Phase I continues, Phase II beckons

Been a little while since I posted. here's what I have been upto:

1. Writing up my essays. I started with Wharton and have sort of finished two essays. I sent them to a friend for reviews and would say that I got an encouraging feedback. The good thing about my friend is that she's very constructive, knows me well enough, but wants to always push me beyond what I am to what I can be - if you have a peer who can advise you like that at work, during app season or in life - treasure them
2. Started drafting outlines for Stanford essays
3. Finalized my school list. here goes (in order of application round)
ROUND 1
- Stanford
- Wharton
- Kellogg (RA)
- Tuck (RA)
- Cornell


ROUND 2
- HBS
- INSEAD


Last app season I absolutely fell in love with 2 schools - Kellogg and Tuck. I applied, interviewed at Kellogg but didnt make it. This time, I am not taking NO for an answer :)


4. Watched a hell lot of movies. Some I'll review below:
 - Margin Call - Kevin Spacey movie about the last night at Wall Street before the collapse started. Very clearly tries to show you what happened at Lehman Brothers. Excellent movie, very good dialogues and being an executive recruiter. I was really intrigued by the management decision making and board room dialogues
- Gangs of Wasseypur - Brilliant Indian cinema. Inspired by Gangs of New York and then rustically transformed into a movie of the Indian hinterlands. Must watch! Anurag Kashyap - a true prodigy - delivers and how
- American Reunion - Found it to be really funny. Call me a sucker for old fashioned comedy, but it was very nostalgic watching the gang that taught me (and most Indians) more about sex than any other visual aid form
- Amazing Spider Man - OK watch. Improvements: better spiderman, better girl, better Aunt Mae, better action, better ... no wait ... first time 3D; Bad - Mundane script, low on humour, boring villain. Given how in superhero movies the hero needs to be impactful, but the villain even more so (Dark Knight anyone?) the movie is OK nothing great




The Phase I i mention above referes to starting the app process. So it obviously continues till Decemeber or so. Phase II is recommendations. My friend Cheetarah1980 wrote a great post about recos (http://cheetarah1980.blogspot.in/2012/07/ask-and-you-may-receive.html) While I enjoyed reading it, I did feel stark differences between foreign managers and Indian managers. You can't ignore the cultural nuances and the way companies operate in different countries. So I'll give my thoughts on the recommendation process:

1. Be diplomatic - this doesnt mean lie. but as most of my Indian peers may be aware, once you announce you are applying for an MBA, some managers have the tendency to write you off as Bench material figuring you will get through. They arent well versed with the process, so will ask how mucch you scored on your GMAT. being an Indian you'll say a number that's >= 700 and Boom! their typical response 'ho hi jayegi' or loosely translated, means you'll definitely get through - no two ways about it. It doesnt matter if its Stanford or San Fernando Valley University. They assume you are going

So measure your manager, AND also your organization, very well.

2. Be honest - If you are applying, be honest and give your manager a heads up. Honesty is always appreciated no matter what, heck it may even become a talking point in your recommendation. i am a reapplicant, my boss already knows I will apply. yet I was promoted - not too many Indian firms that do that works well in consulting, but maybe not IT

3. Time it well - Indian managers need to be pushed hard to meet timelines. I reminded my boss 5 times, set calendar invites, told her secy to remind her - yet she barely managed in time for 2 schools. Plus, she didnt do work beforehand, so in Columbia's case, wrote what I can only fathom to be a bad recommendation. Get this - Columbia had a recommender question - what adjectives would you use to describe the candidate. She told me she wrote 3 words and thats it. I was aghast!

The timing is not only to write well ahead of time, but to write right! This year I will work more closely with her in terms of helping her understand what B schools expect in recos. i dont think writing your own recommendation letters is a good idea at all - and she agreed - but if you are going to end up doing that, best to have someone else (A friend) write what you dictate. then ask that friend to rephrase everything. Else your writing style will match in a heartbeat in the adcom's eyes

4. Dont overask - more than 4 recommendations per recommender is a red zone. Your manager may get irritated. Look for backups always and keep em prepared eg: im thinking of applying .. blah blah... will keep you in the loop ... blah blah ... round 2 deadlines are typically in Jan ... blah blah.


5. Choose the right recommenders - dont go for title, but if you work with someone senior, make sure they only write the reco. Eg: I work directly with the managing partner. Also, for Stanford, you want to choose a peer whom you have actually worked with, not someone who thinks well of you only. Trust me, no matter how well you write it, it will show. Also, use any b school alumni you have access to within your company.


That's pretty much it. Hope the above is useful. long post, but hopefully worthwhile.


until the next blog entry ...

And we're off!

Seems adcoms are up early this year from hibernation. Harvard has already released its essays along with a post explaining changes about a week ago. Tuck announced application deadlines while Columbia announced both essays and deadlines. And now, Stanford has joined in and declared the essays for the upcoming app season, although not the deadlines.

HBS and Stanford are schools I am definitely applying to and hence to have an early start on essays for these schools is very welcome. Tuck is another school I love and will probably apply to as a reapplicant.

Stanford's essays are unchanged from last year, while HBS has thrown a big surprise by revamping essays completely. I can bet my bottom dollar that the school will definitely see more people 'trying' to get in - basically HBS will end up attracting a lot of aspirers than it otherwise would, due to 'simplification' of the essays. This doesn't necessarily translate into an increase in overall applications, and hence HBS might see applicant pool quality actually go down.

I have a very interesting thought on Stanford's what matters most to you and why, and hence for the next 2 weeks or so I'm gonna write a huge essay, without caring for word limits, and see how it turns out. The topic I intend to write about is very very close to me as an individual and one I strongly believe in, plus I have umpteen examples/impacts to accompany the story. Hopefully my review team (which is composed of my friends at Yale and Wharton Business Schools, and maybe a couple of cousins) will find the first draft worthy enough to consider.

Is it too early to start? I dont think there's a definitive answer to that - to each his own. Let the proverbial juices flow!

Houston ... we have a problem!

So I didn't make it to Kellogg. I put in EVERYTHING I could into the application and it yielded results. I got an interview invite - despite a 690 in my gmat and 3 years WE at matriculation. I am looking at the positives of my experience - an interview invite despite the 'negative' aspects of my application, the whole application experience, the anxiety, the waiting, the speculation etc. and hence, I am in much better shape to face the admissions process next year. I was hoping for an interview invite from Duke but didn't get one. Tuck seems a real DISTANT dream now. So for me, the app season 2011-12 is effectively over.

Here's the plan going forward:

1. Retake the GMAT and score above 740. Take the test before the test switches to its new format
2. Study VERY well this time - don't be over confident
3. Make a list of schools post the GMAT. Start working on essay drafts in June using last year's questions. Even if questions change, the whole process will yield significant value in increasing clarity
4. Apply ED/Round 1 to selected schools. Start working proactively in July
5. Get feedback from friends on essays. Then engage an editing service (essaysnark?) to edit essays for the school I MOST want to get in
6. Wait and hope I don't die of depression by this time next year

Schools I want apply at basis current frame of mind and assuming a 740 on my GMAT

1. Harvard
2. Stanford
3. Wharton
4. Tuck
5. Kellogg

Safety
1. Ross
2. Cornell

So here's until the next post. I didn't really say I was off blogging now did i ;)

Kellogg Interview

So today I had my first MBA interview. It was with a Kellogg alumnus in Gurgaon at his office. There was something unsettling about it though, as it was a hospital and seeing critical patients being whizzed in and out while I waited in the lounge hardly made me feel comfortable. Anyways, his office had a great view outside - the office had full length windows. I entered and he was busy with his computer. I said Hi Good Afternoon, he said the same and asked me to sit. He spent the next 2 minutes engrossed in his laptop, then the conversation began. Btw, although I had already emailed him my resume, he asked me for it - glad I took the printouts with me.

He asked me about me - gave him a brief overview of my grad + work ex. He smiled and said thats only about work, not really about you. I thought to myself, you idiot! after all, whenever I interview and ask this question, I too always expect the person sitting across the chair to tell me about themselves holistically, not just about work. So I proceeded to give him some information about me - family, soccer fanaticism and love for skiing. And also about my stand up comedy thingey.

Then he asked me a couple of questions regarding the things I had put in the extra curricular part in my resume. Answered those. Then he asked me about an MBA. Told him about my short term and long term goals, why I think I need the MBA, why MBA and not a specialized masters in HR and so on. He didn't look convinced, grilled me a bit on why HR in consumer industries, why international companies etc. Think I answered them fine. Then asked me for plan B, I showed dedication to purpose here and didn't waiver from my answer about finding a job in HR. Also told him that I am aware about the challenges of coming to Kellogg, maybe not finding enough support on campus regarding HR jobs, but linked it to my experience and said I would handle it.

He then asked me about strengths and weaknesses - I didn't answer this well. Weaknesses were actually quite weak themselves and I actually said I hadn't done well in teams although I had worked on it! Not sure how he will take that. We spoke more around why kellogg - i think i answered this really well. He asked me why would he want me sitting next to him in class. Said something about being amiable and pleasant but he said I dont think I'd want to pay $100K only to sit next to someone pleasant. I said the $100K direct relation was a bit stretched but went on to tell him about how I'd contribute to class, the enthusiasm I would bring in and my contributions outside of class in clubs etc.

He then again asked me about career related questions, answered those. Then he asked me if there was something else I would like to say that wasn't already addressed etc. - did that. Then asked him 2 questions - 1 on clubs as I had noted he was a member of the Improv and Net Impact club and I too wanted to join these. He asked me how I knew that he was in those clubs, told him about having read the newsletter. Gave me some thoughts on these. Also asked him about the alumni club in India, linked that to a conversation I had with another Kellogg alumnus. In the end we said our byes and I made a comment which made him laugh. I also made him smile 3-4 times during the interview.

All in all, I am unsure of how it went. Could I have done better - yes! but that would almost always hold true for any interview. Was this my best attempt at an interview - NO, and that is the more important aspect. I could have spoken about my community involvement, but I didn't - felt stupid about that afterwards. Anyways, what's done is done. I'll hope for a positive outcome and the next 3 weeks will furiously speculate on how today went.

How did I prepare for the interview? - well I din't do much. I ordered a seminar for $30 off gmatclub.com which was quite useless for me. I asked for help from a friend I made during the app process, and she was kind to have a mock interview with me on skype. I must point out that Elizabeth (cheetarah1980) has been TREMENDOUSLY helpful! I sincerely wish she and I both make it to Kellogg - would love to have her as my classmate.

So done with the interview and now unsure of what next. My application at Duke and Tuck continues to be under review and I will hear from Duke only by 14th Dec and Tuck - god knows by when! Hoping for the best ....

Tuck Submitted

I just submitted the application for Tuck ... well not just, submitted yesterday. It is my absolute favourite school, and I have resolved that even if I don't make it anywhere this year, retaking the GMAT next year will solely be focused on Tuck. Here's why:

1. Human Process - The overall vibes I got from the school were the most 'human' amongst all business school What do I mean by Human - well for starters their alumni and students do not have any airs at all about themselves and where they went to study. Amazing people. I got a response from each and every Tuckie I reached out to, some followed up even though I sometimes forgot to do so. Their comments were amazing - one of the alumnus told me straight up that if I wanted to go to Tuck, my essays needed to have different career goals. The ones I had wont fly. Other schools such as Columbia, their alumni were so stuck on the brand name that they never put up a red flag! They were like 'well everyone's doing something or the other, so I'm sure you'll be able to carve out your own niche here'

2. Beautiful Environs - I haven't been there, but I've seen official and amateur videos+pics of the place. And it is stupendously beautiful. The small class sizes and beautiful setting is idyllic, and something that really draws me to Tuck. Why not a Duke/Cornell then? well they do too, but Tuck's overall repute and strong focus on general mgmt. edge them out

3. Amazing faculty - Tuck has the highest % of full time faculty, and when a school commits to such a high number of faculty, their commitment shows right back. Saw essays via youtube of classes at almost all the b schools I applied at - Prof. Finkelstein clearly stood out.

4. Career services - I am not too well versed with this aspect, but seems Tuck always figures in the top 3, if not the top, schools with the highest % of students in jobs 3 months after graduation. Wow! - talk about consistency and the career services commitment, not to mention the school's amazing brand name

5. Alumni - this is clearly an outlier. I rate their alumni network the strongest, and got a sense of it when I spoke with students. Not one person was there who did NOT exemplify how strong the network is. And the stories were remarkable. Compare that to a Wharton, where even the alumni who lived in Delhi itself, met for the first time at the admissions reception only. You may feel that this can be quite common, and I agree - but that's exactly how tuck stands out!

Anyways, my rant here is just to show how much i absolutely love the school. As I wait with bated breath (read that somewhere, too dramatic) I sincerely hope that even if I get rejected w/o interview everywhere else, I make it to Tuck. Will probably not ever want anything else in life, well atleast for the next 2 years ;)

Moving along

After Duke, my (hoepfully) last application is at Tuck. I had actually intended the Tuck app to be my first. Wanted to apply EA but my recommender had some issues at his end and absolutely said NO to submitting within the timelimit. To be fair, he was extremely apologetic but I empathize with him as he was facing a personal issue within his family. Knowing that he would be able to provide the best reference, I waited to submit in Round 1 instead of EA.

I have realized that as we move along the application process, the quality of essays substantially increases. If I compare what I submitted at Columbia and what I will be submitting now at Tuck, there is a WORLD of difference. Does this mean applicants should save their most important apps for last? not quite. I think in this respect, admissions consultants add the maximum value as they cut to the chase and take an essay from mediocre to wow immediately. For someone like me who cannot afford the consulting service the price we pay is late realization around actual quality an individual can produce.

However, there are upsides as well. I used beatthegmat and gmatclub forums, and had many users there give me their opinions on my essays. I believe they helped me tremendously. I then used a cheaper proofreading service to check my essays for errors etc. I sent them 2 essays first, and once I got the results, I sent them the others. Was very happy with what they had done. I recommend www.proofreadingpals.com Great rates, good turnaround time and very good edits. Coming back to the upsides, I was able to make new friends, had a holistic quai consulting experience with them and now know what to compare my consultant with, if I ever hire one. Further, I did a LOT of research which I am sure I wouldn't have done if I hired an admissions consultant, as he would have all that data ready with him.

That said, all school have now released some interview invites and it is quite disheartening to read the messages on gmatclub etc. announcing interview invites. Some of the posts made by those invited to interview (how do I log in? What kind of username makes sense? When should I interview - later or sooner, what time?) are so ridiculous, it makes me clench my teeth in annoyance as to how such individuals could be interviewing at schools like Harvard! I can't speak about other demographics, but seeing Indian students pose such questions really pisses me off! I have always been someone who concentrates a lot on the softer skills (presentation, diction, dressing sense, sensibility of conversation) and hence my displeasure.

One thing I advise anyone who reads this blog and wants to get as much of 'free' stuff that they can, is to use the free editing services some companies provide. be selective here though, because everyone will give you different views and given that you feel these are credible authorities, they may end up confusing you real bad. I highly recommend essaysnark (www.essaysnark.blogspot.com) for his (or her?) humourous undertone to the GMAT and MBA admissions. I submitted an essay to them a week or two ago, and they reviewed it yesterday. (http://essaysnark.blogspot.com/2011/11/essay-critique-kellogg-career-goals_07.html)
I was very happy to get a good review from them, and the parts they have mentioned are lacking are actually present in my essay, albeit the structural issue they mentioned is very valid. I am rooting for an interview invite from Kellogg. EssaySnark too felt my essay 4 was really good, and I felt the same. But an application is an overall package so cannot really base my hopes on just one review.

I got comments on my Tuck essays from two current students. One of them gave a glowing review, another felt the content was good, but some things needed to be added/deleted and the structure modified. Will work on these before submitting on the 9th.

Here's to much more waiting ahead!

Duke Application

Just hit submit. I am unsure of how this will go - application went in but I felt I didn't really push it that much. lets see.

I am REALLY pepped about my application to Tuck but my low GMAT score is sure to play spoilsport. If I apply next year, it will only be Stanford, Harvard, Kellogg and Tuck. Hopefully, it won't reach that stage.

Reading about others getting that interview invite, while you are yet to see such an email, is really depressing. God! hope that changes soon,

The Story Thus Far ...

Background: I am an Indian Applicant. I grew up in a city called Chandigarh and graduated with a degree in Computer Engineering from Panjab University - that's right, that's how you spell it. I scored in the 99.8th percentile in my CAT exam and 99.92 percentile in my XAT. I successfully converted admissions calls at IIM Lucknow and XLRI, but chose to work instead (indians - I know you may be gasping at this!) Have almost 3 years of work ex now, first in the research captive of a major consulting firm, working across HR, internal strategy and operations. Now with a leading executive search firm, helping clients face complexities in evolving organziational models and also aiding them in inducting new leadership as they grow organically/inorganically.

GMAT history - taken 2 times, and got identical scores - 690 - even split across Math and Verbal. GMAT is a weak point in my profile I think - Indian students always score high on the test, and I would have too. First time, i wasn't well prepared actually but the second time, I came down with a 103 fever for 2 days, right upto the day before the actual test. The gap between the two attempts was 2.5 years.

Applications - reasoning that it would be better to spend $250 on a solid MBA app this year than retake the exam, i am applying to Columbia Business School, Tuck @ Dartmouth, Duke Fuqua and Kellogg - all round 1. I actually applied ED to Columbia and was rejected, wanted to apply EA to Tuck but my recommender had some issues and I am pushing this to Round 1.

Post MBA Goal and reason I need an MBA - Grow into the CHRO role at a major corporation such as P&G or GE. Need to go to business school and learn about management and leadership. The role as I have seen it as a consultant (through exec. search experience) today needs a strong connect to business and strategic foresight, unlike previously when HR was just another support function and getting an MBA for your HR leader wasn't really a big issue. basically, I am preparing for the future. NOW - because the earlier I switch to a line role in HR, the better as it is more to do with learning on the job. however, I do need to equip myself with the business and management intelligence to be effective and ready, which I am seeking to do by becoming a part of the class of 2014

Previous applications: Had applied to 2 masters courses - MILR at Cornell and MSc Management at LSE. Got accepted to both but thought it would make more sense for me to invest in a solid business degree recognized globally, than a selected program, too narrow in focus. Plus wouldn't have been able to go then anyways given financial issues.

Backup Plan - I wont apply anywhere else this year. If I don't make it, I intend to retake the GMAT in the summer of 2012, before the format changes. WilL ENSURE that I don't mess up this time, neither let anything else like health let me down, get a 720+ and apply to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Kellogg and Tuck