2008年5月15日 星期四

[Personal Branding]HBS的Essay topics今天出来了

Essays1. What are your three most substantial accomplishments and why do you view them as such? (600-word limit)2. What have you learned from a mistake? (400-word limit)3. Please respond to two of the following (400-word limit each):What would you like the MBA Admissions Board to know about your undergraduate academic experience?Discuss how you have engaged with a community or organization.What area of the world are you most curious about and why?What is your career vision and why is this choice meaningful to you?Joint degree applicants:1. How do you expect the joint degree experience to benefit you on both a professional and a personal level? (400-word limit)Recommendations1. Please comment on the context of your interaction with the applicant. How long have you known the applicant and in what connection? If applicable, briefly describe the applicant's role in your organization. (250-word limit)2. Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant's response. (250-word limit)3. Please make additional statements about the applicant's performance, potential, or personal qualities you believe would be helpful to the MBA Admissions Board. (250-word limit)


A:
可以很清晰的感受到HBS對申請人的leadership appraisal更完整全面
且在細節中移除了可能造成的偏誤
原則上申請人的"leadership"在第一題的accomplishment跟第二題learn from mistake (請留意用字不是"failure"也有關鍵影響)
以及commu/org engagement或是career vision中展現
並能有效減少"leading trouble"
許多申請人為了想impress HBS 而絞盡腦汁寫出稀奇古怪的leadership事蹟
過度強調leadership反而會誤導申請人而成為heroic ego而走偏了
忘記MBA經理人訓練的原意 並造成大家都要當leader而沒有follower的現象
會產生對現實生活的誤導及潛意識影響日常行為
Culture shock也會對一些國際學生或是本土老美有雙重標準
對每位申請人的不同cultural accessibility會不公平
而數千位申請人寫出來的culture shock也多半千篇一律
而並未建立客觀公正的申請人評量
另外小弟個人感受到最主要的細微差別是原本每題都有的key word "defining"字眼拿掉了
這大概個人觀察中HBS今年是最關鍵的差異
也可以顯示出HBS的更臻完美
不再是巨獸壓境非外星人不收
外星人收多了學校也沒剩幾個地球人
先前各題的提問關鍵字前面都有一個惱人的字"defining"
小弟個人以為這個字在某種程度下一直造成申請人將題意與生活哲學過度延伸
在某些情境下強迫申請人都變成怪物
這樣的效果並無法中肯的評量申請人資格
也容易造成失焦 降低了對商業倫理的注意力
而使大家都要變成超人或鋼鐵人
而commu/org engagement個人以為是相當經典的題型
能夠在沒有其他外力的引導下
從essay的切入面向看出申請人的各項人際處理,溝通表達,與問題處理能力
還有最重要的teamwork style及outsider accommodating process
會能夠相當客觀的衡量申請人的全面性與社群能力
甚至能看出申請人的creativity
對全球議題的important字改成curious
也明顯改善了題目原本可能造成的刻板印象
一方面一樣會有leader trouble以及千篇一律
大家講的不外乎地球暖化,能源危機,未開發國家問題或戰爭
再不然就是想辦法牽到中國崛起
原本多元化的本意受到扭曲

而最後的optional拿掉 小弟個人也以為是一項經典思維
在高度競爭的最高學府 所意圖訓練出來的頂尖領導人
必須要能夠在種種現實環境的限制下完成溝通與執行
而不是提出一堆稀奇古怪的理由
或試圖用任意門來走捷徑 (有些申請人或許會利用這個機會表達他跟前美國總統柯林頓的關係,當然這只是一個極端的假設,不過不無可能)
因此在公正客觀的競爭條件下
必須假設申請人不會因為有一個萬能的optional空間就造成條件落差
請留意推薦人題目及雙學位題目都跟前面各本題有完整連貫
並產生交叉效應
從第三人互動角度找出申請人的進步空間與成功特質
並請留意HBS所注重的是完整人格的平衡
professional及personal的調配與權衡
而不是只要求超人成就或工作狂

2008年5月1日 星期四

[Personal Branding]奇妙又一金牌呼之欲出,现在我敢写申TOP25背景了

http://forum.chasedream.com/dispbbs.asp?boardID=13&ID=320648&page=1

Q:
奇妙又一金牌呼之欲出,现在我敢写申TOP25背景了
一直担心首都比赛因为主办单位受限。
结果刚知道,
原来,
首都“挑战杯”竞赛主办大学组委会正、副主任(现党委副书记和团总支书记)两人均为7年前从学生处、团委两部门推荐我保送硕士未果的改革派老师。
那时我给学校带来了第一个“挑战杯”科技竞赛高级奖,但不幸比赛过程里与时任教务处顶了个牛,毕业证被扣,后一年新校长上任我被平了反并大力支持“挑战杯”,现在校长调任广西自治区副主席,但陈校长的作风已经深深影响了母校(比如校长在后来师弟科技竞赛的时候跟队员吃住一起),学校成为本届首都“挑战杯”创业计划大赛的承办单位。为母校高兴。
所谓三十年河东,三十年河西。
命书说我02-11年行运“石中隐玉”,02-07年阶段是顽石四处碰壁,硬壳四碎。08-11年是石剥玉现,而后可知器斤两成色。今天还看了段杨绛写钱钟书的话:“他年轻的时候是有些狂的,因为他说过,男儿二十不狂没志气,三十还狂不成器(原文是‘没脑子’,我改押韵了)”觉得很是受用,但愿人生也得一如杨绛之女子。
还记得曾经在那个千多人的大礼堂,手一握拳拽紧,就能听到台下黑压压一片里传出的呼喊。即使挫折了,我还是留下一句话:“我一定会回来的。”
人生如戏,巧如剧本。
没想到这么快我就要回去面对曾经的各级师长了,东区仅有两个院士,曾德超,我的第一个导师,学校建校的副校长,在我本科一年级的时候就给予我考验的小小课题,并在大三的时候要我在物理科学和机电技术方向上作一个决断,他希望我在后面一个方向上作出成就,尽管我已经有了多门不及格,他还是为我争取到了院里12个推荐保送研究生资格中的1个。可惜辜负了他。
汪懋华,电院的院士,东区的学术委员会主席。虽然是我的挂名指导老师,实际上在传感器上的指导工作是他带的传感器实验室的李相平老师来完成的。为我争取到了第2次保送推荐,尽管后来传说“教育部不批准”。
工学院前任院长,后任院长,副院长,在本校没有先例的情况下支持了太多。第2次保送不成那次,貌似祸不单行还在马上转入考研考试的前几天里把身份证给丢了,这个时候研究生处长亲自给我做证明我可以参考。很不幸,又辜负了研究生处长。
还有多少事,这里不再提了。
我想过,早晚有一天,我还得面对他们,他们记得,有一个学生,在挑战杯跟最后一门补考巧合地撞在同一天的时候,放弃了这门补考,就是放弃了这年的毕业证,作为学校历史上的第一个挑战杯获奖人,没拿毕业证离开了学校。
那年他还在礼堂说他一定会回来的。
他自己没有想到这一天这么快就到来了,他原以为是几年后,创业成功的一天,他会以比较体面的企业家的身份去重新面对那些支持过自己的师长,当然也让那些极少数玩弄权术的“师长”看到小强没有被他打倒。
那个没资格读研,甚至没资格拿毕业证的小强又站到挫败的原地了。
这次是作为中英创业计划大赛的中国区冠军,首都“挑战杯”创业计划大赛清华大学1号种子队负责人回到这个跌倒的地方。
我欠下的承诺,又可以完成一件了。
——————————————————————————
深夜赶稿。
到此,大体上也可以讲讲我申请美国商学院的基础W/E了,虽然今天来看还是不强,不过我想可以光明正大地说自己是TOP25的申请人了。
教育:985工程大学,机械设计及自动化专业。
GPA:2.4
工作:民企(医疗美容设备行业)5年研发部经理,兼管过生产部,同时4年采购;然后4个月东北销售分公司经理6个月国内销售部副经理(为了锻炼自己的市场能力)工作期间,有个小奖说明有一定业绩,比如xx博览会科技进步奖。
推荐人:中国经济学奖执行理事(同时是07南方周末6大经济人物,作为项目指导老师,也作为投资人)+国内TOP1经济管理学院院长,正常的话应该还可以拿个中共中央政策研究会秘书长的。
特色亮点:首届首都“挑战杯”大学生科技学术竞赛特等奖 第一作者
第五届首都“挑战杯”大学生创业计划大赛特等奖 主创(预期,实际最少为1等,英文翻译都是1st)+首届中英创业计划大赛中国赛区第一名(到伦敦的总决赛还不知道,预期2-3名)以及全国“挑战杯”创业赛
2005年1月出版小说,当月北京海淀图书城排名流行小说TOP1,总榜紧接《联想风云》和《狼图腾》。这个没有奖,所以今年准备拿长篇竞争个“作家杯”文学赛的奖来凑个数。
大学期间的中国画获得大学校内绘画比赛第一名。
高中(省重点,武术传统学校)阶段连续三年武术季评学校第一名(同校有武术体育生和多名获得过少年组省冠军的学生,不过高中阶段没有过高级比赛)——这个没有奖,现在学习有一些富裕时间了,所以想把古老的特长再收拾起来,在首都大学比赛里拿个武术类的奖励。
其他方面准备提高的:要是还学有余力,收拾一下厨艺,中国是第一美食之国,所以我想考个川菜国家三级厨师应该也是比较有特色的。并且当年略有基础,因为很多年前老母管宾馆,对厨艺要求严格,实际上单比某两道擅长菜的话,当时已经超过他们的国家三级厨师了。
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————
以上为申请TOP25的初步条件。
如果创业成功并且加注第一期融资1K万基本成局到位,我再把目标提升到TOP15去。

A:
wow~ quite wide-range interests
also pretty splendid in storytelling
albeit not quite sure about the intrinsic significance to your career in the first half
but the general direction is quite correct
while this is only about 30% done
since these recommenders can only play limited role in whether your career or your application
approximately 10% or less
the bigger their titles
the less they'll know about you in person
since they have something more important to do
while the key is still missing
why mba?
where are you going in your career specifically? how do you define your career objectives
how do you find the needed parts of mba? what exactly are these parts
please be very specific, or nearly laser-focused
whereas the 3 most important souls are in a fog
1st is your leadership
why you only have fragmental achievements or awards after these long years? assuming you're climbing your "life" ladder constantly with internal motivations
2nd is your GPA problem
it's significantly lower than a common 3.5
plus the 3rd
your wide but jumpy interests
writing, drawing, cooking, martial art...etc.
it can be translated into energetic extracurricular
but it can also be misinterpreted as major distractions from core business
all these spots need to be evaluated as a whole package
and extracted the underlying significance to refine into the "life impact"
the good news is your first job is highly revelant to your core profession from college
while the inexplicit part is why you have so many "not-so-relevant" job functions all plugged in at the same period? why a R&D manager would "fish around" in operation and purchasing???
this maybe very risky, since either your company had some major problem about job segmenting, or you were messing around
all due my respect and sorry to say all these
it also led to another question that why and how was the entrepreneurship relevant with your career logic here?
it's a relatively good start here
but anything can put your under the gun
especially the first and foremost GMAT is still hanging
top 25? or even top 10? probably
or fall out of top 100? still likely

[Career Explorer]CD达人,小弟需要指点~

http://forum.chasedream.com/dispbbs.asp?boardid=13&id=320610&star=1#2897240

Q:
以下是引用benl在2008-5-1 22:53:00的发言:
我本科211, 专业海洋工程, 有在知名教育机构两年半的兼职教师经历
A:
why?
why from ocean engineering jumped into education?
why ocean engineering
and why teaching?
why part-time?

Q:
以下是引用benl在2008-5-1 22:53:00的发言:
后对财会金融萌生兴趣
A:
why?
need the specific logic and motivation

Q:
以下是引用benl在2008-5-1 22:53:00的发言:
申请英国lancaster, 未果, 决定明年走北美,因为英国院校有些不要全职工作经历, 转到北美发现好学校要求有牛B工作经历。

A:
why you don't have full time experience?
and why MBA?
need to find out several things
what exactly do you want to do for your career?
what's the relevance and irreplaceability for this career direction?
what the relationship among your 3 career drivers: passion, personality, and professional?
and where is your leadership?
that's the soul of MBA
but only after you can prove your own one
then the school will grant you theirs

[Career Explorer]CMU Vs. Emory full tuition scholarship

http://forum.chasedream.com/dispbbs.asp?boardid=13&id=318066&star=3#2897229

Q:
以下是引用ppeema在2008-4-30 9:38:00的发言:
算了,不要如此激动
这里的人有几个是真正冲着课程去的?无非是想借着学校的名声混几年以后进投行的。
职业生涯?他们不会考虑的。
忘记了几年前所有中国人都学计算机的热潮了吗?

A:
Thank you for reading my postings
just remember
career is yours, not others
and who exactly really got into IB through their school names?
even so, how long did they stay in the industry?
did they really make big money? how much?
how about their rest of life?
and how happy they are?
money can't buy happiness
only when your job itself can make you feel contented
then your soul is awakened

[Career Explorer]读了MBA后成功转行概率大吗?

http://forum.chasedream.com/dispbbs.asp?boardid=13&id=320612&star=1#2897226

Q:
以下是引用cnn222222在2008-5-1 23:24:00的发言:
找工作的时候大家就会发现一般公司都非常看重你之前的工作经历
如果完全不相关的话,也许可以考虑去consulting firm,他们对相关工作背景的要求相对少些

A:
this argument is not complete yet
they don't absolutely require the same industrial background
but they require how you collected all needed pieces for consulting career
it's way more difficult if you don't have clear plan about the collecting process
so far no people can really get in the real management consulting business with irrelevant background
if someone did, please let me know

[Career Explorer]也许是可笑的选择望指正

http://forum.chasedream.com/post.asp?action=re&BoardID=13&replyID=2896840&ID=320594&star=1&reply=true

Q:
以下是引用longbright在2008-5-1 20:45:00的发言:
本人立志从法律行业转行,想去更广阔的职业选择。Why MBA的问题已经考虑清楚,现在疑惑的是摆在面前的职业去向。外资律所工作虽然单调,天天跟文件合同打交道,但收入还不错,三年下来我这土鳖业能有40多万的年收入,但怎奈不想成为办公室的笼中人。

A:
All due respect
so why MBA?
so far no clear motivation about business career switch
and no intrinsic drivers on your 3 career elements: passion, personality, or professional capabilities
no matter how impressive is your background, or what access can you get on your letters of recommendation
your career switch has no clear direction yet
and no "irreplaceablility" about why switch to business
simply put, your "MBA motivation" is not sustainable yet
then you won't have "why top 5" either