Get Your M.B.A. Part-Time Part 4

The essays also provide an opportunity to demonstrate your management apt.i.tude. Many essay questions specifically ask you to discuss your professional experiences and how you handled different situations. With thoughtful, well-written essays, you can highlight your management strengths.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.

Extracurricular activities and community involvement also present opportunities for you to highlight your skills. For younger applicants, college activities play a more significant role than for more seasoned applicants. Your activities say a lot about who you are and what's important to you. Were you a campus leader? Did your activities require discipline and commitment? Did you work with a team? What did you learn from your involvement?

Active community involvement provides a way for you to demonstrate your management skills and to impress admissions officers with your personal character. In fact, many applications ask directly about community activities. Many programs like to see candidates who demonstrate concern for individuals other than themselves, who are willing and able to a.s.sume responsibility beyond their jobs, and who can function in a variety of settings. If you are contemplating getting involved in your community, here's a chance to do something worthwhile and enhance your application in the process.

Stand Out from the Crowd"If I had a traditional career (a.n.a.lyst for example), I would be sure that I had an 'unusual' experience about which to write. This means spending a summer as a volunteer building homes for Habitat for Humanity, being a mentor, getting involved with a community 'do-good' organization, etc."- E.M.B.A., Stern School of Business, New York University A good way to organize your thinking is to compile a Personal Data Sheet (PDS) on which you can list all your extracurricular activities, relevant dates of partic.i.p.ation, and any honors or positions of leaders.h.i.+p you won, along with basic information such as your name, address, phone, undergraduate and graduate GPAs, and GMAT scores. Give this form to your recommenders to remind them of your accomplishments.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS.

The most subjective criterion on which schools evaluate you is your personal characteristics. Admissions officers judge you in this area primarily through essays, recommendations, and your interview.

Although different schools emphasize different qualities, most seek candidates who demonstrate leaders.h.i.+p, maturity, integrity, responsibility, and teamwork. The more compet.i.tive schools place special emphasis on these criteria because they have many qualified applicants for each available spot in the cla.s.s. In fact, the top-tier programs generally require numerous essays so that they can get a complete feel for each applicant's personal qualities.

Your presentation of your personal characteristics is important in demonstrating how well you will fit into the program of your choice. If the program emphasizes teamwork, you will want to make sure you demonstrate interpersonal skills. If you are looking at an international focus, you will want to show that you can adapt to different cultures and environments. If the program is highly compet.i.tive, you will want admissions officers to see that you can thrive in that setting.

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Overcoming Stereotypes Admissions officers know that all applicants are unique, each with his or her own strengths and weaknesses, and they will judge you on that basis. But after evaluating thousands of applications, stereotypes do emerge, as you can see from the table on the previous page. Understanding how admissions officers will initially perceive your experience-and what it says about you-can help you think strategically about ways to differentiate yourself from other applicants with similar backgrounds.

Increasing Cla.s.sroom Diversity Your "personal characteristics" also encompa.s.s your gender and ethnic background. Admissions officers work hard to maximize cla.s.sroom diversity. Each year, they invest significant time and effort to recruit candidates from underrepresented groups. Nevertheless, women and minorities remain underrepresented at most programs. Schools will not admit students they feel are not academically qualified, but diversity goals will help some students stand out in the applicant pool.

Admissions officers encourage applications from international candidates because they add to cla.s.sroom diversity and provide a fresh perspective. Because all students must be able to communicate effectively, applicants whose native language is not English may be required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Test of Written English (TWE), and/or Test of Spoken English (TSE). Although some schools have minimum test requirements and others use the scores as a guideline, 600 on the TOEFL is generally considered a measure of adequate English skills. Some schools may require or recommend that international students who are admitted with marginal language skills take English coursework before matriculating.

Be aware that diversity extends beyond nationality, race, and gender. It may encompa.s.s such factors as geography, professional experience, and college studies. The following programs, chosen by their programmatic and geographical diversity, were asked to describe their cla.s.s profiles in a survey. Their responses should help you identify what the schools are looking for in M.B.A. candidates, and to consider how you can leverage various aspects of your background to your advantage.

What Top M.B.A. Programs Say: Cla.s.s Profile University of Chicago "The typical student at the Graduate School of Business is able to combine superior intellectual skills with excellent interpersonal skills. The typical incoming cla.s.s that we strive to put together is quite diverse in terms of educational and ethnic backgrounds, career paths and social experience, and country of origin. Many students say they learn as much from the diversity of the other students they meet and work with at the school as they do from their course work. Because each cla.s.s represents a wide variety of undergraduate majors and backgrounds, the curriculum is wide-ranging enough to satisfy any interest. The faculty is drawn from a variety of disciplines as well, and this diversity is reflected in teaching styles.

"The school seeks candidates with strong potential for success in both an academically demanding program of study and a professional career. We accept applications from students in all fields of undergraduate study and evaluate work experience on an individual basis as well."

Indiana University "Diversity in terms of race, gender, ethnicity, leaders.h.i.+p ability, work experience, and evidence of management potential is important to our matrix. We look for individuals who buy into the team work concept, too. Whether they are Peace Corps volunteers or engineers, it's important for students to have a focus and vision of who they are and where they are going. A rich and diverse profile makes the educational environment beneficial.

"We seek to bring in people who fit our inst.i.tution. We have a sense of who we are and we project that. We look for a mixture of those with backgrounds in liberal arts and science and engineering as well as business. That way, different approaches to problem solving can be achieved."

Unorthodox Backgrounds at Kellogg* A Renaissance English major worked in catalog production at Sotheby's auction house in New York City before being accepted to Kellogg Graduate School of Management.* A pastor at the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago attended Kellogg in order to learn how to manage the church's finances and to rise to the top of her profession.- Adapted from Newsweek/ Newsweek/Kaplan's How to Choose a Career and Graduate How to Choose a Career and Graduate School School and and Careers Careers Fairfield University, Dolan School Fairfield University, Dolan School "Professional experience is very important because it raises the level of dialogue about business practice in the cla.s.sroom and in team meetings. A record of academic success, good GMAT scores, and drive are major considerations as well. We also look for diversity and emotional intelligence. Sincerity, intelligence, and self-knowledge are always attractive."

University of California-Los Angeles, Anderson School "The Anderson School admission policy emphasizes academic ability, leaders.h.i.+p, and work experience. The admissions committee evaluates applicants' prospects as effective managers and their projected ability to succeed in and profit from the M.B.A. program. Committee members carefully consider biographical and academic background information, GMAT and TOEFL (for most international applicants) scores, achievements, distinctions, awards and honors, employment history, letters of recommendation, and college and community involvement, especially when candidates have served in a leaders.h.i.+p capacity."

THE ADMISSIONS REVIEW PROCESS.

To understand the review process, you will need a basic grasp of the review committee, their procedures, and their decisions.

Admissions Committees Knowing what kind of people are likely to review your application will help you find the appropriate tone for it. Admissions committees vary by school, but, despite common perception, they don't consist entirely of old men with long white beards. At most schools, the committee includes professional admissions officers whose primary responsibility is to select the M.B.A. cla.s.s from among the applicant pool. Some schools include faculty members on the committee, but many do not. Some schools hire recent graduates to sit on the committee, believing these individuals are in a good position to judge which candidates will benefit from and contribute to the overall business school experience. And at some schools, second-year students and/or alumni play a role in reviewing applications and interviewing candidates.

As with most things, knowing the right people helps. But when it comes to the admissions process, it's hard to predict how much benefit you'll receive from an inside connection. If a school's faculty member, administrator, or respected alumnus can put in a good word for you, great. Depending on how influential that person is and how heavily they'll go to bat for you, they can have an impact. But be careful. Generally, the impact is negligible, and you risk antagonizing the admissions committee if you pursue this tactic.

Admissions officers are not always representative of the group of students they admit. Many committees contain a high percentage of women and minorities, and are likely to recognize the importance of diversity in the cla.s.sroom. Although some admissions officers have had management training and business experience, many have not. They tend to be people-oriented and have strong interpersonal skills. They want to get to "know" you through your application, and they are partial to well-written essays. They're dedicated to maintaining their objectivity in an inherently subjective process, but they all have their "pet" biases (sometimes related to their own academic or professional experience).

Review Procedures Just as the composition of the admissions committee varies by school, so does the process by which decisions are made. Some schools make decisions by committee, but many use a system in which each application, or "file," is routed from one committee member to another. Here is a standard procedure: * Application materials are received. The file is compiled by operations staff, who ensure that all components have been received.* Based on an initial review, the application is put in categories ranging from strong to long-shot. This process varies by school and may involve calculating a weighted average of GPA, GMAT, and work experience. Alternatively, the application may be reviewed by an individual committee member.* The application is routed to admissions officers, who carefully read it and make written evaluations and recommendations.* The application goes to the director, who reviews committee members' comments, personally evaluates the application, and makes a final decision.

Evaluations of individual applications are typically "blind," that is, made without knowledge of any prior evaluation, s.h.i.+elding the reviewer from possible effects of bias from the other readers. If all the reviews recommend admission, the application may not go to the director or committee for a final review; applications with split decisions are pa.s.sed to the committee or director for a decision.

University of Chicago's Review Procedures"The admission process at the Graduate School of Business is personalized, deliberate, and time-consuming. Three people read and evaluate every application, and one of these three is the director of admissions.

"If questions arise from the material submitted, admissions officers contact the applicant to clarify. The goal of the admissions process is to make each cla.s.s the best possible."

- Admissions officer, University of Chicago Application Review Cycles There are two primary models for admission cycles: "rolling" admissions and "rounds." Under the rolling admissions model, applications are reviewed as they are received and completed. They are processed in a stream and are not grouped for review with large numbers of other applications. In applications rounds, on the other hand, applications received and completed by the given deadline are reviewed together and decisions are announced by a specified date. Both these models provide a system for the admissions office to cope with the flood of paper and a structure for careful review of all applications.

Schools that use admission rounds typically have three or four decision periods. The deadline for the first cycle is often in early or mid-December, with decisions due three or four weeks later. If you submit your application in late October for a cycle with a December 1 deadline, you will not receive your decision until several weeks after that deadline. Under rolling admissions, however, your decision would usually reach you within a few weeks of your submission of your completed application.

It is important to remember that an application will not be reviewed until it is entirely complete. If a deadline for an admissions cycle arrives and your application is still missing one letter of recommendation, your application will be considered incomplete and held until the next decision cycle.

Review Decisions Upon reviewing your application, the admissions committee may make any number of decisions, including: Admit Congratulations, you're in! But read the letter carefully. The committee may recommend or, in some cases, require you to do some preparatory coursework to ensure that your quant.i.tative or language skills are up to speed.

Deferred Admit This decision is reserved for situations in which the admissions committee considers you a strong candidate, but believes you would benefit from an additional year or two of work experience before attending. Because most applicants now have at least two years of experience before applying to school, deferred admission is not as common now as it once was.

Reject with Encouragement to Reapply This isn't just a polite rejection. One step down from a deferred admit, it's a way for a school to say, "we like you, and we think that with more experience, you'll be a strong candidate."

Hold Over Until the Next Decision Period Sometimes the admissions committee isn't comfortable making a decision by the scheduled reply date. Perhaps you are right on the borderline, and the committee wants to see how you stack up with the next group of applicants. In this case, all you can do is wait, but often, the end result is positive.

Waiting List Schools use the waiting list-the educational equivalent of purgatory-to manage cla.s.s size. The good news is that you wouldn't be on the list if you weren't considered a strong candidate, and schools do tend to look kindly upon wait-listed candidates who reapply in a subsequent year. The bad news is that there is no way to know with certainty whether you'll be accepted. Take the time to write the office a little note reaffirming your interest in the program. If you did not opt for an interview, now may be a good time to request one, if it's not too late.

Don't Be a Pest, Be PoliteIf you decide to appeal an admissions decision, do not expect the admissions staff to have your file on hand and know all about you when you call. Make an appointment to come in and talk to a dean, or ask them to call you back at their convenience.Request for an Interview Schools that do not require an interview may request that you interview with them before they make their final decision. Your application may have raised some specific issues that you can address in an interview, or perhaps the committee feels your essays did not give them a complete enough picture to render a decision. Look at this as a positive opportunity to strengthen your case. We'll talk later about how to use an interview to your best advantage.

Reject As a full-time employee, it can be very embarra.s.sing to be rejected by a school once you have been approved for your company's tuition reimburs.e.m.e.nt program. If you have been rejected from all of the schools to which you applied, it may be a good idea to find out why. Perhaps you do not have sufficient work experience, or your English needs improving-instances such as these may be justified to your employer. If you are lucky, a school may talk to you and attempt to work something out. You can always appeal the decision, but be advised that doing so may hurt your prospects for readmission in the future.

This chapter has given you a behind-the-scenes look at the admissions process. The next chapters will discuss the secrets of successful applications.

Want to Reapply?If you are considering reapplying, try to find out why you were rejected and whether you have a reasonable chance of being admitted the next time around. Some schools will speak to you about your application, but you may find these conversations unsatisfying because admissions decisions are subjective and cannot be quantified.

CHAPTER 8.

Preparing Your Application A key part of getting into the business school of your choice is to develop a basic application strategy so that you can present yourself in the best possible light. In this chapter and the chapters to come, we'll show you how to make the most of every aspect of your application, ranging from timing strategies to essay-writing tips.

WHEN TO APPLY.

Understanding how each school's application cycle operates can help you determine the optimum time to submit your application. The same guidelines as to when to send in your application may be used whether a school uses admissions rounds or a rolling cycle.

Apply Early"I was not successful my first year of applying to B-school. The next time around, I applied earlier in the application cycle. For schools that had rounds, I sent in my application for the second of three rounds."- E.M.B.A., Stern School of Business, New York University The Best Time There are potential risks and rewards regardless of when you apply. However, the general rule is: It's better to apply early than late. Because so many candidates wait until the final deadline to apply, you'll be evaluated in a larger pool if you wait. Although schools are committed to judging all applicants on the same set of criteria throughout the year, they have no obligation to admit the same number of students from each cycle. So the prospects of being admitted from the later period may be worse than if you apply earlier.

Applying too early can work against you, however. First of all, at the start of the admissions season, admissions committees need time to "calibrate" the yardstick by which they measure candidates. As a result, they may be less consistent in their judgments. This need to get a sense of the year's applicant pool applies to smaller programs more so than to programs that consistently, year after year, have a very large number of applicants and are very selective, admitting as few as one in every ten applicants. Second, because there are fewer applicants in the early stages, you may be scrutinized more closely than you would otherwise be. Third, the first period typically contains very strong applicants. And finally, because the application season is just starting, there's no pressure to fill cla.s.s slots. Overall, however, if you are a strong candidate, it does make sense to apply early, because there are plenty of open slots. If your application stands out, you'll be accepted.

If you are planning to apply for scholars.h.i.+ps, grants, or other merit-based financial a.s.sistance, early submission of your completed application can be very important. Some of these awards have very early deadlines; you cannot even be considered for the award unless all required application materials have been received. If you are taking part in your company's tuition reimburs.e.m.e.nt program, you'll certainly need to find out if there is a specific timetable you need to follow in order to receive funds.

The middle admissions periods are the "safest" times to apply. By then, the admissions committee has a good sense of what the applicant pool is like and has. .h.i.t its stride in making consistent evaluations. Plus, there are still many spots available. Although the admissions office is typically awash in files at this time of year, the committee will still pay careful attention to your application.

The Worst StrategyRegardless of when you make your decision to go to business school, the very worst thing you can do is wait until the last minute. Your school application is made up of many different pieces, including some that need outside attention, such as transcripts and recommendations. Each piece of the application that is beyond your control is one more disaster waiting to happen. You need to be prepared for the worst, and you need plenty of time to recover if and when things go wrong.

Your chances of being admitted to your program of choice at the end of the admissions cycle are hard to predict. Programs that receive an abundance of applications typically have few s.p.a.ces still available in the cla.s.s at this stage. Backgrounds and credentials that stood out early in the year may not now appear so fresh and different. Still, if your background is highly unusual, it may be just what the admissions office is seeking to round out the cla.s.s. On the other hand, if the office did not receive as large a flood of applications during the middle period as it expected, more seats may be available than antic.i.p.ated, increasing your chances of being accepted. However, targeting the end of the application cycle is a risky move. Programs keep good records of application trends at their school so that they can plan appropriately and matriculate the best cla.s.s possible; openings in the late cycle are created only when this planning has not produced the expected results.

All timing strategies aside, the best time of all to apply is whenever you can devote the time necessary to prepare your best application. This entails completing and submitting all your application materials in a careful and timely manner.

Make a Schedule There are perfect times to begin and end the application process, and some people are able to move smoothly from step to step on the road to B-school admissions. Set time aside on a regular basis to complete the application materials. The key is to spread out the work. If the process is gradual and relaxed, it will be much less painful, and every piece of your application will get the attention that it deserves.

Request Your Application Early Because:* The closer it gets to the application deadline, the longer it takes for the school to get an application mailed to you, and you want to familiarize yourself with the application itself so you have time to figure out exactly what the school is asking for.* Most B-schools require a self-managed application, one in which you put together the parts of the application yourself and send it to the school as one big packet. It takes time to a.s.semble these various parts.

You should begin a year before you plan to enter school, preferably in the summer. You may just have to rush things a little more than some of your colleagues, or you may have several extra months to think and explore possibilities. Keep in mind, though, that a few dates are written in stone. You should find out what they are as early as possible and incorporate them into your own personal application schedule, which should include the following dates: * Standardized test registration deadlines* Transcript deadlines (some schools send out transcripts only on particular dates, so check with your records office to find out when you have to make requests)* Letters of recommendation (be sure to give your recommendation writers plenty of time!)* Application deadlines (submit your application as early as possible to ensure that you get a fair and comprehensive review)* Financial aid forms (federal and state programs have definite deadlines, and you should also check deadlines from individual universities and independent sources of aid) TARGETING YOUR APPLICATION.

When it comes to applying to business school, you're the product. Your application is your marketing doc.u.ment. Marketing yourself doesn't mean that you should lie or even embellish; it just means that you need to make a tight and coherent presentation of the facts. Everything in your application should add up and underscore the fact that you are not only qualified to be in the cla.s.s-you should be in the cla.s.s!

Many application forms have a certain tone, one that's comforting and accepting. "Why would you like to come to our school?" they seem to be asking. They do want an answer to that question, but what's even more important-the subtext for the whole application process-is a bigger question: "Why should we accept you?" This is the question that your application will answer. And with some effective marketing strategies, your answer will be clear, concise, coherent, and strong.

Be "Reader-Friendly"Try to make things as easy as possible for those who are reviewing your application. Part of marketing yourself is making sure the presentation of your application is flawless. Small type fonts or narrow margins can become real irritants, especially during the long days and nights of "crunch time." Whenever you submit your application, make sure it is "reader-friendly."

So what sort of image should you project? First of all, it should fit who you are; it should be natural. Don't bother to try to sell yourself as something you're not. The strategy will just make you uncomfortable, and it probably won't work. Besides, part of what readers do when they evaluate your application is to form an image of you from the various parts of your application. Your job is to help them, not hinder them.

a.s.sembling Your Application Let's recap the basic elements of the business school application. Whatever school you apply to, you will probably be required to supply: * Completed application data form* Your most recent resume* The application fee* Your GMAT test score(s)* TOEFL scores (if required)* Official transcripts from all postsecondary schools that you have attended (whether or not you graduated)* Letters of recommendations* Personal interview* Essays Of the doc.u.ments listed above, the only one(s) that will not be in the packet you provide are your GMAT and TOEFL scores. You need to contact Graduate Management Admissions Council www.gmac.com ; ; www.mloa.com and the Educational Testing Service and the Educational Testing Service www.ets.org to have these sent to your school(s). to have these sent to your school(s).

Don't Be a Laughing Stock Don't Be a Laughing StockSome of the more "entertainment-oriented" admissions committees save the videos they receive until the end of the season, cook up some popcorn, and have their own screening of B-School's Funniest Home Videos. If you decide to send in a video in support of your application, make sure it isn't unintentionally amusing.

Each school has its own policy about accepting supplemental materials that are not requested in the application packet, such as videotapes, audiotapes, and project samples. Most schools with large applicant pools either discourage them or simply don't consider them. They believe you should be able to make your case within the framework of the application. Other schools are more receptive to reviewing supplemental materials. If you have something you feel would strengthen your candidacy and you would like to submit it, call the school and ask about their policy.

Your work experience and your GMAT, TOEFL, and college grades are those parts of your application that are pretty settled before you even start the important work on your application. The following chapters will examine how you should strategically approach the remaining crucial parts of your application-recommendations, your essay, and the interview.

CHAPTER 9.

Recommendations Whether a school requires one, two, or three recommendations, it will generally look to them as supporting doc.u.ments that will confirm the substance of your other application materials. You should not neglect this portion of your application.

CHOOSING A RECOMMENDER.

One of your tasks in preparing your application materials is to think strategically about the selection of individuals you ask to write on your behalf. Choose recommendation writers who can write meaningfully about your strengths and, whenever possible, match the perspective of the writer with your overall strategy for the particular application.

Easy Decision"My immediate supervisor was an alumna of the M.B.A. program I was applying to. This made my choice of recommender a no-brainer and a.s.sured my admission."- M.B.A., Fordham University One of the most common mistakes applicants make is to sacrifice an insightful recommendation from someone who knows them well for a generic recommendation from a celebrity or an alumnus. Admissions officers are not impressed by famous names. So unless a famous individual knows you and can write convincingly on your behalf, this is not a strategy worth pursuing. Similarly, since admissions officers are looking for an objective confirmation of your qualifications, you should also avoid submitting letters from relatives and family friends, unless they can clearly base their a.s.sessment on professional criteria.

Don't Burn Bridges"Never burn bridges when you leave jobs. My feeling from talking to friends was that if you return to school after being out of college for a while (for me it was 7 years), work references are more important than ones from college professors. I used only work references."- M.B.A., Stern School of Business, New York University Good choices for recommendation writers include current and past supervisors, professors, academic and nonacademic advisers, and people you work with in community activities. In some cases, professional peers and/or subordinates can write effective recommendations, but such approaches are reserved for special circ.u.mstances. Remember that you do not need to use the same set of letter writers for each application. You will want to have at least one recommender who can speak to your work experience, but you may choose your other writers to complement the information in your application. If you have highlighted volunteer or community involvement, you can ask someone who has worked with you in this area.

If the school is particularly interested in leaders.h.i.+p or teamwork skills, you may want to choose a recommender who can address this side of you. Make sure, however, that the individuals you choose have recent knowledge of you and can relate it to your professional goals. Your high school basketball coach, for example, would not be a good choice as a writer, unless you have worked extensively with the coach in the last few years and this work is a good demonstration of your capabilities and skills.

If a school requests an academic recommendation but you aren't able to provide one, try to identify someone who can discuss your intellectual attributes, particularly if your academic record is not your forte. Similarly, if requesting a recommendation from your employer would create an awkward situation, look for someone else who can comment on your management skills. Your recommendations are not likely to make or break your application, but they will confirm your strengths and in some cases help you overcome perceived weaknesses in your application.

If you wish to submit an extra recommendation, it's generally not a problem. Most schools will include the letter in your file, and those that don't will not penalize you for it. You should, however, send a note explaining why you have requested an additional recommendation so it doesn't appear that you can't follow instructions.

ASKING FOR RECOMMENDATIONS.

There are two fundamental rules of requesting recommendations: ask early and ask nicely. As soon as you decide to go to business school, you should start sizing up potential recommendation writers and let them know that you may ask them for a recommendation. This will given them plenty of time to think about what to say. Once they've agreed, let them know about deadlines well in advance to avoid potential scheduling conflicts. The more time they have, the better job they'll do recommending you. As for asking nicely, you should let the person know you think highly of their opinion and you'd be happy and honored if they would consider writing you a recommendation.

Time Out!If you are asking a supervisor or colleague for a recommendation, pick the right moment when you can have several minutes of uninterrupted time, such as after-hours or over lunch.

Help Them Get to Know You It is your responsibility to make sure that your recommendations writers know enough about you to write a meaningful letter. Discuss your personal and academic goals with them; help them get to know you well enough to write excellent recommendations. It is also helpful to tell your recommenders exactly why you are applying to a specific program, so they can understand your fit with it and emphasize this in their letters. If you have selected this writer to complement a specific aspect of your application, be sure to mention this connection, particularly if the school has an interest in this aspect.

Give Them the Highlights"I would have ready some personal pointers/ highlights that you want included in the letter of recommendation. Be sure to include examples of leaders.h.i.+p, growth, and initiative."- E.M.B.A., Stern School of Business, New York University Make Things Easy for Them Make the task of writing a letter as easy as possible for your recommenders by organizing materials and information. Be sure that have all the necessary forms and instructions and have a stamped, addressed envelope to use for each letter. If the school uses a recommendation form, find out whether a letter on letterhead may be subst.i.tuted for the form. Most schools will accept a letter, but many want the recommender to address the specific questions on the form and want to receive the form in addition to any formal letter. Some schools provide an acknowledgment card that the recommender is to include in the return envelope. Make sure that it is correctly addressed and stamped as well before you give it to the recommender. These steps will help show your appreciation for the effort being made on your behalf and will help ensure that the correct materials get sent to each school.

In addition to the required materials themselves, it is often helpful to provide your recommenders with a written summary of your background, a copy of your current resume, and your application essays. Copies of any written feedback that they might have given you in the past can also be useful, in order to help them remember the details of your achievements. Reviewing the recommendation forms or questions yourself before sending them to the letter writer will help you determine what information may be useful. Providing your recommenders with the exact dates of employment or names of specific courses will save them from needing to research information or to rely on memories that might not be absolutely accurate.

Help Them Help You Take the following actions to a.s.sist your recommenders:* Tell them about deadlines early* Arrange a meeting to discuss your background and goals* Clue them in on the marketing image you're using- Former admissions official, Harvard Business School Under most self-managed application processes, your recommenders will return their letter to you, in a sealed envelope, for you to enclose when you submit the rest of your application materials. In this case, you will know when and whether the recommendation letters are complete. If an application deadline is looming and you are still missing a letter, you will need to follow up with your desired recommender-but be polite and discreet. On occasion, someone who has agreed to write will not be able to do so before your deadline, even though you have given that person adequate notice. You can inquire about submitting your application without one of your letters, but typically an application will not be reviewed until all materials have been received, including all required letters of recommendation. In some cases, you are better advised to seek a letter from someone else.

Confidentiality One last issue with regard to recommendations is confidentiality. You'll need to decide whether or not to waive your right to read letters written about you. Many writers will only write a confidential letter, and, unless you have serious reservations, you should waive this right. Some schools request confidentiality in recommendations, so pay close attention to each school's requirements.

WHAT WILL THE RECOMMENDER SAY ABOUT YOU?.

In many cases, your recommenders will be asked to fill out a reference form for each B-school. The following are some of the most common questions recommenders are asked in these forms about the students they are recommending. Think about the responses the person you have chosen to recommend you might have to the following questions before you take the plunge and commit to him or her.

1. How long have you (i.e., the writer of the reference letter) known the applicant and in what capacity?

2. What are the applicant's primary strengths and weaknesses?

3. Discuss the applicant's competence in his or her area of responsibility.

4. Are the applicant's achievements thus far a true indication of his/her ability? Please explain your response.

5. How carefully has the applicant considered his or her plans for M.B.A. study and subsequent career?

Common Questions1. How long should a recommendation be?Short and concise; no more than two pages.2. Should I ask to look at the recommendation?This is not generally advisable. If the school believes that the recommender cannot be completely honest, it will discount what is written, no matter how laudatory.3. What if my recommender says, "Write it up and I'll sign it"?An absolute no-no. You will not be able to reflect the distinctive, authentic voice of the recommender, and it's unethi- 6. Rate the applicant on the following abilities or traits, using a scale of below average, average, good, excellent, superior. Please indicate the reference group being used.

* a.n.a.lytical ability and problem-solving skill* Ability to work in a team* Ability to work independently* Writing skill* Speaking skill* Motivation* Maturity* Leaders.h.i.+p potentialDon't Forget Your MannersWhen you are accepted into an M.B.A. program, remember to appropriately thank the people who wrote your recommendations. They did help you get in, after all. Flowers, stationery, or a nice bottle of wine are usually appreciated!

CHAPTER 10.

Interviewing Successfully In the 1980s, many top business schools began requiring their applicants to attend a personal interview before making a final decision on acceptance into their programs. Before that time, not only were interviews not required, but many schools would not even accommodate an interview request.