Manhattan Review Blog - Test Prep, Admissions Consulting and Career Training

Weeks after unveiling its first series of GMAT instructional videos on YouTube, Manhattan Review is rolling out a second series on MBA Admissions advice for business school applicants. The videos feature short lectures on how to set application goals to meet deadlines, how to prepare for interviews, and how to strategize effective recommendation letters. The videos are designed to be short enough for the viewer to catch a quick overview, while still being long enough to fully convey the basic concepts that all MBA applicants need.

The videos feature members of Manhattan Review’s MBA Admissions Consulting team. Each lecture focuses on a different aspect of MBA Admissions that stems from the consultant’s expertise. The videos educate YouTube viewers, while also giving them a chance to experience the content and substance of Manhattan Review MBA Admissions Consulting Services.

Manhattan Review offers a variety of admissions consulting services, from comprehensive elite school packages focusing on a single school to those addressing admissions for up to five different MBA programs. Also available are hourly admissions packages, as well as packages specific to essay/resume writing and interview preparation. “By viewing these free MBA Admission videos,” said Tracy Yun, CEO, “applicant can get an overview of the basics of MBA Admissions and get a sampling of our more in-depth consulting services.”

As the number of applicants to MBA programs has grown over recent years, more MBA hopefuls have turned to admissions consulting services in order to gain an edge. And with the recession affecting people’s budgets, applicants need to be sure of the quality of the admission consultation that they purchase. The new series of YouTube videos from Manhattan Review demonstrates the quality of its service for students in need of consultation on their MBA applications.

Listed below are some initial videos that comprise Manhattan Review’s ongoing MBA Admissions Advice Video Series.

• Business School Application – Tips on Essay-Writing
• Business School Application – Tips on Recommendation Letters
• Business School Application – Tips on Resume Preparation
• Business School Application – Tips on Interview Preparation & Explaining Candidacy
• Tips on Overall Strategy & School Choice
• Tips on Optimal Number of Schools to Apply For & Time Management
• Why Use An MBA Admissions Consultant

Email admissions@manhattanreview.com to ask about the MBA Candidacy Evaluation.

Related posts:

• Younger MBA Applicants (II)
• Younger MBA Applicants (I)
• Yale B-School – Latest Changes
• Wait Listed?!
• University of Chicago Adds PowerPoint to Graduate Application

There appears to be a drop in interest from overseas applicants to U.S. MBA programs, according to Kumar Anand of the Economic Times in an article titled: “Number of Applicants for Executive Management in Indian B-Schools Rises.”

Anand cites the example of Jorawar Singh, an Indian young professional seeking an MBA degree inside India and not the likes of Boston and Ohio B-Scools.  This is unusual for many Indian MBA applicants, as well as applicants from other countries, too, as U.S. schools are typically the most sought after in terms of admission.  Anand writes: “In all, 42% of the full-time MBA programs in the U.S. reported a decline in the number of foreign applicants.  Of these, as many as 70% reported the largest decrease in number of applications from India.”

Jorawar Singh, the young professional Anand cites, feels a one-year B-School in India will help him get a job after graduation in India, as opposed to going overseas and then returning to look for work.  Singh contributes, by saying: “Today, quite a few Indian B-Schools are offering quality executive management program at much cheaper cost.”  Anand adds to this, saying that a number of Indian MBA applicants favor Indian B-Schools over U.S. B-Schools because the quality of education is much higher in India than is used to be, not to mention the cheaper cost.

Dave Wilson, president and CEO of GMAC (Graduate Management Admission Council) claims:

“More Indians prefer Indian B-Schools over B-Schools in the U.S.  Of late, India has been offering world-class management education.  Less expensive quality education provided by Indian B-Schools remains a big draw for Indian students.   People are interested in pursuing MBAs from the geography where they could continue working, and India has emerged as a preferred destination for many.”

Curious to know the facts supporting these statements?  Anand claims that a total of 17,488 applications were submitted to Indian B-Schools in 2008.  That number is five times higher than seen in 2004, according to the GMAC.  At the moment, 24 Indian B-Schools accept GMAT scores for 53 programs.

Related posts:

• Younger MBA Applicants (II)
• Younger MBA Applicants (I)
• Wait Listed?!
• Student Reports – Manhattan Review UK
• Student Reports – Manhattan Review New York

The acceptance rate of the super-selective Ivy League is extremely low. There is a record number of high school students who are applying for college straight out of high school – more than 60 percent, according to David Hawkins, director at the National Association of College Admission Counseling. Meantime, the number of students applying for college is increasing each year. According to the federal Department of Education, this year will feature the highest number of high school graduates, 3.2, almost a million up from five years ago.

Recent admission trends indicate that even though you have a high GPA and good or perfect SAT scores, it’s not a given that you’ll get admission to your first choice school, so it’s wise to have as many back-ups as you can to optimize the final result of your college application process without waiting for another entire year. As a matter of fact, many students are applying to as many as 10 or 15 universities. This is primarily attributed to the Common Application form, which can be downloaded from the Internet and sent online to as many as 300 schools nationwide.

However, the results of this survey of first-year college students is relieving: 70% of these students say that they ended up at their first choice school, and most students are ultimately happy with their choice of college.  At first this may seem surprising, especially since schools like Yale accepted fewer than ten percent of the 20,000 students who applied last year, and both Harvard and Columbia accepted just more than 10 percent, but there are many reasons why students end up at specific schools, as both the students and the college make great endeavors to find a right fit.

Related posts:

• Beyond the Scores – What do Colleges Want?
• Full-Tuition Fellowships – B-Schools’ Best-Kept Secrets
• Scholarships 101: Making College an Affordable Choice
• New Trends, New Courses
• MBA Students Pledge to be Ethical

Applying for college is a crucial step in a person’s personal and professional developments. As an applicant, what do you hope to get out of your college years and what expectations do you want to send along with your applications? Be sure to think seriously about the environment that will be most likely to bring the best out of you:

• Know Yourself and Set Your Goals Clearly

If you haven’t decided on a college major, start taking inventory of your academic successes and interests – which were your best classes?  Favorite classes?  Also think about your favorite extra-curricular activities, sports, music, and even your favorite weather.

• Student Body Characteristics

Do you want to be surrounded with type-A go-getters, or coffee-shop philosophers?  A highly competitive student body isn’t to everyone’s taste, and neither is a laid-back one.

• Class Size and Dynamics

What type of relationship do professors and students have with one another at your favorite schools?  Large classes may mean little contact with your professors, which can be unappealing for students who want a personal relationship with their favorite academics.  However, just because your favorite school is a large one, that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to slip through anonymously! 

• Advisory System

Will you have an advisor at your favorite school?  How much do advisors guide the students’ choice of classes?  Think about how much help you’ll really need – or want!

• Social Groups

How are social groups organized at your favorite school?  Does Greek life dominate, or do athletics, clubs, classes, dorms, or local hangouts determine who your best college friends will be?  If the social structure is different from your high school, do you think you’ll easily adjust?

• Feedback from Current Students.

What do current students really appreciate about this school?  What is their biggest complaint?  Are these issues you can handle?

The best way to answer all of these questions is to visit your favorite schools in advance, and keep a checklist of the most important issues for your education.  If you can’t afford to visit, or the school is too far away, try to speak with as many people as you can by phone or email about the school.

A quick way of learning about university statistics is by checking out ranking websites, such as the National Association of College Admissions Counseling (www.nacacnet.org) or College Navigator (http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/).  These sites can help you sort schools by tuition, scholarship/financial aid opportunities, available majors, student body demographics, sports, even the quality of campus security.  Also check out books like the Fiske Guide to Colleges, which have even more information about schools, quizzes, and student testimonials.

Related posts:

• Scholarships 101: Making College an Affordable Choice
• Tips on College Scholarship Essays
• Interview Preparation
• Beyond the Scores – What do Colleges Want?
• Younger MBA Applicants (II)

With the high price of college tuition in today’s uncertain economic climate, most students who apply for university admission will attempt to secure some financial aid.  The most common form of financial aid is based on need, and is determined by the FAFSA form submitted by the student along with his or her application.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) determines a student’s eligibility for federal loans and other aid packages; much like submitting the application itself, sending in your FAFSA early increases your chances of receiving aid from this limited amount of funding.  If you are applying for college entry shortly after high school graduation, your parents’ finances will be examined in addition to your own.

Many colleges and universities offer Merit-Based Scholarships.  These are sometimes offered to students on the basis of their academic achievement in high school, or for exceptional SAT scores.  Frequently, lower-ranked colleges will offer merit-based scholarships to encourage good students to attend, which improves the quality of the student body, and often makes college affordable for good students with less money.  Do inquire about school-specific scholarships through your guidance counselor at school, or through the university’s financial aid office – you may need to do more than just keep earning good grades!

This brings us to Non-Institution-Based Scholarships and Grants – the least-understood source of funding for college applicants.  These scholarships and grants vary widely and can be researched in many different ways.  Did you know that you might qualify for a scholarship because…

• You plan to pursue a specific major?
• You belong to a specific ethnic or religious group?
• You have a specific career goal?
• You or your family has worked at a specific company?
• You have participated in specific volunteer work?
• You have a disability?
• You can speak a particular foreign language?
• You are an athlete?
• You or a family member is a veteran?
• You and/or your family have experienced a particular hardship (Hurricane Katrina, 9/11, etc.)?

You, as an individual, may qualify for many different scholarships, many with quickly approaching deadlines, so it is important to stay on top of things.  Check out some scholarship books, like the College Board’s Scholarship Handbook, or Peterson’s Scholarships, Grants and Prizes.  Register yourself on scholarships.com, fastweb.com, finaid.com, or any of the many scholarship websites right away; they may notify you when a new scholarship that fits your profile appears, so don’t forget to keep your profile up-to-date with all of your latest successes!  Scholarships listed on these websites are frequently nationwide or international, and receive many applications, so don’t forget to research Local Scholarships as well, such as grants from:

• Alumni of your high school
• Local businesses and corporations
• Community groups, like the Elks, the Rotary Club, the Lions Club, or Masons
• Your local Department of Education

The best way to learn about Local Scholarships to ask your school or the organizations directly in a respectful and mature way – don’t have a parent write or telephone on your behalf!

Related posts:

• Your College Experience – What do You Want?
• Tips on College Scholarship Essays
• Beyond the Scores – What do Colleges Want?
• Interview Preparation
• Getting Into Your Dream School