In the past, MBA application essays did not have word limits and applicants could write 2,000+ word essays (like this famous essay) if they pleased. But as MBA applications exploded in the 21st century admissions committees were forced to limit the length of essays. The current trend is that MBA admissions essays are getting shorter and shorter, (for example, Wharton has reduced their essays from a total of 2,200 words in 2010-2011 to 1,500 words in 2011-2012) challenging applicants to explain how multidimensional, talented and interesting they are in a limited amount of space.
Many MBA applicants, full of ideas and enthusiasm, struggle mightily to squeeze their arguments and experiences into the essays and often feel that they must exceed the word limit in order to persuasively tell their story. My advice on this issue is simple: NEVER EXCEED THE WORD LIMIT.
Anyone who is considering whether they should exceed the word limit on their MBA essays should consider the following points:
Submitting essays that are over the word limit is a sign of carelessness. Adcom members have the exhausting job of reading hundreds of essays each day during the busy application season and want to fairly allocate adequate time to each application. Your goal is to make a connection with them and create a memorable profile. By exceeding the word limit, you take a serious risk of creating the impression that you are unprofessional, careless and cannot follow simple directions. After spending months preparing for GMAT and TOEFL and paying expensive application fees is the risk really worth it?
The essays are a test of your logical reasoning and communication skills. You will need to communicate clearly and precisely to be an effective business leader and the essays test your ability to focus on an issue, and lay out your analysis in a direct and persuasive way. The reason many people struggle to meet word limits is because they have included irrelevant information that has nothing to do with the question and does not reinforce key points. Remember, higher word volume will not make the essay better – but crafting clear, concise and direct arguments will.
The essays are a chance to market yourself. The MBA application process is like a job recruiting process; you have to demonstrate to Adcom that you know how to market yourself effectively. To do so, you must express your core value and explain why you are a perfect fit for the program. By taking the time to craft a careful message within the word limit, you show Adcom that you clearly understand your value and will likely be a strong employment candidate in the future.
www.transcendadmissions.com
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
IN THE END ... IT'S INSEAD!
from: 陳怡秀 xxx@gmail.com
to: Transcend Admissions Consultants <transcendadmissions@gmail.com>
date: Aug 25, 2011 at 10:45 PM
subject: Re: INSEAD
Hi David!
How have you been lately? I am writing to let you know that after a LONG application process, I have been accepted and will enroll into the INSEAD MBA program in France!
I want to send you my sincerest thanks for your hard work on my case. I could always tell how much effort you put into enhancing the logic and persuasiveness of my essays while retaining my original ideas. And many thanks for handling my many last minute requests so I could meet all the deadlines. :)
Because I started my applications a little bit late I didn't have much confidence that I would be successful. But the fact that I applied to 4 global top 10 MBA programs, and received all 4 interview invitations shows that my application materials were extremely high quality and attracted Adcom's attention.
A million thanks for your dedication to helping me succeed. Let's have dinner and celebrate in the near future!
Best Regards,
Lili
to: Transcend Admissions Consultants <transcendadmissions@gmail.com>
date: Aug 25, 2011 at 10:45 PM
subject: Re: INSEAD
Hi David!
How have you been lately? I am writing to let you know that after a LONG application process, I have been accepted and will enroll into the INSEAD MBA program in France!
I want to send you my sincerest thanks for your hard work on my case. I could always tell how much effort you put into enhancing the logic and persuasiveness of my essays while retaining my original ideas. And many thanks for handling my many last minute requests so I could meet all the deadlines. :)
Because I started my applications a little bit late I didn't have much confidence that I would be successful. But the fact that I applied to 4 global top 10 MBA programs, and received all 4 interview invitations shows that my application materials were extremely high quality and attracted Adcom's attention.
A million thanks for your dedication to helping me succeed. Let's have dinner and celebrate in the near future!
Best Regards,
Lili
Monday, August 8, 2011
Should I Apply in the MBA Early Decision Round?
You’ve already completed the GMAT and TOEFL examinations, conducted countless hours of MBA program research and finally selected your school list. Great! Now it is time to quickly write your essays and submit the applications before the Round 1 deadlines. But wait, hold on, should you apply in the Early Decision/Action Round or in Round 1? What is the Early Decision Round anyway?
Some schools (like Duke, Columbia and the University of North Carolina) use the Early Decision Round to attract candidates that are the best “fit” for their program and to help them improve their application yield. The yield is calculated by the number of applicants who are admitted, accept the offer and matriculate into the program – which is a critical component of the MBA rankings game. The Early Decision Round helps schools target the most enthusiastic candidates that are most likely to accept their offer of admission. These schools admit a large number of Early Decision Round applicants and then force them to quickly make a final decision by setting a hefty tuition deposit deadline just a few weeks after the admission offer is sent out. Sounds reasonable – but is it right for you? Making the decision to apply during the Early Decision Round should depend on whether you are 100% sure you will attend that program if you are accepted.
Applicants that are 100% sure. Applicants who are absolutely certain that they will matriculate into a school if accepted should jump at the chance to apply during the Early Decision Round. The Early Decision Round greatly benefits applicants that can create solid application materials as it will give them a greater chance of acceptance into their dream school; and obtaining an early acceptance will eliminate the months of stress and anxiety that often arises during the application process and frees them to pursue other interests. The Early Decision Round allows the school lock-down large numbers of talented applicants that really, really like their program before they can be enticed by other top schools. It’s a win-win for everyone!
Applicants that are not 100% sure. However, if it is not your dream school we strongly recommend that applicants apply in Round 1 instead of the Early Decision Round. This is primarily because admitted Early Decision applicants will be required to submit a deposit long before they receive their other Round 1 application results. Applicants are often put in the very awkward position of having to decide whether to hand over a large non-refundable deposit to their back-up school in order to mitigate the risk of rejection by their dream school. That is an expensive proposition, and one that most applicants are best to avoid.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Advice for MBA Career Switchers
One of the great things about an MBA is its flexibility, which allows students to enter many different career paths upon graduation. Using an MBA to transition into a new career is very common – over 50% of MBA graduates accept jobs in different industries and functions than their pre-MBA employment.
However, career switchers face the challenge of convincing Adcom that they understand exactly what the new industry requires, the obstacles they will face, and have the transferable skills necessary to make this switch. The MBA goals essay is the primary forum to make this case. Here are some tips on how career switchers can create highly effective goals essays:
Show enthusiasm: You need to convince Adcom that you are ready to spend the next two to three decades immersed in your new career – therefore you must display great enthusiasm for this work. If you can make Adcom feel your passion for this career, they will also feel excited and be more likely to support you.
Be knowledgeable and proactive: Adcom must be convinced that you clearly understand the new industry and where you fit in. Describe the proactive steps you have taken to better understand this field such as making contacts or reading industry publications and show how you have developed insights from these actions
Explain your motivation: You must say exactly what motivates you to enter this new field. To do so, explain your decision making process and the unique story of how you developed a keen interest in this field. The key is to make your motivation seem logical and like a very natural transition from your present to future career.
Address the challenges: Do not be afraid to discuss the obstacles you expect to face entering this new field for fear that your weaknesses will be exposed. Directly address the challenges you will face and how you will overcome them. Doing this effectively will further display your knowledge of this field and will highlight your self-awareness and maturity.
Highlight uniqueness and transferrable skills: Give an explanation of how your current skills and knowledge are directly transferrable to the new field. This will further underscore your understanding of the new field and allow Adcom to visualize you working in that position. Also highlight your unique attributes that typical employees in that industry normally lack, and give examples of how those skills might facilitate your success.
Have a plan of action: Specifically describe your career vision and lay out a plan for achieving your goals. The key is to let Adcom visualize your future impact!
Why MBA?: Finally, discuss your learning needs, and then clearly articulate how the specific aspects of that school’s MBA program are ideally suited to allow your transition into the new career.
However, career switchers face the challenge of convincing Adcom that they understand exactly what the new industry requires, the obstacles they will face, and have the transferable skills necessary to make this switch. The MBA goals essay is the primary forum to make this case. Here are some tips on how career switchers can create highly effective goals essays:
Show enthusiasm: You need to convince Adcom that you are ready to spend the next two to three decades immersed in your new career – therefore you must display great enthusiasm for this work. If you can make Adcom feel your passion for this career, they will also feel excited and be more likely to support you.
Be knowledgeable and proactive: Adcom must be convinced that you clearly understand the new industry and where you fit in. Describe the proactive steps you have taken to better understand this field such as making contacts or reading industry publications and show how you have developed insights from these actions
Explain your motivation: You must say exactly what motivates you to enter this new field. To do so, explain your decision making process and the unique story of how you developed a keen interest in this field. The key is to make your motivation seem logical and like a very natural transition from your present to future career.
Address the challenges: Do not be afraid to discuss the obstacles you expect to face entering this new field for fear that your weaknesses will be exposed. Directly address the challenges you will face and how you will overcome them. Doing this effectively will further display your knowledge of this field and will highlight your self-awareness and maturity.
Highlight uniqueness and transferrable skills: Give an explanation of how your current skills and knowledge are directly transferrable to the new field. This will further underscore your understanding of the new field and allow Adcom to visualize you working in that position. Also highlight your unique attributes that typical employees in that industry normally lack, and give examples of how those skills might facilitate your success.
Have a plan of action: Specifically describe your career vision and lay out a plan for achieving your goals. The key is to let Adcom visualize your future impact!
Why MBA?: Finally, discuss your learning needs, and then clearly articulate how the specific aspects of that school’s MBA program are ideally suited to allow your transition into the new career.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Free Information Event: Strategies for Creating a Perfect Goals Essay
Almost every MBA application includes a “Goals Essay” requiring the applicant to describe their professional background, lay out their career goals, and explain in detail why they have chosen that school’s program. This is the key essay question that will receive the most attention from the admissions committee. The Goals Essay is very difficult because it requires the applicant to include a great deal of critical information in just a few words.
幾乎各校的MBA申請文件都會有一篇”目標論文”。此篇論文會要求申請人描述他們的專業背景，勾勒出他們的職業目標，詳細地解釋為何選擇這個學校的MBA課程。此篇關鍵論文將會受到招生委員會最多的注目，同時它也是一篇難度很高的論文，因為它要求申請人以精練的文字論述大量的關鍵資訊。
Transcend Admissions Consultants director David Johnston is holding this free information event to share his proven Goals Essay methodology that will help you create powerful and interesting essays that are a pleasure to read.
來自美國申請經驗豐富的專家David Johnston即將舉辦一場免費的說明活動。他將分享他成功協助眾多申請者的目標論文寫作方法，相信能幫助您打造一篇充滿效力且引人入勝的好論文。
Time: Friday July 8th at 7:00pm – 9:00pm
時間: 七月8日(周五) 晚上7:00–9:00
Place: 106台北市信義路4段6號(19TH floor)
地點: 106台北市信義路4段6號(T樓)
Number of Attendees: Limit 30 (Please RSVP to transcendadmissions@gmail.com as soon as possible!)
參加人數限制上限: 30位(敬請儘速回信至transcendadmissions@gmail.com as soon as possible!)
Friday, June 24, 2011
Harvard Admits More Experienced Applicants in 2011
HBS's incoming Fall 2011 MBA class may have a few more grey hairs, as the average age has jumped a full year from 2010 to 27 years old. The number of candidates that have six or more years experience has increased from 113 in 2010, to 191 in 2011, a 69% increase. Harvard's preference toward more experienced applicants comes as the first cohort of its 2+2 program will begin this fall, which gave deferred admission to 60 undergraduate applicants.
Statistics released by the director of Harvard's MBA admissions shows an effort to enroll a somewhat older class as admitted applicants who graduated three years ago fell from 242 in 2010 to only 172 in 2011.
Statistics released by the director of Harvard's MBA admissions shows an effort to enroll a somewhat older class as admitted applicants who graduated three years ago fell from 242 in 2010 to only 172 in 2011.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
The Return of Investment on Your Education
As we have often said at Transcend Admissions Consultants, education is an investment in your future, and can lead to amazing personal and professional growth opportunities. But with the sometimes staggering cost of tuition for undergraduate and graduate programs, how can you determine whether the Return of Investment (ROI) on your education will be worth it?
Recent studies have shed some light on this issue and released statistics on potential earnings for those with various levels of education. A recent report by the Pew Research Center tells us that college graduates will earn about $650,000 more than high school graduates over a 40-year career; and that workers with Master’s degrees will earn about $1.6 million over their work life compared to $1.4 million for those with a Bachelor’s degree only. This study goes on to show that workers with Master’s or Doctoral degrees can expect mean earnings of $100,000 – $120,000 by the time they reach 45 years of age, compared to $40,000 for those with only a high school education.
The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce has also visited this issue in 2011, and enthusiastically concludes that higher education is a sound investment that will net graduates 84% more earnings over a lifetime than those without higher education. This report states that the most popular course of study is business, accounting for 25% of all students, and that median earnings of those with graduate degrees in business are $80,000. People holding graduate degrees in engineering fields command the highest median annual income, at $99,000.
In the end, pursing higher education is a very personal decision and many factors must be taken into consideration. But while tuition can be very expensive ($100,000+ for top MBA programs), these studies seem to indicate that investing in education at all levels will lead to a solid ROI over the course of a career.
Friday, June 17, 2011
MBA Hiring has Diversified in Recent Years
The economic crisis hit MBA recruitment particularly hard as major players Lehman Brothers and Bear Sterns collapsed, financial giants Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citibank and Bank of America slashed hiring, and big employers of MBA grads like Johnson & Johnson and Kraft cut back as well.
However, despite all of the doom and gloom MBA placement statistics have remained relatively strong, largely because firms that had not traditionally recruited on MBA campuses like Apple, Inc., Amazon.com and IBM sensed the opportunity and starting hire more MBA graduates. This has resulted in a more diversified job market, where mid-sized companies, government institutions and educational groups can pluck prized MBA talent.
In the meantime, hiring by major financial firms has been surprisingly stable - but there has been a shift in hiring across various departments and geographic regions. There has also been increased MBA hiring by hedge funds, boutique and mid-sized financial services firms.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Transcend Admissions Consultants 2010 Results
* 96% client interview success rate
* 91% client admission success rate
Many thanks to our clients for their trust and support this application season!
* 91% client admission success rate
Many thanks to our clients for their trust and support this application season!
| MBA Programs | Status | ||
| Ms. L. | IESE Business School | Accepted | |
| NYU (Stern) Business School | Waitlisted | ||
| London Business School (LBS) | Waitlisted | ||
| INSEAD | |||
| Ms. R. | Rochester (Simon) School of Business | Accepted | Scholarship |
| Mr. K. | Georgetown (McDonough) School of Business | Accepted | |
| Duke (Fuqua) School of Business | Waitlisted | ||
| USC (Marshall) School of Business | Waitlisted | ||
| Mr. S. | Washington University (Olin) Business School | Accepted | |
| UNC (Kenan-Flagler) Business School | Accepted | scholarship | |
| Georgetown (McDonough) School of Business | Accepted | ||
| University of Illinois College of Business | Accepted | ||
| Ms. C. | Rochester (Simon) School of Business | Accepted | |
| Michigan Ross School of Business | Accepted | ||
| Purdue (Krannert) School of Management | Accepted | ||
| Mr. A. | Arizona State (Carey) School of Business | Accepted | scholarship |
| Ohio State (Fisher) College of Business | Accepted | ||
| Carnegie Mellon (Tepper) School of Business | Waitlisted | ||
| USC (Marshall) School of Business | Waitlisted | ||
| Washington (Foster) School of Business | Waitlisted | ||
| Washington University (Olin) Business School | Waitlisted | ||
| Ms. P. | Michigan (Ross) School of Business | Accepted | |
| Mr. L. | Boston University School of Management | Accepted | |
| Michigan Ross School of Business | Accepted | ||
| Mr. L. | Thunderbird School of Global Management | Accepted | |
| Case Western Reserve (Weatherhead) School of Management | Accepted | ||
| University of Pittsburgh (Katz) School of Business | Waitlisted | ||
| Mr. S. | Penn State University (Smeal) College of Business | Accepted | Full scholarship |
| GISMA Business School | Accepted | Full scholarship | |
| Notre Dame (Mendoza) College of Business | Waitlisted | ||
| Ms. E. | University of Toronto (Rotman) School of Management | Accepted | |
| UNC (Kenan-Flagler) Business School | Accepted | ||
| USC (Marshall) School of Business | Waitlisted | ||
| Ms. S. | Boston University School of Management | Accepted | |
| Rochester (Simon) School of Business (MSF) | Accepted | ||
| Washington (Foster) School of Business | Waitlisted | ||
| USC (Marshall) School of Business | Waitlisted | ||
| Mr. S. | Hult International Business School | Accepted | |
| Hong Kong University Faculty of Business and Economics | Waitlisted | ||
| Mr. C. | University of Illinois College of Business | Accepted | scholarship |
| University of Maryland (Smith) School of Business | Waitlisted | ||
| Mr. C. | USC (Marshall) School of Business | Accepted | scholarship |
| Hong Kong University Faculty of Business and Economics | Accepted | ||
| Northwestern (Kellogg) Graduate School of Management | Waitlisted | ||
| Mr. J. | University of Illinois - Chicago Graduate School of Business | Accepted | |
| Ms. T. | Washington University (Olin) Business School | Accepted | scholarship |
| Indiana University (Kelley) School of Business | Accepted | scholarship | |
| USC (Marshall) School of Business | Waitlisted | ||
| Mr. D. | Georgetown (McDonough) School of Business | Accepted | |
| Ms. I. | UC San Diego (Rady) School of Management | Accepted | |
| UC Irvine (Merage) School of Business | Accepted | ||
| UC Davis Graduate School of Management | Accepted | ||
| Master of Science Programs | Status | ||
| Mr. J. | Harvard Graduate School of Design (MUP) | Accepted | |
| Michigan (Taubman) College (MUP) | Accepted | ||
| Duke (Nicholas) School of the Environment (MEM) | Accepted | ||
| Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (MSCP) | Accepted | ||
| Cornell Department of City and Regional Planning (MRP) | Accepted | ||
| UPenn School of Design (MCP) | Accepted | ||
| Ms. A | ESCP Europe Master in Management (MSc) | Accepted | |
| Mr. A. | Boston College (Carroll) School of Management (MSA) | Accepted | |
| University of Pittsburgh (Katz) Graduate School of Business (MSA) | Accepted | scholarship | |
| Mr. M. | University of Illinois College of Business (MSF) | Accepted | |
| Rochester (Simon) School of Business (MSF) | Waitlisted | ||
| Ms. C. | University of Illinois College of Business (MS in Technology Management) | Accepted | |
| Ms. S. | Northwestern University (Medill) (IMC) | Accepted | |
| Texas A&M (Mays) Business School (MS in Marketing) | Waitlisted | ||
| Mr. K. | Tulane University (Freeman) School of Business (MSF) | Accepted | |
| George Washington University School of Business (MSF) | Accepted | ||
| Illinois Institute of Technology (Stuart) School of Business (MSF) | Accepted | ||
| Rochester (Simon) School of Business (MSF) | Waitlisted | ||
| Purdue (Krannert) School of Business (MSF) | Waitlisted | ||
| Law Programs | Status | ||
| Mr. R. | American University (Washington) College of Law (LLM) | Accepted | |
| University of Maryland School of Law (LLM) | Accepted | ||
| Tulane University Law School (LLM) | Accepted | ||
| Cardozo School of Law (LLM) | Accepted |
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