Critique of Stacy Blackman Blog
December 4th, 2009
The Stacy Blackman Consulting blog is a must-read for people who are planning to take their MBA because it has great inputs for MBA programs that are offered in various parts of the world. It does not merely discuss the programs, but the admission process and requirements are also thoroughly discussed. There are also valuable advice that everyone will find very helpful.
The posts
One informative blog post discusses tips on how to write the admission essays for Kellogg School of Management. If you are applying for the MBA program at Kellogg, you must read this and take all the advice to heart. The thorough discussion in this blog post will really help you in properly writing the admission essays. You will also be given great advice to clearly and completely understand what the essay wants to establish. Furthermore, there are also specific blog posts that discuss essay tips for other schools like UC Berkeley, Harvard, Stanford, and many others.
Aside from essay tips, there are also blog entries about career goals. The blog posts are a great read because this will help people realize what their career goals are and the importance of having one. It helps the reader find out what his or her passion is and to identify the career goal that will perfectly fit into one?s passion. The blog also discusses the importance of setting realistic goals.
The layout and design
I really love the fact that this blog has loads of valuable information for its readers. It takes time and expertise to create these posts and to provide valuable insights into each one. Furthermore, the blog?s layout is very neat and well-organized. Readers will not get lost in finding their way around the site. The font size and color are just right for readability. The presented information are organized by simply changing the font style. The tabs on the right column further enhance the user-friendliness of the site.
Critique of Rockey’s Journey to an MBA Blog
November 29th, 2009
Rockey’s Journey to an MBA is also about the writer?s personal experiences in finding the right graduate school, filling up applications, and submitting the requirements. There are also posts that discuss the blogger?s insights regarding his journey into the world of MBA. What makes the posts really interesting is the fact that it showcases another person?s own experiences. Readers can find valuable lessons, or they can find themselves agreeing to the lessons that the blogger is sharing.
The informative posts
There are posts that talk about the blogger?s realization in the midst of his journey. In his blog entry In Search of Greatness, readers can easily relate to his personal experience and even agree to his thoughts about writing those essays. I also find the posts about Wharton essays very interesting. Here, the blogger discusses how challenging it is to finish the essays. He also shared his game plan in writing the essay. These posts make this blog a good resource for MBA applicants.
The layout and design
The blog is a good read because of the information that the blogger shares about his applications to different schools. The layout is neatly done, which I find very pleasing to the eyes. The middle column shows the blogs in chronological order, while visitors can find a list of top posts on the left column and a list of categories on the right. These are really helpful in seeing the contents of the blog.
However, the blog can also benefit from a design makeover. It has a pretty basic layout and overall design, which works for some. But if the blog intends attract more frequent visitors, there has to be some pictures and videos to make it more interesting.
Critique of Reve Counseling Blog
November 22nd, 2009
The Reve Counseling Blog offers consulting services to people who are seeking admission to graduate programs from all over the world. The blog is a great tool that supports the services of Reve Counseling. Here, the visitors will find thorough discussions about graduate programs in different schools. It also provides valuable advice or tips to its readers.
What makes it a good read
One very informative post tackled the letter of recommendation as an admission requirement to graduate programs. The writer shares helpful advice in fulfilling this requirement. For example, identifying the best people for the recommendation was discussed. It highlighted the importance of finding different people who will showcase the applicant?s varied strengths.
If you are applying to UCLA Anderson, it is highly recommended that you read the post about the essay questions. You will find a thorough discussion of the essay questions in this blog. Important insights in properly answering the essay questions are also shared. The blog post caters to both first-time applicants and re-applicants.
Furthermore, readers will find many posts on essay analyses and deadlines from different graduate schools such as Columbia Business School, Dartmouth Tuck, Harvard Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, UC Berkeley Haas, University of Chicago Booth, and Wharton. Like the post for UCLA Anderson, visitors will find much valuable information here. The different essay questions are discussed, and tips on answering them are provided. You will also see the deadlines for submission.
What I think about the layout and design
The layout of the blog is clean and simple. This is a plus for readability. On the front page of the blog, you will find the blog posts in chronological order. I found the list of recent blogs very helpful, instead of having to scroll all the way down the page. There is also a list of the different categories of posts. However, I will find it more helpful if the tabs were placed on top of the page.
Critique of MBA Outlook
November 15th, 2009
The MBAoutlook blog tackles everything about the MBA industry, which makes it a great resource for people who plan to take their MBA or for people who are actually studying to finish their degrees. The varied posts makes it really interesting. It covers information about MBA all over the world. Yes, it does not only talk about MBA in the US or UK. You can even find information about MBA in Asia.
What I love about this site
One blog post that I really loved reading is about unemployment. I really loved the insights that Joel Friedman shared in this post. Indeed, unemployment is a difficult phase in every person?s life. A person?s job is part of his or her identity, and if that is taken away, that person will somehow feel incomplete or inadequate, not to mention the negative effects that it can bring to a family. He also talked about the importance of communication and knowing how to brand one?s self.
It is also great to read a list of the best business books in the market today. It covers topics about communication, decision-making, productivity, project management, marketing, sales, and many more. There?s a book review for every title in each topic.
To prove how varied the topics are, there is one blog post about testosterone and women traders. It talked about the scientific studies, which showed the relationship of testosterone and the risk-taking behavior of women.
On a personal note
Because of the multitude of information that the blog contains, a first-time visitor may find it cluttered or overwhelming. It is good that the blog is simple and easy to the eyes. It used white as the background color with fonts that are readable. The tabs at the top of the page are also very helpful in navigating around the site. It is really quite easy to find a particular topic that interests the visitors.
Soft Skills You Must Include in Your Personal Statement MBA
November 8th, 2009
Learn the art of injecting soft skills into your personal statements when aiming for MBA school admission. Doing so will surely land you a safe spot on the MBA school of your choice. Remember, it is not just the personal statement that will do the work in your application. You have to sell your self high, emphasizing all your achievements, skills, and other positive attributes, which can usher you toward getting the MBA degree.
Diligence
Admissions officers want to see more of you in your personal statement, that?s why they made it the requirement for processing applications. After giving them a detail of your academic credentials and achievements based on your TOR and resume, you should also give a lot of focus on your strengths that will help convince the admissions panel of your acceptance. Focus writing your essay on how diligent you are with any task at hand and what impact this had on your previous undertakings, and surely you will get your ticket to MBA school.
Ambition
When writing your essay or personal statement MBA, it is crucial to highlight your ambition. Emphasize the goals that drive you and push you to be one of the great business leaders in the future. As you know, the admissions panel puts great value on the applicant?s ambition. Therefore, it is an enormously important gauge to get in to your desired MBA school.
Communication skills
Writing an effective personal statement for MBA school goes beyond detailing your credentials and achievements. You need to write creatively to connect to your audience and show how articulate you are in conveying your ideas. Your goals and ambitions, diligence, and communication skills are the essential elements of an effective personal statement that would guarantee you a slot in the MBA program you are aspiring for. To achieve MBA success, you need to be diligent, goal-oriented, and very articulate to propel you toward prosperity in business.
Related links:
Business schools – Discussions about business schools
MBA admissions – All about the MBA school admission
Top MBA schools – About the top MBA schools in the US
MBA school profiles – About top US MBA schools
MBA school alumni – About getting help from MBA school alumni
How to Make the Best Impression on Your Admission Essay
November 1st, 2009
When submitting your essay or personal statement MBA, you need to make a good first impresion. This is why writing your essay is the most crucial part of the application process. Make sure that when you start writing, you are focused on a theme. Outline your professional credentials with your achievement, combined with details highlighting your motivation and determination. These are the main ingredients that will help you make the best impression through your admission essay.
Play by the rules set by the school
Always adhere to the regulations and rules of the school. If the school sets that the admissions board will not allow adding any material or changes in your essays once the application has been sent, then respect their rules. When writing your essay, make sure that your work has been polished, reviewed, and re-edited so many times before finally submitting. This way, you will feel confident about your personal statement, and the admissions committee can see how carefully planned the essay is.
Be sure to know the standards
Before you write your personal statement, make sure you know the various
standards set by the MBA school of your choice. Otherwise, you are just wasting both your time and the admission officers?. You may write your essay effectively by downright sharing what you know of the school?s standards and tying them up with your competencies and positive attributes like your motivation and determination.
Tailor your essay for admission to that school
Before treading a path you wish to explore, make sure you know every detail you will need. If the school you are aspiring to go to offers an MBA program that accept students who are in search of the highest business qualification, tailor-fit your personal statement for MBA school to the school?s standards.
Related links:
Business schools – Discussions about business schools
MBA admissions – All about the MBA school admission
Top MBA schools – About the top MBA schools in the US
MBA school profiles – About top US MBA schools
MBA school alumni – About getting help from MBA school alumni
Critique of Business Schools
October 19th, 2009
If you want to find information about business schools, this is the right blog to visit. It talks about admissions, scholarships, and top business schools all over the world. There is even a page that features Stanford University?s Graduate School of Business and Manchester Business School.
What the blog is all about
The most recent posts are about Harvard University. One blog post talked about tips on how to get admitted to Harvard University, while the other one is about the admission process. If you do not want to read the post, you can simply watch the video. Both posts are great resources for people who want to get into Harvard University.
I also love the featured profiles on Stanford University?s Graduate School of Business and *Manchester Business School. These profiles are a must-read for people who are considering attending these famous schools. The blog post discussed a lot of information about these schools such as their history, admission requirements and process, as well as curriculum.
And if you are looking for the top business schools in other parts of the world, you will find a page that features the ranking of top business schools worldwide. This shows that the blog caters to readers who come from any part of the world.
What I think about the blog
All blog posts are well-written and easy to understand. The layout of the blog is really simple and uncluttered. The home page gives its readers snippets of the three most recent posts. There are tabs on top and at the right side of the page, which are great tools in navigating the site. I also loved the addition of video blogs in some posts. This way, the visitor can simply watch or listen to the blog instead of reading it. It offers a different venue in getting the message to its readers. All it really needs are photos to make the site look more engaging.
Top MBA Schools in the US: Chicago Booth, Harvard, and Kellogg
December 13th, 2008
Having a successful business career requires significant investment. And what better way to invest in your business future than getting quality business education? Nothing assures having quality MBA education better than the best business schools. If you’re on the look out for an MBA school that would best equip you as you put up your business career, then you’ve come to the right page. Here are profiles of the three universities in the US that topped BusinessWeek’s 2008 list.
University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Since its inception in 1898, Chicago Booth has been an exemplar of quality education. Fostering an effectual discipline-based approach to learning, it has nurtured a number of successful business practitioners including Nobel laureate, James Kilts, who developed Gillette, Kraft, Oscar Mayer and Nabisco. To apply to any Chicago Booth MBA school, just request for an application form through the school’s website. Chicago Booth offers MBA, PhD and executive programs in full-time, and evening and weekend classes.
Founded in 1908, Harvard Business School (HBS) is one of the oldest MBA schools in the country. Effectively handling a good reputation in management education through the years, it boasts of educating a number of distinguished business personalities. Among its deans are John H. McArthur, who has been the Senior Advisor of the World Bank’s president since 1996, and Jay O. Light, who was a Ford Foundation Director of Investment and Financial Policies. To apply to HBS, follow its online application program on its website.
Kellogg School of Management [NorthwesternUniversity]
Also founded in 1908, Kellogg School of Management takes its pride in its countless alumni who have set their own places in the business world. Rearing students from different cultural backgrounds, Kellogg offers undergraduate, MBA, doctoral and executive programs in full-time and part-time. To apply to the Kellogg School of Management, just check out the application requirements and download the application form from the school’s website.
Networking in MBA Schools: Its Importance
November 16th, 2008
Once you get into your MBA degree program of choice – this, after going through a grueling period of interviews and self-examination for your personal statement MBA – you will find yourself in a sea of like-minded people. This may not be part of the goals you wrote for your personal statement MBA but you are thrust in a world where networking is one of the essentials.
Some may list expanding their network as goal in their personal statement MBA but not all consider this a big deal the start. And of course, there are major advantages in expanding your network – be it in business school, law school or just your gym. An expanded business can make a big difference in company’s survival and profits,
With networking within an MBA program, you get to form a personal and professional bond with like-minded individuals. In forming your group, you expose each other to differing ideas and opinions. At the same time, you get to practice leadership and compromise. A group setting can often teach someone about the importance of team work and a focused goals – both of which are essential in the survival of any business or endeavor. Individual insights also expose you to undertakings and trains of thought that you don’t normally get into. This expands your openness and knowledge. Your leadership is then enhanced, making you more effective within your organization.
To being networking in MBA schools, get involved with your classmates or batch mates first. It all starts with having a good circle of friends who can accompany you as you all go through the hardships of getting an MBA degree. Friends would have other friends, and this may further extend your network. You can also get involved with the different organizations available to you. Through this organization, you can establish your standing within the group and within your company.
Photo Credit : ixtlan
MBA Student Loans: Dealing with Payment
October 21st, 2008
Applying for a student loan is one of the best ways to deal with paying for your MBA education. Finding a way to pay off your student loans may not be as easy. While you now have the education, experience, and training to succeed in your career, paying off your student loans can still be difficult. Here are some tips on paying off your student loans:
Become a working student
Most MBA schools have various programs with flexible schedules to accommodate working students. One of the best ways of saving money, paying bills, and dealing with student loan debts is to work part-time or full-time and take advantage of the many flexible programs you can choose from. Night school and part-time programs are viable options for those who want to work while pursuing an MBA.
Negotiate with companies
Many companies offer to help employees with their tuition or student loan payments. Usually, these types of programs will require a contractual agreement. The employee agrees to stay with the company for a certain period of time, while the employer agrees to shoulder some of the costs of the employee’s MBA schooling.
Loan forgiveness programs
Another way you can deal with student loan payments is to enroll in a loan forgiveness program. Like companies, schools also offer help students pay off their loans. If you are willing to work with non-profit organizations or for the school itself, the school may be willing to help you pay off your student loan.
Consider loan consolidation
You may have had to take several student loans to get through your schooling. Consolidating your loans can make payments easier, since you only have to deal with one loan rather than several. Before signing on the dotted line, make sure that you know and understand your loan consolidation program.
Small changes, big rewards
If you have the habit of going out every weekend (to the movies, a restaurant, or a party), consider cutting down a little on your expenses. Making small changes to your lifestyle can lead to better savings for paying off your loans.
Photo Credit : Extra Ketchup