fourthwrite, Author at Consultants' Corner

Getting Into Oxford Said’s MBA Program

Oxford Said has earned its reputation as one of the top business schools, not just in the UK, but in the world. In this week’s GMATClub Podcast, I speak with Rashmi Singh, who earned admission into Oxford Said’s MBA program. She walks us through her application timeline, some tips on how she stood out from the pack, and even a few things that, had she known then what she knows now, she’d have done differently. The GMATClub Podcast is a collaboration between GMATClub, the largest and most well-connected MBA forum and website in the world, and Gurufi, an online admissions consultancy that specializes in helping applicants build unique, dynamic, and engaging personal statements.

If you’re applying to Oxford Said, or any other MBA program, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our editors have decades of experience helping clients get into top Masters and Ph.D. programs in STEM, humanities, fine arts, and social sciences. Our specialty is helping you craft compelling personal statements that move the needle in your admissions process! For questions, shoot us an email at service@gurufi.com. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

How NOT to Begin Your Personal Statement

Applicants are often told that they need to begin their personal statements with a bang. Tell an over-the-top story, open with an emotional tear-jerker, or start things off with some clever turns of phrases that will make the reader remember you.

This is horrible advice.

In 99% of cases, a “hook” of this kind will come across as insincere or gimmicky. It almost always feels like the writer is trying too hard. That why I often tell clients “let’s turn down the volume here” so that we can work to make the opening more sincere and authentic.

In this brief video, I talk about why you should avoid hooks and a technique for how to think about your openings.

For more help, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our editors have decades of experience helping clients get into top Masters and Ph.D. programs in STEM, humanities, fine arts, and social sciences. Our specialty is helping you craft compelling personal statements that move the needle in your admissions process! For questions, shoot us an email at service@gurufi.com. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Why It’s Vital to Contact Potential Advisors

In this video, we cover why it’s so important to contact potential advisors when you’re applying to graduate school.

Getting a Strong Letter of Recommendation

In this week’s installment of “Getting Into Graduate School” we provide some important tips and strategies for getting a great letter of recommendation.

An Easy Technique for Beating Writer’s Block.

Writer’s block can derail your Personal Statement before you even begin! Too often, we let ourselves feel overwhelmed by the stakes involved. We think that every word has to be perfect, and this desire for perfection paralyzes us. This is 100% the WRONG approach to take to the early stages of writing a Personal Statement. Instead, just think in terms of getting your ideas down on paper, and then go from there! Here is a brainstorming exercise designed to jumpstart your mind into thinking about stories and content… and in the process remove you from that place of perfection paralysis.

Writing About Your “Biggest Failure”

Many applications will ask you to write about your “biggest failure.” This can feel like a trap. After all, aren’t your application materials supposed to make you look like an amazing SUCCESSFUL person?

If done correctly, your “Biggest Failure” essay can convey a picture of you that is successful, thoughtful, humble, and persistent. Here are three tips for writing a strong “Biggest Failure” essay!

Take a Chance!

Our ongoing series ‘Getting Into Graduate School‘ is covering a lot of tips, strategies, and insider knowledge to help you get into graduate school. BUT, sometimes the biggest impediment is a lack of confidence. When we think about taking big chances, it can feel intimidating and sometimes we lose our nerve. On a recent trip back to my old graduate school, I started thinking about what I learned and what my thoughts were when I first applied.

My advice: Take a chance!

MBA Podcast Episode 2: Five Common Mistakes for MBA Applicants

When you’ve read as many personal statements as I have, worked with thousands of clients, and helped guide countless people to the schools of their dreams, you get a clear sense of what works and -just as importantly- the common ways that things go wrong. In this podcast, I talk about the five most common mistakes that I see applicants make. By avoiding these errors, they can make their personal statements stronger, improve their chances at admission, separate themselves from the pack by telling a unique story, and also make the whole thing much less stressful. Check it out!

NEW Podcast on MBA Admissions

We’re excited to announce a new collaboration with GMATClub, the Internet’s leading source for information on business school admissions. Each week, we’ll be speaking with admissions directors at leading schools and also offering actionable insights and tips for your MBA applications.

In this episode, we speak with Andrea Flores, the Director of Global Recruitment at IE University in Madrid. We talk about the program’s stellar history nurturing and producing founders of dynamic companies and also how you should think about ROI for business school.

Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

How Do I Choose Which Graduate Schools to Apply To?

In Part 3 of our series ‘Getting Into Grad School’ we explore the three factors you should consider when applying to graduate school. Too often, students get enamored with a fancy name or Ivy League designation. Be more thoughtful about the program you choose and the potential advisors there who can will ultimately have the most impact on your intellectual growth and professional readiness.