In @ Kellogg JD-MBA (+ application experience)

jasmine11

真厉害！！！

aspirant2010

LZ一定是工作背景很强，不知可否大概share一下?

犀利哥

犀利。

zonia

Thank you all for sharing my great news... As I promise, I'll write up a few post to talk in detail about my application experience.

First, really apologize for writing up in english, my chinese typing really sucks... I am too used to think and write in english, so, to save time for both sides, let's make it simple and feel free to comment or question in chinese... I do understand it okay?

Okay... I'll start my "novel" from next post... Thanks for reading!

zonia

My Background

I presented my stats in earlier post, and my work background is Big 4 + entrepreneurship (totally 4 years).

Big 4: My experience ranged from IT auditing, internal auditing to financial auditing... also seconded to a few other function like M&A consulting and Chinese Liaison...
(I do encourage big 4er to try to expand your horizon, in different industries and functions, it is hard to differentiate yourself if you are simply "an auditor")

Entrepreneurship: Several entrepreneurial projects and family business... (Part-time / Ad-hoc, unpaid basis)

My reflection:
Planning in advance for MBA application is really a good way, think before you move... what do you learn? what do you want to do? When you know these and move with reasons, your stories would simply speak for you...

I do agree that work experience is very important and I believe the "rationale" why you choose the job, and "experience" what you learnt from the job are the key of it... I'm quite sure you'll come across many questions from essays / interviews on these areas.

可怜孩子

Would you please let me know your post-MBA career goal in short term and long term?
Actually, I am a Big4er too.

lhn8848

CONG!

zonia

My Goals (ST and LT)

Goals are important in your application package, so as interviews and any correspondence with adcom. My goals are on entrepreneurship, I put forward a 3-year, 5-year and 10-year plan before I write up my essays.

Some tips:

In my opinion, the "goal" which b-schools asked for is much more than just a plain vision or dream. So, I tried to build my goal with my unique experience in different audit function, my trials-and-errors for entrepreneurial projects and extra-curricular activities. Make it visible yet feasible. You would never want adcom to question the feasibility of your plans. Never worry to dream it big but you should question yourself how YOU can achieve it.

Also, be sure you illustrate the "gap" which MBA program can fill and make your plan works. I still remember several of my b-school friends asked me again and again, just like in your interviews, "Why MBA?". This is a question you need to answer it really well, if you are already the best with your skills, talents and experience, why bother the time to take Full-time MBA, can you achieve your dream with 2 years in your current position?

Another common question is "Why now?"... this is sort of tricky... what is the urgency to do it now. Put yourself in an adcom's shoes, if itz not that urgent, how would you know this candidate would actually come while you give him / her an offer? (Afterall, they do concern yield~)

NB. For JD-MBA applicants, you are in a worse position than normal MBA candidate, be sure you can tie both legal education and business education to your application... Dun give adcom an impression that you are just getting "extra security" or "it's okay to have just MBA, but surely JD-MBA is better". You need to present the real "meaning" for a JD-MBA to you.

david50gray

Thanks for sharing.

zonia

Application Essays

Different schools has different perspective in reviewing applicants... My approach is learning as much about the school as I can from the current student, alumni and thru their information sessions. Frankly, I have been a student reader at my college and it is all about "suitability"... Good time to answer "how you are suitable" for the school, and how you can contribute to the student community, even before you hop into the essay writing.

Generally, my approach is like this for the schools i applied (I've only applied 4):
- Columbia: emphasize my experience and international vision, overseas background
- Chicago Booth: emphasize my quant skills (as CPA / CFA or so)
- LBS: International orientation and experience, how I can adapt to a multicultural environment
- Kellogg: Team experience, as team member and leader; academic rigor to excel in legal studies

One tips to share:
As a college application consultant and previous student reader, I usually see great essay from applicants but the essays doesn't actually tie to each other. I viewed my application as a "package", telling a story instead of only answering the question, keep a good balance for professional / extracurricular... You also need to present yourself with personality, you are smart and hardworking, yet also fun and nice enuff for adcom to admit you into their student body... Afterall, most adcom doesn't like "machines"

Any other things you wanna know? Leave me a message if you have questions or so... I don't know what others to write...