Getting to Business School Handout

1
Getting to Business School - Handout

• June 2007

2
Getting to Business School

• Why Business School?
• Why now?
• Why XBS?
• Why me?
• Writing, Recommendations and Interviews

3
Why Business School?
I want to be a Mgr/Partner at Bain
Necessary business credential in many parts of
the world
4
business school in any given year
Note This data does not include information
provided by Program Managers, only data from
survey respondents
5
Getting to Business School

• Why Business School?
• Why now?
• Why XBS?
• Why me?
• Writing, Recommendations and Interviews

6
Why now?
Transferring to Seoul this year
Have completed 3 yr AC/SAC program
Average XBS student is 2-4 years out
Want to begin consultant role with full toolkit
for success
7
Getting to Business School

• Why Business School?
• Why now?
• Why XBS?
• Why me?
• Writing, Recommendations and Interviews

8
Why XBS?
XBS best fits the profile I need to optimize my
time at BSchool
9
Beyond Harvard or Stanford....overlooked schools

• Chicago
• Columbia
• INSEAD
• LBS
• Michigan
• Sloan
• Tuck
• UCLA
• University of Virginia

10
Focus makes a lot of sense, given the hours that
go into a successful application
N 68 respondents
Note This data does not include information
provided by Program Managers, only data from
survey respondents.
11
and the elapsed time
N 68 respondents
Note This data does not include information
provided by Program Managers, only data from
survey respondents.
12
B-School application strategy- Chicago

• Know the GSBs differentiators
• Only one required course most flexible
  program
• Multiple international programs
• Leadership Education and Development
• Encourage six classes outside Business School
• Ability to build a 1 Year MBA Program
• Would like to see more applicants from NA and
  Europe

13
B-School application strategy-HBS

• Objective To transform you as a leader.
  Training leaders for all domains
• We have 900 bets to make on a long term
  investment in the Brand. If youre the trumpet,
  will you play?
• Application itself weighs proportionally more
• Program Managers observation candidates that
  have been outstanding at Bain and have clearly
  differential leadership experience get in
• Recommenders who worked closely with the
  candidate and can communicate what was done in
  the trenches make a difference.

14
B-School application strategy - INSEAD

• Average age 29, work experience 5.4 years
• Bain applicants are typically successful with
  less experience
• Four main admissions criteria
• Academic achievement
• International outlook describing this is
  critical
• Professional experience/managerial potential
  make sure you differentiate yourselves from
  numerous other applicants from consulting firms
• Ability to contribute to the INSEAD experience
• Those who pass first screen will have two
  interviews. These have a strong influence on
  chances of acceptance

15
B-School application strategy- Kellogg

• One year program may be appealing to some
• 3-4 years experience
• Not for career changers

• Team-based to the nth degree

• Would like to see more applicants from Western
  Europe, Japan

• Bain applicants are smart people.My advice is
  to be honest with yourself, be present with
  yourself I can tell if youre spinning what you
  think I want to hear.

16
B-School application strategy-Stanford

• Bain-like first-round stats screen (620-800 GMAT
  range)
• Offer Global Management or Public Management
  Certificate
• Two main questions
• What matters most to you and why? Focus on self,
  not accomplishments. Dont be cute or gimmicky
• What are your career aspirations? How will your
  education at Stanford help you achieve them?
• This the application is accounting, vs.
  marketing tell me whats inside, dont
  sell.Think a lot and then write.

17
B-School application strategy-Wharton
18
B-School application strategy-Tuck

• 500 students in total, 250 each year
• Program is known for general management, team
  work, and a work hard-play hard environment
• Admissions officers are looking for leaders with
  a genuine interest in Tuck, not just an MBA
• Top 3 reasons to go to Tuck
• Renowned general management program
• Devoted (and way cool) alumni network
• Quality of life/close knit community
• Top 3 reasons not to go to Tuck
• Prefer large class size/anonymity
• Interested in pursuing highly specialized field
• Its a bit off the beaten path (rural New England)

19
Getting to Business School

• Why Business School?
• Why now?
• Why XBS?
• Why me?
• Writing, Recommendations and Interviews

20
Why me?
I can be a contributor to XBS
21
Getting to Business School

• Why Business School?
• Why now?
• Why XBS?
• Why me?
• Writing, Recommendations and Interviews

22
Fitting it into the application
Q1
Q4
Recc 1
Q2
Q5
Recc 2
Q3
Q6
Recc 3
Resume
Transcript
23
Suggested timetable
Application step

• Information gathering
• Literature review
• School visits
• Alumni interviews
• Other preparation
• MBA guide to self-assessment
• Read quality prose
• Obtain applications
• Applying
• Craft application message
• Map information into application
• Outline answers to questions
• First draft
• Contact recommenders
• Revise/rewrite questions
• Second person read
• Final revisions
• Final read, proof, package preparation

24
Choosing recommenders

• Who knows you best?
• Recent, direct experience weighs over
• Rank, title
• Alumni
• Academic perspective
• Diversity (family friends and ministers generally
  useless)
• What does your choice of recommenders say about
  you?
• Attach note of explanation if helpful
• Consider recommendations as part of total package
• Emphasize main themes
• Bring in new aspect (nerd/coach)
• Support potentially weak areas

25
Choosing recommenders

• Client recommendations allowable only if blind
• Signed with title only
• Cover letter from manager
• Process
• Give recommender 3 to 4 weeks
• Visit if necessary
• Refresh memories - achievements, events
• Give copy of completed essays, performance
  review, thesis, etc.
• State themes of your application, how you've
  supported them, how you expect your recommender
  to support your application
• Be creative
• Joint letters (CTL, Manager)
• Extra letters - but not for padding

26
What makes a good recommendation?

• Establishes author's credibility
• Position or experience base (should be honest)
• Experience with candidate
• Answers questions on form
• Does not need to write on actual form
• Must address questions
• Specific and factual
• Avoids generalities, superlatives
• Back up statements with
• Data
• Comparisons
• Anecdotes

27
What makes a good recommendation?

• Supports the total package
• Rounds out weak spots
• Supports themes and assertions in application
• Balanced and fair
• Not a fan letter
• Everyone can improve on something -- avoid "only
  fault is he/she works too hard
• Knows something about school
• Can match candidate's skills with school's
  demands
• Understands candidate's goals and fit with
  school
• Fun to read
• Memorable anecdotes are key

28
Interviews

• Interview on campus if possible
• Growing trend
• Most schools requesting interviews
• Interviewing high percentage of candidates
• Generally a strength for Bain candidates
• Watch-outs
• Arrogance
• Too business-like (can appear arrogant)
• Assuming everyone knows what consultants do
• Assuming everyone knows what an AC/SAC is
• Be culturally sensitive to area of country

29
Interview tips

• Understand Interviewers Goals
• Assess motivation for MBA beyond
• Evaluate skills communication, interpersonal
• Have a logical story
• College major job(s) YMBA YNOW future
  direction
• Not contrived!
• Think through your selection criteria
• Manage time wisely
• Recognize interviewers time constraints goals
• Rich, but concise answers--predict questions
• In advance, develop several key messages you want
  to impart
• Watch tone and team
• Be wary of Is and Wes
• Fine line between confidence/arrogance
• Reveal Personality
• Passion and leadership.
• Develop 2-4 insightful questions for interview

30
Deferrals and waitlists
Deferrals

• HBS- 20 per year, due to family illness, divorce
  or military duty

Wait lists

• HBS- 90 matriculation rate, pull few from wait
  list, may opt for smaller classes. No
  international admits after July 1st.
• Stanford- smaller wait list, take a substantial
  number in some years
• All- wait list used as a pool to rebalance
  diversity of class after acceptances come in.
  Generally not rank ordered

31
Bain's Business School Admissions Support System
(BASS)


32
Key Takeaways

• Determine the right time to apply to school
• Remember more Bain experience increases the
  likelihood of acceptance
• If you want to start school in the fall of 2008
  you are already behind schedule START NOW!
• Be thoughtful in picking a school that will fit
  with your personal needs and goals
• Approach the application as you might approach
  crafting a client presentation
• Develop your story line using logical framework
  to create a clear message
• Piece together where in the application each key
  point will be made using your answers to
  questions and recommendations
• Manage all parts of the process tell your
  recommenders what you want them to convey