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

haiwen

Hi Jon, thank you for your help for all CD'ers online. I have a question about extracurricular activities - how important do you think they're in application?

Is the volunteer work or community work the only thing the adcom will consider, or other student activities such as head of Student Union, running the school's broadcasting station etc also count? To be honest, I've done very little volunteer work in the past simply because it was not promoted well along my way of studying in schools. I donated though, to organisations such as the hope project or charity funds, I don't know if those help or not.

So, if I want to apply a top school like HBS, with slight to no experience of volunteer work or community work, how big will my chance stand? Thanks!

JonFrank

Hi Jon, thank you for your help for all CD'ers online. I have a question about extracurricular activities - how important do you think they're in application?

Is the volunteer work or community work the only thing the adcom will consider, or other student activities such as head of Student Union, running the school's broadcasting station etc also count? To be honest, I've done very little volunteer work in the past simply because it was not promoted well along my way of studying in schools. I donated though, to organisations such as the hope project or charity funds, I don't know if those help or not.

So, if I want to apply a top school like HBS, with slight to no experience of volunteer work or community work, how big will my chance stand? Thanks!

-- by 会员 haiwen (2011/8/22 10:39:51)

Hello my friend.  Yes, of course schools want candidates (especially from China) who are well rounded.  They accept PEOPLE, not PROFILES.  All of these things you’ve listed above, whether volunteering, running radio stations etc. will be helpful for you.  Donations will NOT help—but any actual activities you have done will.  Now, if you don’t have ANY such experience recently, it is still better to try to do SOMETHING before you apply.  Even if it is only for a few months.  Now, you can also try to get involved in something you have done before—and if you write it correctly, it can seem as though you have been “doing it” for a number of years, “off and on.”  J  Hope this helps, and good luck!


Jon Frank
HBS 2005

chengya

Hi Jon,

I know we should submit the application in earlier round if possible, such as round 1 is better than round 2. Duke has the Early Action submission, which is even earlier than round 1.  Do you think if I am ready to submit, Early Action even have advantage than round 1? Any disadvantage regarding the acceptance if I submit early action? I know early action requires candidates drops other schools application.  But just consider the acceptance rate, is early action better than round 1?

Duke also have Open Interview,  is it better to schedule open interview instead of just waiting school send out interview invitation?

What kind of things we need to pay attention if we are re-applicants to a school?  Is re-application has advantage or disadvantage regarding the acceptance possibilites?

Thank you very much.

haiwen

Thanks for your reply Jon. I got a question about the age as well: is it normal for a top school such as HBS or Wharton accept an applicant over 30 year old (while applying)? I always heard that they preferred young talents under age 29, so wonder whether 30+ will bring any negative factors? Thanks!

JonFrank

Hi Jon,

I know we should submit the application in earlier round if possible, such as round 1 is better than round 2. Duke has the Early Action submission, which is even earlier than round 1.  Do you think if I am ready to submit, Early Action even have advantage than round 1? Any disadvantage regarding the acceptance if I submit early action? I know early action requires candidates drops other schools application.  But just consider the acceptance rate, is early action better than round 1?

Duke also have Open Interview,  is it better to schedule open interview instead of just waiting school send out interview invitation?

What kind of things we need to pay attention if we are re-applicants to a school?  Is re-application has advantage or disadvantage regarding the acceptance possibilites?

Thank you very much.

-- by 会员 chengya (2011/8/24 0:12:52)

Hello my friend.  Yes, the earlier you submit the better.  Submit for ED if you can, since some slots (especially some of the coveted international slots) will be taken quickly.  The earlier the better for sure.  Get your interviews done as quickly as possible, for the same reason as above.  And in the reapplication game, things get…very complicated indeed.  J  The reapplication is an art form, to be sure.  But while we cant get into all of those complications here of course, one thing is for sure—the key is to show improvement over the last year. Last year I didn’t oversee any projects.  This year I oversaw 20.  Last year my GMAT score was X.  This year it is X+50.   Last year my essays sucked; this year, I have AMAZING essays.  You get the idea—improvement is the key to the reapplication for sure.  Good luck! Reapps are very tricky…


Jon Frank
HBS 2005

gelukkig

Dear Jon, I have a question here about the recommender selection:

I used to work for a company for 4 years, and in the essays I will definitely mention some stories from this company, i.e., setback, growth, big achievements…etc.

Now I am working for a new company, and I believe recommender from this new company can write something very positive about me and they know the more “updated me”.

The former company many leaders left, and now I can only think of a Sales manager knowing me for 4 yrs, but “control” her from some distance is a hard job,

Would you plz advice shall I use 2 recommenders from current company or 1 from former 1 from current, the only worry here is the one from former company may not provide the most updated view on my professional development.

Many thanks for your advice,

JonFrank

Dear Jon, I have a question here about the recommender selection:

I used to work for a company for 4 years, and in the essays I will definitely mention some stories from this company, i.e., setback, growth, big achievements…etc.

Now I am working for a new company, and I believe recommender from this new company can write something very positive about me and they know the more “updated me”.

The former company many leaders left, and now I can only think of a Sales manager knowing me for 4 yrs, but “control” her from some distance is a hard job,

Would you plz advice shall I use 2 recommenders from current company or 1 from former 1 from current, the only worry here is the one from former company may not provide the most updated view on my professional development.

Many thanks for your advice,

-- by 会员 gelukkig (2011/8/31 19:38:25)

Hello there—this is an easy one my friend.  You should have TWO companies covered in your letters of recommendation.  Go with 1 and 1—and ideally, the first recommender (from a few years ago) can show you what he/she has written.  It is okay that he/she has a slightly outdated perspective, as long as he doesn’t say anything negative.  Two perspectives is DEFINIETLY better than one…


Jon Frank
HBS 2005

JonFrank

Thanks for your reply Jon. I got a question about the age as well: is it normal for a top school such as HBS or Wharton accept an applicant over 30 year old (while applying)? I always heard that they preferred young talents under age 29, so wonder whether 30+ will bring any negative factors? Thanks!

-- by 会员 haiwen (2011/8/24 8:44:46)

Hey there.  Yes, HBS and Wharton will both accept people who are older than 30 years old.  However, it is HARDER to get in if you are that old.  HBS especially is trending younger.  Wharton less so, but you will DEFINITELY be on the older side of the fence, applying at that age.  Not a deal breaker, but it will not work in your favor.  You will need to work twice as hard in your apps to show that you are NOT at a dead end job, and that you ARE just as eager and willing to roll up your sleeves and WORK HARD as your younger counterparts.  There is an art form to explaining in your apps that you are NOT too old to get in.  but you will be fine, if you can play that aspect correctly.  Good luck!


Jon Frank
HBS 2005

longerlonger

Hi Jon, you are so impressive and popular here..I wonder whether you are too strong to need a sleep..cause it should be the night in USA..just kidding..

I want to seek for your advice on TOEFL. I just got a score of 101..I feel awkward between retaking TOEFL and focusing on essay..You know..if I retake it now, I would have less time to polish essay to catch r1; but if I use this score to apply, I am afraid it would be a disadvantage...

I prefer not to retake it cause the time is limited and I want to work more on essay..In addition I have been working for a famous American company for 6 years..the language I used during work is English..If I add these information to school..would it be better to make up the  TOEFL? What is your advice?

Thanks so much...

JonFrank

Hi Jon, you are so impressive and popular here..I wonder whether you are too strong to need a sleep..cause it should be the night in USA..just kidding..

I want to seek for your advice on TOEFL. I just got a score of 101..I feel awkward between retaking TOEFL and focusing on essay..You know..if I retake it now, I would have less time to polish essay to catch r1; but if I use this score to apply, I am afraid it would be a disadvantage...

I prefer not to retake it cause the time is limited and I want to work more on essay..In addition I have been working for a famous American company for 6 years..the language I used during work is English..If I add these information to school..would it be better to make up the  TOEFL? What is your advice?

Thanks so much...

-- by 会员 longerlonger (2011/9/3 17:23:26)

Hey there!  Yes indeed, we work very hard at .  We never sleep-not between September and January anyway.  J  Now, your TOEFL score will be good enough to get into a top-30 school…but not a top-ten score.  So it is up to you—if you want to apply to a GREAT program, you will need to retake the TOEFL.  If you don’t need to go to such a program, then you should be just fine.  Carnegie Mellon, for example, takes folks with TOEFLS in your range.  If you are okay with such a program, you should be just fine this year…


Jon Frank
HBS 2005