Feeling Under the Gun, and a School Switch

Since we're getting closer and closer to the big date(s), I'll probably continue to have more frequent updates. I met my goal of finishing a draft of all essays by last weekend to some degree. Cornell hasn't posted questions yet so that one is beyond my control, and as I mentioned last time, I'm reconsidering applying to Booth. I also had a brief moment of doubt about MIT, but after a bit more research, I remembered why I liked it and why I think I could fit there.

Booth, on the other hand, didn't do well with further research. I also spoke with a relative who graduated a few years ago from Haas, and in conversation, he mentioned some of the connotations of Booth that I'm concerned about which just reinforced my doubts. However, my dad summed it up best when he said that it's a school of theorists, and I'm very much a practical, hands on type. Booth is a fantastic school, which is why I struggle in giving it up, but I think he's right - it's just not a fit for me.

As a result, I didn't write that set of essays (clearly). I am considering replacing it with Tuck, however, as I think I could fit there. So technically, I haven't written that set either.

I've become somewhat stressed in the past few days however, because it's recently occurred to me that Wharton and HBS are both due Oct 1st - just a bit over a month away - and I a) haven't asked my other two recommenders yet, and b) I will be busy every moment of both this weekend and next weekend. Which will make for very busy weekdays, except that I happen to be buried at work currently. Oh, joy.

I know I'll be fine. Honestly, in college I tended to work best at the last minute and under pressure. But considering I have been preparing and planning and dreaming about this since I graduated from college in 2005, I feel I should really put everything I have into this, which tends to work better when it isn't a last minute situation.

All I can do is take baby steps. The essays are written (except Wharton's perspectives...dang that prompt...) and I'm distributing them to my editors tonight. I also plan to begin to put together recommender "packets" including my goals, positioning, etc.

Deep breath, here goes...

Posted in: , on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at at 6:37 PM  

4 comments:

  1. cozmo8 On 8:42 PM Wrote

    Great job on getting done with the essays...I envy you! I am having trouble with wharton perspective essay too...just can't seem to get good ideas for that prompt...

     
  2. Allen On 3:08 AM Wrote

    Hi

    I found your blog through Google search and I noticed that you are/were a MBA student too. My classmates and I recently launched a website (www.mbaNERDs.com) providing free case summary and discussion area for MBA students. In this way, people can better prepare their case study before the class and network with other talents around the world.

    Please feel free to take a look and let us know how you feel so that we can improve our services. If you like our idea, please also tell your friends who are still in MBA program. I believe this would be a great help to them! Thank you so much!

    Best Regards,


    Allen
    http://www.mbanerds.com
    allen.lin@mbanerds.com

     
  3. Monil On 2:27 AM Wrote

    Glad to see that you are done with drafts of all your R1 essays! It's an achievement in itself.

    I'm also an aspirant like you for Class of '12 at very similar set of schools - W/K/Chi/MIT. But, due to time constraints I'm not sure of applying to all four schools in R1. Your school switch based on fit has got me a little curious.

    Can you put up a post on your blog mentioning why you chose each school that you did and what are the pros and cons of each of these programs.

    Hope I'm not asking for too much, for it'll help me and other readers get an additional insight into short-listing schools.

     
  4. LS MBA On 2:33 PM Wrote

    Wharton #2 really is a pain!

    I want to harp on the revision ... I'm a fan of the "80-20" rule (80% of the work takes 20% of the time, and 20% of the work takes 80% of the time!) and nowhere did I find it more accurate than on MBA essays.

    It took maybe 3-4 hours to write my Sloan Essays. I've edited them for probably another 20 hours, easily, and I found Sloan to be the 'easiest' of the essay requirements of all the schools I looked at.

    Best of luck!

     

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