The GMAT Club Blog

Claremont Graduate University has received a $1 million gift for fellowships for female MBA students

There are actually two pieces of information we wanted to bring up to your attention:

#1 Claremont Graduate University has received a $1 million gift from Japanese businessman Masatoshi Ito that will establish a new fellowship program for female MBA students.

#2 Did you know that Claremont MBA program is closely associated with Peter Drucker? The management guru Peter Drucker? You may want to take a second glance at Clarement

Chat with UNC

      

I am pleased to invite you to a chat tomorrow at Accepted with UNC Kenan Flagler's Director of MBA Admissions, Sherry Wallace will answer your questions about UNC's program, admissions policies, and student life. Joining her are:

• Julie Wiley, Assistant Director of Admissions
• Matt Kippeny, UNC MBA Student

Sherry and her team can answer any questions about UNC admissions from domestic or international applicants. This is an outstanding opportunity for you to get solid, reliable answers to your important queries.

The chat will take place on Wednesday Jan. 30 at 1:00 PM PT/4:00 PM ET/9:00 PM GMT. Please note that there has been some confusion about the time and it is different from most of our chats. So mark your calendars. Set your reminders and join us in teh Accepted chat room.

Online MBA Rankings by the Economist

For those interested in getting their MBA online (e-learning or distance learning), The Economist has published its top 10 list of online MBA programs - majority are in Europe (dominated by UK MBA programs) with a few in the US and Australia. Link: Distance-Learning MBAs

FT MBA Rankings are out!

1. Wharton

2. LBS

3. Columbia

Full listing is here: http://rankings.ft.com/global-mba-rankings

FT MBA Survey shows MBA still packs a punch

From The Financial Times

The results of the 2008 ranking show the careers of the class of 2004 are progressing quite nicely. The average salary continues to rise - from nearly $120,000 in 2007 to just below $126,000 this year.

So - Champagne all round at the bar, but graduates from the top five schools would surely be expected to buy the lobster and caviar nibbles. Average salaries this year at four out of these five top $160,000.

More is available here: Full Article

 

2009 MBA Admissions Telethon

A couple of weeks ago, I had a chance to speak with a young man, the son of good friends. A recent college graduate, he is working and planning to apply to b-school this fall. Naturally he wanted to pick my brains, which was fine with me. He told me when he intended to apply and described some professional moves he plans to make. As I gave him my perspective on his ideas, he kept saying, "Wow, I never thought of that." He found my remarks quite eye-opening.
 

Now this young man is extremely sharp and savvy. But he has never applied to b-school before. I have -- many, many times with  thousands of clients and Acceptees. He certainly doesn't and can't devote the time that I do to MBA admissions. And unless he becomes an MBA admissions consultant, he will never match the level of experience and insight of an experienced MBA admissions professional.

Would you like to have a similar eye-opening conversation as you contemplate matriculating to b-school in Fall 2009? If yes, sign up for Accepted's 2009 MBA Admissions Telethon. During the 2009 MBA Admissions Telethon, Accepted.com consultants will be available to review your resume, take your 15-minute call, and answer your questions. Free.

The 2009 MBA Admissions Telethon will take place on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM PT (1:00 PM ET - 3:00 PM ET; 5:00 PM GMT - 7:00 PM GMT). Last year's participants found it to be extremely helpful. Just two days ago we received the following email:
 

"Accepted at Columbia. Actually your free telethon helped. I'm officially thanking Accepted for the insight and
the chat i had with Linda."

So if your parents aren't friends with an MBA admissions consultant and you would appreciate a quick chat about your plans, you can have it. You can ask your most important question or two. Ease your mind. Steer your 2009 MBA application towards acceptance. All with the MBA Admissions Telethon.

UCLA Anderson Chat Jan. 24

Please join us tomorrow Thursday January 24, 2008 at 10:00 AM PT/1:00 PM ET/6:00 PM GMT for an online chat devoted to UCLA's Anderson School of Business (my alma mater).  UCLA has lined up a wonderful panel of guests to answer your questions about Anderson's MBA program, admissions policies, and student life.  Panelists include:

• Lydia Heyman, UCLA Anderson's Interim Director of Admissions
  
• Craig Hubbell, Associate Director of Admissions
• Jessica Luchenta
• Jessica Chung
  

Whether you planning to apply prior to UCLA's next (Feb. 20) deadline, are currently waitlisted, or are thinking ahead to next year, please feel free to join us and voice your your outstanding questions and nagging worries. This chat is an outstanding opportunity for you to obtain reliable answers.  Remember: Thursday January 24  10:00 AM PT/1:00 PM ET/6:00 PM GMT in Accepted's Chat Room.

hosting chat events?

aaudetat proposed this idea- what do you think?

Our chats around here are always about whoever happens to log in at a given time.  What if we had specific-topic chats? 

Pelihu could chastise you all about your tie choices.

I could help you with your FAFSAs.

Rhyme could talk about essay strategies...

or whatever!

Any thoughts?

Citigroup loses $10B in final quarter of 2007

http://gmatclub.com/forum/103-t58520

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080115/ap_ ... tigroup_35

Citigroup Inc. lost almost $10 billion in last year's final three months, the largest quarterly deficit in its 196-year history, and slashed its dividend and 4,200 jobs as it recorded a mammoth write-down for bad bets on the mortgage industry.

Waitlist Tips

I seem to be writing seasonal posts these days. And here comes another one: Content suggestions for waitlist letters:

Your updates and letters of support should focus on three areas:

1. Your qualifications: specifically recent achievements, increases in responsibility, and initiatives.
2. Steps you have taken to ameliorate weaknesses.
3. Fit with the school.

The first two areas demonstrate that you are an even better applicant today than you were when you applied. The third reveals that you belong at that school like a hand fits in a snug glove on a cold winter day, and that you will attend if, or should I say when, accepted.

Suggestions for a Waitlist Update

1. Briefly thank the school for continuing to consider your application and mention how the school's philosophy and approach fit your educational preferences and goals. Don’t dwell on your disappointment at not being accepted.
2. Agree to take any additional courses or follow any additional instructions provided.
3. Discuss recent achievements. Did you have a 4.0 during the last quarter? Have you led a project or organization? Volunteered? Have you taken your department, business, or club in a new direction? Have you had an article published? Earned a patent? Launched a business? Received a promotion or assumed additional responsibility? Succeeded in a particularly demanding class or project? You should bring out any recent accomplishments not discussed in your application and ideally tie them back to some of the themes or experiences you raised in your essay(s).
4. Discuss how you have addressed shortcomings –- without highlighting them. For example, if you enrolled in Toastmasters to improve your presentation skills, inform the adcom that you joined Toastmasters two months ago, tell them of any awards you have won, and enlighten them as to how much you are enjoying the experience. BUT don’t say that you are doing all this because you are concerned about your low TOEFL or sub-standard grades in courses that demanded presentations.
5. If you are certain you would attend this school, make it clear that this is your first choice and that you will attend if accepted.

Keep the letter short and sweet -- two pages max. Don’t succumb to the temptation to rewrite or even summarize your life history or essay(s). Stay focused on what you have accomplished since applying.

The suggestions above are excerpted from Accepted's Ebook of the Month, The Nine Mistakes You Don't want to Make on an MBA Waitlist, which is 20% off this month. If you like what you read here, you would like what you find there.

Please note all Accepted ebooks prices are going up on February 1.