Business School Archives - Page 5 of 7

Gurufi Podcast: IESE University’s Director of Admissions

Welcome to our podcast today where we will be interviewing the Director of Admissions at IESE MBA program in Barcelona. IESE is a top-ranked business school, consistently ranked among the best in Europe and the world. Its MBA program is renowned for its excellence, innovation, and global perspective.

The Director of Admissions at IESE MBA program is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in the field of business education. She has been a part of the IESE community for several years and has played a crucial role in shaping the school’s admissions policies and procedures. With her vast knowledge and expertise, she is well-equipped to provide us with valuable insights into the admissions process and what makes the IESE MBA program unique.

In this podcast, we will discuss the IESE MBA program’s application process, the qualities the admissions team looks for in potential candidates, the importance of work experience and academic background, and what sets the IESE MBA program apart from other business schools. We will also discuss the current state of the job market and how the IESE MBA program is preparing students for success in a post-pandemic world.

The Director of Admissions will share her personal experiences and insights into the admissions process, including tips on how applicants can stand out from the crowd and make their application stand out. She will also discuss the school’s commitment to diversity and inclusion and how it is reflected in the admissions process.

We will delve into the IESE MBA program’s unique curriculum, which is designed to provide students with a well-rounded education and prepare them for leadership positions in a variety of industries. We will also discuss the school’s strong focus on experiential learning and how it is integrated into the curriculum.

Overall, this podcast is a must-listen for anyone considering applying to the IESE MBA program or interested in learning more about business education in general. The Director of Admissions at IESE MBA program is a wealth of knowledge, and we are honored to have her on our podcast today. So sit back, relax, and get ready to learn from one of the best in the business!

For more help with your personal statement, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our personal statement editors and consultants 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.

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Why Using A.I. to Write Your Personal Statement is a Bad Idea, Part 2

Colleges and universities are freaking out because students are beginning to use ChatGPT to do their academic work. A recent poll of Stanford students found that 10% used it to create homework that they turned in without additional alteration. Now, many people are turning to ChatGPT to craft their personal statements.

This is a mistake.

@gurufi_admissions

OpenAI’s #ChatGPT is an exciting new technology, but it’s not ready to write your #personalstatement … yet. The results are, frankly, boring. #MBA

♬ original sound – Gurufi

OpenAI’s ChatGPT can produce content that is grammatically, syntactically, and structurally sound. BUT, writing a personal statement isn’t a grammar lesson or purely an exercise in basic composition. In short, it needs a human touch and a level of understanding about you, as an applicant, that at present, an AI cannot reproduce. Moreover, personal statements are meant to demonstrate your character, capabilities, and experiences. This implies that they must be particular to you and distinctive. In your voice, from your mind, and reflective of your thoughts and values. Although ChatGPT can create material of a high caliber, it is unable to give it your voice and viewpoint, which is a crucial component of a personal statement.

Second, there are ethical issues with writing your personal statement utilizing ChatGPT. This is an understatement. It is dishonest to have a language model write your personal statement, and if you’re discovered you risk that school telling other schools you’ve applied to. As this video makes plain, schools are investing in high-quality AI-detection software and they are already using them in admissions departments.

Finally, utilizing ChatGPT to draft your personal statement involves some practical issues. Although it might save you time, careful thinking and introspection are still necessary. To create a powerful personal statement, you must reflect deeply on your goals, interests, and accomplishments. If you rely on a computer to do this job for you, your essay can end up being less strong and persuasive.

For more help with your personal statement, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our personal statement editors and consultants 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.

#personalstatementtips, #collegeadmissions, #writingtips, #collegeapplication, #collegeessay, #collegeprep, #writingadvice, #studentlife, #highschool, #education, #collegebound, #admissionessay, #studenttips, #studygram, #collegeadmissiontips, #writingcommunity, #success, #collegeadvice, #applicationessay, #motivation, #writingprocess, #personaldevelopment, #admissions, #writinghelp, and #applicationprocess.

DON’T Use ChatGPT to Write Your Personal Statement

This is a mistake.

@gurufi_admissions

ChatGPT’s #OpenAI has been in the news, and Admissions Committees are freaking out! Here’s why you should NOT use it to write your #personalstatement

♬ original sound – Gurufi

For more help with your personal statement, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our personal statement editors and consultants 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.

MBA Return on Investment

After yesterday’s post on calculating ROI for various business schools, a reader contacted me and asked if there are other variables that I might include in an informal “calculation” of either whether to attend business school at all or when deciding between programs. It’s a good question.

In thinking about four additional factors I would consider in the ROI:

The program’s reputation: I am a big proponent of the idea that you should care more about fit that ranking. But, if you’re thinking about post-graduation employment, connections, and success, reputation does matter. As such, consider whether the program you’re thinking about will provide you with the contacts and credibility you need to thrive in your chosen sector.

Is it Well-Tailored to Your Interests? The program’s emphasis and curriculum should match your professional objectives because different MBA schools have distinct foci and curricula. Choose a program that provides classes and chances for experiential learning in the industries or career types that interest you.

The program’s adaptability and format: Full-time, part-time, and online MBA programs are all offered in a range of configurations. Think about the structure that will work best for your particular personal and professional situation. For instance, a part-time or online program could be a better option for you if you work full-time. Note that this will also alter the actual ROI calculation that you perform because it might delay the professional boost or reboot you get from an MBA but also allow you to keep working and earning while pursuing your degree.

The school’s networking and career support options: To be honest, this variable is likely baked into the school’s employment statistics, but it is important to think of nonetheless. The reason is that a more complete and nuanced dive into the nature, location, and kind of network connections the school has will give you a better appreciation of where you’ll be in the years after you graduate. Search for a program that provides career guidance, job placement assistance, and chances to network with alumni and other experts in your industry.

Overall, earning an MBA can be a wise investment in your future, but before making a choice, it’s crucial to thoroughly weigh all of these aspects and to couple this less quantitative aspects and considerations with the ROI formula provided in the link above and also lifestyle considerations (will you actually like living there for two+ years?) Spend some time investigating and contrasting several programs before selecting the one that will provide you the training, assistance, and networking opportunities you require to be successful.

For more help with your personal statement, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our personal statement editors and consultants have decades of experience helping clients get into top MBA programs. 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.

“5 Tips for Work-Life Balance in MBA Programs.” U.S. News & World Report, 2020, https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools/articles/5-tips-for-work-life-balance-in-mba-programs.
“Work-Life Balance in MBA Programs: Finding Your Balance.” QS Quacquarelli Symonds, 2021, https://www.topmba.com/mba-programs/work-life-balance-mba-programs-finding-your-balance.
“MBA Work-Life Balance: How to Manage Your Studies and Career.” TopMBA, 2022, https://www.topmba.com/jobs/mba-work-life-balance-how-manage-your-studies-and-career.
“How to Achieve Work-Life Balance in an MBA Program.” Poets&Quants, 2020, https://poetsandquants.com/2020/05/25/how-to-achieve-work-life-balance-in-an-mba-program/?pq-category=mba-students.
“Work-Life Balance in MBA Programs: How to Manage the Load.” The Economist, 2017, https://www.economist.com/business/2017/05/22/work-life-balance-in-mba-programs-how-to-manage-the-load.
“Work-Life Balance in Business School.” Forbes, 2013, https://www.forbes.com/sites/thesba/2013/06/10/work-life-balance-in-business-school/?sh=438b47495e7f.
“Finding Work-Life Balance in an MBA Program.” The Wall Street Journal, 2018, https://www.wsj.com/articles/finding-work-life-balance-in-an-mba-program-1524506401.
“Balancing Act: Managing Work, Life and Business School.” Financial Times, 2016, https://www.ft.com/content/1af0c770-e3dc-11e5-a09b-1f8b0d268c39.
“Finding Balance in Business School.” Bloomberg Businessweek, 2013, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-09-12/finding-balance-in-business-school.
“Work-Life Balance in MBA Programs.” The MBA Tour, 2021, https://www.thembatour.com/blog/work-life-balance-in-mba-programs.

Am I Too Old To Get a Ph.D.?

too old for a ph.d.? — You’re never too old to pursue grad school, but there are important considerations

Now here’s the issue… Those who inquire, “Am I too old to begin a Ph.D.?” are typically attempting to talk themselves out of it. This may shock you, but I believe that you should begin this process by trying to talk yourself out of it. If, even after trying to find reasons not to do it, you still feel and KNOW in your gut that you want to and need to, then you should move forward with a more detailed analysis.

The first question in this analysis is often “is this the right time?” or “am I took old?” The truth is that there is no single “optimal” age to begin a Ph.D. because choosing to pursue graduate education is quite individual and influenced by a number of circumstances. When I entered Yale’s History Ph.D. program, I was 27, which was about average. There were no people straight out of college in my program, and the oldest person in my cohort was a man in his early 50s who’d had a lucrative career at Goldman Sachs before deciding that he wanted to spend his retirement years writing about and teaching history. Thus, there’s no set path that people have to follow, and while there are many good reasons NOT to pursue a Ph.D., age isn’t one of them. If you feel like you still have the juice and desire to spend long hours diving into a single subject, then do it!

Going deeper into this question, though, you should at least project out what your timeline would look like. You can assume 5-8 years to finish your Ph.D. People who hope to enter academia with STEM degrees will typically then need to complete postdocs of 2-5 years, after which you’d pursue professorial positions on the hyper-competitive job market. For people in the humanities and social sciences, postdocs and adjunct positions are becoming increasingly common, and thus your path may look a lot like the long road STEM PhDs face.

Thus, the tough reality is that you may find yourself twelve years from now with a Ph.D., a postdoc, and scrapping and fighting for an academic job. While you can certainly find some form of gainful employment with a Ph.D. of any kind, the idea of being 12 years older than you are now and hustling and scrapping to get one of the few jobs out there may be more palatable to someone who’s 27 than 47. Again, this is something that you’ll need to reflect on as you think about your circumstances, family reality, and financial needs and expectations.

It’s also crucial to think about whether you have the time and money to go to graduate school, as well as the needs of a Ph.D. program. In addition to requiring a major time commitment for classroom, research, and writing, a Ph.D. program may also include moving away from home or pausing your existing employment. You could opt to do a Ph.D. later in life if you are not prepared to undertake these obligations now.

When determining whether to begin a Ph.D., there are other practical factors to think about, such as finance options and the employment market. My advice is never to pursue a Ph.D. unless you are certain of funding. The top schools fully fund their Ph.D. students through stipends, teaching awards, and maybe some work requirements. If you are accepted into a program and there’s a gap between what you’re provided and what it costs, it’s not a real admission and you should walk away. This might be doubly so if you’re older or have a family, and thus the idea of pursuing a PhD full-time while ALSO working a full-time job+ to pay for it is just not acceptable.

Lastly, if you’re looking to enter academia, you should accept that this industry tends to love “shiny young things.” So if you enter grad school in your late 30s, you might not be viewed as a promising future star, even if you produce stellar work.

Generally, the best age to begin a PhD will depend on your personal and professional objectives, your level of education and work experience, as well as your availability and commitment level to graduate school. When choosing a choice, it is crucial to give these aspects significant thought and to consult academic counselors, mentors, and other experts.

References:

Association of American Universities. (2018). The academic job market for new PhDs in the humanities. Retrieved from https://www.aau.edu/policy-issues/the-academic-job-market-new-phds-humanities

National Science Foundation. (2018). Doctorate recipients from U.S. universities: 2017. Retrieved from https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/2018/nsf18319/

National Academy of Sciences. (2018). The supply of and demand for science and engineering PhDs in the United States. Retrieved from https://www.pnas.org/content/115/9/2062

Inside Higher Ed. (2017). How likely are PhD grads to land tenure-track jobs? Retrieved from https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2017/02/13/how-likely-are-phd-grads-land-tenure-track-jobs-essay

Association of American Universities. (2018). The academic job market for new PhDs in science, engineering, and health. Retrieved from https://www.aau.edu/policy-issues/the-academic-job-market-new-phds-science-engineering-and-health

Twenty Tips for a Powerful Personal Statement

I used to teach a summer seminar to aspiring MBA, law school, and college students about how to write a powerful personal statement. While transitioning my material to a new laptop, I recently discovered my old notes on “Twenty Quick Tips for a Great Personal Statement.” For many of them, I’ve added some YouTube videos that I did, either for my channel or for GMATClub.

Start early and give yourself plenty of time to brainstorm, write, and revise.
Choose a topic that is meaningful and personal to you, and that showcases your unique perspective and personality.
Begin with an attention-grabbing opening that engages the reader and sets the tone for the rest of your essay… BUT, avoid gimmicks that are over-the-top and don’t feel authentic to you.
Use specific examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points and bring your essay to life.
Use descriptive language and active verbs to convey energy and enthusiasm. Identify passive constructions and “to be” verbs (am, is, were, was, etc.) and work to eliminate as many of them as possible.
Stay focused on the main theme of your essay and avoid veering off on tangents or discussing unrelated topics.
Keep your essay concise and focused. If no specific work limit is given, aim for a word count of around 500-1000 words.
Use transitions to help the reader follow your thoughts and ideas.
Proofread carefully to catch any errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation.
Show, don’t tell. Use concrete examples to illustrate your points and bring your essay to life.
Avoid cliches and overused phrases, and try to be original and authentic.
Be honest and genuine, and avoid exaggerating or embellishing the truth.
Use a strong, clear voice and avoid using passive language.
Avoid using jargon or technical terms that may be unfamiliar to the reader.
Use quotes sparingly and only if they add value to your essay.
Don’t repeat information that is already included in your application or resume.
Don’t be afraid to seek feedback from others, but be sure to keep your own voice and perspective in the essay.
Use a variety of sentence structures to keep the reader engaged and add interest to your essay.
Conclude your essay with a strong closing that summarizes your main points and leaves a lasting impression on the reader.
Finally, don’t be afraid to be yourself! Admissions committees want to get to know you, so be genuine and authentic in your writing.

For more help with your personal statement, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our personal statement editors and consultants have decades of experience helping clients get into top colleges and universities. 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.

Is An MBA Worth It? A Personalized ROI Analysis

In a recent discussion I had with Andrea Flores from IE University in Madrid, we talked about the Return on Investment of an MBA. It was a fantastic discussion that allowed us to explore ROI as a broad concept, but I did receive some messages from listeners asking me for a “sample formula” for calculating ROI. So, I decided to oblige.

That said, before I lay this out, I want to stress that there are a range of intangibles that every applicant must take into account, and thus this formula should be just one factor of many. For instance, what value do you place on moving into a career that you find more fulfilling or meaningful, even if the boost in salary isn’t necessarily a positive ROI? On the other hand, using this approach will at least allow you to see what choosing a particular field (or, to put a point on it, choosing happiness) will cost you monetarily.

So, for the 1% of MBA applicants who don’t know, ROI is a statistic used in finance to gauge how profitable an investment is. Calculating the ROI in the context of an MBA can assist prospective students in determining if getting an MBA degree is a wise financial move.

Here are the variables you must take the following into account when calculating the return on investment for an MBA:

Tuition costs: Depending on the university and program, an MBA degree might be expensive. The majority of MBA programs cost $40,001 to $100,000.

Opportunity cost: Earning an MBA entails a large time commitment, usually two years of full-time study. This implies that during this period, pupils will have to pass up possibilities like working or continuing their studies. The potential money that a student may have made while in the program is the opportunity cost of an MBA.

Financial assistance: A lot of MBA schools provide financial assistance in the form of loans, grants, and scholarships. When estimating the return on investment of an MBA, it’s crucial to take them into account since they may help offset the cost of tuition and living expenses.

Salary boost: Increasing one’s earning potential is one of the main motivations for acquiring an MBA. Many MBA graduates get a large raise in pay after finishing the program. To estimate the possible financial advantages of an MBA, this rise should be considered when calculating ROI.

After taking these things into account, do the following:

Calculate the MBA program’s overall cost. This should include living costs, tuition fees, and any additional expenditures related to completing the degree. Most MBA programs will have sample budgets and also give a simple “full cost of attendance” for students. Public institutions will break it down by in-state, out-of-state, and international students, as well as by type of program (part-time, full-time, etc.)

Calculate the MBA’s opportunity cost. This represents the potential earnings the student may have made while enrolled in the program had they not been pursuing an MBA.
To calculate the net cost of the MBA program, deduct any financial help obtained from the total cost.

Calculate the income boost the student may anticipate receiving once they have finished the MBA program.

To calculate the ROI, divide the anticipated income gain by the net cost of the MBA program. The ROI, for instance, would be 33.33% if the net cost of the MBA was $60,000 and the anticipated wage gain was $20,000 per year.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that the ROI for an MBA might change based on the student and the exact school they select. After earning an MBA, some students could have a greater wage boost while others would not. The price of an MBA program might also change based on the school and the particular program. Therefore, while calculating the ROI of an MBA, it’s crucial for prospective students to carefully analyze these elements and perform their own computations.

Again, I think that this is very useful data in terms of figuring out whether it makes financial sense, BUT as our podcast conversation makes clear, you’re not a “homo economicus” that makes decisions purely on salary and financial outcome. Use this data point as one of many to determine whether an MBA is for you!

Three Tips for a Great CV

A CV (or curriculum vitae) or resume is a written statement of your educational and professional accomplishments. It’s an important facet of your job hunt that may make you stand out from the competition.

@gurufi_admissions

Three Tips for a Great #CV / #Resume ! Make sure your job or #mbaapplication stands out. These simple fixes will also improve your mbainterview!

♬ original sound – Gurufi

Here are five pointers for writing an outstanding CV:

(1) Customize your CV for the position you’re going for: Do your homework on the school or employer/position before you begin creating your CV. This will make it easier for you to identify and assess the main credentials and talents the company is seeking and guarantee that your CV is customized to meet their needs.

(2) Keep it succinct and pertinent: Your CV should be focused on the material that is most pertinent to the position you are looking for. Even highly qualified candidates with extensive experience can write a single-page CV. Exclude any material that is out-of-date or irrelevant.

(3) Use appropriate terms and phrases. Many businesses use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to filter resumes before human recruiters even see them. Use terms and phrases that are pertinent to the position you’re going for in your CV to make sure it is identified via these systems and not disregarded.

(4) Highlight your accomplishments: Instead of just describing your duties, be sure to mention your successes. To illustrate your abilities and the influence you made in your past employment, provide specific instances.

(5) Edit, revise, check, re-revise, and check one more time before submitting it to ensure there are no typos, grammatical mistakes, or consistency issues. Ask a reliable friend or expert to examine it as well, and be prepared to make changes in response to their comments. At Gurufi.com, we have a dedicated CV expert to help you with your CV. We’ll make sure that it’s attractive, clear, and draws the reader to your core positioning points, experiences, and qualifications. With an effective CV, you’ll be well on your way to standing out from the crowd and securing admission or earning the job of your dreams! #cv #resume #admissions #mbaadmissions #lawschooladmissions #medicalschool #gre #gradschool #phd #gradstudent #phdlife #phdstudent #gradschoollife #graduateschool #phdjourney #gradschoolproblems #dissertation #academiclife #phdproblems #thesis #academia #gradlife #doctoralstudent #gradstudentlife #doctorate #masters #mastersdegree #gradstudents #dissertationlife #research #thesiswriting #gradstudentproblems #student #dissertationproblems #graduatestudent #graduate #grad #mba #businessschool #bizchool #gmatclub #gmat #wharton #hbs #stanfordgsb #stanfordbusiness #mbaadmissions #mbapersonalstatement #businesschoolpersonalstatement #personalstatement #mbatips #mbalife #mbadiversitystatement #lsat #lawschool #prelaw #lawschoollife #aspiringlawyer #1L #2L #3L #lawschooljourney #lawschooladmissions #lawschoolpersonalstatement #180lsat #175lsat #170lsat #JD #JDPHD #lawschooladmissionshelp #lawschooldiversitystatement #lawschooldiversity

How to Write About Blemishes in Your Personal Statement

At Gurufi, we help applicants of all backgrounds write powerful and compelling personal statements, but if I had to pick our specialty, it would be helping people with blemishes on their record. Maybe you had a bad first year in college; maybe you got arrested when you were 19; maybe you founded a company right out of college that went bankrupt and lost your investors a ton of money. We’ve seen it all. In nearly every case, we’re dealing with people who stumbled, got up, and rebuilt their lives informed -and even powered by- the lessons they learned from their mistakes.

@gurufi_admissions

Don’t let academic or professional setbacks derail your MBA application! Here’w how to address these concerns in your personal statement. #MBA

♬ original sound – Gurufi

As you look to build your personal statement or write about a blemish in your past, here are five tips to follow:

Be sincere: When discussing flaws in your history in your personal statement, it’s crucial to be sincere and upfront. Don’t speak in vague terms or euphemisms. Being direct, clear, and frank can demonstrate maturity and self-awareness and assist you in giving the reader a more accurate and genuine picture of who you are.

Consider the lessons you’ve learned: When writing about previous transgressions, take into account the lessons you’ve learned and how they’ve helped you become a better person. This might show that you’re able to grow from your mistakes and make progress. A good rule of thumb is that you should look for a 2:1 ratio (lesson learn to describing the mistake) when talking about missteps.

Don’t concentrate on the bad: While it’s vital to acknowledge and talk about previous mistakes, you should try to avoid focusing on the bad parts of the event. Instead, concentrate on the advantages of your development and progress. Make it clear how / why you’re a better person. If you can, provide an example of an instance where you faced a similar challenge and crushed it.

Give particular instances: Give specific examples to support your views and to assist explain the lessons you’ve learnt from prior mistakes. This can enhance your writing’s vividness and interest, as well as assist the reader remember your personal statement longer.

Keep it short: It’s always a good idea to eliminate unnecessary text, but it’s 10x important to keep this section lean and direct. Be succinct and to the point while writing about flaws in your history. Stay away from delving into too much detail or focusing on the unpleasant parts of the encounter. Instead, concentrate on your main points and leave it at that.

How to Avoid “Frankenstein Essays”

Within 20 seconds of reading a draft personal statement, I can tell whether the author has a clear sense of what they want to say or whether they’ve spent far too much time asking for advice, deep-diving into forums, or otherwise overthinking it. These “Frankenstein essays” are a misfit mishmash of parts because the author tries to cover every base and make sure they provide something for everyone.

@gurufi_admissions

When a #personalstatement stops being a reflection of *your* voice and life, and instead tries to do too much, it becomes a “Frankenstein essay.

♬ original sound – Gurufi

When it comes to personal statements, you’re much better off writing a few things well than saying a lot of things briefly or poorly. As such, it is important to be judicious about where you seek advice. A strong personal statement represents you and your accomplishments and if focused on your future. It’s clear and simple, and not meandering and complicated.

Yes, when drafting a personal statement, it’s important to have an open mind and be prepared to take constructive criticism. Choosing wisely where to seek guidance for your personal statement will significantly improve the caliber and efficacy of your essay. Consult professionals, academics, peers, internet resources, family members, and friends for help, but also trust your gut and be loyal to who you are. Don’t forget that your personal statement should reflect your unique personality, so don’t be scared to experiment and be original. And, with EVERY piece of advice, make sure that the final decision is yours.