I'll admit, every once in a while the thought of huge student loans gives me the shivers. Yes, theoretically I'll make enough money to offset the cost of school, but that doesn't make articles like this any easier to read.
Of course, let me just mention that this Kristin Cole character needs to realize that her $150,000 in student loans were meant to make her a lawyer. If she's so averse to working in a law firm, why did she go to law school?
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Slow and Deliberate
... that's how I'd describe my application process thus far. As you can see, I've been steadily tagging my to-do list with (Done)'s: I've submitted Part I of my Kellogg application (along with the $225 fee), reported all of my recommenders, uploaded four scanned transcripts (or the much more time consuming "self-reported in Excel" version), filled in more than half of my online data forms, and scheduled one on-campus interview.
I could comment on these tasks beyond listing them, but you'd probably hate me forever. Trust me, these applications look a lot like your undergrad apps, except they're online. Just enter a GMAT score instead of an SAT score, add a professional resume and a college transcript, then toss in a work history. I'm sure you're getting the picture.
But I will mention how glad I am to have chosen four target schools, rather than my original six. I can't imagine applying to more than four (maybe five) and still adding enough quality detail. You might assume that these applications are all the same, but the differences are many and maddeningly subtle. For example, one school wants a one-page resume, while another allows two pages but wants a one-inch margin on the top of each page. One school asks you to scan a copy of your transcript and simply attach the document. Another wants you to report your undergraduate classes, GPA's, etc in their custom Excel document.
It goes on and on.
So, good luck to those of you who are applying to droves of schools (one of my friends is applying to eight, another is applying to a whopping TWELVE). I haven't even started writing the essays yet, and I'm already starting to bounce my head off my keyboard.
Speaking of essays ...
From what I understand, nailing my essays might be my best shot at differentiating my application. Since it's going to take a lot of time, focus, and editing to get them ready, I'm trying to clear the administrative underbrush. I'd rather not deal with a dozen nagging distractions (application forms, fees, recommendations, interview arrangements, etc) while I'm trying to write 16 impeccable essays. Thus, the to-do lists (on the right). Maybe it reveals a mental shortcoming, but I have to write things down, preferably in simple lists. Otherwise, I'd end up sending my Michigan recommenders to Tuck before I figuring out that I'd already submitted my Kellogg essays to Duke.
I could comment on these tasks beyond listing them, but you'd probably hate me forever. Trust me, these applications look a lot like your undergrad apps, except they're online. Just enter a GMAT score instead of an SAT score, add a professional resume and a college transcript, then toss in a work history. I'm sure you're getting the picture.
But I will mention how glad I am to have chosen four target schools, rather than my original six. I can't imagine applying to more than four (maybe five) and still adding enough quality detail. You might assume that these applications are all the same, but the differences are many and maddeningly subtle. For example, one school wants a one-page resume, while another allows two pages but wants a one-inch margin on the top of each page. One school asks you to scan a copy of your transcript and simply attach the document. Another wants you to report your undergraduate classes, GPA's, etc in their custom Excel document.
It goes on and on.
So, good luck to those of you who are applying to droves of schools (one of my friends is applying to eight, another is applying to a whopping TWELVE). I haven't even started writing the essays yet, and I'm already starting to bounce my head off my keyboard.
Speaking of essays ...
From what I understand, nailing my essays might be my best shot at differentiating my application. Since it's going to take a lot of time, focus, and editing to get them ready, I'm trying to clear the administrative underbrush. I'd rather not deal with a dozen nagging distractions (application forms, fees, recommendations, interview arrangements, etc) while I'm trying to write 16 impeccable essays. Thus, the to-do lists (on the right). Maybe it reveals a mental shortcoming, but I have to write things down, preferably in simple lists. Otherwise, I'd end up sending my Michigan recommenders to Tuck before I figuring out that I'd already submitted my Kellogg essays to Duke.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Michigan Contacts
Thanks to a contact supplied by one of my mentors, I have recently had the pleasure of meeting several Michigan MBA graduates. The initial contact was the president of Michigan's Denver alumni club. Not only did he invite me to the '07 Denver World Wide Club event on Sept. 19, but he spent over three hours talking with me over dinner and beers. His insights were awesome and, while he definitely did an excellent job plugging Michigan's program, he also helped me root out several points to highlight in my application.
In addition, I met an '04 grad at the World Wide Club gathering. Her enthusiasm for Michigan was infectious and she had great things to say about her experience. She also helps Michigan's admissions committee and has agreed to meet me for breakfast next week to talk about my application (yahtzee!)
As a fun side note, the '04 grad also has an undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado. When I asked her which school she rooted for, she said, "Michigan, without question." That's great news; it means Michigan does an extraordinary job instilling camaraderie and school spirit in its graduates students.
In addition, I met an '04 grad at the World Wide Club gathering. Her enthusiasm for Michigan was infectious and she had great things to say about her experience. She also helps Michigan's admissions committee and has agreed to meet me for breakfast next week to talk about my application (yahtzee!)
As a fun side note, the '04 grad also has an undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado. When I asked her which school she rooted for, she said, "Michigan, without question." That's great news; it means Michigan does an extraordinary job instilling camaraderie and school spirit in its graduates students.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
More '07 Rankings
The Wall Street Journal released their '07 rankings yesterday. Disappointingly, three of my four first-round targets lost ground on their '06 positions. Michigan tumbled from #1 to #7, Northwestern fell from #6 to #12, and Duke slipped one slot from #12 to #13. Happily, Dartmouth climbed back into the #1 spot it had lost the year before.
It sounds like the harshest criticism of Michigan and Kellogg focused on graduates' attitudes. While recruiters applauded both programs' grads in '06, their '07 report scorched students' "pompous, what's-in-it-for-me" attitudes. It sounds like we can also attribute Michigan's fall to its facilities - some recruiters rated it lower based on the inconveniences they suffered as a result of extensive construction.
While I certainly hope both programs act on this feedback in their admissions decisions, this news hasn't spooked me. As I've noted several times on this blog, rankings are tools to help shed light on particular aspects of a school, not definitive sources of truth. It's nice to know that I should carefully avoid sounding arrogant or selfish in my applications, but these numbers don't change my opinion of these schools. If anything they highlight the volatility inherent in asking recruiters for qualitative feedback from year to year. Interviewing one or two sour candidates, having a bad experience with a career services officer, or getting sawdust on their Johnson & Murphy's can obviously have a drastic effect on their impressions.
It sounds like the harshest criticism of Michigan and Kellogg focused on graduates' attitudes. While recruiters applauded both programs' grads in '06, their '07 report scorched students' "pompous, what's-in-it-for-me" attitudes. It sounds like we can also attribute Michigan's fall to its facilities - some recruiters rated it lower based on the inconveniences they suffered as a result of extensive construction.
While I certainly hope both programs act on this feedback in their admissions decisions, this news hasn't spooked me. As I've noted several times on this blog, rankings are tools to help shed light on particular aspects of a school, not definitive sources of truth. It's nice to know that I should carefully avoid sounding arrogant or selfish in my applications, but these numbers don't change my opinion of these schools. If anything they highlight the volatility inherent in asking recruiters for qualitative feedback from year to year. Interviewing one or two sour candidates, having a bad experience with a career services officer, or getting sawdust on their Johnson & Murphy's can obviously have a drastic effect on their impressions.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Recommendations
Last week, I spent most of my b school energy asking mentors and former managers if they would be willing to write recommendations on my behalf.
Asking busy people to do me such a huge favor is difficult and delicate. To ease into these requests, I started engaging my potential recommenders as early as I could by seeking their advice and including them in my decisions. Naturally, these are people I admire and who's opinions I respect, so I would have asked for their help even if I wasn't seeking their recommendation. This just made the process a bit more organic.
Happily, all four of my requested recommenders have committed to write two recs each, meaning that I have lined up the eight I need to complete my apps. As specified by the applications, all four of these people know me and have either worked with me closely or have been an integral part of my career progress for many years.
Up next, writing essays and booking interviews ...
Asking busy people to do me such a huge favor is difficult and delicate. To ease into these requests, I started engaging my potential recommenders as early as I could by seeking their advice and including them in my decisions. Naturally, these are people I admire and who's opinions I respect, so I would have asked for their help even if I wasn't seeking their recommendation. This just made the process a bit more organic.
Happily, all four of my requested recommenders have committed to write two recs each, meaning that I have lined up the eight I need to complete my apps. As specified by the applications, all four of these people know me and have either worked with me closely or have been an integral part of my career progress for many years.
Up next, writing essays and booking interviews ...
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