I'm so close to submitting Columbia's application I can almost taste the Submit button....
Essays have been good, I've received lots of feedback - and am waiting for more feedback from people I've met at GMATclub.com. I think an important lesson I learnt regarding essays is that you shouldn't lose your personal voice and touch when writting the essays. In general, once you've drafted your essays out, you'll proceed to edit the hell out of them for clarity and direction. However, try not to leave in the personal touch, maybe you like using certain terms and you've described yourself in the essays; leave those parts in.
The ad coms are human and so are you, so a little human touch in the essays would be great. After all, you're not writing a technical document.
But then, I might be seriously wrong :P Nevertheless, I'm taking the risk and am going to be me! :) I only wish I could write well enough to make an ad com cry :)
Listening to
Chywynny - I am (Sy & Unknown mix).mp3
Ultravibes - Dust.mp3
Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
To date, my recommenders have been very accommodating. I selected my two former supervisors and told them a month ago of my plans and intentions. One of them bluntly asked me why I wasn't applying to Harvard! :(
So, taking that situation into consideration, chance are that I will be applying to Harvard. :)
Anyhow, recommender management is a must in the application process. I'm sure that there are plenty of posts detailing on the information to give to the recommender, guidance and such. However, I think the most important actions that I took were
i) the Golden Rule: Informing MBA friendly recommenders as early as possible - meaning, before I even started filling up the application form. In fact, my former supervisor has known for the past 2 years that I want to pursue an MBA. Prep your recommenders subtly before hand - gauge to whether they think there is a value in getting an MBA. You don't really want to have a recommender that thinks that MBAs are a waste of time.
ii) Bite the bullet and don't be shy about asking them to be your recommender. Maybe I'm it's cultural because I'm Asian, but I felt a bit apprehensive about asking them for help. Take them out for lunch or dinner when you talk to them about it - I mean, if you're going to ask for your help, you may as well do it in a nice comfortable manner. Don't just call them up and ask them to be your recommender. But take them out and talk to them.
iii) Provide guidance. As in a sample recommendation. Some recommenders have never seen the MBA recommender's form before and may not know how to complete it. Suggest how they might fill it up, and ask them if they have the time, to give examples when appropriate.
iv) It's a pain to have to remind recommenders to complete the recommendation. Do it progressively. And here it becomes even more important to have notified them way ahead of time. Maybe for the first time you could say, "How's the recommendation coming along? I'm thinking of submitting everything end of the month." Then as the day draws closer, you can hint by saying "Oh, I'm submitting it next week. Has it been completed? Would you like to discuss any issues?"
v) When ever possible, discuss things face to face. Not via emails, not over the phone. Even though I've known one of my recommenders for 14 years, I'm still taking him out for a lunch to discuss things.
vi) Don't write your own recommendation. But discuss what issues they may face when doing your recommendation. Be open to discussing specific questions if they bring it up. If your recommender is truly out to help you, s/he will bring out outstanding points about your performance and discuss them with you. My recommender brought up my performance for a proposal that I had forgotten, but apparently my performance had impressed him well enough.
Can't really remember anything else that I've been doing with my recommenders except spending face to face time with them.
Oh, pay for the meal. :)
So, taking that situation into consideration, chance are that I will be applying to Harvard. :)
Anyhow, recommender management is a must in the application process. I'm sure that there are plenty of posts detailing on the information to give to the recommender, guidance and such. However, I think the most important actions that I took were
i) the Golden Rule: Informing MBA friendly recommenders as early as possible - meaning, before I even started filling up the application form. In fact, my former supervisor has known for the past 2 years that I want to pursue an MBA. Prep your recommenders subtly before hand - gauge to whether they think there is a value in getting an MBA. You don't really want to have a recommender that thinks that MBAs are a waste of time.
ii) Bite the bullet and don't be shy about asking them to be your recommender. Maybe I'm it's cultural because I'm Asian, but I felt a bit apprehensive about asking them for help. Take them out for lunch or dinner when you talk to them about it - I mean, if you're going to ask for your help, you may as well do it in a nice comfortable manner. Don't just call them up and ask them to be your recommender. But take them out and talk to them.
iii) Provide guidance. As in a sample recommendation. Some recommenders have never seen the MBA recommender's form before and may not know how to complete it. Suggest how they might fill it up, and ask them if they have the time, to give examples when appropriate.
iv) It's a pain to have to remind recommenders to complete the recommendation. Do it progressively. And here it becomes even more important to have notified them way ahead of time. Maybe for the first time you could say, "How's the recommendation coming along? I'm thinking of submitting everything end of the month." Then as the day draws closer, you can hint by saying "Oh, I'm submitting it next week. Has it been completed? Would you like to discuss any issues?"
v) When ever possible, discuss things face to face. Not via emails, not over the phone. Even though I've known one of my recommenders for 14 years, I'm still taking him out for a lunch to discuss things.
vi) Don't write your own recommendation. But discuss what issues they may face when doing your recommendation. Be open to discussing specific questions if they bring it up. If your recommender is truly out to help you, s/he will bring out outstanding points about your performance and discuss them with you. My recommender brought up my performance for a proposal that I had forgotten, but apparently my performance had impressed him well enough.
Can't really remember anything else that I've been doing with my recommenders except spending face to face time with them.
Oh, pay for the meal. :)
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
I would like to give away some GMAT books
i) OG 11 (used condition)
ii) MGMAT Series (excellent condition)
iii) MGAMT SC (used condition)
iv) Kaplan 800 (virtually brand new)
I'm located in SE Asia, so if there are any takers, you'll have to pay for the shipping. It'll probably be cheaper to ship the entire bunch of books in bulk. I've only one request
i) That when you're done with the books, you give them and any other books that you've used away to somebody else. And ensure that the next person does the same thing etc.
So if you're interested, let me know. Leave a comment or send me an email.
i) OG 11 (used condition)
ii) MGMAT Series (excellent condition)
iii) MGAMT SC (used condition)
iv) Kaplan 800 (virtually brand new)
I'm located in SE Asia, so if there are any takers, you'll have to pay for the shipping. It'll probably be cheaper to ship the entire bunch of books in bulk. I've only one request
i) That when you're done with the books, you give them and any other books that you've used away to somebody else. And ensure that the next person does the same thing etc.
So if you're interested, let me know. Leave a comment or send me an email.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
After much discussion with many people, I've come to realize, if your essay word limit is 500, and you're not hitting it, or even going beyond it - you are doing something wrong.
If you're hitting 480 words, you are missing out on the opportunity to fully present yourself. You should maximize your word usage - every sentence or even word can make a difference. Don't sell yourself short.
During my first drafts, I ignore the word limit and write as much as I can. Using all the adjectives and adverbs that I want. Once I'm done, I then sit down and cut everything down. I find that if I sit there and try to write something to conform to the limit, I'll be more focused on my word usage than writing a good story.
So write that story before worrying about that word limit.
If you're hitting 480 words, you are missing out on the opportunity to fully present yourself. You should maximize your word usage - every sentence or even word can make a difference. Don't sell yourself short.
During my first drafts, I ignore the word limit and write as much as I can. Using all the adjectives and adverbs that I want. Once I'm done, I then sit down and cut everything down. I find that if I sit there and try to write something to conform to the limit, I'll be more focused on my word usage than writing a good story.
So write that story before worrying about that word limit.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
With the exception of Essay 2, the rest of Columbia's essays are pretty easy going. I've completed the first drafts and will be finalizing the rest. I'm also planning to send in my transcripts to Columbia instead of completing the self reporting transcripts. I also need to get on the GMAT and forward a copy of my scores. Suddenly everything seems so sudden!
That seems to be the common thing about applications - you seem to have a lot of time, then when you sit down and start doing it... you suddenly wish for another month or so. But when you're done with an application, you start to wish that time would pass faster so you would be getting that interview call.... and then that admit!
You know things will be well when you start looking forward to being able to work on your application. When the stress isn't in the application itself, but the fact that you have to do other things before you hit the applications. Like the GMAT, applications can become enjoyable after a while - I look forward to editing the essays every night, it gives me a goal, no matter how fleeting. Sometimes I wonder, what would I be doing if not pursuing an MBA - would I be out partying? would I be sitting around, watching TV? As I said before, MBA applications become a lifestyle, at least for me it has.
It's a bit sad, scary, but true.
That seems to be the common thing about applications - you seem to have a lot of time, then when you sit down and start doing it... you suddenly wish for another month or so. But when you're done with an application, you start to wish that time would pass faster so you would be getting that interview call.... and then that admit!
You know things will be well when you start looking forward to being able to work on your application. When the stress isn't in the application itself, but the fact that you have to do other things before you hit the applications. Like the GMAT, applications can become enjoyable after a while - I look forward to editing the essays every night, it gives me a goal, no matter how fleeting. Sometimes I wonder, what would I be doing if not pursuing an MBA - would I be out partying? would I be sitting around, watching TV? As I said before, MBA applications become a lifestyle, at least for me it has.
It's a bit sad, scary, but true.
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