Cornell"超熱情牛校"參訪分享 (v)

上週一到康乃爾MBA參訪
紐約市往西北開四小時半會到這個希臘城Ithaca
很冷,上禮拜去已經零下了
遠遠就會看到一整座山橘紅色的楓葉林有大半都是校區
歐式建築文藝氣息濃厚
可以說是個烏托邦
從入校停車開始就可以感受到,這個世外桃源是個溫馨的大家庭
停車導覽的小姐是個上了年紀的婦女
從小小的詢問亭探了半個身子出來
為了解釋地圖如何繞過施工處到達停車場
還算了”一次左轉,三次左轉”給我聽

來到像城堡的Sage Hall
裡頭是Johnson商學院
一大早八點半已經人滿為患
Admission Office已經擠滿了校園大使跟慕名而來的申請人
繁忙的步調卻充滿人性與親切
還沒見到Office director Michael
已經有學生代表Megan滿臉笑容”超級”親切的詢問是不是要來參訪學校的人
柔軟的身段令人欽佩
見到office director宏亮自信的問候聲親切
和煦卻又令人肅然起敬
很親切的直接幫我把厚外套脫下來掛在衣冒間
確認姓名後名牌早已備妥
另外在塞上一包厚重的商學院介紹
以及別校少見的個人行程規劃
幾點要會到admission office集合
幾點要上課
幾點要跟學生大使會合
一清二楚又對每位參訪者無微不至的照顧

眼看上課時間就要開始
Office director Michael向眾人詢問要上策略課的由一年級生帶領進入教室
要上統計課的由另一位學生代表帶領
一堂課只有一小時又十分鐘,相當短暫
進入教室還沒正式上課
滿滿六七十位學生與教授有說有笑
印度裔女教授有神奇的親和力
才第一堂課跟學生初次見面
就已經像一個大家庭和樂融融
解說課程大綱時令人覺得對學生要求嚴格
卻又合情合理
整堂課內容跟時事結合,並且與學生互動愉快
即使是cold call的緊張壓力也不會讓學生覺得難堪
而學生素質不用知道背景
光從提問與回答的細膩度
就知道大家都經過紮實的工作經驗磨練出清晰思考


下課後學院中庭發現人擠人
居然每天早上有免費咖啡供所有學生”提神”
回到admission office馬上出現新的三四位學生大使
十點多的財務課由另一位一樣充滿熱誠的Neil帶領
有問必達,並且不斷提供在場申請人學院特性與主修方向的建議
隨後馬上進入另一堂財務課程
七八十人的教室擠的滿滿的
教授應該是個歐洲人
上課前走到教室最後一排把大家往前趕
很顯然是對學生上課態度的要求
上課時先放了幾張投影片解說目前的財務危機到底跌了多少
又用幾個概念解釋就長程而言是可以預防的
最後一邊解釋NPV一邊帶學生練習

早上明牌裡有夾一張免費午餐卷
又來了新的兩位一年級生跟大家邊用餐邊聊
感受的到對學校相當有熱誠
思考表達也很清晰
用餐完後到會議室繼續進行info session
直接由這兩位學生解說
主要話題圍繞在學校的超熱情文化
以及同學的高度互助風氣,互相介紹相關背景的同學校友
每年小班制270人互相熟識
第一年上半會隨機分組,背景互不相同互相學習
後半會依照cohort分組,再與不同背景的同學互動
才講到一半剛好有位二年級生敲門進來
問說哪為申請人要找醫藥相關
他有相同背景可以協助
顯示學校真的有非常高度的互助文化及學生網絡
另外提到學校的CMC職涯中心 對學生的就業發展有很大幫助
會依不同專業項目來協助學生找工作

這趟康乃爾行可說大開眼界
前晚開車時凍到開暖氣還不時發抖
想說誰會想來這麼遠的小鎮唸書
沒想到被學校無比的熱情深深環抱
是個令人欽佩嚮往的學校

Deadlines for MBA Class of 2011, Top 10

不好意思沒辦法用表格,各校規格又不一,還請版眾稍用一點眼力...
要申請的版友動作可能要加快了...很多第一輪都要到嚕~

Deadlines for MBA Class of 2011, Top 10 (未依名次排列):

HBS:
http://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/applicationdates.html

[b]Application Periods: Application submitted online by 5 p.m. EST/ Notification of the MBA Admissions Board's decision:[/b]
Round 1: October 15, 2008 January 21, 2009
Round 2: January 6, 2009 April 2, 2009
Round 3: March 11, 2009 May 13, 2009

-
Stanford GSB:
http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/mba/admission/

Round 1: 29 October 2008
Round 2: 07 January 2009
Round 3: 08 April 2009
Applications are due by 5:00 PM, Pacific Time

-
Wharton:
http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/mba/admissions/apply/overviewapply.cfm

[b]Fall 2009 application deadlines and decision release dates:[/b]
MBA Program
Round: Application Deadline/ Decision Release Date
Round 1: October 9, 2008/ December 22, 2008
Round 2: January 8, 2009/ March 26, 2009
Round 3: March 5, 2009/ May 14, 2009

MBA/MA–Lauder Program
Application Deadline/ Decision Release Date
Round 1 October 9, 2008/ December 22, 2008
Round 2 January 8, 2009/ March 26, 2009

-
Kellogg
http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/Programs/FullTimeMBA/Applying/Deadlines.aspx
Off-Campus Interview Request
- Select the off campus interview request box and submit Part I by…
[b]Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 [/b]
10/3/2008, 12/22/2008, 2/23/2009
(NOTE: Please allow up to 6 weeks after submitting Part I and your off-campus interview request to receive an interview assignment in your local area.
When requesting an off campus interview, please specify your domestic zip code or international city/country to receive a match in a timely manner.)

On-Campus Interview
- Select the on campus interview request box and submit Part I by…
Round 1, Round 2, Round 3
[b]10/17/2008, 1/12/2009, 3/9/2009[/b]

THEN
- Contact the Kellogg Admissions Office to schedule and complete your interview by…
[b]Round 1, Round 2, Round 3[/b]
12/19/2008, 3/9/2009, 4/20/2009
(Please allow 2 business days after submitting Part I to schedule your appointment)

Part 2 Due by 11:59PM CDT: 10/17/2008, 1/12/2009, 3/9/2009
Decision Rendered by: 1/7/2009, 3/30/2009, 5/18/2009
Tuition deposit received by: 4/1/2009, 5/6/2009, 3 weeks from date of admission

-
Chicago GSB
http://www.chicagogsb.edu/fulltime/admissions/index.aspx

[b]Round/ Submission Deadline/ Mid-Decision/ Decision Notification Date [/b]
Round One: October 15, 2008/ November 12, 2008/ December 18, 2008
Round Two: January 7, 2009/ February 18, 2009/ March 25, 2009
Round Three: March 11, 2009/ April 22, 2009/ May 13, 2009

-
U of Michigan Ross
http://www.bus.umich.edu/Admissions/ApplyNow.htm
Full-Time MBA [b]Application Deadlines[/b]
Round I: October 10, 2008
Round II: January 2, 2009
Round III: March 1, 2009
Fall enrollment only; all deadlines for the following fall. International students are encouraged to apply in decision Round I or II.

[b]Notification of Decision[/b]
Round I: January 15, 2009
Round II: March 15, 2009
Round III: May 15, 2009
Requests for admissions decisions before the decision notification dates will not be granted.

-
MIT Sloan
http://mitsloan.mit.edu/academic/index.php
Oct 28, 08/ Jan 13, 09

-
Berkeley Haas
http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/fall2009.html

[b]Round/ Online Application submitted by/ GMAT and TOEFL taken on or before deadline/ Decision posted, emailed by: [/b]One: November 4, 2008 November 4, 2008 January 28, 2009
Two: December 9, 2008 December 9, 2008 March 18, 2009
Three: January 30, 2009 January 30, 2009 April 28, 2009
Four: March 11, 2009 March 11, 2009 May 19, 2009

-
Columbia CBS
http://www4.gsb.columbia.edu/mba/learnmore/options

Deadlines:
[b]Term: Application Review Period Begins/ Decision Period (once a complete application goes under review)/ Application Deadline [/b]
September 2009 Early Decision: Aug. 13, 2008/ Within 10 weeks/ Oct. 8, 2008
September 2009 (International Applicants): January 7, 2009/ Within 12 weeks/ March 4, 2009*

* Applicants who wish to be considered for a merit-based fellowship must submit a complete application by January 7, 2009. Fellowship recipients for the September class are announced between January and May.

-
Duke Fuqua
http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/daytime/apply_daytime/

[b]Application Round: Application Deadline/ Decision Notification [/b]
Early Action*: October 15, 2008 / November 14, 2008
Round 1: October 27, 2008 / December 19, 2008
Round 2: January 7, 2009 / March 10, 2009
Round 3: March 16, 2009 / April 23, 2009

[Program Fitting]MBA如何上課 (v)

Q:
MBA如何上課

A:
每學期四到五門課,每門課依學分時數每週上課兩到三堂
課前閱讀案例,每堂課前二十頁到五十頁不等
上課時教授依照各專業領域的理論模型為背景
多半以半誘導式引導學生課堂發言,貢獻各相關實務經歷
並依發言參與度計分
因此MBA學生以五年左右經驗為平均值,才能困而學之
每週課前或課後會有指定個人作業,各科目兩頁到十頁不等
各科並同時進行小組專案討論,以訓練領導能力與團隊溝通與合作能力
各科不定時課堂小考,依各教授教學模式而定
少則期中期末
多則每堂都考
各小組合作後組員互相衡量評分,評量內容保密
以激勵學生內部競爭

[Personal Branding] 如何寫出感人的3 accomplishments essay? 又如何展現MBA興趣?

Q:
如何寫出感人的3 accomplishments essay?
又如何展現對MBA的興趣?

A:
若是在寫哈佛這題essay
essay題目的後半是問"why you view them as such?"
可以在故事開頭帶出"另一向重要成就所以重要的原因,是因為同時在進修博士"
這樣若是成就內容能夠超出原始目標期望,並能展現申請人獨特性
就能從多數申請文件中脫穎而出
題目的重點是要體現出申請人的多元領導特質並以證明有能力承受世界級名校的大強度訓練

感動是肯定要的
至於如何寫出令人感動的故事
關鍵在於心路歷程的情景呈現
需要申請人不斷內省挖掘出靈魂精髓
才有辦法感動人心


又如何展現對MBA興趣
不是只有對一般MBA有興趣
而是要解釋為何哈佛
為何華頓
必須要用生涯歷程的結構分析
從申請人的生涯各項經歷累積至今
已經出現躍進瓶頸,
到未來目標之前,除了MBA之外沒有其他大幅進步的途徑
並且要點名申請人自身所欠缺的條件
正是該校的教學重點
才有可能產生完美的school fit

关于 volunteer activity

关于 volunteer activity
Every top school evaluates applicants in different ways. Extra-curricular activities are not an absolute requirement. Everything in your resume and essays is just a mean to prove your leadership magnitude and potential. Some potential leaders may not do anything physical in spare time, but just keep developing business framework in mind and become more mature in intengible ways, and suddenly become super hotshot one day. You can even leverage your life lessons and "learnings" to demonstrate your sophistication and leadership mindset.Hobbies and leisure activities can help demonstrate you as a caring and enthusiastic person.

Q: 推薦人是過去教授、或目標學校的畢業生，有沒有用處？(v)

A:

原則上，MBA招生會以五年左右工作經驗的準管理階層為主要招生群。

因此，推薦人原則上不找教授。

主要原因有幾個：

一是申請人在學期間多半年代久遠，

二是教授與學生的互動主要在學術領域，

並無法實地瞭解學生對於工作時的態度與執行狀況。

即使在學時期，學生有跟教授執行一些專案，

但當時對學生的約束力與動力，並不在於薪資等級，績效表現，與升遷等。

因此，多半不具專業上的參考效力。

除非學生在學時期有異常優異表現，

且此異常表現在學生的職業生涯中，扮演決定性角色，

才會產生參考效力。

而當這種情況產生時，教授是目標學校校友的狀況，則會產生間接影響：

一是教授瞭解學校的風氣與價值觀，

二是學校會盡可能運用校友資源，來提升學校影響力。

但，這樣的影響有限。

審委的主要判斷依據，還是申請人本身的各項專業條件，及領導能力證明。

即便要由校友教授提出推薦，一樣是由推薦內容，來衡量申請人的敬業程度與領導能力。

[Personal Branding]關於四大的工作經驗問題

關於四大的工作經驗問題
(Modified from original article for ethical issue.)
http://forum.chasedream.com/dispbbs.asp?boardID=13&ID=340392&page=1


there're a big chunk of applicants have similar backgrounds from big 4
and there're some good reasons b-schools are actually encourging applicants from these backgrounds
application process is less about structuralism
but more about life introspection
leadership is also intrinsic, not extrinsic that given by others
the motivations and competence of devoting your career to big 4
the scope and sophistication of working life
the impact on external world
the extensive communication and human capital management processes
and the personal growing process are the key to "being ready" for advanced business training
it's even a formal shortcut to become a prepared applicant standing by the springboard

the point is to extract the life defining moments from those seeming routines
and clearly define yourself as a capable and visionary professional
that deeply understand the needs and the irreplaceables of particular MBA program

畢業的MBA是否全部高位套牢

畢業的MBA是否全部高位套牢
(Modified from original article for ethical issue.)
http://forum.chasedream.com/dispbbs.asp?boardid=13&id=340370&star=1#340370

job searching process is a very individualized process
it all depends on personal qualification and fit of particular position under certain corporate culture
even the brand name of top school is only one of the many qualifications
there's no quarentee for your own career in the history
there won't be any in the future either

but no need to be panic or over pessimistic
saying "all foreign graduates" need to face the fate of going back home countries is just exaggerating the situation
personally I must be very grateful to be one of the fortunate graduates who obtain offers from the American recruitors
way before graduation
while not from top school
you'll be amazed when you see the spirit people try their best to survive from the economy
and you'll also understand why a big part of graduates have to go back
there's a reason

[Personal Branding]不長的顧問及創業經驗 高GMAT與低GPA 申請建議

不長的顧問及創業經驗 高GMAT與低GPA 申請建議
(modified from original article for ethical issue)
http://forum.chasedream.com/dispbbs.asp?boardid=13&id=340332&star=1#3059854


It's a great start to have a high GMAT
it'll in big part compensate the low gpa (while still need to leverage your extra-curriculars during school to balance your academic commitment, since you need to demonstrate the capability of enduring magnificent MBA training)
consulting experience and start-up exp can accelerate your "seasoning" process in the career perspective
If you have a couple of years exp is relatively short in top 15
even you have consulting backbround and entrepreneur exp
there'll be a whole bunch of applicants (probably up to 30%) have exactly the same background with 4 years experience (just have a glance in BW Forum)
either you can leverage other life-defining events to complement your well-roundness and professional readiness
or just literally work for 2 more years to complete the pre-MBA career
there's still a space for due diligence before you absolutely need the MBA
and that's the main reason most schools ask "why now"


Sichuan is a big trick since it's a one time big bang
it's very predicable that tens of thousands of applicants will by all means attempt to leverage it
writing emotional and touching stories when people suffering from such a huge natural tragedy
since the event was so signficant, it'll also be worn out very easily, just like Titanic
while the purpose of this whole applicantion contest is to make yourself stand out
you don't want to make adcom sigh by murmuring "where it comes again..." unless your contribution or life inspiration is so and so out of this world
but if this life engagement is really so important to you, you can even try to view this in some impersonal and wisdom ways


MBA tour is more as an information collection event than as an impression competition
applicants are evaluated by their life inspiration, career evolusion, and humanity weaved down in the whole package
together with the delicate personal fit with particular school
not by any way of creative contact experience
the reasonable process is to collect as much infomation from the target school and same tier peer schools as possible
identify the subtle difference and connect those to yourself personally

[Career Explorer] When should I go for MBA?

http://forum.chasedream.com/dispbbs.asp?boardid=13&id=336321&star=3#3056764

It's not only about age,
and of course relationship is a huge consideration, especially for ladies
29 female MBA is everywhere in the States
the majority ladies studying MBA at this age, so nothing to worry about
a big part of them also bring their husband and kids
singles can have big chance to meet their life partners
since life balance is the ultimate goal for every complete individual, at least for the majority people in the States

but all and all
it's about your career
so here comes the classic question, why now?
or why later? how late?
it's about where and how have you climbed your "career ladder"
what issues and experiences made you here now, in terms of your career
and what's your goals
then after all these situation analysis and goal setting,
what's the "gap" between your current state and ideal goal now?
what can you do about this gap? on efficiency per se
can you do anything about this gap by yourself?
or you need some formal or informal educations or trainings
is that MBA?
what part of MBA do you need?

if you don't take MBA next year,
what'll happen in this period?
will you postpone your career progress?
or will it be more efficient on your career building?
it'll be an yes/no question
since once you clearly analyze your current situation and define your goals
you may realize it's pretty much a strict time frame that shows if you need to take MBA in '09 or either '10
if you run into a situation that seems ambiguous either 09 or 10 can you go for an MBA
you might want to dig deeper on your career assessment
since career is not about 1 year or 2 years plan
it should be organized as a whole
it's connected back to your college or even high school
and thrown over your career and family visions

just calm down and do some retionale for your life
you'll see yourself clearly