[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

[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

[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