The MBADiversity Organization::Blog

Interview Attire

We all know that image is everything. Well, at least initially. That being said, here are the basics for interview attire. Be aware that this is not the opportunity for you to don the Armani suit and polish the platinum cufflinks. The interview suit for business school is conservative, well-fitted, and dry-cleaned.

For both men and women: Nails should be clean and well groomed. Briefcase should be of good leather. Remember good hygiene.

For women: A skirt or pantsuit with modest amount of jewelry, makeup, and perfume. Steer away from tight-fitting, low or high cut hems. Wear pantyhose. Do not bring both a briefcase and a purse… it is awkward looking. To be graceful, choose one. Since you are a professional… choose the briefcase.

For men: Conservative dark blue or gray suit with a blue, white, or moderately, thin striped shirt. Highly shined black shoes with black or navy socks worn over the calf. Comb the hair and shave. Shirt should be 100% cotton, long-sleeved, heavily starched. The tie should be conservative, pure silk, and extend to the middle of your belt buckle.

====
About The MBADiversity Organization
The MBADiversity Organization (www.mbadiversity.org) was founded in 2003 as the first inclusive, national MBA prep program and professional organization. The organization develops, inspires and empowers the next generation of positive change agents in education, business and the global community.

Through the integration of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) methods, this forward-thinking program evolves at optimal levels of innovation and quality to exceed new global business landscape demands.

MBADiversity Fellows Program offers full application prep, mentorship, gmat discounts and scholarship opportunities, spiritual fellowship and various professional development seminars and symposia.

Some interesting stats about the success of MBADiversity members:
1. 95% of those who achieve Fellows status and apply to school receive at least one business school acceptance

2. 55% of those who achieve Fellows status and apply to school receive multiple acceptances

3. 40% of those who achieve Fellows status and apply to school receive scholarship awards from at least one school

For more information about our Fellows Program, visit:

http://www.mbadiversity.org/fellows_program.shtml

The Approach

So, you have aced the GMAT, have your recs managed, transcripts stored away, and your resume done. Now, it is time to tackle the essays. The good thing is that you have narrowed done the scope of schools that you are applying to because you have determined personal fit and career goals. Now, for some of us (deemed “poets” in B-school lingo) who scroll with the depth of Shakespeare, the intensity of Stephen King, and the soul of Maya Angelou, essays are pretty much a cinch. For others, essays can seem frustrating and overwhelming. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind:

*Diplomacy/Generic Essays: Will not differentiate you from the huge stack of essays Adcomm has to read. Do not write what you think Adcomm wants to hear. Share your professional and personal stories in a down to earth manner. Avoid cliches, quotes, and over-used phrases.

*The Failure/Obstacle Essay: Don’t be afraid to show that you’ve failed at something, it’s a perfect opportunity to highlight what you’ve learned. Growth and introspection are signs of maturity.

*Why MBA, Why Now, Why School X essay: Have it down pat, and make sure you insert the correct school name before submitting. Also, have a good sense of what you would like to do after obtaining your MBA and be sure to address this. It’s a perfect segue to why the school is a good fit for you.

*Know the Limit to Avoid a Ticket: Essay word limits can be over/under around ten percent. For example, if the word limit is 500, keep your essay word length at a minimum of 450 and maximum of 550.

*Eh-hem! Is this thing on??: Make sure the Spell Check is on and working appropriately. Turning in essays full of grammar and spelling errors makes Adcomm wonder if you are seriously considering graduate level education.

==

This information was provided by The MBADiversity Organization (MBADiversity.org). Please visit our website to learn more about our innovative Pre-MBA Prep program and professional development services.

Lining Up Recommenders

When you begin on the application, no matter how impartial your approach, it will be subjective. Business schools want to know what others think about you. Specifically, they want to assess how well you work in teams, your soft skills, and basically, your likability factor. They require professional recommendations to get others’ assessments of your aptitude as well as your attitude. The key is to pinpoint early (about six months in advance) three to four people whom you trust and will write positively about your character and contributions and how it will relate to business school. Cultivate a trusting relationship with them early on so that if you decide to ask them a few months down the line, they will be an ally on your side.

The Approach

* Choose Your Allies Early and Wisely: Your first instinct may be to get recommendations from people with impressive, glamorous titles. Don’t. Unless a high-ranking person can comment extensively on your qualifications and work ethic, you would be doing yourself a disservice by asking him or her to recommend you. Schools are looking to get a holistic sense of who you are, so it is important to ask people who work closely with you. They will be more inclined to know your personality and work habits relatively well. A candid, in-depth recommendation supplemented with examples by a project manager, colleague, or supervisor is highly suggested by most- if not all- Admissions Committees. You will need to choose three to four recommenders to help you apply to the schools. One of these recommenders will serve as a “back-up”, just in case an initial recommender is unable to come through at the last minute.

*Take them to lunch for a Prep Meeting: Recommendations usually have to be managed. Many people have never written a recommendation for Business school, so you will have to facilitate the entire process for them. If someone is interested in being a recommender, you will need to take them to lunch to prepare them about the process and go over your “rec package”.

The Rec Package

This is a comprehensive package you will give to your recommenders at least two months before the due date. Through the MBADiversity Fellows Program, this package is outlined in detail for members.

Follow-up Lightly

A lot of times, people are busy and your application gets put towards the bottom of their work pile. Send nice e-mails to your rec every three weeks to see if they have any questions or need additional information. Use your judgment… if they have procrastinated until the very end, don’t get frustrated with them. If the due date is a week away, simply call them or e-mail them reminding them of the deadline. If at all possible, take them to lunch and go over the package again with them. Do not lose your cool… recommenders are notorious for waiting until the day before the deadline. Notify your back-up recommender two weeks before the deadline- just in case.

Thank you card and gift

A thank-you card should be sent immediately after they’ve submitted a recommendation for you. If you actually get into a school, a thank you gift is definitely in order.

==

This information was provided by The MBADiversity Organization (MBADiversity.org). Please visit our website to learn more about our innovative Pre-MBA Prep program and professional development services.