Episoder
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So, you're considering working with me and have scheduled the 30 minute meeting? Great! This episode covers a bit more on what to expect, and how to prepare. Speaking of preparing, here's a list of things to have with you:
Your resume
Your undergrad institution, majors and minors, GPA, and if possible, a transcript or something to let me see the classes you took
School choices - undecided is definitely a viable option
GMAT or GRE score, or plan, or fears, or whatever
Top 3 concerns
Top 3 areas you want my help with, if they’re different than your 3 concerns.
A writing sample. Yes. A writing sample. If you don’t have one, write no more than 200 words explaining why you want an MBA.
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If you're thinking of hiring a consultant, be sure they offer a free initial session. Listen to this podcast, it'll save you a lot of time and money. If you still want to work with a consultant, feel free to check out my website, thembapodcast.com to learn about working with me. But you should shop around - if you find someone better, go with them. You need to get into B-School, with my help or someone else's, we just need to get you in.
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Mangler du episoder?
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A quick Q&A of the most relevant information as of the '23-'24 application cycle. This should be your starting point with this podcast, or a good recap if you've listened to other episodes already.
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Let's revisit, yet again, the discussion around test prep sites. TTP, despite my lovely friend's excitement and recommendation, turns out to be rather useless and far too expensive, but I may have a solution for you - GregMat.com.
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This is a great interview with an amazing person. A veteran who bombed the GMAT, built a massively successful business, aced the GMAT later, followed the resume and essay advice of Boothies, and got into Chicago Booth during the 3rd round.
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Demilitarize your resume and essays, use services like Service2School.org for one-on-one mentorship.
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My friend Dean goes over his experience so far as a '23-'24 Round 2 applicant.
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Let's discuss all of the '23-'24 application cycle essay prompts from the top 7: Wharton, Booth, Stanford, Kellogg, Harvard, Sloan, and Columbia.
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This is a non-outlined free form episode, let me know what you think. We will feed ChatGPT Wharton's MBA Essay prompt and see what it does, and we will feed it one of my essays and see if it can make it better.
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Here you'll find some actionable ways to start your essays and improve them, and we will discuss how to effectively use ChatGPT or other LLMs as a generative tool to improve your writing.
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Arguably one of the most important and underutilized sections of your application.
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n this podcast episode, we're diving into the nitty-gritty of work history and how it plays a role in MBA applications. So lets tackle some common questions. One biggie is, "How much work history is just right, and when does it cross into 'too much' territory?"
For starters, most folks aiming for top-tier business schools usually have about five years of full-time, progressive work experience under their belts. And hey, let's be clear, internships during your undergrad days don't count in this game. Full-time means just that, full-time commitment. Now, if you had a bunch of part-time gigs going on while you were trying to launch your own business, that's okay, as long as you can honestly say you were putting in full-time effort. But if you're doubting whether your work experience is legit, well, that's a red flag right there.
It's not all about being paid either. If you were an entrepreneur and you racked up debt building your business, that still counts. Or if you spent three years overseas with the Peace Corps, that's definitely work experience. But, you know, offering occasional guided tours of the Grand Canyon while doing who knows what in the desert probably doesn't cut it.
Now, here's the thing: your work should showcase some desirable skills. Building a business or helping the less fortunate through medical work? Fantastic! On the flip side, if you've got just one year of full-time work but spent four years as an undergrad TA, that usually doesn't count.
Now, about the "too little experience" question. While there's no strict limit set by colleges, if you've got less than two years of experience when you hit that submit button, you might want to beef it up a bit.
As for "too much" experience, there's no magic number here. Having a decade of experience puts you in the nontraditional category. But don't just assume you're an executive MBA fit because you've got those ten years. Executive MBAs are usually for folks with seven or more years of experience and fancy titles to match. So, owning a podcast doesn't quite cut it!
Okay, now, let's chat about making your work history shine on your resume. Keep it to one page, maybe two max, and focus on highlighting your leadership and growth opportunities. If you've been with the same company for five years and scored a few promotions, consider listing those positions separately, but don't go overboard.
Here's the deal: your work history doesn't need to be directly related to your MBA goals, but it should somehow tie in. Maybe you just hate your current gig and want a change – that's a valid reason too.
Nontraditional applicants, listen up! You can make your application stand out. If you're coming from a medical, liberal arts, or even a poetic background, you've got unique perspectives to offer. For example, nurses have insider knowledge of the healthcare money game, which can be invaluable for designing new solutions. And poets? Well, they've got the gift of compelling communication. Use it!
Military folks, demilitarize your resumes! Highlight your achievements and don't downplay them. You're not applying as a unit; it's all about you.
So there you have it, folks. Work history is crucial, whether you're following the traditional path or blazing your own trail. Make it work for you and your MBA aspirations!
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MBAs are expensive, but are they worth it?
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Applying to an MBA program is like climbing a mountain. Your application is the mountain, and you're the tour guide driving the bus. The admissions directors are the passengers. We want the mountain, your application, to be as smooth and beautiful as possible, with a clear and direct line to the top. This means that we need to address any downhill sections. Make sure there's a pretty waterfall or a great expanse of view or something pleasant to make the downhill portions of the journey an unskippable part.
For example, if you have a low GMAT score, you can address this in your optional essay by explaining why you weren't exactly chomping at the bit academically when you were a 19-year-old kid, and how you wouldn't trade your undergrad experience, low GPA, and all for anything. Because it made you who you are today and helped shape your present day respect for academic rigor and success.
Our goal with your application is to make the trip to the top as easy as possible for the directors. While the journey to the directors may come across as polished, practiced, elegant, even excellent, you and I know it's because you spent a lot of time and effort getting to know yourself and working on every aspect of the application from a holistic big picture view, not becoming obsessed or bogged down with raising your GMAT score by ten points.
So, relax, take a deep breath, and enjoy the climb!
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Let's answer the most frequently asked question, test prep for an MBA - do you take the GMAT or the GRE?
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Welcome to the MBA Podcast! This placeholder was scheduled for deletion upon the launch of the podcast, but got positive feedback so here it is, in its tiny little introductory form! Best of luck with your MBA application - you can do this!
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