do you see yourself in the immediate months post-MBA?
3. What are your long-term goals?
Long-term goals take a little more thought. You might not be as specific about companies or job titles when talking about your long-term goals, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a plan. Think about where you want the MBA to take you in ten or twenty years.
4. Why will an MBA help?
Next, you need to discuss how an MBA will help you achieve both your short-term and long-term goals. You’ll need to discuss technical skills, analytical skills, focus areas, and more.
5. Why is the School vital?
You need to make your essay personal. Not just any MBA should work for your goals. You need to explain specifically why School X is vital to your success. Get as specific as possible.
6. Why now?
Finally, you need to discuss why NOW is the best time to get your MBA and pursue your goals. Make a case for why this year, this class, and this moment are vital to your life.
Writing the MBA Career Goals Essay
Now that you know all the components of the essay, it’s time to start writing. To successfully answer the question, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind.
Be Specific
You need to be as specific as possible when answering each of the six parts of the question. MBA adcoms want to see that you have a specific direction in mind and that you have valid reasons for your choices. If possible, you should be able to specify your preferred industry, job function, skills, ideal company, and more.
For example: Talk about how you want to move into a career in Finance and gain a job at Goldman Sachs. Then, talk about how the MBA will help you gain technical skills in Finance and Accounting as well as analytical skills in Corporate Strategy and Strategic Planning. Finally, discuss how the case competitions at School X, as well as the MBA Finance Club, will prepare you for this career field.
Be Realistic
Adcoms want you to dream big, but they also want you to be realistic. There’s nothing impressive about an MBA career goals essay that describes a future path that is unreachable or illogical. Unrealistic goals will not serve to demonstrate that you’re ready for an MBA. Instead, you need to walk the fine line between thinking big and demonstrating that your career path has been well thought out and planned. Look up hiring trends, services, organizations, market status, and competitive concerns within your desired industry and companies.
For example: It’s okay to talk about your goals of managing a billion dollars, but you should indicate that this is a long-term goal, and you have a plan to reach it. Go step-by-step to illustrate that you know what it takes to reach your high aspirations by first talking about starting as a Finance Manager and slowly working your way up over twenty years.
Be Genuine
Adcoms can smell BS. You have to convince them that you are genuine in your interest of not just the MBA but of earning an MBA from School X. Take time to do your research and dig deep for those specific offerings from the program that will best serve you and your goals. If you can name specific classes, on-campus impressions, or information you’ve learned from alumni to demonstrate your genuine desire for an MBA, you’ll be in a much better place.
For example: Set up an interview to talk with an adcom or alumni before you write your essay. Then, during that interview, ask questions that will give you the information you need to beef up your essay. If you can talk about how an alum took the same career path and succeeded, you not only demonstrate your interest but your keen intellect.
Be Clear
Finally, make sure you write an essay that is clear and easy to read. Don’t worry about crafting the next great American novel. Instead, focus on answering the question as simply as possible and including all the necessary pieces. This is not a creativity contest. Instead, create a simple outline that you can fill out to answer the six components of the essay.
For example: You should write out the six questions (career analysis, short-term goals, long-term goals, why MBA, why School, why now) and come up with your answers separately. Then, once you have the outline and all the pieces, compile them together into a cohesive story. Don’t try anything fancy.
Stay up to date with more of MetroMBA’s vital essay and admissions tips here.
What Is The Worst MBA Advice You Have Ever Heard?
The path to business school is paved with experts and know-nothing-know-it-alls alike—it’s just hard to tell the difference sometimes.
This is especially true when it comes to “dos” and “don’ts” of the trade. You’re bound to encounter confusing, conflicting, or just plain bad advice in any field but there’s something about business school that seems to attract meaningless jargon like flies to honey.
I spoke to Accepted’s Linda Abraham and North Star Admissions’ Karen Marks, two leading admissions counselors and bonafide MBA experts, about the eight worst pieces of advice most commonly doled out to MBAs-to-be.
“Tell them what they want to hear.”
“The admissions committee will see through it, the applicant will blend into the gray mass of applicants who are making the same mistake, and at competitive schools, will get dinged,” Abraham writes. “Telling schools what you think they want to hear means telling them what you don’t know, and it also means you’re not telling them what you want them to know.”
“If you are waitlisted, ignore the school’s directions and make a dramatic gesture to demonstrate your interest.”
According to Marks, “People … have been known to do everything from emailing the admissions office once a day (relatively benign, but inappropriate) to sending homemade gifts (creepy) to showing up in the admissions office and refusing to leave until they have spoken with the Dean. All of this backfires, it’s really important to listen to the school’s directions and express your interest in ways that underscore your ability to follow directions, and your understanding of the culture.”
“Change your career goals and personal story for each school.”
Marks explains, “Your goals and core narrative should remain constant, no matter what school you are applying to. Don’t tell Stanford that you want to work in micro-finance and Kellogg that you dream of marketing, just because you think it’s what they want to hear.”
Abraham recalls an interaction she had with “an applicant who came to us initially for Rejection Review.” This applicant was told by his consultant, a former Yale SOM adcom director, “she would have rejected him also because the applicant’s goal made no sense given his work experience, education and extra-curricular activities. He explained that his friends had told him to use the “hot” goal that year, so he used it in his application. Next year he applied with an authentic goal (and app) and was accepted to an M7 school.”
“You have no chance of getting into a top MBA program because you didn’t go to a top undergrad.”
Abraham couldn’t disagree more with this statement.
“If an applicant excelled at their local college, shows leadership, and has had an impactful career, and has a competitive test score, they have a chance at elite MBA programs,” she says.
“You have a 750-plus GMAT and a 3.9 GPA, you’re in anywhere.”
Both counselors call hogwash on this one.
“You can’t rest on academic laurels. Yes, those numbers are very attractive to top b-schools, but if they are combined with arrogance—forget it. Schools also want to see leadership and impact in their accepted students. So, if Super Student wasn’t a super employee or entrepreneur or campus community member, those stats do not guarantee acceptance at top MBA programs.”
“Your goals don’t really matter, because you’re likely to change them once at b-school.”
Abraham writes, “Yes, your goals are likely to change and schools know that, but they at least want you to start their program with direction and a goal they know they can help you achieve. Goals are a major component in fit at most top MBA programs. And if yours are vague or don’t match the strengths of your target schools, then you simply aren’t showing fit.”
“If you have a blind interview, you can wing it.”
“You can wing it. BUT you are unlikely to be as effective as the other applicants who prepare,” Abraham notes.
“They will have researched the school, know exactly why they want to attend this program, and mined their own experiences and achievements so they are ready to show they belong at the interviewing school and will contribute to the school’s student body and alumni network.”
“Oh, and they also have thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer.”
“You won’t get in if your numbers are below an arbitrary number, so don’t even bother applying.”
Abraham has worked with “multiple clients who had extremely low GMATs and GPAs, below 2.5 and below 600, who have been admitted to Wharton, Booth, HBS, etc. I also admitted applicants with weak numeric profiles to Tuck when I was the Associate Director of Admissions. (They had other stellar qualities).”
Abraham believes that “essays, personality, perspective and life experience are more important than numbers.” She adds, “Application reviews are comprehensive. One element is extremely unlikely to keep you out or carry you across the threshold of a dream MBA program.”
