Not even sure what to make of this... waitlisted?
Dear Cornfed,
The MBA Admissions Board has reviewed your application materials. We have not yet made a final decision on your application, and we would like to offer you a place on our wait list. This wait list offer is an indication that you are a strong candidate for our program. We will notify you by email at the end of every month updating you on where we are in the application process. In addition, we will email you as soon as there is a change in your candidate status.
We understand that you are likely considering strong alternatives, so we will make every effort to have a final decision to you as soon as possible. Our decision will be based upon a continued review of the completed application materials you have already submitted. We ask you to refrain from submitting additional materials in support of your candidacy. In order to maintain a fair and consistent review of all applications, unsolicited additional materials will not be considered.
Please indicate whether you would like to accept a place on our wait list by January 24 though the online poll at http://poll.hbs.edu/poll/open/pollTakerOpen.jsp?poll=115608 and provide contact information that will be valid through July 2007. While we will make the majority of our wait list decisions well before then, we will maintain a wait list until July.You may also wish to visit our wait list Web page at http://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/waitlist/index.html, which we hope will address most of your questions. Should you have any further questions after reviewing this Web page, please contact Ms. Eileen Chang, Associate Director of MBA Admissions, at eileen_chang@hbs.edu.
We will continue to give your application full and thoughtful consideration and will make a final decision as soon as possible.We appreciate your interest in Harvard Business School and are grateful for your patience.
Sincerely,
Deirdre C. Leopold
Managing Director, MBA Admissions & Financial Aid
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Thursday, December 21, 2006
My first admit...
... Wharton. I'm thrilled.
I've been trying not to think about it all week and I've been really busy at work, so it's been easier to forget about it. But I woke up this morning and it hit me during my run. I almost had to stop - so nervous a little short of breath.
I got the call around 10am. I was on another call, but had a wonderful voicemail to listen to. As per usual, the Wharton rep was warm and positive, which has been the overall feeling I've gotten from the school.
I'm really excited. And now I don't need to scrape together any R2 applications and I get to enjoy the holidays.
Congrats to all the other Wharton admits!
I've been trying not to think about it all week and I've been really busy at work, so it's been easier to forget about it. But I woke up this morning and it hit me during my run. I almost had to stop - so nervous a little short of breath.
I got the call around 10am. I was on another call, but had a wonderful voicemail to listen to. As per usual, the Wharton rep was warm and positive, which has been the overall feeling I've gotten from the school.
I'm really excited. And now I don't need to scrape together any R2 applications and I get to enjoy the holidays.
Congrats to all the other Wharton admits!
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
My Wharton Interview
I recently had my Wharton interview and it was fantastic. I've posted this before, but Wharton really has a knack for making applicants feel welcome. At least this has been the impression that I've had from visits, Admissions events, Explore Wharton, etc. The same was true on the day of my interview.
Philadelphia is a beautiful city. Sure, it has rough parts, but there are not many cities that can compare to the historical significance and the architecture. Every time I visit Philadelphia, I love it more.
I got to my interview about 30 minutes early. I checked in by logging into a computer and giving the receptionist my resume. As most people know, Wharton does their interviews 'blind'. The interviewer has not read your application and knows nothing about you, except for what's on your resume. I sat in the waiting area which was kindly staffed with students. Seriously. Students come and sit in the waiting area to answer questions, chat, and alleviate the nervousness of interviewees. I met a few other applicants - three gentlemen and two women. All seemed personable and fantastic candidates. The students that were in the waiting area were very nice. It is such a great idea to have students always in there on-hand to answer questions. It emphasized my impression that Wharton truly wants to make the application process smooth and transparent.
My interview started on-time and began with logistics: thirty minutes, blind, hopefully conversational, etc. My interviewer was a second year 'Graduate Assistant'. One of 50-70 students who apply, interview, and take a position within admissions to read applications and interview candidates. The competition for such a position is pretty stiff and my interviewer definitely seemed like a stellar student and representative of the school. He briefly introduced himself, his background, what he intends to do, and why he chose Wharton. I asked him a few questions about himself and then he started asking me questions about my resume.
I basically started by walking through my resume. I kept it simple and he asked me to embellish where he was interested in more detail. The questions revolved around digging deeper into my resume. He had a few interesting questions like which bullet I would choose to remain on my resume if I had to erase all of my resume except that one bullet. He asked the 'Why MBA/WhyNow/Why Wharton' series of questions. I was asked my strengths and my weaknesses. I gave examples of leadership/management in my current position. I was asked why I made specific choices in my career. I was asked what I would do if I didn't get in to an MBA program (ie would I pursue the same path I indicated in my answers/essays even without the MBA). He asked what I would do differently if I had to go back and change some of my decisions.
At the end, I asked him a few questions about his background and his choices. Hey, he gave me the option, so I wasn't going to let that slide. His decision to go to Wharton was, I would say, a difficult personal one. Still, he is resolute that it was a great choice for him and his future. He represented his decision and, hence, Wharton, really well.
I left, he walked me out, we shook hands and I left. I had drinks with a few old work folks and dinner with a few Wharton friends and other Philly acquaintances. Philly has fantastic restaurants. Seriously.
Any questions, feel free to email/post a comment.
Philadelphia is a beautiful city. Sure, it has rough parts, but there are not many cities that can compare to the historical significance and the architecture. Every time I visit Philadelphia, I love it more.
I got to my interview about 30 minutes early. I checked in by logging into a computer and giving the receptionist my resume. As most people know, Wharton does their interviews 'blind'. The interviewer has not read your application and knows nothing about you, except for what's on your resume. I sat in the waiting area which was kindly staffed with students. Seriously. Students come and sit in the waiting area to answer questions, chat, and alleviate the nervousness of interviewees. I met a few other applicants - three gentlemen and two women. All seemed personable and fantastic candidates. The students that were in the waiting area were very nice. It is such a great idea to have students always in there on-hand to answer questions. It emphasized my impression that Wharton truly wants to make the application process smooth and transparent.
My interview started on-time and began with logistics: thirty minutes, blind, hopefully conversational, etc. My interviewer was a second year 'Graduate Assistant'. One of 50-70 students who apply, interview, and take a position within admissions to read applications and interview candidates. The competition for such a position is pretty stiff and my interviewer definitely seemed like a stellar student and representative of the school. He briefly introduced himself, his background, what he intends to do, and why he chose Wharton. I asked him a few questions about himself and then he started asking me questions about my resume.
I basically started by walking through my resume. I kept it simple and he asked me to embellish where he was interested in more detail. The questions revolved around digging deeper into my resume. He had a few interesting questions like which bullet I would choose to remain on my resume if I had to erase all of my resume except that one bullet. He asked the 'Why MBA/WhyNow/Why Wharton' series of questions. I was asked my strengths and my weaknesses. I gave examples of leadership/management in my current position. I was asked why I made specific choices in my career. I was asked what I would do if I didn't get in to an MBA program (ie would I pursue the same path I indicated in my answers/essays even without the MBA). He asked what I would do differently if I had to go back and change some of my decisions.
At the end, I asked him a few questions about his background and his choices. Hey, he gave me the option, so I wasn't going to let that slide. His decision to go to Wharton was, I would say, a difficult personal one. Still, he is resolute that it was a great choice for him and his future. He represented his decision and, hence, Wharton, really well.
I left, he walked me out, we shook hands and I left. I had drinks with a few old work folks and dinner with a few Wharton friends and other Philly acquaintances. Philly has fantastic restaurants. Seriously.
Any questions, feel free to email/post a comment.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Interviews, waiting, more interviews
The Harvard campus is gorgeous. All these tightly clustered buildings solely for the business school. The campus is across the river from Harvard Square and the other Harvard schools, across the street from the football stadium, in less desireable Allston. The buildings are primarily red brick with the names engraved above the doorways. The Dillon House - where the Admissions Office is located - looks slightly different. It looks more like a 19th century house.
I got to the HBS campus 45 minutes before my interview and drove into the parking lot. It would be just as easy to park on the street between the stadium and the campus and walk or, better yet, take a taxi. I got to the Dillon House about 30 minutes before my interview. There were two other gentlemen waiting (and one woman, although, she turned out to be the girlfriend/spouse/significant other of a male interviewee). I got a pretty red folder with my name on it, a pass to get lunch at Spangler and to go to the gym, a letter, and the name of my interviewer. I also got a fantastic Harvard Business School pen (clearly the highlight).
After a nice little wait in the waiting area, my interviewer came to get me. The interviewer was a member of the admissions committee and started with logistics: thanks for coming, this will be 30 minutes, you will hear from us January 17th. Then the questions started. They were really specific. It was obvious that my application had been read - even studied - as had my resume. The interviewer wanted to know about my decisions. How I decided to go with my first job, about my job experiences, current position and roles, switching jobs, the job market when I left school (it was crappy), etc. I was asked about my leadership experiences (the ones that were mentioned in my essays) and how that directed my life. My work experience in college and how i ended up getting a relatively high-level role in college. About my athletic experience in college. Why I wanted an MBA, what I wanted to do after, how I could do that if those types of jobs aren't recruited for on campus, etc. It was casual, but the questions were pointed. There was not even reference to my application - it was almost like it had been studied. The details seemed to come easily to the interviewer. While we were talking, the interviewer took copious notes.
I left feeling like I did ok, but not fantastic. I tend to be a bit more passionate/exciteable, but I was more subdued. I blame it on the fact that I was in a car accident the day before (I'm fine, my car is not), but I really think that maybe the interviewer just brought out that side in me. The conversation was clearly directed and not directed by me.
I didn't do any preparing for the interview and I'm not sure that I would have done that differently. If I have any advice for people, it would be to re-read your essays. For me, it's my story, I know it cold. So I didn't feel like I needed to prepare. Maybe a better, more prepared answer to the why MBA and what I want to do after, since for me, that could vary somewhat - my 'dream jobs' all have similarities, though.
Wharton is in about 2 weeks and I'm going to campus again.
Feel free to ask me questions if I wasn't thorough enough. I feel like I couldn't give too many detailed question examples since they were so specific to me and my story.
I got to the HBS campus 45 minutes before my interview and drove into the parking lot. It would be just as easy to park on the street between the stadium and the campus and walk or, better yet, take a taxi. I got to the Dillon House about 30 minutes before my interview. There were two other gentlemen waiting (and one woman, although, she turned out to be the girlfriend/spouse/significant other of a male interviewee). I got a pretty red folder with my name on it, a pass to get lunch at Spangler and to go to the gym, a letter, and the name of my interviewer. I also got a fantastic Harvard Business School pen (clearly the highlight).
After a nice little wait in the waiting area, my interviewer came to get me. The interviewer was a member of the admissions committee and started with logistics: thanks for coming, this will be 30 minutes, you will hear from us January 17th. Then the questions started. They were really specific. It was obvious that my application had been read - even studied - as had my resume. The interviewer wanted to know about my decisions. How I decided to go with my first job, about my job experiences, current position and roles, switching jobs, the job market when I left school (it was crappy), etc. I was asked about my leadership experiences (the ones that were mentioned in my essays) and how that directed my life. My work experience in college and how i ended up getting a relatively high-level role in college. About my athletic experience in college. Why I wanted an MBA, what I wanted to do after, how I could do that if those types of jobs aren't recruited for on campus, etc. It was casual, but the questions were pointed. There was not even reference to my application - it was almost like it had been studied. The details seemed to come easily to the interviewer. While we were talking, the interviewer took copious notes.
I left feeling like I did ok, but not fantastic. I tend to be a bit more passionate/exciteable, but I was more subdued. I blame it on the fact that I was in a car accident the day before (I'm fine, my car is not), but I really think that maybe the interviewer just brought out that side in me. The conversation was clearly directed and not directed by me.
I didn't do any preparing for the interview and I'm not sure that I would have done that differently. If I have any advice for people, it would be to re-read your essays. For me, it's my story, I know it cold. So I didn't feel like I needed to prepare. Maybe a better, more prepared answer to the why MBA and what I want to do after, since for me, that could vary somewhat - my 'dream jobs' all have similarities, though.
Wharton is in about 2 weeks and I'm going to campus again.
Feel free to ask me questions if I wasn't thorough enough. I feel like I couldn't give too many detailed question examples since they were so specific to me and my story.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Finally, my invite from...
... Wharton.
For some reason I thought if I was going to get an interview, it would have been a few weeks ago (say, when Rungee got hers). But I got mine today. Now, it's sort of a scramble to get my interview scheduled before the Dec 7th end-date. I'm really keen on doing the interview in Philly on campus, so I'm trying to figure out how to swing that. The last few weeks have been light with work, but of course things are stepping up and getting the time to go for an on-campus interview is much more difficult.
Anyway, I'm really excited. I was getting almost dire with Wharton, but I need to change my tune - stop being frustrated and get back to loving Wharton.
I'll post on my Harvard interview after I have it (on-campus) in a few days. All I know so far is that it's 30 minutes and with a member of Admissions. Should be fun :)
For some reason I thought if I was going to get an interview, it would have been a few weeks ago (say, when Rungee got hers). But I got mine today. Now, it's sort of a scramble to get my interview scheduled before the Dec 7th end-date. I'm really keen on doing the interview in Philly on campus, so I'm trying to figure out how to swing that. The last few weeks have been light with work, but of course things are stepping up and getting the time to go for an on-campus interview is much more difficult.
Anyway, I'm really excited. I was getting almost dire with Wharton, but I need to change my tune - stop being frustrated and get back to loving Wharton.
I'll post on my Harvard interview after I have it (on-campus) in a few days. All I know so far is that it's 30 minutes and with a member of Admissions. Should be fun :)
Friday, November 03, 2006
An invite from....
.... Harvard.
I got it last night. Ironically, it was when my wheels touched down in Boston for a weekend with friends. Now I have to come back next weekend. Life is hard. :)
It came right when I was falling into a deep pit of despair over the fact that I still have heard nothing from Wharton. I definitely felt more confident about Wharton, but they have still sent no love to me.
My HBS interview invite provided a 'requested time and location' - in Boston with admissions. It's definitely early for HBS, which is exciting for me, but I can empathize with those still waiting because of my experience with Wharton.
I got it last night. Ironically, it was when my wheels touched down in Boston for a weekend with friends. Now I have to come back next weekend. Life is hard. :)
It came right when I was falling into a deep pit of despair over the fact that I still have heard nothing from Wharton. I definitely felt more confident about Wharton, but they have still sent no love to me.
My HBS interview invite provided a 'requested time and location' - in Boston with admissions. It's definitely early for HBS, which is exciting for me, but I can empathize with those still waiting because of my experience with Wharton.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Back in the saddle
It's been a while! Sorry I've been MIA. My personal life has been crazy and so business school applications have taken a backseat for a while.
I plan on submitting Stanford tonight and have made the decision to put off MIT and Kellogg to Round 2. Again, those MIT essays. Just can't get excited about them.
The past couple weeks have been ridiculous. I met some awesome people from lots of business schools at a conference. I've started to consider Haas for R2, too.
In my personal life, basically the bottom fell out. My ex and I split and I've decided to relocate and rent out my house. So, there's been plenty going on that has distracted me from business school applications and blogs. I definitely think my Stanford essays were affected by this, but hopefully not too much. I completed most of the essays before this all went down.
Anyway, best of luck to all the other applicants. Now it's just a waiting game. I heard that Wharton started asking people for interviews. Not me, unfortunately.
I plan on submitting Stanford tonight and have made the decision to put off MIT and Kellogg to Round 2. Again, those MIT essays. Just can't get excited about them.
The past couple weeks have been ridiculous. I met some awesome people from lots of business schools at a conference. I've started to consider Haas for R2, too.
In my personal life, basically the bottom fell out. My ex and I split and I've decided to relocate and rent out my house. So, there's been plenty going on that has distracted me from business school applications and blogs. I definitely think my Stanford essays were affected by this, but hopefully not too much. I completed most of the essays before this all went down.
Anyway, best of luck to all the other applicants. Now it's just a waiting game. I heard that Wharton started asking people for interviews. Not me, unfortunately.
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