Like we wrote last year, many universities and business schools in particular have started using plagiarism detection software to ensure that application essays are the applicants' original work and not copied from other sources.
In January 2012, the Los Angles Times reported that UCLA's Anderson School of Management, Stanford University as well as at least 100 other colleges in the United States are also using Turnitin, an anti-plagiarism software company that helps admissions committees verify the authenticity of application materials by comparing them to a large archive of writings. UCLA Anderson has reported that Turnitin software already helped them detect twelve applications that contained plagiarised work in the 2011-2012 application cycle. In internal testing of the database, Turnitin reported that between 3-20% of applicants had used plagiarised work in their application essays.
Based on our experience, this rate is higher among international applicants. Part of the problem are the admissions consultants in Asia, whose "core value" to applicants' is providing them with access to a large cache of application essays that they can "copy and paste" from. We often stress to our clients that originality and authenticity are the keys to a successful application essay, and that following the format that worked for other successful applicants is not a winning strategy because everyone is unique and has a different story to tell. Transcend Admissions Consultants is happy to hear that more and more universities will be using plagiarism detection software going forward so that unethical applicants will be eliminated thus opening up more spaces at the top schools for honest people who create original work.
www.transcendadmissions.com
Friday, February 24, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Should I Apply in Round 3?
Are you having troubling deciding whether to submit some MBA Round 3 applications or if you should just wait until next year? Regardless of whether you unsuccessfully applied in Rounds 1 and 2, it took longer than expected to get a decent GMAT or TOEFL score, or you suddenly decided to get an MBA - you should think very carefully before hastily submitting those Round 3 applications. Here are some insights that might help those of you who are uncertain make a final decision:
Situations when it is probably better NOT to apply in Round 3:
- You are a strong candidate with a legitimate chance of getting into a top MBA program. The fact is that for top MBA programs, the chances of being admitted in Round 3 are much lower - there are just not enough spaces left at this late stage even for applicants with stellar resumes.
Perhaps you are supremely confident and believe that your outstanding credentials will earn you an interview and acceptance, and if not, you will just apply again in Round 1 next year. This is where you need to slow down and think carefully. If you apply in Round 3 (and fail), and then apply again to the same school in Round 1 of the following application cycle, you will then be a reapplicant. As a reapplicant you will face the challenge of convincing the admissions committee that you are a much stronger candidate than you were in your previous application. Such improvement can be demonstrated by a higher GMAT score, a promotion, an important professional achievement or some great international experience.
However, Round 3 and the next Round 1 deadline will only be about six months apart - are you confident that you can significantly enhance your profile in such a short period of time? Basically, by using up your best stories and content in your Round 3 essays, and then applying again as a reapplicant the following year you have made your path to gaining acceptance much harder than if you would have just waited and applied as a Round 1 applicant.
- You unsuccessfully applied to many MBA programs in Rounds 1 and 2. So you applied to a few schools in Round 1 and it didn't work. Then you sent out several more applications in Round 2 with no luck. Maybe you are not deterred and plan to send out more applications in Round 3. But if you were not successful in Rounds 1 and 2 what makes you think that Round 3 will be any different?
Before you spend more time and money what you should do is reassess the situation and determine what the weak points of your application are. First address the following questions:
Does your resume offer proof of your abilities and clearly explain the impact you have made? Is your GMAT in the 80th percentile for the schools you are applying to? Do your career goals make sense based on your background and skills? Have you provided concrete reasons why you need an MBA now? Have you demonstrated that the MBA program is perfectly suited to your learning and career needs? Do you have at least two years of work experience? Are you sure that your recommenders' provided specific information to prove you are an outstanding employee with great leadership potential?
We recommend that before you rush and submit Round 3 applications that you first step back and reassess the situation and by doing so you will probably find that some of these issues have not been addressed.
Situations when it might be okay to apply in Round 3:
- You are not applying to top ranked programs. Top ranked programs have earlier deadlines, and are able to quickly fill up their classes. However, outside the top programs enrollment ends much later and there are still plenty of opportunities to gain admission even in Round 3. Many MBA programs will still accept applications and admit students even after deadlines have passed.
- You are applying to an Executive or Part-time MBA program. If you are considering an Executive or Part-time MBA program then it is acceptable to apply in Round 3. These programs receive less applications and are always looking for outstanding candidates to fill their classrooms.
- When applying to certain European MBA programs. Certain European programs like IESE and INSEAD have a different application systems and interview and accept students in all application rounds.
- Your candidacy has improved a lot. If you candidacy significantly improved since Round 1 or 2 then it might be okay to apply. Examples of this are a big improvement in your GMAT or TOEFL or you received an important promotion or assignment at work. These factors might be enough to allow you to apply in Round 3.
Everyone has different reasons for wanting to get an MBA, but regardless of your personal circumstances, all applicants should proceed carefully before rushing to submit those Round 3 applications.
Situations when it is probably better NOT to apply in Round 3:
- You are a strong candidate with a legitimate chance of getting into a top MBA program. The fact is that for top MBA programs, the chances of being admitted in Round 3 are much lower - there are just not enough spaces left at this late stage even for applicants with stellar resumes.
Perhaps you are supremely confident and believe that your outstanding credentials will earn you an interview and acceptance, and if not, you will just apply again in Round 1 next year. This is where you need to slow down and think carefully. If you apply in Round 3 (and fail), and then apply again to the same school in Round 1 of the following application cycle, you will then be a reapplicant. As a reapplicant you will face the challenge of convincing the admissions committee that you are a much stronger candidate than you were in your previous application. Such improvement can be demonstrated by a higher GMAT score, a promotion, an important professional achievement or some great international experience.
However, Round 3 and the next Round 1 deadline will only be about six months apart - are you confident that you can significantly enhance your profile in such a short period of time? Basically, by using up your best stories and content in your Round 3 essays, and then applying again as a reapplicant the following year you have made your path to gaining acceptance much harder than if you would have just waited and applied as a Round 1 applicant.
- You unsuccessfully applied to many MBA programs in Rounds 1 and 2. So you applied to a few schools in Round 1 and it didn't work. Then you sent out several more applications in Round 2 with no luck. Maybe you are not deterred and plan to send out more applications in Round 3. But if you were not successful in Rounds 1 and 2 what makes you think that Round 3 will be any different?
Before you spend more time and money what you should do is reassess the situation and determine what the weak points of your application are. First address the following questions:
Does your resume offer proof of your abilities and clearly explain the impact you have made? Is your GMAT in the 80th percentile for the schools you are applying to? Do your career goals make sense based on your background and skills? Have you provided concrete reasons why you need an MBA now? Have you demonstrated that the MBA program is perfectly suited to your learning and career needs? Do you have at least two years of work experience? Are you sure that your recommenders' provided specific information to prove you are an outstanding employee with great leadership potential?
We recommend that before you rush and submit Round 3 applications that you first step back and reassess the situation and by doing so you will probably find that some of these issues have not been addressed.
Situations when it might be okay to apply in Round 3:
- You are not applying to top ranked programs. Top ranked programs have earlier deadlines, and are able to quickly fill up their classes. However, outside the top programs enrollment ends much later and there are still plenty of opportunities to gain admission even in Round 3. Many MBA programs will still accept applications and admit students even after deadlines have passed.
- You are applying to an Executive or Part-time MBA program. If you are considering an Executive or Part-time MBA program then it is acceptable to apply in Round 3. These programs receive less applications and are always looking for outstanding candidates to fill their classrooms.
- When applying to certain European MBA programs. Certain European programs like IESE and INSEAD have a different application systems and interview and accept students in all application rounds.
- Your candidacy has improved a lot. If you candidacy significantly improved since Round 1 or 2 then it might be okay to apply. Examples of this are a big improvement in your GMAT or TOEFL or you received an important promotion or assignment at work. These factors might be enough to allow you to apply in Round 3.
Everyone has different reasons for wanting to get an MBA, but regardless of your personal circumstances, all applicants should proceed carefully before rushing to submit those Round 3 applications.
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