Your Deferred MBA Weekly Check-In: December 18, 2023
Let’s take a break from finals season, shall we?
The holidays are upon us! Winter break is the perfect time to get ahead with Deferred MBA applications.
Of course, take a break – you deserve it! Enjoy your time off and reconnect with loved ones! The last thing we want is burnout before we even get started.
If you need some time off from thinking about dMBA apps, just bookmark this week’s check-in for later. It’s not going anywhere.
On Your Radar
Here are some of the best events going on this week in dMBA-land:
Kellogg (NU): Student Club Spotlight: Kellogg Tech Club
When: Monday, December 18, 12:00 PM to 12:45 PM CST
Where: Virtual
Description: “Join us for an online event hosted by the KTech Club. Admitted and prospective students will get the opportunity to hear from Ktech club members about their MBA journey, experiences at Kellogg and what sources Kellogg can offer as a tech school.”
Berkeley Haas: Full-time MBA Information Session: Why Haas?
When: Monday, December 18, 4:00 PM to 4:45 PM PST
Where: Virtual
Description: “Wondering what an MBA from Haas can do for you? Join our virtual information session to discover the benefits of our programs, how it can help you achieve your goals, and learn more about the extensive support that Haas can provide along the way.”
Darden (UVA): Future Year Scholars Program Virtual Coffee Chat
When: Monday, December 18, 2:00 PM to 2:45 PM EST
Where: Virtual
Description: “Meet with a member of Darden's Admissions Committee and other prospective students in a small group setting to learn more about the Future Year Scholars Program -- a deferred admissions program for exceptional college students. Get more information about what top business schools are looking for and the value of an MBA degree.”
Yale SOM: Admissions Q&A
When: TWO SESSIONS THIS WEEK!
Where: Virtual
Description: “Join us for a live online Q&A session hosted by a Yale SOM Admissions Committee member. These are small, interactive sessions where all participants are encouraged to share their audio and video, replicating the group conversation you would experience during an in-person campus visit.”
Columbia (CBS): Women of CBS: Admissions Roundtable
When: Wednesday, December 21, 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM EST
Where: Virtual
Description: “Please join members of the CBS Admissions team online, to learn more about the Full-Time MBA Application before the January 5, 2024 application deadline. This is a great opportunity for women and allies who are planning to apply to August 2024, to ask questions about Columbia’s application process in a casual and intimate setting.”
Harvard (HBS): Coffee Chat with Current Student
When: Ongoing
Where: In-person, cities around the US and international
Description: “Join a current HBS student in a casual setting to hear more about life as a full-time MBA student at Harvard Business School. This session will primarily be an informal Q&A, so come prepared with your questions!”
Sign up for a chat in your city on the Admissions Events calendar page
All times displayed are local to the respective institutions.
Having trouble keeping track?
I compiled links for admissions events at many of the top dMBA programs. Click here to access and bookmark it for later! If you haven’t already, I’d recommend subscribing to these schools’ admissions email lists and keeping tabs on their event calendars regularly!
Have an event that’s not on the list?
Leave a comment and share with the community!
MBAxcel Tip of the Week: Reflect.
No, really. That’s it. That’s the tip of the week.
Put your pencil down from your GMAT prep book. Turn off your computer. Do something that makes you happy. For me, it’s taking a walk around my neighborhood.
Then, really think about it.
Why do I want an MBA?
And, specifically, why do I want one now?
I’m not expecting you to come up with an answer immediately. Maybe there are several answers spinning around in your mind, none of them coherent. That’s how I felt for months before I hit the submit button.
If it’s any inspiration, here’s what my thoughts boiled down to in my application (at a very general level):
I studied business during undergrad and absolutely loved the case method. Fundamentally, I wanted to continue learning in this type of collaborative, energetic environment with similarly excited peers.
I was entering a very stable job in consulting post-grad, but I realized that I wanted to pursue entrepreneurship to make an impact and join like-minded students who I could learn from. With no previous entrepreneurship background, I thought an MBA would be a wonderful introduction to the startup world.
Why now: To be very frank, I thought that my chances of entering a top MBA program were higher as a high-achieving undergrad than five years down the line, when I am one of thousands of similar-background consultants seeking admission.
Your answer may not be anything like mine, and that’s perfectly fine! If anything, my answer to the question “Why do I want an MBA” was one that evolved through multiple iterations before I figured it out — and, chances are, my answer may completely change by the time I decide to matriculate.
Answering this question is an iterative process.
This question will follow you around throughout your admissions journey, from now until you write your essays, and even until you sit for your interview.
It’s a good idea to start thinking about “Why dMBA” early so that your answer by the time April deadlines come will be the deepest, most truthful version of itself.
The goal is to press the submit button on an application that fulfills, energizes, and excites you. That is an application that radiates your passion and speaks to your character.
Write it down!
I’m a big fan of journaling as a method of reflection: my thoughts are much more coherent when I write them down. Try this: jot down your answer to “Why MBA” in bullet points. Be completely unfiltered. Then, set a reminder to do this again in 3 to 4 weeks.
Putting pen to paper is incredibly motivating and reassuring. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by how your answer changes over time!
Postscript.
Do you have a burning question about the dMBA process? Leave a comment or reply via email! I would love to answer any questions you have and put your mind at ease.
Thanks for reading and Happy Holidays!