MBAJourney 2 - MBA Adcoms 2

It's even.
I started with an overwhelming 2 - 0 in my favor, but last Friday, in a lapsus of 3 hours, it was a draw. I received 2 dings: Wharton and MIT!
(By the way, I couldn´t post because I had very limited conectivity during a trip I had to do the last couple of days).

It was kind of a bummer the MIT ding. I believed it was a good application, and having interviewed with Wharton, I had the feeling that I would have the chance to interview with MIT! However, it did not happen.

Anyway, I am very happy that Chicago Booth and Kellogg had admitted me! And I look forward to getting to know the schools even better to make a decision! Furthermore, don't forget about Tuck!!

Tuck interview

This week I had Tuck's interview. It was OK. I believe better than Wharton's but worse than Kellogg's (the Kellogg interview was stellar!). I met with an person from admissions who was definitely very nice and committed in depth with Tuck's community.

The questions were:

• Why MBA and why Tuck
• What are your passions
• Tell me about a mistake you made and what did you learn about it? 
• If I sit with your siblings, what would they tell about you? (she kind of got me on this one, however i kind of address it with some leadership)
• What can you add to tuck inside classroom and outside?

So now I am again just waiting without any other MBA related activities! I think I will write some more about my thoughts of the different business schools, and maybe some insights of my process.

Wharton invite!!! and other updates

I got the mail from Wharton!!! wow, what a feeling... I couldn't share it with anyone because I was about to enter a meeting! Anyway, this morning I was writing this: "Wharton: Hopes are lost. We are one day to the deadline of the mid decision, and no invite came. I really liked Wharton. Anyway... I'm sure the experience will be great in whatever school takes me in!" But it seems I'm still in the game!

Here comes the updates part.

Tuck: Well, after working hard all weekend, I submitted Tuck on Monday. I prepared those essays in only a week! I was able to use a lot of ideas of my previous essays. People say you shouldn't, however, it worked for me at leat for essay writing. Let's see if it works for getting in! As I am international student, I couldn't go to Tuck to interview, so, if my profile interests them, I will be called for an interview. Otherwise, people will prove right for that thing of not using the others school essays!

Kellogg: I did receive an invite! I thought they were forgetting about me. I hope to schedule it for next week and prepare it well!

MIT & Chicago Booth: In the not-sweet wait. I have a wait of more than a month for both. For Chicago Booth, I'll be waiting for the final decision, and for MIT, I'll be waiting for an interview invite!

So, I will have to prepare two interviews (K and W) kind of in a rush. I don't know if I should split them in the time that is left, so as to be totally focused in one at a time. The thing is I've already written to my Kellogg alumnus proposing him a day and time. If he says yes, then I have to try with the W alumnus to stretch things a little. I don't know... I will see in the next couple of days.

I'll keep you guys informed!

Some application strategy

Given that neither Kellogg nor Wharton sent me an invite yet (ok, now i'm worried!) and that my Chicago interview didn't go spectacularly, I will give it a shot to Tuck. I have been intensively working on the Tuck's essays I once began writing. I know I have a good fit with Tuck's close-knit community!

I believe that Tuck having the 1st round the same day that Wharton's mid decision and very close to chicago´s is not a mere coincidence... And it worked for me!!

I am surprised at Kellogg as I have not received any news. Not even the mandatory invitation to interview!

Anyway... I still have some hope that at least one of these schools will admit me!

MBA - Cars comparison

I found this excellent comparison of cars with MBA's here: http://mbaapply.blogspot.com/2007/06/top-mba-programs.html.

HBS is like the British luxury car of varying quality - Bentley, Aston Martin, MG, Rolls-Royce. They are Establishment, tophats and all. Some drivers are able to break the "unapproachable" mold and will take their cars for a bit of a joyride, but some are trapped in the pomp and circumstance of their cars.

Stanford is like the Italian sports car - Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Alfa Romeos, Maseratis. They are bold, distinctive, and anti-authoritarian. They aren't the most reliable cars, but they sure look good, and they are the ultimate joyride car, risks be damned.

Wharton are like the German sports cars - Porsche and AMG-Benz. They combine the quality/reliability of German engineering that the British and Italian sports cars don't have, with the cachet that rivals only the British and Italian luxury cars. However, they don't quite have the same cachet of the British and Italian luxury cars, even though many drivers would still kill for a Porsche 911 turbo or AMG.

Chicago GSB is like a Volvo - the quality, performance and reliability is probably as good as any luxury automaker, but it doesn't do as good of a job at marketing itself. It has a reputation for being a bit staid, boxy, boring. But it's like a tank - impenetrable to any kind of criticism because its owners will try really hard to explain why its car is as good as any German car out there.

Kellogg is like a Volkswagen - they aren't the most reliable cars, but they are sure fun cars to drive. They also have a very young, hip and aspirational image - but one that is within reach of many people. They are very good at promoting and managing its reputation as a “cool and hip” car to drive.

Sloan is like an Audi - more people have them than you'd expect, and for a German car, they are a bit younger and hipper. Particularly it's S-series. They are mentioned alongside the other great auto manufacturers, but still fly under the radar in most discussions.

Columbia is like a BMW - an amazing machine that combines performance, quality and cachet, but it also attracts a disproportionate number of aggro drivers who believe they own the road, and act accordingly (blasting their music for everyone to see, cutting people off in traffic, honking their horns, etc.).

Tuck is like a Saab. It's quirky, relatively small in number, but has a fiercely loyal following of aficionados. Not many people know the car, but those that do rave about it.

What will I be?
If I do a reverse rationale, that means, match my personality with a car, and then the car with the MBA, I think I would have Chicago Booth as a first option, and then MIT! That's funny! Try it out!

My short list

I am a round 1 applicant for the following schools:

• Kellogg
• Chicago Booth 
• Wharton 
• MIT 
• Tuck (maybe)

As for today, all of the schools have something that really wake my attention.

For Kellogg, the community and collaborative philosophy. I went to an information session, and it was filled of alumni! They all conveyed this positive about their community.

I believe that Chicago Booth's academic rigor is definitely a plus. I see Chicago Booth graduates as highly intelligent and analytic people.

Wharton's rank says a lot of the school. Consistently ranked among the best three, it has a great reputation in many fields, specially finance. Big network.

MIT, for now, my favorite. I can't hide the engineer that is inside me!

Tuck. In addition to an excellent and intellectually demanding program, probably the best community and one of the most active networks. The only issue that doesn't convince me, is the little town. I want my significant other to capitalize the experience by studying or working. Living in Hanover imposes some limitations, although not completely.

So well... that is my short list. You may be asking about HBS and Stanford!! Those will go for 2nd round ;).