Master Admissions

May 9, 2012

What You Can Do NOW to Boost Your MBA Application

Filed under: Application ideas,Chicago Booth,Harvard Business School,Stanford GSB — Tags: Admissions, Betsy Massar, boost your MBA application, career path, Chicago Booth, Dartmouth Tuck, Derrick Bolton, GMAT, Harvard Business School, MBA, MBA admissions criteria, Stanford MBA — admin @ 12:58 pm

With deadlines for MBA applications about six months away, you might think there's not much you can do to prepare right now other than take the GMAT or GRE. Even if you’re planning to apply to schools next year, you may think that your profile as a candidate is already set in stone.

Line up here

But the truth is, you can always improve—and whether you’re a few months or years out, you’ve got time to plan your campaign and enhance your application. Admissions officers are looking for several key things—ability to handle academic rigor, career progression, and leadership potential. "Virtually every MBA program looks for students who exhibit intellect and leadership," writes Derrick Bolton, Director of MBA Admissions at the Stanford Graduate School of Business

Here are three concrete ways you can demonstrate your potential to admissions officers—and even beef up your future employability, too.

Take Undergraduate Quant Classes

Because business schools are very quantitative, they want to know that you can do the work that’s required. Plus, potential employers will be happy to see that you can handle numbers as well."We want to be sure that you will be able to handle the rigor of Tuck’s quantitative program." says Pat Harrison, associate director of admissions at Dartmouth's Tuck School.

You might think your GPA, that C+ in economics, or the fact that you’ve never taken calculus will doom you—but that’s not the case. You can take an online calculus or business statistics class from any number of accredited universities now, and use those grades on your business school applications. In many cases, accredited, graded courses can mitigate a less-than-perfect undergraduate record.

Another option is a specialized pre-MBA program, like the Tuck Online Bridge program, which offers courses in a number of disciplines, including managerial economics (statistics). If you’re just trying to beef up skills and don’t care about a grade, take a look at MBA Math, which offers very practical lessons in financial math, statistics, accounting, and microeconomics.

Demonstrate Your Career Progression
Admissions officers and potential employers are looking for people who have moved forward and will continue to advance in their careers. Chicago Booth's evaluation criteria includes "track record of success, resourcefulness,and sense of personal direction." Success doesn’t necessarily mean title advancement—rather, it’s about taking on an increasing level of responsibility. And not just when it’s offered.

Naturally, if your boss assigns you to spearhead a new product, run with it. But if that opportunity isn’t handed to you, you can volunteer to mentor new employees on your team, or develop an outreach program to educate internal clients about your group’s initiatives.

You can also ask for additional assignments that might teach you about a different part of the company. As long as your boss doesn’t think you’re leaving your current assignments unfinished, see if you can broaden your experience. Ask to join an existing firm-wide committee, or simply offer your services when you see someone else feeling overwhelmed.

These are little things that can expand your influence within your current position and propel you to a promotion, whether it’s official, unofficial, or even into another company. And even if you don’t get that promotion before you turn in that b-school application, the extra responsibilities and your initiative will reflect well on you.

Expand Your World
You can also look outward to the community to increase your leadership experience. "Our students...have to be seen as people who are creating value in society," said Harvard Business School Dean Nitin Nohria. I’m not suggesting that you merely add to your list of extra-curricular activities—the way you are involved in an activity can tell an admissions committee member more about you than can a lengthy list of organizations. So, look at what you’ve already been involved in and where you can deepen your leadership role and have a greater impact on your organization.

If you’ve been tutoring at-risk youth, for example, you might create and implement a strategic plan to bring on more volunteers to your group. Or if you’ve been raising funds for an annual 10K, you could develop relationships with corporate sponsors who may be able to help year after year. These types of activities can illustrate your initiative and long-term planning skills, and can be incorporated into the stories you tell in your essays.

As a business school applicant, you always have the potential to learn and grow—even in the months before you apply. Continuing to add to your portfolio of skills and achievements as you’re selecting schools and studying for the GMAT will show a propensity toward mature leadership—and that’s something admissions officers can’t wait to read about.

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April 23, 2012

Want to get into b-school? Be yourself!

Filed under: Application ideas,Harvard Business School,Inspiration — Tags: 85 Broads, Admissions, admitted, authenticity, business school, Columbia Businesss School, Dee Leopold, Harvard Business School, Mary Miller, MBA, Michigan Ross, Soojin Kwon Koh — admin @ 1:23 pm

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word "authentic?" My bet would be that you don't automatically think of an MBA student. But someday, you just might.

Why? The top business schools are not only looking for applicants with academic potential, but they’re seeking out a new breed of leader—someone who’s passionate, collaborative, and wants to make a difference in the world. They want applicants with more than good grades, impressive scores, and a letter of recommendation from the likes of Bill Clinton. They’re looking for people who can use their hearts and souls when making business decisions—leaders who are authentic.

Many applicants shudder at the thought of revealing themselves in a business school application (“what if I look imperfect?”). But believe it or not, that’s OK! If you try to be the person you think schools want to read about, you’ll end up sounding just like every other candidate out there. So, take a look at these do’s and don’ts that will help you show business schools your true self—and your leadership potential.

Do: Be Yourself

It’s corny, but according to Mary Miller, Assistant Dean of Admissions at Columbia Business School, it works—and it’s exactly what admissions committees are looking for. “Be yourself,” she advised in a BusinessWeek interview. “We're all unique individuals; we all present ourselves in a unique way…After you read 10,000 applications, it's pretty easy to pick out who really shares themselves.” So do some self-exploration before you start writing. Figure out your own motivations and influences to get in touch with the genuine you.

Don’t: Presume You Know What They Want to Hear

Don’t model yourself after admitted applicant “essays that worked.” Admissions readers are wise to the templates that are out there, and they’ll take away from your own authenticity.

Instead, write what you want people to read in your application essays. As Director of Michigan Ross MBA Admissions Soojin Kwon Koh says, “the uniqueness comes when you answer questions using your own experiences and your own points of view developed through your unique way of processing experiences. An off-the-shelf approach is a sure way to distinguish yourself—in a negative way.”

Do: Learn By Doing

Of course you can take Myers Briggs or Enneagram tests to determine your leadership style—but the best way to develop it is to go out and make things happen. Take on a new responsibility at work, join a non-profit steering committee, or mentor someone who could benefit from your expertise—and use those experiences to talk about your leadership potential. Take note of how you work with others when you are faced with challenges and actively seek feedback on ways to improve.

Don’t: Be Like the Tin Man

Harvard Business School Admissions Director Dee Leopold claims that the best candidates have a “Wizard of Oz” combination: brains, heart, and courage. We all know plenty of smart, gutsy people—some of whom have risen to the top of their organizations. But many are missing a crucial ingredient: heart.

Authentic leaders show heart, which comes in the form of their dedication to their purpose, and their commitment to their values. Throughout the application process, don’t be afraid to reveal your passion—it’s this quality that makes someone a leader worth following.

Do: Stand Proud of Your Success

It’s OK to be excited about your accomplishments—in fact, you should showcase them in your essays and interviews. Tell stories to illustrate your experiences and potential. . Just don’t forget to acknowledge the contributions of your teammates and supporters too. . Success is something you should be proud to share, but chances are, you didn’t get there alone.

Don’t: Brag

While showing pride can be an asset, don’t get carried away—you can be gracious about your accomplishments without boasting. Dwell on your accomplishments too long, and you risk sounding like what cynics call the “typical MBA,” not a future leader. Also, don’t be afraid to own up to your mistakes. Nobody’s perfect, and admitting that you’re fallible can demonstrate maturity.

As you begin to prepare your essays and applications, you may think your own stories aren’t so interesting. In reality, the opposite is true—the more genuine you are, the more interesting your stories become. That authenticity will improve your chances for admission, and pave the way for success—in business school and beyond.

This article originally appeared in The Daily Muse.

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April 9, 2012

How to Make the Most of Your MBA: A Primer for Entrepreneurs-to-Be

Filed under: Application ideas,Inspiration — Tags: Alison Albeck Lindland, business school, career change, careers, Columbia Business School, entrepreneurship, leadership, MBA, networking, venture capital — admin @ 3:12 pm

This week's tips come courtesy of Alison Albeck Lindland, a fellow Vassar graduate who went on to get her MBA from Columbia Business School, graduating in 2008. Prior to business school Alison worked on the Goldman Sachs and Jaguar accounts at OgilvyInteractive and was an early team member at TheaterMania.com, a startup media and ticket software company. After graduating from CBS, she worked at

Alison Lindland and colleague

American Express Interactive, and is now director of business development at Kohort, a venture-backed group management and event planning platform.

Alison says these tactical pointers cover a potential entrepreneurship career. Personally, I think her recommendations apply to anyone hoping to take a big jump into something new and different careerwise.

Get to know everyone in your cohort. There’s a temptation to gravitate to the people you are just going to be friends with or have to work with in study team but guaranteed you’ll be missing out on some terrific people and contacts.
Network with your classmates. Once you’ve identified the industry or area of focus that you want to pursue after graduation use all the internal databases and or LinkedIn to identify current classmates who worked in that field and do coffee chats with them. I met lots of great classmates who I otherwise would never have met socially, whose background ranged from telco engineers who gave me mini tutorials in how mobile tech actually works to mobile entrepreneurs who had worked on interesting early mobile dating apps.
Get to know your professors personally and tell them what you’re interested in. Having gone to a small liberal arts school, I came from a mindset where you always got to know your profs personally and would have them over to your house for dinner. Most business schools are not this way so you can really stand out if you make an effort and you never know what it will yield.
Seek out opportunities to TA for your favorite profs or help with their research. I TA’d for Prof. Whadwa’s excellent strategy consulting class for a session for the Exec MBA class. This a great chance to get to know my favorite professor better, and to know 65 terrific Exec MBA students.
Volunteer to help out institutes or think tanks in your school. You would be surprised how many institutes and think tanks your school funds. Though the smaller ones may not have a great profile to students you would be surprised to learn how many industry and high profile alums may be involved. At CBS I was thrilled to discover the Columbia Institute of Tele-Information and I simply walked in, introduced myself and said I wanted to get involved. Turns out they were in the early stages of planning a Location Based Services conference for the summer . Given my contacts from my summer doing mobile at Amex, they were happy to enlist me. It was without a doubt one of the best experiences I had in school.
Get off campus and talk to everyone. If you’re nervous about cold-emailing people for networking coffee chats, start with the guest speakers in your courses. Connect with them in person before they left the actual classroom and follow up that day asking for a coffee. It’s a great warm intro and usually you’ll know more about what they’re working on after the talk. In my case, if they could not meet with me, they would give me someone else to talk to.
But if you’re nervous about cold emailing people - don’t be. Being an MBA gives you carte blanche to reach out to people - it is what professionals expect of MBAs. Just say you’re really interested in something related to their career or company and can you come to their office for a 20 minute coffee chat. 90% of the time people said yes to this request - and again, if they didn’t I’d ask them if there was someone else I could talk to. Remember to make networking hay while the MBA sun shines. And set yourself a target - like 3 a week so you keep doing these.
Take a class in another school or that is widely cross registered. MBAs are great but you’re going to spend most of your career working in cross functional teams - why not get to know these people (lawyers, journalists, designers, developers etc) now.
Lastly, I’d be remiss if I didn’t remind you to go to all the happy hours and on some major group trips. You’re working hard in school and this is a great way to recharge and really grow those relationships - plus you’ll never have time in your adult lives to do things like this again.

Phew! It's exhausting, but that's the beauty of the MBA experience -- it's all there for you if you want it.

--Betsy Massar, taking a leaf from the Alison Lindland playbook. For those who want to jump in and experience the busy and rewarding MBA experience, make sure you set yourself up for success with Admitted: An Interactive Workbook for Getting Into a Top MBA Program.

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April 4, 2012

Why You Should Take a Test Prep Course

Filed under: Application ideas — Tags: Admissions, analytic ability, best MBA consultant, business school, GMAT, GRE, MBA, quant score, quant skills, test anxiety, test prep, test taking strategy, tests — admin @ 9:34 pm

I'm surprised that so many students who want to go to graduate school don't feel the need to take a test-prep course. Most of them are well worth the investment.

I can’t stand standardized tests. They test only one thing: test-taking ability. But they are here to stay, and students who want to earn their MBA , or other top professional program from a top school, should get really high scores. Especially in quant.

Both the GMAT and the GRE, the former being the primary business school entry hurdle, are computer adaptive tests. That means that more correct responses will lead to harder questions. So those who suffer even the slightest anxiety about the test are faced with another layer of uncertainty. First, there’s the voice that says, “I am afraid I don’t know the material.” Then there’s the voice that says, “I don’t have enough time to answer” and now there’s the voice that says, “this question is easier than I had expected…so I must be doing badly!” It’s exhausting.

This is Your Brain on Anxiety
The brain doesn’t like these conversations. Neuroscientific research has taught us that such anxiety hijacks our ability to think. In very simple terms, limbic system, (the part of the brain that tells the body to breathe, pump blood, and run away from predators) disrupts the “working memory.”

A test prep course, or, if you prefer, a one-on-one tutor, can help you reduce that anxiety, and at a minimum, improve your ability to recall information.

Let’s look at the benefits one-by-one.

1. You will learn the material – the test looks for analytic ability, especially in the quantitative section. You need to brush up on your math. Certainly you can do it from books on your own, but the test is designed to trip you up. Call it mean-spirited. The knowledge itself is important, but you want somebody to walk you through the way to think about the problem.

2. You’ll improve your timing – It’s a timed test, so you need to be very efficient in your responses. You cannot skip a question and you cannot go back. At a minimum, a course or tutor can help you become familiar enough with the material so you can use your precious minutes figuring out the answer rather than figuring out the question.

3. Focus – Standardized tests are about the process of taking the test as much as they are about the material. A good course and a good teacher will teach you how to approach your studying and your test taking. You should take advantage of the prep coach or company’s resources to learn how to master the process.

4. Discipline – You cannot cram for a test like the GMAT. According to Doug Barg, a former master GMAT teacher at Kaplan and a very smart guy, you should study for at least three months, preferably six. Check out his classic blogpost here. If nothing else, a course will help you break up the studying so that you will not only learn, but retain more. A course will also encourage you to take more practice tests than you will on your own. It just works that way.

5. Confidence – A course will help you be more confident. It will help you practice, which should help you feel more confident. And the more genuinely confident you are, the better you’ll score.

It’s possible that you do not suffer from anxiety; not everyone is that high strung. In that case, a course can only help you improve even more dramatically by familiarizing yourself with material and test process. And you are being measured against all other test takers, many of whom will have taken a course. You are competing; why wouldn’t do whatever you can to get the edge?

A formal training program with a teacher or coach is worth the investment. There are lots of classes, online courses, tutors, coaches, and more. I know trainers at Manhattan GMAT, Kaplan, Veritas, Test Prep NY (good for test anxiety), Knewton, and new players like Magoosh (interesting! worth checking out) I also know some awesome individual tutors. I can get you discounts on some of them, introduce you to others, or just talk it through. Just email me at betsy@masteradmissions.com for a chat.

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March 28, 2012

Aiming for a Business Career: A How-To for College Students and Recent Grads

Filed under: Application ideas,Harvard Business School,Stanford GSB — Tags: Admissions, careers, GPA, leadership, MBA, McKinsey, Morgan Stanley, recent graduates, UVA Darden — admin @ 12:58 pm

May the odds be ever in your favor

My day job is helping people get into business school, and most of my paying clients are a few months away from filling out their applications. In most cases, I wish I had met them years earlier. That’s because young professionals-to-be could have taken advantage of opportunities that make it just plain easier to jump into a great enterprise after graduating.

Solid skills, leadership potential, global awareness
The MBA is not a requirement for a business career. And I don’t recommend that people set their sights on it simply because it’s another hoop to jump through. But some of the things that admissions officers are looking for are some of the same things that recruiters are looking for, which are the same things that your hiring manager and teammate wants from you: a combination of solid skills, leadership potential, and global awareness.

Harvard Business School presents essentially the same three attributes as its admissions criteria. And if you know up front that’s what everyone is looking for, you have a good chance to work on them now.

Skills=quantitative ability
I’m leading with the math stuff because many exciting post-college jobs need you to crunch numbers and use excel. It may not be inspiring work right away, but businesses make decisions on analytics, and if you can figure your way around basic math and logic problems, you will add value to your team. Look at the job description for the analyst position at any of the consulting or investment firms, and you’ll see they are looking for candidates with strong analytic (=math/quant skills).

If you are thinking of going a less formal route, but are still considering business or professional graduate school, you should take one math course now and nail it. If calculus scares you, take business statistics (not social science stats). It’s incredibly relevant; I’ve used the tools of probability and regression time and time again in my own finance career, and never had to calculate the area under a curve.

Finally, grades matter. People talk all about the GPA, but the quality of the school, the challenge of courses and the trend are more important. Everyone forgives a weak freshman year if you turn it around by your junior year and really focus.

Patterns of leadership
Harvard Business School calls it a “habit of leadership,” There are thousands of definitions of leadership, and it doesn’t mean you have to be president of the student body or be the next Mark Zuckerberg. You should be actively involved in a select number of activities during college. Investment firms like athletes, not just because of the competition, but sports requires working hard, discipline and being part of a team. Sports show opportunities for leadership, not just for the captain, but through collaboration and helping teammates do better.

You can also start your own a club or lead an initiative. One student I worked with from Vassar (my undergrad alma mater) started two different clubs – snowboarding, electronic music, and now is spearheading an entrepreneurial effort within the alumni community.

Emerging leadership shows in the words of a student newspaper editorial or production of a college comedy troupe. You can find leadership in teaching – especially if it means getting up in front of a room, encouraging a discussion, motivating others, giving and receiving feedback. The college campus is filled with opportunities to spread your wings and make something happen. That’s how leaders begin.

Go Global
I once asked Derrick Bolton, head of admissions at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, if having overseas experience was a “check the box” requirement to get admitted. He demurred, but did say that he would encourage college students to become fluent in another language. MBA programs are training global leaders. Look at the single essay University of Virginia’s Darden School requires of applicants:

Share your perspective on leadership in the workplace and describe how it has been shaped by the increasing influence of globalization.

For those of you who are already bi-lingual or bi-cultural, you have a leg up on the competition. It’s no secret that business is global; it could mean living abroad or it could mean working in an international virtual team. This cross-border outlook is essential for those who want to be leaders in business or social enterprises. Having worked in Asia for 10 years, I personally believe that a cross-cultural experience should be a requirement for tomorrow’s business leaders.

Take a breath
You don’t have to race toward your career goal by doing everything perfectly, or even in a straight line. Take advantage of all the opportunities you have now.

Aim high. You’ve got nothing to lose.

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March 20, 2012

Hoop Dreams and the March Madness of Admissions

Filed under: Inspiration,Northwestern Kellogg — Tags: Admissions, business school, Cinderella team, Georgetown, Harvard MBA, Kellogg MBA, March Madness, MBA, MIT Sloan, NCAA, North Carolina, UVA Darden — admin @ 6:50 pm

Waiting to get admitted is enough to drive a person mad. So mad, that it's a wonder that the admissions process didn't grab the name "March Madness" before college basketball did. The expression goes back to 1939, but it has only been used in relation to the NCAA basketball tournament since 1982. (North Carolina over Georgetown by a point).

Not quite the NBA

As an admissions professional, I see many similarities between the two--not just the anticipation, operatic emotions, and decisions rendered in March and April. They are both magnificent, if not dangerous, obsessions. I’ve listed five major similarities below, and a bonus of one big difference. Disclosure: my experience is mostly with the competitive world of MBA and professional graduate programs, but with a little imagination, we can all stretch it to college admissions, job hunting, and anything else with beautifully unpredictable results.

1. Competitive strategy
Like the NCAA basketball tournament, you have to compete to get into the school of your choice. There are more contenders than spots. Not all talented entrants even qualify. That’s because the league they come from might be semi-professional, like the ACC or the Big East. It’s kind of like being a mediocre analyst at McKinsey – you know you are playing with the big boys, but you might not get invited to the Big Dance.

2. First-round washouts
These days, most selective MBA programs require an invitation-only interview. That means that you might know pretty early on that you’ve been disqualified. Some highly-seeded teams fall out early – Duke surprised everyone this year. Still, I’ve seen people who have been dinged without interview from Harvard but got into Stanford. It’s never rational.

3. The Gamble
Face it. You’ve got some money and pride riding on the outcome: You spend months of time and energy studying for the GMAT or GRE, you have to beg your boss for a recommendation, and if it all works you get bragging rights for a lifetime. Well, at least until September. The good news is that you are vindicated, even if everyone else thought you were crazy.

4. Being an expert makes no difference
You can parse the rankings all you want, argue that Kellogg is more prestigious than MIT Sloan or the other way around. That the Economist is crazy to rank Harvard behind … UVA? No one is objective; not fans, not referees, not players. Admissions committee members are similarly not entirely objective; they are human too! Like basketball, admissions is much more an art than a science.

5. You’ll never know until you try
If you don’t play, you can’t win. And if you lose, you can lick your wounds; but if you want it, you’ll keep trying. You may fire your coach and change your strategy, but you’ll get back on the court. You could be the next Cinderella team. Keep your eye on the ball and you could be in the Final Four before you know it.

Oh, there are some differences. In the case of admissions, you probably never take time away from work to work on an application or check its status, as you might for an exciting game. You probably never talk about it ad infinitum with friends and family, or go out for beers after its all over. And naturally, you don't fork over $150,000 if you win. Last time I checked.

-- Betsy Massar

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March 14, 2012

Goldman Sachs, Greg Smith, and Leadership (Updated!)

Filed under: Application ideas,Ethics,Inspiration — Tags: Admissions, Goldman Sachs, Greg Smith, Harvard Business Review, leadership, MBA — admin @ 12:17 pm

The Greg Smith resignation letter from Goldman Sachs is a big deal. And yes, it has some repercussions about leadership and the way it is taught at MBA programs.

Already I’ve seen comparisons to Jerry Maguire , which I get, and Don Draper regarding quitting his tobacco client, which is a bit of a stretch. Here's the letter in its entirety.

A little coffee with your New York Times op-ed piece?

The internet is abuzz with parodies and character assassinations. For me, a focus group of one, and former Goldman Sachs employee, I say right on. Not because I have any inside information – I don’t, but because the winner is the discussion.

The winner is the discussion because we are able to talk about what a great company is supposed to be. For years, Goldman Sachs has been considered one of the most admired companies in the world. Ranking #2 in “megabanks” by Fortune, , but more importantly, at least for those in the MBA and Wall Street world, it is ranked #1 in prestige by crowdsourced career site Vault.com.

Greg Smith is not the first one who fired the opening salvo. I happen to be reading Michael Lewis’s The Big Short, and it’s clear to me that Goldman Sachs, like so many other pre-apocalypse Wall Street firms, were selling some weird stuff in their “structured products.” Lewis didn’t come out and say “Goldman is amoral,” but there’s a lot of support in that very book for Greg Smith’s accusations of putting profit before clientsL

Did Goldman Lose its Leadership Vision?
I think what is exciting also about the conversation, is that Smith had been such a champion of Goldman’s culture for the right reasons. He wrote in his letter,

Culture was always a vital part of Goldman Sachs’s success. It revolved around teamwork, integrity, a spirit of humility, and always doing right by our clients. … It wasn’t just about making money; this alone will not sustain a firm for so long. It had something to do with pride and belief in the organization.

And I hope that’s what MBA students around the country start debating. Culture. Profits. Purpose. What is a great enterprise anyway? How can a leader change organizational culture?

The sheer excitement about this public resignation letter is gets people talking. Sure, there will be some very foolish things said in the unfettered world of internet discourse. But if this letter is one of the many in a series of wake-up calls for the global icon called “Wall Street,” then have at it. Smith is no fool. He knew he would be skewered personally, but he opened the door to the conversation.

UPDATE: some decent, uncrazy comments, first from Justin Fox of Harvard Business Review and also from Bob Bruner, Dean of the UVA Darden School.

Let the discourse begin.

-- Betsy Massar

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February 28, 2012

Leadership Do's & Don'ts Learned from the Oscars

Filed under: Application ideas,Inspiration — Tags: Admissions, admitted, Angelina Jolie, Betsy Massar, business school, Hollywood, leadership, MBA, Oscars — admin @ 8:33 am

While Joan and Melissa Rivers commented on Oscar styles, Master Admissions focused on the lessons for leadership, especially for those

Surprise! Angie was a don't!

thinking about applying to business school, a job, or accepting an international award. Here are five takeaways from the Oscars that will resonate with MBA wannabees.

1. Have a brand, but be humble: The Oscars are known for glitz and glamour, not for authentic emotions. Some say the same for MBAs. So even if the odds are in your favor, like they were for Octavia Spencer, show your humility. It’s a powerful way to command respect.

2. But don’t go overboard on what you show and how you show it: Angelina Jolie didn’t need to strike a pose, and when she did, leg and all, she played the fool. Prospective MBA’s want to know not to act too impressed with their talents.

3. Use your age to your advantage: Christopher Plummer had no apologies about his 82 years and showed the world that he was hardly over the hill. Grace, maturity, and a sense of humor about yourself will always add to the conversation.

4. Give credit where credit is due: Meryl Streep thanked her husband first and her hair and makeup guy second. She showed leadership by broadening the spotlight to include her important teammates. And we loved her for it.

5. When in doubt, go global: Although the Oscars are in Hollywood, the stage was international. Whether from France, Iran, or surprising the audience with fluent German like Sandra Bullock, we all speak the same language. It’s a small world after all.

These lessons are a good reminder that leadership shows up whether you are honored for your accomplishments--or letting the spotlight shine on your colleague. The world is a stage, and let's face it everyone has a little Hollywood in them.

---Betsy Massar

This post is a condensed version of the March 1 Forbes article.

Betsy Massar is founder of Master Admissions and author of Admitted: An Interactive Workbook for Getting into a Top MBA Program , published by 85 Broads. A graduate of Harvard Business School, she has worked on Wall Street for Goldman Sachs and in the financial markets in the US, Europe, and Asia. In addition, she has been a business journalist and a communications coach at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

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February 22, 2012

LOL: Managing Stress While Waiting

Filed under: Application ideas,Inspiration — Tags: Admissions, admitted, Arrested Development, business school, Harvard, Hunger Games, Jeremy Lin, job interviews, John Belushi, LOL Cats, Martha Beck, MBA, Monty Python, stress, waiting — admin @ 9:01 am

It's a tough time in the admissions cycle. At least for prospective students. Most have submitted applications and are waiting for interviews, or have had interviews and are waiting for decisions. There’s an absence of information that ‘s unnerving. It’s just plain stressful. So is waiting for a job offer or waiting for a chance to be in the starting lineup of the New York Knicks.

So, what do you do?

Laugh.

Who's laughing last?

I got this idea from Martha Beck, a well-known life coach who also happens to be sociologist with three degrees from Harvard (BA, MA, and PhD). She wrote the following line and reading it today just hit me right.

The more stressful, dangerous, baffling, or unpleasant your situation, the more important it is to laugh at it.

She's right.

Scientific proof that laughing works

We all know intuitively that laughter is the best medicine, and research backs up this aphorism. Scientists at the University of Maryland Cardiac Medical Center found that clips from humorous films like “There’s Something About Mary” caused arteries to expand, increasing blood flow to the heart. The Brits have taken it one step further, declaring that laughing in a social setting increases endorphins, that is, mitigates pain. Or, as the researchers stated in the proceedings of the Royal Society of Biological Sciences, “The results show that pain thresholds are significantly higher after laughter than in the control condition. We suggest that laughter, through an endorphin-mediated opiate effect, may play a crucial role in social bonding.”

So what does this tell you? Stare that empty email box in the face and laugh right at it. Or put yourself on a steady diet of old reruns of Arrested Development, Monty Python, The Simpsons, old John Belushi sketches, or funniest cat videos.

Some Reading Too

I actually recommend picking up a good book too. Books often take longer and grab more of your idle brain matter than a movie, or a Daily Show news report. I’m sure there are some scientific studies that measure brain relaxation waves while escaping through the pages of a book. I hate to admit it, but I actually found the Hunger Games riveting. You won’t learn any new vocabulary words, but you’ll keep turning the pages; it’s a guilty pleasure.

I’m also reading a whole bunch of books on the brain and happiness; I’ve always been interested in the brain and the mind, and after reading Delivering Happiness, by Zappos founder Tony Hsieh, I stumbled upon Stumbling on Happiness, by Dan Gilbert. Essentially, he, like Sonja Lyubomirsky, author of The How of Happiness, find that we consistently get wrong what we think will make us happy.

So, if you are all wrapped up in your single-minded pursuit of getting exactly what you want *right now*, relax, laugh at it, laugh at yourself, and if you are still having trouble cracking a smile, laugh at me. That’s what my whole family does, so why not you?

– Betsy Massar

Don't forget to check out the Betsy Massar's book Admitted: An Interactive Workbook for Getting Into a Top MBA Program, available on Amazon.

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February 15, 2012

When Your Interview is on Skype

Filed under: Application ideas,Harvard Business School,Interviews — Tags: Admissions, Darden, EF Education First, GMAT Club, Harvard Business School, interviewing, job interviews, MBA, Ming Chen, Sara Neher — admin @ 1:17 pm

I'm wrong. A few weeks ago, I wrote an article on interviewing for a coveted spot in an MBA program and announced right up front "whether it’s for work or for school, the goal of the interviewer is to figure out what kind of a person you are in the flesh." I assumed the meeting would be in person. But that’s not always going to be the case, especially with Skype and other emerging technologies.

Skype is a Verb

This look is for practice only

Admissions departments at business schools have been Skyping for awhile; at a conference two years ago, Sara Neher of Virginia’s Darden School made strong plea for us to ensure that students know how to use Skype competently. Ms. Neher has been videoblogging since 2008, so you can see that she’s pretty comfortable in front of a camera. Darden may have been in the vanguard of Skype interviewing, but it’s getting more and more popular, especially as the technology improves.

Hiring managers are turning to Skype. Fellow Harvard Business School graduate Ming Chen, now Executive VP of EF Education First, wrote this week in the Huffington Post that the Aberdeen Group research firm, found that 42 percent of companies in 2011 used video interviewing in the hiring process. And her company, a world leader in international education, uses Skype for about 90 percent of first-round interviews for jobs.

Because Ming is such an expert, I thought it might make sense to summarize some of the key points of her insightful HuffPost article, entitled, 7 Deadly Skype Interview Sins.

1. “Can you hear me now?”   This is true for admissions and job interviews alike: make sure your technology works. This means your interview connection, your microphone, and your speakers. Ming also suggests having a link to your resume ready, just in case.

2. Clean User Name It’s a business interview. Full stop.

3. Dress to Impress Ditto: it’s a business interview. Having said all that, I did see a hilarious post on GMAT Club about wearing boxer shorts with a suit jacket and tie. Well, if you are a guy that is.

4. Do Your Homework Make sure you are prepared, especially about why you want to go to that school or work at that company. Don’t just recite off the school’s website or Wikipedia entry. Make sure you really understand the school or company’s culture, values, and positioning.

5) Look Alive Ming Chen is a very busy woman, in a senior position at a rapidly growing company. She has a lot going on. She knows from experience that “In a Skype interview, where your interviewer is still on their work computer and email notifications are appearing inches above your video feed… It is your responsibility to engage them.”

6) It’s All About ME Even though the interview is about you and your strengths, whether in person or on screen, you should connect your abilities with what the school or the company is looking for. This includes the questions you ask the interviewer—don’t dwell on what’s in it for you.

7) The Right Way to Follow Up Two don’ts and a do

-          DON’T follow up using Skype chat

-          DON’T add the interviewer to your Facebook friends

-          DO follow up with an email, following the traditional rules of engagement. Be polite, concise, and spell the interviewer’s name correctly.

8) Rehearse I’m going to add one more to Ming’s list, and that is PRACTICE. Especially with technical glitches, you really want to make sure the entire operation is fluid. You don’t have to record your rehearsal – but it’s worth it, at least, to practice with a friend, mentor, or professional

Take your Skype interview seriously. Your performance could make the difference between a warm welcome or a ding.

-- Betsy Massar

Don’t forget to check out our new book Admitted: An Interactive Workbook for Getting Into a Top MBA Program

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