Ask Jon Frank- P69-Q&A:WHY MBA? 7 OVERLOOKED REASONS TO GET AN MBA

泼硫酸

hi Jon!you are the most popular guy on this forum, even more popular than 2012man. What new tricks have you learnt? would you mind to share with us?

-- by 会员 m1nt (2011/5/20 16:45:37)

Aw thanks for the kind words my friend.  Im not trying to compete with anyone though, or offer up any  tricks.  I just want to help people dude.  I could make more money going back into corporate real estate, and pursuing that life.  But instead, I have found that I am the happiest when here, helping people (from around the world!) get into the schools of their dreams, and achieving everything that they always wanted to.  For whatever reason, this is the thing that I am the best at.  I am just grateful that everyone here has been so generous and welcoming to me.  Thanks for the kind words, and good luck to you my friend.


Jon Frank

-- by 会员 JonFrank (2011/5/22 10:16:52)

Dear Jon, thanks for your "tricks"
does that bother you that you are so popular and girls are so passionate on this forum?

-- by 会员 m1nt (2011/5/23 13:41:33)

Hahaha, maybe the best “trick” of them all is honesty my friend.  Not a trick at all.  And that is actually a valuable lesson for everyone applying to school; be honest.  Show your true self.  Folks who hire other companies to write their entire apps are taking a huge chance, and one that admissions committees are getting smarter about each year.  Very risky to do anything but tell the truth!  And no, I am not bothered by girls being passionate—so long as they receive our advice, whether or not they work with us officially—we are happy.  J  Good luck to you my friend.


Jon Frank

-- by 会员 JonFrank (2011/5/24 12:29:55)

Hi Jon, I don't mean to be rude or something. I think what he/she said is you are an old dog. You know, old dog new tricks

JonFrank

Dear Jon,

I have been a CDer for a while.  I applied Wharton, Chicago and Yale but failed last year due to some obvious reason ( one of my recommendor was not that supportive). I posted question in the forum in Chinese already but  all of a sudden your name pop up in my mind. so here I am.

First I decide to reapply Wharton, Booth and Yale. ( with 6 month new work experience in middle east and higher GMAT)  any tips?

Second, I need your advice on possibility or suggestion if I should try Harvard and Standford.

Last, I need your opinion on other top schools reputation/alumi/resource in China and ease Asia.  ( I personally thought Tuck and Kellogg, both top school in US, might have small disadvantage in this regards compared with CBC, Hass, Yale ). and what about Duke and its Cross Contient MBA which is said to be tailored made for old applicant like me. I'm 33 and age is my biggest disadvange.

thanks!

Below is my post in Chinese. I guess you can read.
选校请教（Tuck, Kellogg 在亚洲和中国vs 其他几所top 10）

我想H, S, W, 这三家是东西半球通吃的没有争议。所以我想请教一下后面的学校情况和建议。我的情况：大龄，G750+, T110+, 500强里面的中国某业务部门controller，国内某名校（非北清复交）硕士，职业目标不确定（金融、咨询和CFO, 最终往CEO 方向发展，当然essay不能这么写）总的来说短期内可以在外面漂几年，最终是回国或者香港新加坡之类。

我的具体问题是：Kellogg和Tuck在国内的1. 名气和2. 资源与Booth, MIT, Columbia, Hass, Yale 相比是否要差一点？

-- by 会员 51xt (2011/5/24 12:23:17)

Well hello there!  While you and your buddies are surely in a better position to comment on the international reputations of these schools, we can certainly offer you some thoughts about your profile.  First of all, given your test scores you absolutely SHOULD apply to both HBS and Stanford.  It is impossible to know if you will get in of course, and nobody (no matter what age, no matter what scores) is a sure thing at these schools.  But one  things’ for sure; you will only know your chances in reality if you apply!  And yes, your background (despite your age) puts you right in range.  Be sure to apply for Round 1 though, as you know.  Now at age 33, we do have quite a challenge on our hands.  But not impossible—we worked last year with a woman your age who got into Duke—and is now interning at apple!  Look at Duke and Tuck especially—they tend to be a bit more open to older candidates.  Yale is open to older candidates as well—and as you write your apps, this is the most important part: explain why it has taken you so long to apply.  Schools want to think that you are too old—not eager to roll up your sleeves, at a career dead end…all that stuff.  In your essays, you will need to COMBAT those preconceived notions.  If you do that, and if you write some amazing stories that capture your background, you should be just fine.  Hope this helps, and good luck!


Jon Frank

JonFrank

Hi Jon,

"Ask Jon Frank" section has become very popular in a short amount of time. Congratulations!

Here's my question, a common concern that may help quite a few as well.

I'm quite concerned with my undergraduate GPA, which is below 3.0 (2.9), and the class percentile and ranking would be no better to mitigate it.  I have since got contradictory opinions on whether or not I should try to mitigate this lousy UGPA in the essay. For me I tend to avoid even mentioning it in the essay, because that makes me seem less confident in my past and "dwell" on something that's seven years ago. But I'd really want to hear your opinion on this, especially:

1) Whether or not I should take that chance to explain in optional essay?
2) Anything (other than enrolling in a community university to renovate the record, which is not possible in China) that may reduce the concern that adcom may have to admit an applicant with below than average GPA?
3) For someone with a lousy GPA, he or she should be careful not to create inconsistency in the essay by _______________ (Filling blank


Thanks Jon!

-- by 会员 kasulty (2010/9/29 20:29:30)

Hey there!  Yes, you absolutely should address this in your optional essay.  You are correct though, you do not want to DWELL on this issue.  Instead, you will say what happened, you will say why, and you will move on.  We do not want to make excuses here, just to be nice and clear.  The best way to overcome a low GPA is through your GMAT score.  With either a good GMAT score, or additional coursework, you can solve the problem.

And for your last (and most fun!) question, I think I can do even better than fill in the blank.  Here is the outline for an optional essay:
1. My undergraduate GPA was 3.0.  I believe that this score doesn’trepresent my true academic abilities.
2. When I was in college, I worked full time.  Or…my sister got sick.  Or…I was just immature.  I didn’t focus on school, and I should have.  
3. But since then, I have done my best to remedy the situation.  I took these three classes, and got As in all of them.  I also do tons of quantitative work at my job, and I have received three promotions in three months.  Finally, I received a 740 on the GMAT.
4. Helpful?  J

-- by 会员 JonFrank (2010/9/30 9:47:44)

Hey Jon, although you answered to someone else, this ans. is quiet helpful to me. I am however wondering if those explainations abt low gpa will really help or not. I recieved a big operation in my third year of uni, so my acedemic performace was effected a lot. I am soooooo worried about my GPA.  I will definitely write the optional essay when Im applying for MBA, but my frds who are studying in the States told me this wont help that much. That makes me very panic.......

Another questions is which job offers I should take. Im graduating from uni. in about one month. Im currently having 2 job offers. Both companies are international traders which are based in the UK. One offers me a position in the marketing department, the other one offers me a position on its finance desk. To be honest, neither of these 2 companies is big or well-known. So Im thinking if I should take one offer, or return to China to find another job in a bank ect. If Im staying in the UK, which job offer is better for my future application to MBA, marketing or finance? btw, I am a math student in the uni.

I will really appreciate ur help! Thx!

-- by 会员 youyiyoutian (2011/5/24 13:55:58)

Hey there—yes, the Optional Essay is very tricky to write.  If you don’t do it right (if it is too long, too apologetic, making excuses, etc etc.) then it wont help you at all!  But if you handle the thing correctly, it is the best (and only) way to make red flags in your application…go away entirely!  Now, in terms of which job to take…either can be just fine.  Marketing is a bit “softer,” so if you are sure that you will be applying to bschool you will have to prove a bit more carefully that you have some strong financial, business skills.  But it could also work in your favor—fewer marketing folks are applying than finance folks—especially from China.  I would look at it this way—which job would give you more responsibility?  Which would give you a greater chance to show your skills, and achievements in your essays? THAT is the one to take, the one where you will take on greater responsibility, and where you will thrive.  Make sense my friend?


Jon Frank

JonFrank

hi Jon!you are the most popular guy on this forum, even more popular than 2012man. What new tricks have you learnt? would you mind to share with us?

-- by 会员 m1nt (2011/5/20 16:45:37)

Aw thanks for the kind words my friend.  Im not trying to compete with anyone though, or offer up any  tricks.  I just want to help people dude.  I could make more money going back into corporate real estate, and pursuing that life.  But instead, I have found that I am the happiest when here, helping people (from around the world!) get into the schools of their dreams, and achieving everything that they always wanted to.  For whatever reason, this is the thing that I am the best at.  I am just grateful that everyone here has been so generous and welcoming to me.  Thanks for the kind words, and good luck to you my friend.


Jon Frank

-- by 会员 JonFrank (2011/5/22 10:16:52)

Dear Jon, thanks for your "tricks"
does that bother you that you are so popular and girls are so passionate on this forum?

-- by 会员 m1nt (2011/5/23 13:41:33)

Hahaha, maybe the best “trick” of them all is honesty my friend.  Not a trick at all.  And that is actually a valuable lesson for everyone applying to school; be honest.  Show your true self.  Folks who hire other companies to write their entire apps are taking a huge chance, and one that admissions committees are getting smarter about each year.  Very risky to do anything but tell the truth!  And no, I am not bothered by girls being passionate—so long as they receive our advice, whether or not they work with us officially—we are happy.  J  Good luck to you my friend.


Jon Frank

-- by 会员 JonFrank (2011/5/24 12:29:55)

Hi Jon, I don't mean to be rude or something. I think what he/she said is you are an old dog. You know, old dog new tricks

-- by 会员 泼硫酸 (2011/5/24 20:26:22)

Well I am certainly not as young as I used to be!  J  But thankfully, along with my age (33 years young!) comes deep experience.  Each year, we get smarter and smarter, and learn more and more about what makes admissions committees tick.  And that’s why we’re here, helping as many people as possible every day!  Let me know how I can help you my friend, and keep in touch!





Jon Frank

JonFrank

Okay gang, today we're gonna talk about road trips. We have been working through the weekend for a change, and read a TON of boring MBA apps. J term stuff, European school stuff...and all these folks are soooo focused on work.
Work, work, work. Yaaaawn.
What about something...personal? Something about your personal quest for soul seeking? What about the time that you found yourself, while on a roadtrip harvesting Kiwi Fruits in Guam?
Schools dont accept PROFILES gang, they accept PEOPLE. You need to describe your JOURNEY. You need to describe what you are PASSIONATE about. Stanford is the only school that asks it point blank, but if you arent inserting that piece into ALL of your apps...you're doing it wrong.
So think back to that road trip that you took. Think about the most important moments in your life--even if they took place while bent over rice paddies in your uncle's uncle's farm.
THAT is what makes applicants into PEOPLE, and not just profiles.
Happy Memorial Day my friends.

Jon Frank

wowyjs

Okay gang, today we're gonna talk about road trips. We have been working through the weekend for a change, and read a TON of boring MBA apps. J term stuff, European school stuff...and all these folks are soooo focused on work.
Work, work, work. Yaaaawn.
What about something...personal? Something about your personal quest for soul seeking? What about the time that you found yourself, while on a roadtrip harvesting Kiwi Fruits in Guam?
Schools dont accept PROFILES gang, they accept PEOPLE. You need to describe your JOURNEY. You need to describe what you are PASSIONATE about. Stanford is the only school that asks it point blank, but if you arent inserting that piece into ALL of your apps...you're doing it wrong.
So think back to that road trip that you took. Think about the most important moments in your life--even if they took place while bent over rice paddies in your uncle's uncle's farm.
THAT is what makes applicants into PEOPLE, and not just profiles.
Happy Memorial Day my friends.

Jon Frank

-- by 会员 JonFrank (2011/5/30 14:35:54)

Thanks, Jon. As to the example you mentioned above "Think about the most important moments in your life--even if they took place while bent over rice paddies in your uncle's uncle's farm.", is it appropriate to talk about some experience that happend in our childhood but played an important role in shaping us? I heard some schools ask for experiences within the latest 3 years, and is that true?

As to the the latest essay of CBS——"Describe a life experience that has shaped you. ", I was considering writing a family experience that helped develop some of the characteristics I possess now, but I am now worried whether this experience is too trival or too long time ago? Is it better to write some experience that took place in recent years?

Many thanks for your points.

JonFrank

Okay gang, today we're gonna talk about road trips. We have been working through the weekend for a change, and read a TON of boring MBA apps. J term stuff, European school stuff...and all these folks are soooo focused on work.
Work, work, work. Yaaaawn.
What about something...personal? Something about your personal quest for soul seeking? What about the time that you found yourself, while on a roadtrip harvesting Kiwi Fruits in Guam?
Schools dont accept PROFILES gang, they accept PEOPLE. You need to describe your JOURNEY. You need to describe what you are PASSIONATE about. Stanford is the only school that asks it point blank, but if you arent inserting that piece into ALL of your apps...you're doing it wrong.
So think back to that road trip that you took. Think about the most important moments in your life--even if they took place while bent over rice paddies in your uncle's uncle's farm.
THAT is what makes applicants into PEOPLE, and not just profiles.
Happy Memorial Day my friends.

Jon Frank

-- by 会员 JonFrank (2011/5/30 14:35:54)

Thanks, Jon. As to the example you mentioned above "Think about the most important moments in your life--even if they took place while bent over rice paddies in your uncle's uncle's farm.", is it appropriate to talk about some experience that happend in our childhood but played an important role in shaping us? I heard some schools ask for experiences within the latest 3 years, and is that true?

As to the the latest essay of CBS——"Describe a life experience that has shaped you. ", I was considering writing a family experience that helped develop some of the characteristics I possess now, but I am now worried whether this experience is too trival or too long time ago? Is it better to write some experience that took place in recent years?

Many thanks for your points.

-- by 会员 wowyjs (2011/6/4 15:01:09)

Hey there—great questions.  Here is the best way to look at it, and how we guide all our clients.  First of all, yes your WORK experiences should be within the past 3-4 years.  The more recent, the better.  But every application should have at least one PERSONAL experience. And those experiences—the most powerful ones—will often be from your childhood.  So if you are writing about your personal background, your personal experiences, it is okay to go back further than 3-4 years.  In fact, it is ideal to do so.   In terms of your second question, you will be just fine to talk about a personal experience in the question you’ve listed.  But then, once you have done so, you will wanna get into the RAMIFICATIONS of these traits.  How these things have affected you in your work life.  How they translate into shaping you into the BUSINESSMAN you are today.  So yes, by all means, talk about these personal things from your childhood.  But make them relevant to your application…to BUSINESS school.  J  Hope this helps, and GOOD LUCK


Jon Frank

wowyjs

Okay gang, today we're gonna talk about road trips. We have been working through the weekend for a change, and read a TON of boring MBA apps. J term stuff, European school stuff...and all these folks are soooo focused on work.
Work, work, work. Yaaaawn.
What about something...personal? Something about your personal quest for soul seeking? What about the time that you found yourself, while on a roadtrip harvesting Kiwi Fruits in Guam?
Schools dont accept PROFILES gang, they accept PEOPLE. You need to describe your JOURNEY. You need to describe what you are PASSIONATE about. Stanford is the only school that asks it point blank, but if you arent inserting that piece into ALL of your apps...you're doing it wrong.
So think back to that road trip that you took. Think about the most important moments in your life--even if they took place while bent over rice paddies in your uncle's uncle's farm.
THAT is what makes applicants into PEOPLE, and not just profiles.
Happy Memorial Day my friends.

Jon Frank

-- by 会员 JonFrank (2011/5/30 14:35:54)

Thanks, Jon. As to the example you mentioned above "Think about the most important moments in your life--even if they took place while bent over rice paddies in your uncle's uncle's farm.", is it appropriate to talk about some experience that happend in our childhood but played an important role in shaping us? I heard some schools ask for experiences within the latest 3 years, and is that true?

As to the the latest essay of CBS——"Describe a life experience that has shaped you. ", I was considering writing a family experience that helped develop some of the characteristics I possess now, but I am now worried whether this experience is too trival or too long time ago? Is it better to write some experience that took place in recent years?

Many thanks for your points.

-- by 会员 wowyjs (2011/6/4 15:01:09)

Hey there—great questions.  Here is the best way to look at it, and how we guide all our clients.  First of all, yes your WORK experiences should be within the past 3-4 years.  The more recent, the better.  But every application should have at least one PERSONAL experience. And those experiences—the most powerful ones—will often be from your childhood.  So if you are writing about your personal background, your personal experiences, it is okay to go back further than 3-4 years.  In fact, it is ideal to do so.   In terms of your second question, you will be just fine to talk about a personal experience in the question you’ve listed.  But then, once you have done so, you will wanna get into the RAMIFICATIONS of these traits.  How these things have affected you in your work life.  How they translate into shaping you into the BUSINESSMAN you are today.  So yes, by all means, talk about these personal things from your childhood.  But make them relevant to your application…to BUSINESS school.  J  Hope this helps, and GOOD LUCK


Jon Frank

-- by 会员 JonFrank (2011/6/6 3:27:03)

Thaaaanks, Jon. That really helps.

I've also posted a question to you in another thread below about optional essay. Appreciate you can answer it. Many thanks.

http://forum.chasedream.com/North_American_MBA/thread-546339-1-2.html

JonFrank

Okay gang, today we're gonna talk about road trips. We have been working through the weekend for a change, and read a TON of boring MBA apps. J term stuff, European school stuff...and all these folks are soooo focused on work.
Work, work, work. Yaaaawn.
What about something...personal? Something about your personal quest for soul seeking? What about the time that you found yourself, while on a roadtrip harvesting Kiwi Fruits in Guam?
Schools dont accept PROFILES gang, they accept PEOPLE. You need to describe your JOURNEY. You need to describe what you are PASSIONATE about. Stanford is the only school that asks it point blank, but if you arent inserting that piece into ALL of your apps...you're doing it wrong.
So think back to that road trip that you took. Think about the most important moments in your life--even if they took place while bent over rice paddies in your uncle's uncle's farm.
THAT is what makes applicants into PEOPLE, and not just profiles.
Happy Memorial Day my friends.

Jon Frank

-- by 会员 JonFrank (2011/5/30 14:35:54)

Thanks, Jon. As to the example you mentioned above "Think about the most important moments in your life--even if they took place while bent over rice paddies in your uncle's uncle's farm.", is it appropriate to talk about some experience that happend in our childhood but played an important role in shaping us? I heard some schools ask for experiences within the latest 3 years, and is that true?

As to the the latest essay of CBS——"Describe a life experience that has shaped you. ", I was considering writing a family experience that helped develop some of the characteristics I possess now, but I am now worried whether this experience is too trival or too long time ago? Is it better to write some experience that took place in recent years?

Many thanks for your points.

-- by 会员 wowyjs (2011/6/4 15:01:09)

Hey there—great questions.  Here is the best way to look at it, and how we guide all our clients.  First of all, yes your WORK experiences should be within the past 3-4 years.  The more recent, the better.  But every application should have at least one PERSONAL experience. And those experiences—the most powerful ones—will often be from your childhood.  So if you are writing about your personal background, your personal experiences, it is okay to go back further than 3-4 years.  In fact, it is ideal to do so.   In terms of your second question, you will be just fine to talk about a personal experience in the question you’ve listed.  But then, once you have done so, you will wanna get into the RAMIFICATIONS of these traits.  How these things have affected you in your work life.  How they translate into shaping you into the BUSINESSMAN you are today.  So yes, by all means, talk about these personal things from your childhood.  But make them relevant to your application…to BUSINESS school.  J  Hope this helps, and GOOD LUCK


Jon Frank

-- by 会员 JonFrank (2011/6/6 3:27:03)

Thaaaanks, Jon. That really helps.

I've also posted a question to you in another thread below about optional essay. Appreciate you can answer it. Many thanks.

http://forum.chasedream.com/North_American_MBA/thread-546339-1-2.html

-- by 会员 wowyjs (2011/6/6 12:10:18)

Yes my friend, we have answered you there as well.  We love to help as many people as we can, even those who aren’t clients.  Good luck!


Jon Frank