Fall MBA Tours are Rapidly Approaching! Are you Signed Up?

No matter what stage of the MBA application process you are in, attending an MBA tour is a great way to meet representatives from each school and find out which schools better suit your career goals. It's often difficult to visit each school individually, so MBA tours bring the schools to you! Even if you aren't sure what school you want to attend, these events also discuss general admissions tips, application dos and don'ts, GMAT strategies and more.

Fall is MBA tour season and many of the top business schools are bringing representatives to a city near you. Here's a quick overview of some of the big MBA tour events coming up in the next couple of months:

The MBA Tour:

• Houston, Sept. 3
• Chicago, Sept. 8
• Atlanta, Sept. 10
• New York City, Sept. 12
• Boston, Sept. 13
• Washington DC, Sept. 20
• Los Angeles, Sept. 26

QS World MBA Tour:

• Toronto, Sept. 13*
• Chicago, Sept. 15
• Boston, Sept. 17
• Miami, Sept. 21
• Atlanta, Sept. 22
• Washington DC, Sept. 24*
• New York City, Sept. 26*
• Seattle, Sept. 29
• Houston, Oct. 1
• Los Angeles, Oct. 3
• San Francisco, Oct. 4*

*Also includes QS World Executive MBA Tour

Manhattan Review MBA Gate

• New York City, Sept. 9
• Chicago, Sept. 12
• Boston, Sept. 16
• Washington DC, Sept. 19

Access MBA Tour

• New York City, Sept. 19

Note: Visit each site to find international tour dates!

Introducing MBA PodTV!

On Saturday Aug 15th, I left humid NYC for sunny Los Angeles. Reason? I'm the host of a new web TV series, MBA PodTV, being launched by MBAPodcaster in October! Now anyone who knows me knows I love to keep busy, so it will go as no surprise that my week filming and interviewing MBA Admission Directors, Business School Deans, GMAT prep companies, and corporate recruiters was jam-packed with meetings across LA and film shoots. I thought it would be fun to give you a little insight in what goes into starting a new web TV show...ENJOY!

Sunday, August 16th
I arrive in LA, and like any classy, just-out-of-NYC-lady, I take the Super Shuttle straight to my hotel (I'm on the BSB--business student budget--give me a break!). From there, my friend from HBS shows me around Century City and The Grove. I didn't stay long enough to do any major retail therapy though because I had to get ready to meet the MBA Podcaster team...

In the evening I have dinner on Hollywood Blvd. to meet the team. My hotel is in K-Town, so I look up the directions on my BB. Perfect! Only 4.2 miles. I can walk it in 45 minutes or so (I guess I should tell you that I didn't bring a car, since MBA Podcaster was arranging for my transportation). As I am walking, I quickly realize that I am traversing mini freeways and chaotic intersections. Yup, it's clear...I am definitely not in NYC...where walking from place to place is a luxury. In any case, when I get to the restaurant I realize I got there way too early and had a nice time hanging out at the bar reading HBS Section C update emails on my BB. I'm about to start my 2nd year at HBS in a few weeks, and every day someone in my 90 person section sends out an update on their life and summer internship.

Soon afterwards, my party came in. The actors: Leila Pirnia (Founder of MBA Podcaster), Janet Nakano (Video Producer), and Vanessa Bronte (Marketing Director). Dinner was amazing, and the best part is we all clicked! It was so much fun meeting them and talking about the future of MBA Pod TV.

Monday
Today Janet and I kick off our shooting schedule with an interview with Linda Abraham (Founder of Accepted.com). We did the shoot at her home. It was our first video interview, and it took us longer than expected to set-up. Linda was great though! She gave us some great tips on which students would be great "fits" for B-Schools like Harvard, MIT, Stanford, etc.

Tuesday
Morning starts around 8 am with Janet and I heading straight for Malibu to interview Veritas Prep. I'm not sure, how these guys get work done?!?! Their background is the gorgeous, blue waters of Malibu Beach, but somehow they manage to run a great business! I interview Scott Shrum, Chad Troutwine, and Brian Galvin. Great guys who provide me with lots of information on what to look for when selecting a GMAT prep company and an MBA consulting service!

After the interview, and a few caffeine runs, Leila, Janet, and I finally have our "ah-hah" moment...we came up with the moniker, "MBA Pod TV" for the title of our show. It's very exciting because now I have an intro and tag when I do stand-ups.


Wednesday
I'm not sure if I mentioned it, but Janet and I have gotten really good about being efficient! We eat every meal in the car, because we are always on the run from one interview to the next so we can bring the MBA Podcaster community the best insight and advice on all things MBA related. I feel bad for Janet though, because she usually eats with one hand on the steering wheel and other other hand on her McDonald's Sandwich....which brings up another interesting point... Janet and I are living off the Golden Arch! We're talking breakfast, lunch, and caffeine (I'm a huge fan of their fat free sugar free vanilla iced lattes--better than Starbucks!).

Highlights from today include an informative meeting with Michael Raben, a Kaplan GMAT instructor, who is HILARIOUS and very engaging! I had a great time speaking with him and learning some tips on how to crack the GMAT (you'll have to tune in to see)!

Shooting lasts until about 10:30 pm. We spend the evening script writing, brainstorming interview questions, and b-roll filming.

Thursday
Today I have an amazing opportunity to speak to my first CEO as the host of MBA Pod TV! John Suh is the CEO of Legalzoom (check out the video to see what they do). I have a fabulous time interviewing John and asking him questions about what he looks for in MBA interns. John is an HBS alum who thinks what's most important in an MBA intern is someone who works hard and is technically proficient. He doesn't put that much weight on brand name B-schools....that said, Legalzoom's current MBA intern is a fellow HBS student, Brandon Molina. You'll have to tune into the program to see me interview both John and Brandon.

After Legalzoom, Janet and I head straight to the Fox Studios to interview Erik Moreno, SVP of Corporate Development. Erik provides insight on what Fox looks for in MBA interns and MBA graduates.

The night ends late and over lattes (of course!). We film shows until 11 pm. Wow, I'm exhausted but so pumped for the debut of these videos. We've accumulated countless of hours of footage and it'll be really fun to turn these into informative shows for MBA PodTV.

Friday
It's only appropriate that on the last day of my filming, my alarm doesn't go off! I was supposed to meet Janet at 8:45 am. Instinctively, I wake up at 8:45 (even though my alarm was supposed to go off at 8 am). I see that Janet sent me a text message that she is running late. Great! I have 15 minutes to look camera ready...HD camera ready that is! When Janet arrives, we head straight to McDonalds for breakfast (shocking, I know!). We have a full day at USC where I will be interviewing a member of the Admissions Staff and the Head of Career Services. USC holds a close place to my heart since I was born in the USC hospital.

The interviews go great! I am told that some interesting characters apply to the Marshall School (think reality superstars and actors and actresses).

After my last interview with Stuart Hemphill, a SVP at Southern California Edison, I head straight to the airport to go home to San Fran. Wow! This week has flown by. I think I have worked harder this week than I have on my MBA application! That is why I am so excited to share all the information I learned with you through the videos. I help many of my friends and my own little sister get into business school, and now I want to help you. I hope you tune into the videos, and if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at mia@mbapodcaster.com. I would love to hear from you. :-)

MBA Tour’s CEO Gives Tips for MBA Tour Attendees

Want to get a little face time with a lot of MBA programs in just a couple of hours?

It’s not speed-dating; it’s the MBA Tour. The MBA Tour organizes free events in cities throughout the world to help introduce future MBA students to the world's best business schools. Their events are designed to provide the information necessary to choose the best MBA program for a person's objectives and to learn good strategies to apply successfully. MBA Tour events offer different meetings and panels to encourage informal and personal interaction with participating business school representatives.

We recently caught up with MBA Tour CEO and Managing Director Peter von Loesecke for a Q&A about what the MBA Tour offers and how you can maximize your MBA Tour experience – before, during and after.

The first podcast points you to services available on the MBA Tour website to help you get ready for an MBA Tour event. Von Loesecke also clues you into some Do’s and Don’t’s to help you put your best foot forward and ask questions that will give you the information you need to make your MBA application deciscions.

The second podcast outlines the different formats for MBA Tour presentations, as well as recapping the basics for MBA Tour preparation and followup.

The GRE vs GMAT Battle Continues! More Schools Now Accepting GRE

As we blogged about in April, 5 of top 10 business schools in the world now accept the GRE. And now the list continues.

For more info on finding an MBA Program that doesn't require the GMAT check out our show on this topic.

Original post below, new additions and highlights are as follows:

NYU Stern (August 2009): http://w4.stern.nyu.edu/news/news.cfm?doc_id=101687

Wharton (July 2009): "It's part of a move by the school to attract a broader applicant pool, including dual-degree students, younger applicants, and international applicants from far-flung countries without GMAT access."

Harvard Business School (May 2009): "We are pleased to widen our requirements to give all MBA candidates the option of submitting results from either the GRE or GMAT exam," said Deirdre Leopold, HBS Managing Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, in a release issued this morning. "Since many HBS applicants are also considering graduate programs besides the MBA, there is now no need for them to take the GMAT if they have already taken the GRE. We believe that both the GMAT and the GRE meet our expectations of what a standardized test can tell us about a candidate's ability to thrive in our MBA Program."

University of Virginia's Darden School of Business: Darden Admissions Director Sara Neher took the GRE exam this year to assess whether it would be an appropriate assessment for Darden applicants. "I wouldn't accept the GRE if I didn't understand what it was asking people to do," Neher says. "It's definitely not as complicated of a math test, but it still tests logic, general analytic ability, vocabulary, and reading comprehension in the same way the GMAT does," she says.

Queen's School of Business
Tulane's Freeman School of Business
Stanford
MIT Sloan

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Is the GMAT not working for you? Has it been too long since grade school math? Fear not, now you have options! The GRE is gaining popularity among top business schools around the world.Which top schools? China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), Harvard, Instituto De Empresa (IE), Canada's Queen's School of Business, MIT Sloan and Stanford. To view a complete list of MBA programs that accept GRE visit www.ets.org/gre/bschools.

More than 190 business schools from across the globe - including many top-ranked MBA programs in Europe, Asia and North America - are part of a growing trend of MBA programs that are seeking to broaden and diversify their candidate pools by accepting GRE test scores.

Last month, Harvard Business School (HBS) announced that it will accept GRE scores for admission into its 2+2 program. "The HBS 2+2 program is designed to encourage college juniors - especially those in majors such as engineering, science and government - to consider business as a career path," said Deirdre Leopold, Harvard Business School's Managing Director of Admissions and Financial Aid. "Since the GRE is the test these students are most familiar with on the road to graduate school, we are pleased to offer it as an alternative option to the GMAT®."

And this just in (added 5/18/09) the regular Harvard MBA program now accepts the GRE as well. In addition, MBA programs cite institutional competitiveness and student access to GRE test centers as practical reasons for accepting GRE test scores. But it is the current global economy and the GRE test's inherent ability to support programs' diversity goals that creates the most appeal, according to David Bach, Associate Dean of MBA programs at Instituto de Empresa (IE) Business School."As the financial crisis deepens, new approaches are needed to rebuild global financial systems and to uncover opportunities for creating value in business and society," says Bach. "Business schools must look to diverse participants to engage in this process, and we find the GRE test an excellent tool to help us meet this objective."

In addition, the GRE only costs $150 versus the GMAT's $250 price tag.

If you are working on the GMAT, take advantage of our special discount pricing with the following top test prep companies:

1. For $100 off any Manhattan GMAT class, use the promo code PODCASTER.

2. For $150 off any Veritas class, use the discount code POD150 when registering.

3. For 10% off every one of Kaplan's GMAT comprehensive options, use the code MBAPOD10 when registering.

Why Quality Professors Are an Important Component to an MBA Education

Earlier this week, Ernst & Young LLP awarded five top business school faculty members with the first-ever Inclusive Excellence Awards, recognizing their work helping to create a more diverse learning environment that will ultimately help students succeed in today's global workforce.

We at MBA Podcaster are thrilled to hear the news about this new award recognizing star business school faculty. We know how big a role professors play in creating a quality MBA education for business students. That's why it's important to review the strength of the faculty at the business schools you are applying to. The good ones will often leave lasting impressions on your personal and professional life.

In our podcast, Star Professors, we interview some of the experts from top business schools about how to make sure you find the best professors to learn from. Here are some highlights from that show:

• Getting to know the faculty and their teaching methods can help you find the school that's a good fit for you.
• Showing that you are familiar with the faculty on your application will help your chances of getting in.
  
• Most schools have faculty evaluations available online. One example of a helpful resource is ratemyprofessor.com.
  
• Many professors are former executives from big companies that may have helpful connections when you are looking for a job or internship.
• Most faculty members make themselves available outside of class time to get to know students personally and provide additional advice.

Do you know any star business school professors? Share them with us here and tell us what makes them so outstanding!

Rise in Unemployment Leads to Rise in GMAT Test Takers

Bloomberg News recently came out with a study showing that during recession periods, many unemployed turn to options to further their education, especially in business.

With the current recession being the worst since World War II, there has been a record number of GMAT exam registrations.


With an increased number of exam takers, there is increased competition to score well. That's why we at MBA Podcaster want to make sure you've got all the tips to score your best on test day.

If you are planning to take your GMAT soon, make sure you've listened to all our GMAT shows and taken advantage of our discount codes offered for test prep courses.

Lastly, find out if your dream business school allows you to take the GRE instead of the GMAT. Many top business schools are changing those admissions requirements these days. We talk about that in our show, GMAT Not Required.

Good luck!

Admissions Officers Offer Tips on Increasing Applicants Chances of Getting In

Recent white paper from Veritas Prep releases study surveying top admissions officers

One of our partners, Veritas Prep, published another stellar white paper recently. It is entitled, "Trends in MBA Admissions: Perceptions of Admissions Officers at Top 30 Business Schools." This one announces the results of an online survey, conducted during the 2008-2009 admissions cycle, of admissions officers from the top 30 business schools (as listed by BusinessWeek).

In this report, the surveyed admissions officers have clearly stated common mistakes applicants make and what characteristics they look for in an applicant.

We think the findings in this report will prove to be especially useful for applicants this year, so we wanted to highlight them for you here. Make sure you read the entire report so you know how to use these findings to your advantage on your application.

The application process:

• Careless errors (81%) ranked as the top faux pas committed by applicants. Inconsistency between institutional choice and students’ educational objectives and ambitions ranked second, and the inclusion of unrequested items and inappropriate interview conduct tied as the third most common application faux pas.
• Forty three percent said they would not prefer a larger applicant pool.
• Almost half of respondents (47%) report that the number of admits straight out of college has significantly or moderately increased compared to five years ago.

The evaluation process:

• The importance of analytical skills (50%) ranked ahead of leadership (19%) in student selection.
• Professional experience (63%) is the most important factor in student selection. Community service (6%), which traditionally ranks high, is reportedly the least important
  selection criterion.
• Seventy percent of admissions officers feel that admissions consultants help students identify the programs with which they fit best and clarify their career goals.
• Ninety-two percent of admissions officers are aware that applicants use admissions consultants more often than they did five years ago.
• Eighty percent of respondents said that institutional priorities and enrollment goals are more important than or as important as an individual applicant’s merit.
  

What they want to see:

• The biggest challenges institutions face are attracting more highly-qualified students (33%) and supporting cultural diversity (33%).
• Among desired changes that admissions officers would like to see in their applicant pool, diversity ranks number one (87%).
• Admissions officers would like to see the student application process include more face-to-face or telephone interviews in the next five years (60%). While a slight majority
  of admissions officers see the application process becoming less complex, almost half (47%) believe the application process will actually become more complex in the coming years.

Veritas says it best by stating: "Understanding what wows and irritates admissions officers at leading business schools, and tailoring the MBA application accordingly, can propel one’s candidacy from unlikely to competitive."


Veritas Prep is offering a special discount for MBA Podcaster listeners. For $150 off any Veritas class, use the discount code POD150 when registering on http://www.veritasprep.com/