Best Business Schools' Admissions Secrets

338 Pages·2008·1.65 MB·English

The UlTimaTe insider information
on How to STand OUT and
The
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When trying to beat the tough business school competition, t
how do you know what will get you fast-tracked to the “yes”
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pile (or the dreaded “no” pile)?
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No insider is better suited to set you on the right track than Chioma
Isiadinso, a former Harvard Business School MBA Admissions s
Board Member and the founder of Expartus, an admissions
i
consulting firm specializing in helping candidates get into the top n
MBA programs. The Best Business Schools’ Admissions Secrets is
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the ultimate collection of insider advice, direct from one of the
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country’s toughest admissions boardrooms.
s
Centered around the concept of branding yourself, Isiadinso covers

all the essential topics you need to master to stay ahead, including: S
A Former Harvard Business School
• Understanding the • How to nail the c
admissions criteria interview
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• essay essentials • Critical mistakes to avoid
• Resumes and • and much more o the Insider Keys to Getting In
professional records
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No other business school admissions advice guide can claim this
l • Prepare your resume and • Behind the scenes of the
level of authority. The Best Business Schools’ Admissions Secrets is sure
s professional record admissions process
to give you the edge you need to shine in the eyes of admissions
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boards everywhere. • Discover the differences • Qualitative factors that can
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ed between business schools make you stand out
Chioma isiadinso served as an Assistant C
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Director of Admissions and a Member of www.sourcebooks.com R • Top essay and interview • Application insights
the Admissions Board at Harvard Business www.sourcebookscollege.com eTiS strategies from insiders
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School. Prior to working at Harvard, she $17.95 U.S. C SiO
was Director of Admissions at Carnegie $19.99 CAN P
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Mellon University School of Public Policy Chioma isiadinso, M.e .
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and Management. She is the founder of ISBN-13: 978-1-4022-1213-0
Expartus, an admissions consulting firm ISBN-10: 1-4022-1213-5 Isiadinso former Admissions Board Member of Harvard Business School
specializing in helping candidates get into
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the top MBA programs. A
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The Best Business School.qxd:Layout 1 5/16/08 3:35 PM Page i
The Best
Business
Schools’
Admissions
Secrets
A Former Harvard Business School
Admissions Board Member Reveals
the Insider Keys to Getting In
Chioma Isiadinso, M.E .
D
The Best Business School.qxd:Layout 1 5/16/08 3:35 PM Page ii
©2008byChiomaIsiadinso
Coverandinternaldesign©2008bySourcebooks,Inc.
Coverphoto©Punchstock
SourcebooksandthecolophonareregisteredtrademarksofSource-
books,Inc.
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereproducedinany
formorbyanyelectronicormechanicalmeans,includinginforma-
tionstorageandretrievalsystems—exceptinthecaseofbriefquota-
tionsembodiedincriticalarticlesorreviews—withoutpermissionin
writingfromitspublisher,Sourcebooks,Inc.
Thispublicationisdesignedtoprovideaccurateandauthoritative
informationinregardtothesubjectmattercovered.Itissoldwith
theunderstandingthatthepublisherisnotengagedinrendering
legal,accounting,orotherprofessionalservice.Iflegaladviceor
otherexpertassistanceisrequired,theservicesofacompetent
professionalpersonshouldbesought.—FromaDeclarationofPrin-
ciplesJointlyAdoptedbyaCommitteeoftheAmericanBarAssociation
andaCommitteeofPublishersandAssociations
PublishedbySourcebooks,Inc.
POBox4410,Naperville,Illinois60567-4410
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Fax:[phone]
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LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Isiadinso,Chioma.
Thebestbusinessschools’admissionssecrets:aformerHarvard
BusinessSchoolAdmissionsBoardmemberrevealstheinsiderkeys
togettingin/ChiomaIsiadinso.
p.cm. ISBN-13 978-1-4022-1980-1
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
1. Businessschools--Admission.2. Masterofbusinessadministra-
tiondegree.3. Businesseducation. I.Title.
HF1111.I852008
650.071'1--dc22
2008015091
PrintedandboundintheUnitedStatesofAmerica.
VP10987654321
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To Ari for bringing me constant sunshine
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Contents
Acknowledgments...................................................................vii
Foreword.................................................................................ix
Introduction.............................................................................xi
ChapterOne:DecidingontheMBA..........................................1
ChapterTwo:PersonalBrandingandtheMBA
ApplicationProcess.............................................17
ChapterThree:BuildingandSellingYourBrand ...................39
ChapterFour:AdmissionsFullCycle.......................................57
ChapterFive:UnderstandingtheAdmissionsCriteria..............73
ChapterSix:EssayFundamentals...........................................103
ChapterSeven:TheResumeandProfessionalRecord..............153
ChapterEight:Interviews:HowInterviewsAreViewed
bytheMBABoard.........................................171
ChapterNine:TransformingYourRecommenders
intoBrandChampions....................................191
ChapterTen:MBAApplicants’Backgrounds..........................221
ChapterEleven:MoreMBAApplicants’Backgrounds............239
ChapterTwelve:AdmissionsDecisions....................................249
ChapterThirteen:FundingtheMBA...................................265
ChapterFourteen:FinalThoughts........................................273
ApplicationInsights..............................................................275
MBAResources....................................................................307
Index.....................................................................................313
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Acknowledgments
THERE WERE COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS who were
instrumentalinmakingthisbookareality.
I’d like to thank my husband, Obinna, for your entrepre-
neurialspiritwhichhassomehowrubbedoffonme.Yourability
to envision possibilities and your unwavering support has
enabledmetowritethisbook.
IhappentobelieveinfateandfaithandIhavetothankRita
Rosenkranz,myagent,forbelievinginmeandtakingastepof
faithwithmeonthisjourney.IextendaheartfeltthankstoFern
Reiss who provided me with the opportunity to meet my
wonderfulagent.Iwouldliketoalsothankthepublishingteam
at Sourcebooks for their professionalism and commitment to
this book. A special thanks to my editor, Peter Lynch, for his
encouragement, patience, and incisive ability to help me tell
thisstoryinthebestwaypossible.
I am grateful to the many talented clients I have had the
fortune to work with through my consulting practice,
EXPARTUS. Your stories continue to inspire me and I am
thrilledforyoursuccesses.Iwanttoalsothankallthebusiness
school alumni and students who volunteered to share their
essays for this book. Thank you for opening up your lives and
essays. Your stories will help many future applicants glean
insightsonhowtotelltheirstoriesinacompellingway.Many
thankstoeveryonewhoparticipatedininterviewsforthisbook:
Fred Chima, Selena and Khary Cuffe, Fernando D’Alessio,
Recy Dunn, Jevelyn Bonner-Reed, Chris Ryan, Andrew Yang,
andRachelZlotoff.
IwouldalsoliketothankMichaelandBonnieCarter,Nadja
Fidelia,andDr.GloriaHill,foryourmentorshipandcontinued
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viii THEBESTBUSINESSSCHOOLS’ADMISSIONSSECRETS
support.Thisbooktalksabouttheimportanceofhavingbrand
champions and you have been a major blessing! Mariela
Dabbah, your editorial help was truly remarkable. Thank you
forbelievinginthisbookfromitsinception.
IwouldberemissnottothanktheamazingindividualsIhave
had the fortune to work with both at Harvard and Carnegie
Mellon. Particularly, Kirsten Moss, Eileen Chang, Patty
Dowden, Dee Leopold, (Prof) James Cash, Brenda Peyser,
(Dean) Mark Wessel, Ty Walton, Barbara Brewton, Elizabeth
Casale, Carol Young, (Prof) Janusz Szczypula, and (Provost)
MarkKamlet.MyamazingteamatEXPARTUS,thankyoufor
beingajoytoworkwith.
A special thanks to all my family and friends for their
patience and for putting up with me while I raced through
completing my manuscript during the busiest application
season. Drs. Emmanuel and Maria Obiechina, you remain
amazing role models. I am blessed to have you as parents and
you continue to motivate me to do the best I can. I will be
forever thankful to my beloved mother-in-law, Mrs. Rose
Isiadinso,forhercalmspiritandhelpasIbalancedmanaginga
business,writingabook,andbeinganewmom.
I am grateful for the opportunity to live my passion of
helping people access the best education possible. For this, I
amblessedandthankfultoGod.
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FOREWORD
IHADONLYAPPLIEDTOoneMBAprogram,HarvardBusiness
School. At the time, applying to an MBA had been a last
minute idea. I had originally planned to pursue a Law degree
andalegalcareerinthefootstepsofoneofmyheroes,Reginald
Lewis. However,amentorofminechallengedmetoreallytake
inventoryofthetypeofcareertowhichIaspiredandtorecon-
siderwhatwastrulythebestenvironmentinwhichtobuildthe
necessaryskillsettoultimatelyreachmygoals.Afterapainful
reassessmentofwhatIwasreallyseekingasacareer,Icameto
the determination that an MBA was the ideal preparation. I
scrambled to apply and mailed it the day of the final deadline.
Fortunately,Iwasadmitted.Thiswas18yearsago.
TheMBAapplicationprocesshasbecomeincreasinglymore
competitiveinrecentyears,withschoolsadmittingonlyafrac-
tion of applicants. Yet the MBA remains a powerful education
inpreparingindividualstoacceleratetheircareergrowthaswell
asmakesignificantcareerchange.Inreflectingonmyownbusi-
nessschoolapplication,IknowthatIwasquitefortunatetobe
admitted. I recognize that the odds of pulling off a stunt like
thattodayisnearlyimpossibleandcertainlynotadvisable.
Why should anyone applying to business school read this
book?Ifyouwanttohaveaguidethatcangiveyouaroadmap
to navigate what can be a difficult and treacherous road, and
youwanttoincreaseyouroddsofsuccess,thenthisisprecisely
the book for you. The Best Business Schools’ Admissions Secrets
removestheguessworkoutoftheapplicationprocessandlays
out necessary steps to help you shore-up your weaknesses and
play to your strengths. This book is written by an admissions
expertwhohasworkedfortopinstitutionsandhasactuallysat