Resources and References
- 88 Great MBA Application Tips and Strategies to Get You Into a Top Business School 2nd Edition
by Brandon Royal
- Although it is organized in a way that makes it difficult to read (you will have to read it once
to understand the overall scope, and then go back later and read certain sections as you write particular
essays), this may be the most useful resource available for structuring the outline of your essays.
Then look at the '65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays' book to focus your experiences
into the structure. Finally, look in 'Your MBA Game Plan: Proven Strategies for Getting into the Top Business Schools' (Bouknight)
to include some specifics about the school in each essay.
- Note that this book is much less-read by other applicants than the Montauk and Bouknight books;
they are ranked around #3,000 on Amazon, whereas this one is around #30,000. (The '65 Successful ..' book is around #15,000).
What does that mean? That if you use some of the insights in this book, you will be more likely to stand out
from most other applicants. [The rankings were as of July, 2005.]
- The chapter "Essay Writing Part I: The Classic MBA Essays" might as well be called:
"How to write your Stanford Admission Essays". If you are applying there, you should especially
read that chapter.
-
The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition
by William Strunk Jr., E.B. White, Roger Angell
-
Your MBA Game Plan: Proven Strategies for Getting into the Top Business Schools
by Omari Bouknight, Scott Shrum
- Probably the best reference to help you find the schools that would be the best fit for you
and to target your essays to what they offer.
-
How to Get Into the Top MBA Programs
by J.D., Richard Montauk
-
65 Successful Harvard
Business School Application Essays : With Analysis by the Staff of the Harbus, The Harvard Business School Newspaper
by Dan Erck, Pavel Swiatek
- Will not only show you the best MBA essays, but will also give you an idea of the experiences
that the top Harvard admits have and what they write about; in other words, you might be able to tell
how you stack up to them, beyond just GPA and GMAT which are already published. An invaluable insight in that regard.
-
Cracking the GMAT with Sample Tests on CD-ROM, 2005 Edition (Princeton Review Series)
by Geoff Martz
- www.mbapodcaster.com (I'm on
Episode 22; Aug 21, 2006). (Read the transcription)
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There is no step-by-step approach to which will guarantee you admission.
Remember that thousands of very solid candidates apply every year- if you don't get in, don't take it to heart!
No one who applies to a few schools gets in everywhere.
I worked in a graduate admissions office for many years and I can assure you that there's
always an element of chance. Many not-so-good candidates sell themselves very well and get in;
many very good candidates don't sell themselves well and don't get in. The best thing you can do
is make sure your application is 110%.
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