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Shelley Conley is director of graduate enrollment and MBA admissions at Boston College's Carroll Graduate School of Management. Conley, whose career spans 12 years of undergraduate and graduate management admissions experience, joined Boston College in 2000, after serving as director of MBA admissions at Simmons College in Boston.



She earned her MBA from Simmons and a bachelor's degree in business administration from Nazareth College in Rochester, N.Y. On Jan. 6, Conley talked with BusinessWeek Online reporter Mica Schneider via phone and e-mail about this year's recruiting season at Carroll. Here are edited excerpts of their conversation:

Q: The Carroll Graduate School of Management received 959 applications for its MBA program in 2003. How many do you expect in 2004?
A: About the same. We just hit our first deadline and are still processing applications. However, early indicators suggest that our applicant pool will be flat again after several years of growth. GMAT volumes and news from competing institutions point toward a lackluster year for applications. I think the economy is at play, and students are still somewhat worried about leaving their jobs after several years of layoffs.

Q: How many offers have you released from the first round?
A: Less than 20. We're still reviewing applications.

Q: Taking into account what you see after your first deadline, are your applicants as strong as in the past?
A: So far, it's a strong applicant pool both academically and professionally.

Q: How competitive will MBA admissions be this year?
A: Our MBA class is 100 students -- two cohorts of 50. Admission has historically been very competitive, with acceptance rates ranging from 14% to 20%. We anticipate this year's selectivity to be on par with previous years.

Q: When is the best time to apply? What percentage of your class will be filled by your last deadline, Apr. 1?
A: Given the competitive nature of the process, we encourage candidates to apply in the first [two] rounds, which end Dec. 1 and Feb. 15. More than 60% of the class will be filled before our final deadline. International applicants must apply by Feb. 15. We do rolling admissions, which means that candidates who apply between deadlines will receive a decision in six to eight weeks assuming that they've submitted a complete application.

Q: In general, what makes an applicant a good match for Carroll?
A: We seek students with outstanding potential for leadership, teamwork, and academic excellence. Our students hail from all over the world and have strong academic backgrounds that include liberal arts, business administration, social sciences, law, science, and engineering. A number have earned graduate degrees, and about 20% pursue a dual-degree MBA.

Q: By your standards, what kinds of professional experience make one MBA hopeful stand apart from others?
A: While notable for the diversity of their individual achievements, our students have a record of taking initiative, leading change, and demonstrating a desire to make an impact on the world.

Q: Which piece of the MBA application carries the most weight at Carroll?
A: The MBA interview is a critical component. It provides us with another dimension for understanding the candidate.

There's a heavy emphasis on "fit" at BC. Our program is designed for people who will excel in a highly collaborative program. Our core curriculum is taken concurrently with the Management Practice (MP) course sequence that incorporates case discussions, hands-on projects, and innovative skill-building exercises. The MP sequence provides critical managerial skills and the opportunity to apply them to solve business problems.

Students deepen their experience through participation in the Business Plan Project, for which teams of students create and pitch new business ideas to professors, local business leaders, and venture capitalists, and the MBA Consulting Project, for which teams work on bona-fide consulting projects in companies ranging from startups to multinational firms.

Q: What can a candidate do to prepare for the interview?
A: We encourage all applicants to interview -- it's unusual for us to grant admission without having interviewed a candidate. The MBA admissions committee, consisting of second-year MBAs, staff, faculty, and alumni, do the interviews.

Applicants should be comfortable talking about their skills, strengths, career goals, and interests. They should also be well versed in how the BC MBA program best fits their needs. One of the questions we ask is, "Why BC?" A student's response is a good indicator of fit.

Q: Would you share an example of a terrible interview? Is there any recourse for applicants who leave an interview knowing that it wasn't their best performance? Do you offer second chances?
A: Applicants should use the interview to add dimension to their application and demonstrate their interest in our program. Flat interviews, or interactions that aren't thoughtful, don't bode well. On occasion we've allowed applicants to interview a second time.

Q: Where do you prefer that applicants do their interviews?
A: We prefer that candidates come to campus, because they can meet students, go to classes, and visit with faculty. We also travel to MBA forums around the world, and applicants may interview at those. If that's not possible, we have MBA alums in select cities doing interviews, and they are voting members of the admissions committee.

Q: A lot of applicants fret over the perfect balance between saying positive things about themselves and showing self-awareness by pointing out their weaknesses. What's best, in your eyes?
A: Striking a healthy balance between areas of strength and weakness. In other words, demonstrating how or what one would contribute to a team and classroom, and demonstrating recognition of potential areas for further development shows maturity, reflection, and self-awareness. We're interested in understanding how the students and others perceive their strengths and weaknesses. We look for consistency in essays, interview feedback, and at the candidate's recommendations.

Q: Which undergraduate courses (with good grades, of course) should applicants have on their transcripts to show that they're up to handling the course work at Carroll?
A: We don't have a requirement for a particular undergraduate degree or set of courses. However, applicants should demonstrate strong facility with analytical subjects and possess strong writing and communication skills. For instance, the applicant may have taken advanced math courses, such as calculus and quantitative methods. Such courses aren't required, but we want students who can think analytically. The GMAT tells us a lot about that.

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Q: How does your office respond to GMAT scores that are below BC's average of 661? Will you look favorably on applicants who retake the GMAT to improve their scores?
A: We will consider all applications regardless of the GMAT [score]. We don't have minimum requirements for the GMAT. However, it's becoming increasing difficult for candidates with scores that fall outside of our published 80% GMAT range, which is 600 to 740, to gain admission. We do look favorably on applicants who retake the GMAT. This demonstrates tenacity.

Q: How can an MBA applicant persuade you that a low GMAT score isn't an accurate indication of his or her abilities?
A: A lower GMAT score can occasionally be offset by other evidence of strong academic promise, such as a highly competitive undergraduate record or highly accomplished professional experience.

Q: Who are the best people to write an applicant's recommendations?
A: We prefer professional recommendations. Managers and supervisors are best.

Q: What's the best length for a recommendation letter?
A: One page.

Q: What do you look for in an essay to prove that a student is a good fit?
A: Due diligence and a well-written response to the question, "Why BC?" demonstrates research, reflection, and honesty.

Q: Would you provide an example of an essay topic, structure, or mistakes that would hinder an applicant's chances of admission?
A: Misrepresenting an undergraduate or graduate GPA, GMAT score, or coursework. Believe it or not, this has happened. We use a self-reported transcript and require submission of official transcripts at the time of admission. All self-reported data is reconciled with official records.

Another common pitfall is submitting generic essays that could be modified to fit any MBA application. Finally, we're sticklers for grammar and usage. We also look for consistency in essay writing style, correspondence with our office, and GMAT essays.

[Editor's note: In BC's 2003-2004 MBA application, applicants are asked to respond to the following questions: 1. What are your career goals upon graduating from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College? Please be specific. What steps do you plan to take before, during, and after your degree program to achieve career success in this field? 2. Discuss the accomplishment of yours which required the most effort to achieve. What intermediary steps were necessary? How did you overcome challenges along the way? 3. Why have you selected the MBA program in the Carroll School of Management at Boston College? 4. (OPTIONAL) Please provide any additional information that will highlight unique aspects of your candidacy to the admissions committee. The committee welcomes additional comments you may wish to provide in support of your application.]

Q: When should an applicant write (or not write) an optional essay?
A: Our optional essay gives candidates the opportunity to speak either to something they wish to lend more substance to, or to something in their application that might need clarification. Mostly it's for the latter reason. They can use this essay to talk about leadership experiences that have built their character to a point where they can add something unique to the classroom.

We may see their involvement in community service or in their profession, and having made an impact, as adding value. Someone who was a Big Brother or Big Sister, has spent time as a volunteer teaching English as a second-language classes, or even folks who've competed in marathons, which demonstrates a certain amount of commitment, might find it worthwhile to write an optional essay.

Q: What general tips do you offer MBA wannabes? What are some common pitfalls they should avoid?
A: We place a great deal of emphasis on "fit." We recommend that applicants try to get as close as possible to our program, students, alumni, faculty, and staff. We offer several vehicles for this interaction. Further, we recommend that they interview.

Applicants should also submit a complete application. Collect relevant admissions items and submit them at once. That makes it a lot easier for us to process applications. One of the greatest disruptions to the process is receiving an application in pieces. That shows the applicant isn't following directions.

Q: Which characteristics of your student body do you hope to change or improve in coming years?
A: We're continuing to focus our recruiting on students with more seasoned professional backgrounds. This results in a better overall program experience. Hiring managers are increasingly recruiting MBA students who have exceptional professional accomplishments.

Q: How large does the school want its international student population to be? Currently, 26% of the class of 2005 is from outside of the U.S.
A: We have consistently enrolled an international MBA student population of 25% to 30%.

Q: Thirty-two percent of your current class is female. What share would you like it to be, and how do you plan to get there?
A: Our target is to enroll greater than 30%, which is what we have steadily achieved for the past several years.

Q: Is it easier for women to make the cut at BC than for the average male candidate?
A: No, it isn't any easier for a woman. We seem to receive a smaller percentage of female applicants, and the overall intake is in line with the applicant pool.

We're going to select students who are the most competitive. If that means we enroll 30% women instead of 40%, it's because we're bringing in the best possible class.

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Q: Underrepresented minorities comprise 14% of BC's MBA class. What would you like that percentage to be?
A: Our current enrollment is consistent with the past several years. Boston College recognizes the underrepresentation of ethnic minorities in senior management and the importance of having diverse voices in the MBA [program], so we strive to enroll talented MBAs from all minority groups.  

Q: How do you manage your school's wait-list?
A: When a candidate is placed on the wait list it's usually because the admissions committee prefers postponing a decision until a larger portion of the applicant pool has been reviewed. In most cases, this is because the candidate may have fallen short of some of our average application indicators, such as work experience, recommendations, academic profile, GMAT, or interview.

We regularly revisit the wait-list. Offers of admission are made to candidates throughout the winter, spring, and summer. Wait-listed candidates who gain admission are those who have taken steps to strengthen their application (for instance, retaking the GMAT or completing an interview), have stayed in touch with our office, and have demonstrated a keen interest in joining our program.

We release the majority of the wait-list over the spring and summer, but all of the remaining wait-listed candidates receive final notification of their status by the start of classes in late August.

Q: What's best strategy for someone who is placed on the wait-list?
A: Revisit your application materials to determine where you might have come up a short. Address areas for improvement. For example, if your GMAT was shy of our average, retake the GMAT. While we're not able to provide specific feedback to applicants, we do encourage them to send us any materials that they wish to submit in support of their application.

Q: How many applicants did the school ultimately accept from its 2003 wait-list?
A: We offered admission to 46 applicants on the wait-list. Not all of those people enrolled. There are candidates on the wait-list right now, and if they take steps to strengthen their application, and we find that something that has changed significantly in their application, we'll take another look at them. We look at the wait-list on a rolling basis.

Q: What services does the B-school offer to partners and spouses of MBAs? What job opportunities are available locally?
A: During the first week of MBA orientation, we encourage spouses and partners to attend campus events and social gatherings. These are designed to engage them with members of the greater Boston College community. Additionally, the range of industries in the Boston area leads to career opportunities for partners and spouses with a wide range of interests and career aspirations. Finally, Boston College boasts a well respected child-care center called the Children's Center.

Q: What changes do you plan over the near term in your admissions office and its procedures?
A: Access, access, access. It's critical for prospective students to get up close and personal with our program, students, faculty, and alumni. To this end, we're steadily increasing our outreach efforts to best identify qualified applicants while increasing their access to our alumni, students, and faculty.

We're also steadily enhancing and streamlining the application process by increasing the functionality of our online application and enrollment services.

Q: When admitted applicants approach you saying they're on the fence between your school and another, what's your pitch?
A: I like to think that we pull out all the stops when we first recruit a student, not necessarily waiting until we have offered them admission. Our first priority is to ensure that applicants feel like they are part of our community.

Early on, we listen carefully to what applicants say so that we understand what motivates them and are prepared to address and assess the criteria they're using to consider programs. Our admissions team rallies around this feedback by actively engaging our alumni, students, and faculty in discussions about the applicant's interests and how BC's program and environment can best meet the person's needs.

Admitted candidates are assigned an MBA Ambassador and an MBA Mentor to answer their questions and help them transition toward their enrollment. Faculty and staff are also engaged. Our faculty, students, and alumni and are our greatest assets and our best salesforce. They are proof-positive of the value of the Boston College MBA program.

Q: How will applicants receive your office's admissions decision?
A: We post our decisions online on a rolling basis. They also receive notification in writing.

Q: Your office also handles admissions for BC's part-time MBA program. Is it easier to gain admission to the part-time program?
A: The part-time MBA program is geared to meet the needs of full-time working professionals who want to parallel their professional careers with education. It's a very important population to us and we have a distinguished base of alumni.

The admissions process [for the full-time and part-time programs] is similar, with the same requirements. But the profile of the part-time students is different. These students tend to be more seasoned and we get a much smaller applicant pool -- 50% smaller -- than we do for the full-time application pool. From this pool, we admit two terms of students. In the fall, we enroll 95 to 100 students, and in the spring we take around 75 students. The program is designed to be completed in four years. We also offer two summer sessions, which allow students to accelerate their studies and to finish in close to three years.

There's some overlap between the part-time and full-time students. For instance, our full-time MBA faculty teach both our part-time and full-time MBA students. In the second year of the full-time program, part-time and full-time students take elective courses together. This provides the students with a greater opportunity to broaden the depth and breadth of their network.

All evening applicants should attend one of our MBA information panels, which are held every month by students and admissions directors. We address questions such as how to balance life and school, the return on investment in a part-time MBA program, and the overall experience.

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