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How to Strengthen Your M.B.A. Application
Tweet Share on Facebook March 18, 2011 CommentFor the past few weeks, many M.B.A. applicants have been sleeping fitfully, biting their nails, and checking their email with trepidation. Why? Because it's the time of year when b-schools are letting applicants know whether they are admitted, waitlisted, or denied a seat in next year's class.
With so many applicants and so few seats available at top b-schools, many aspiring M.B.A.s find themselves shut out during their first application season. After putting so much time and dedication into completing their applications, the thought of trying again the next year can be overwhelming. The good news, however, is that reapplying is often easier. You've already done the bulk of your school research, GMAT test prep, and essay writing. As a re-applicant, you simply need to refine your application.
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The Sustainable M.B.A.
Tweet Share on Facebook March 11, 2011 Comment (2)It used to be that if you studied investing at business school, the emphasis was on profit. Now, students studying the emerging field of impact investing learn about business growth opportunities that address larger social and environmental issues.
In fact, student interest in impact investing has swelled so much that next month, the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University will host the 2011 International Impact Investing Challenge.
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Is a Joint or Dual M.B.A. Right for You?
Tweet Share on Facebook March 4, 2011 Comment (1)A few weeks ago, I wrote about a handful of the newest programs catering to students wishing to pursue the ever popular J.D./M.B.A. degree. This week, I'd like to broaden the discussion of joint and dual M.B.A. degrees for those of you wondering if specializing in more than one area could be the right path for you.
Before we get started, let me clarify that a joint degree broadly refers to programs in which certain coursework counts toward both degrees. On the other hand, students pursuing dual degrees undertake separate coursework for each program, but often complete the dual degree with a reduced number of overall credits. So what areas of study compliment an M.B.A. education?
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Gain an Admissions Advantage With Social Media
Tweet Share on Facebook February 25, 2011 Comment (2)Five years ago, if you were applying to Stanford's Graduate School of Business, you likely wouldn't have known much about the program's dean beyond his official biography and a few interviews. Today, applicants know what conferences Dean Garth Saloner has attended recently, what articles he's reading, and even what his vanity license plate says—provided they follow him on Twitter. (In case you were wondering about that vanity plate, it's "Change 3," which refers to the Stanford GSB motto "Change lives, change organizations, change the world.")
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M.B.A.s and Leadership
Tweet Share on Facebook February 18, 2011 CommentIf you were to ask a roomful of b-school students why they decided to pursue an M.B.A., the majority would mention leadership in their answer. Whether their goal is becoming the CEO of a Fortune 500 company or inspiring talented people to join their startup, they know that strong leadership skills will be essential to fulfilling their dream.
Yet many wonder what a b-school classroom can teach students about leadership that they wouldn't learn on the job by observing their bosses and, eventually, leading others. A recent interview in the winter issue of the Yale School of Management's magazine, Qn, shed some light on this subject.
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Business and Law Go Hand-in-Hand
Tweet Share on Facebook February 11, 2011 Comment (2)If you're a prospective grad student torn between pursuing a law degree and an M.B.A., you just might find the best of both worlds by choosing a joint J.D./M.B.A. program that can open up an array of career opportunities in less time than you think. After all, it's a rare business these days that doesn't need some guidance to navigate the intricacies of our legal system.
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The Lowdown on the Online M.B.A.
Tweet Share on Facebook February 4, 2011 Comment (21)Those interested in pursuing an M.B.A. have a lot of options: full-time or part-time programs, abbreviated courses designed specifically for executives, and joint degrees with other academic disciplines, to name a few. In the past decade, another option has emerged and continues to gain popularity: online M.B.A. degrees.
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Major Changes Afoot at Top Business Schools
Tweet Share on Facebook January 28, 2011 Comment (5)When Nitin Nohria was informed last May that he had been chosen to become the dean of Harvard Business School, he spent the summer doing his homework. As he explained in a speech this past October, Nohria spoke with HBS' 200-plus faculty members, as well as numerous students, alumni, and top business and educational leaders, who discussed their ideas and concerns for the future of HBS. Through these conversations, Nohria created five new priorities for the program.
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Preparing for Your M.B.A. Interview
Tweet Share on Facebook January 21, 2011 Comment (1)For many M.B.A. candidates, the first response to finding out they've been selected for an M.B.A. admissions interview is pure joy. After all, most top programs do not admit anyone without interviewing them first, so the opportunity to sit down with an admissions officer or program alumnus means you're one step closer to being admitted. However, after the elation wears off, panic can set in: What if this is my one chance to get in and I blow it?
Here are a few things you can do to ensure that doesn't happen:
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Your New Home for M.B.A. Admissions Advice
Tweet Share on Facebook January 14, 2011 CommentAre you considering going back to school for an M.B.A., and feeling overwhelmed by the program options, requirements, and expense this career-boosting decision implies? Well, I hope this new blog can help with that. I'm Stacy Blackman, president of Los Angeles-based Stacy Blackman Consulting, and a specialist on the M.B.A. application process since 2001.













