到现在还一个学校的essay都没搞定！

好痛苦啊！全职工作，到年底部门里头忙得团团转，请年假都没可能。眼看时间如流沙，我还在一片essay上苦苦思索，准备申请第二轮，到现在面试还没有约，推荐信还没有动手，真是着急啊。真后悔自己没有早点笨鸟先飞。。我是03年烤得G T，今年再不走，就来不及了。

请教各位NN,大部分学校的第二轮都是1月上旬，是不是不一定非要赶在圣诞前寄出package啊？

还来得及吗？

别放弃。我和你差不多，花了1个多月写了3篇essay，被一个从Michigan归来的老同事批得一无是处，另外还有5个学校的还没开始动笔。不过，现在大多数东西都是网上提交的，没到截止前的一刻，你我都有机会。

If the deadlines are in the first week of January, it's better to send your packages before Christmas. The postoffice will be flooded with holiday mailings and delievery is always slow during peak season. Better be safe than sorry.

I don't know how many schools you're applying to. But this is my suggestion. First, prioritize your schools. Second, summize all the essay questions from all schools. Once you do that, you'll see some coommon themes. Many schools will ask for questions on your past achivement, leadership, career goals etc. Do the essay by topics and hopefully you'll be able to re-use your essays for different schools. Of course, there are some school-specific questions which you must individually.

Like boli74 suggested, you can submit your application on-line. But make sure your supporting materials (letters of recomendation, transcripts) arrive before the deadline. Check for the school instructions, of course.

Don't worry. It's a painful process. We're all in the same boat     Good luck!

谢谢boli74和janechen的细致解答！

刚刚和老婆进行了一次深入的讨论，豁然开朗，以前一直都是我在单打独斗，没想到这个小脑门的女人还有个大智慧，好像她的思维更加靠谱！谈话以后，我发现自己竟一直津津乐道于一些缺乏独特价值的故事，身陷思维定式而不觉-----写工作报告太多，深受正统教育毒害啊。我决定把正在写的michigan的essay的case全部抛开重来，根据我和老婆讨论的新故事再加工。可见团队合作多么重要啊…尤其是这种知无不言的团队成员。

正如janechen姐姐所言，我发现不少学校的essay是有共同点的，一个好故事可以再用。

无论如何，争取这一周内把michigan的完成！

再问一下，关于面试如果想在第二轮期限前完成，是不是现在就得约了？

加油啊，dullpen!加油,boli74!

Judging from the essays I have done so far, I find the most time-consuming question is the one that asks you "why this school". You really have to think about how the school is unique, how it fits you, and how you'll fit in. I actually eliminated two schools after such considerations. The first application is usually the hardest one. It should get easier (or I just cared less?) with time.

Yes, if you're trying to interview with a (Chinese) alumni, call to set up interviews ASAP. It takes longer than you think to set up.

dullpen wrote:"再问一下，关于面试如果想在第二轮期限前完成，是不是现在就得约了？"

Question 1: Does it mean that we should finished interview before the deadline of 2nd round? I always thought that interview was arranged by schools which deem the applciants are potential to get their offer. Am I wrong?

Question 2: Meanwhile, I originally planed to submitt the essays online before deadline,but I just found that at least one school(IVEY) required the essays should be printed and mailed together with other paper documents in addition to finishing the online application . I am wondering whether most schools can accept essays online without printed version. Online application may save us a lots of time.

Thanks!

有的学校不需要全套package就可以面试，只要提供一份resume就可以，有的学校是一旦package递交了，面试就只能够by invitation only了。

第二个问题，要看学校网页的具体要求吧。