MBA Admissions Ep 2: The MBA Consultant Who Applied to 37 B-Schools and Dropped Out of Stanford
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ก.ค. 2024
- How should you decide what MBA programs to apply to? What are some common mistakes applicants make when drawing up their lists? Why might an applicant with great credentials get rejected by a target school? Why might an applicant with a less-than-stellar background win acceptance at a reach school?
And most interestingly: why the heck would someone work hard to get into Stanford, and then immediately drop out?
For answers to these questions and more, check out this discussion between Matt McDonnell (GMAT Ninja Admissions Consultant) and Charles Bibilos (founder of GMAT Ninja).
Over the course of four application cycles, 37 graduate school applications, 52 interviews, and a completed MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, Matt has seen it all, and he’s excited to share his insights. Drawing on his first-hand experiences, he'll outline both common application mistakes and savvy practices to help you find a school that’s right for you. Some highlights include:
1. Why picking business schools based solely on rankings is a terrible idea.
2. Why it’s helpful to nail down your career goals BEFORE you get on campus.
3. Why the culture and location of a school are HUGELY important.
4. Why telling a coherent story (or failing to) can sway admissions committees.
5. Why the first step of your admissions journey should be introspection.
6. Why every MBA applicant should ask themselves the following questions: What do I want my day-to-day career to look like? What environment will allow me to thrive? What will make me happy?
So whether you’re already knee-deep in your applications, or merely considering the possibility of an MBA, Matt’s experiences will point you in the right direction, and help you focus on what really matters. Because applying to an MBA program is about more than just checking a box or picking the most prestigious name off a list. It’s about figuring out what makes you tick, telling a coherent story, and pursuing a career path that makes sense for you.
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Want more MBA admissions tips & advice?
More information about our MBA Admissions consulting services: www.gmatninja.com/mba-admissions
Several (painfully honest) articles that will help you choose the best MBA admissions consultant for your specific needs: www.gmatninja.com/mba-admissi...
Articles that will help you produce your very best MBA application: www.gmatninja.com/mba-admissi...
Free, complete GMAT prep course on TH-cam: / @gmatninjatutoring
Free, complete GRE prep course on TH-cam: / @greninjatutoring
Updates on this series and our other MBA admissions-related projects: / gmatninja
For more on Charles Bibilos, his love of international food, and his contributions to ornithology textbooks: www.gmatninja.com/charles-bib...
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction
06:50 Dropping Out of Stanford
16:10 Third Round of Applications
23:20 What Schools are Looking For
27:00 Punching Above/Below Your Weight
29:24 Tell a Coherent Story
31:25 Applying for a PhD
37:14 Conclusion: Introspection is Key
My gosh, as someone who actually was just aiming to apply to the top10 unis of the ranking, my mind has been blown. This video is such a valuable piece of advice(s). Im definitely switching my focus to finding the best program / uni that fits my goal (and soul haha) Thank you so much GMAT Ninja, and thank you for all your GMAT videos, they've been helping me a lot.
Amazing content and info, glad to hear Matt's journey! Would love to hear more about what really happens in Ph.D programs that doesn't make it to the public. And the outlook specifically for MBA's looking at Ph.D programs post MBA.
Great video! Waiting for more!
Thank you, Suyash!
Thanks for the session! If someone is considering a PhD program (in business) should they still entertain an MBA? Or just go for an MBA and chase a PhD after narrowing interests during your MBA
Appreciate your time guys!
Thank you for reaching out so quickly after we published this, Matt!
Generally speaking, an MBA and a PhD in business have very little overlap. The MBA is a professional degree and your focus will be on the management of functional areas and developing as a leader -- the coursework won't really prepare you for a doctoral program. So if you're interested in a career as a PhD-level researcher or academic, the MBA would be somewhat of a waste of time and money.
An MBA at a top school does give you a chance to build relationships with faculty, and if you wanted to, you could spend some of your time working with them as a research assistant during your MBA. If you end up pursuing a PhD, it's obviously a good thing to have a few professors on speed-dial, both as mentors and as potential recommenders for your PhD applications.
But still, if your goal is a career in research and/or academia, you're probably going to be much better served with either a specialized master's degree first, or by heading directly into a PhD program.
- the other Matt
Wow, a lot of people dream to go to Stanford and eventually have to wake up from the dream.