I found it most comfortable to work on London Business School essays. May be because I had researched it a lot. My research -
I started with reading about the basic mentioned on the site of why London and what they're looking for.
Faculty -
- Looked at faculty in my area of interest... organization behavior
- Looked up what papers or books they have written and get my hands on some of it
- Helped me see their opinion on some of the important subjects
Curriculum -
- Looked at the program structure
- Individual courses by subject area
- Got into details of some that got me curious
- Electives... did they have what I want to learn
- Projects and other work... I found organization audit to be of interest to me
- Learning Methodology... As a trainer I was very interested in finding this
Community
- Student Community... another important part to me
- Clubs
- Activities and fitness centre
- Parties
- Social events
YouTube
- I looked through formal and informal both
- Promotional videos
- Student uploaded videos... found some videos of tattoo, summer ball and santa walk
Student Blogs
- Both official and unofficial
Forums
- MBA forums like beatthegmat, gmatclub and Indian forum pagalguy
- MBA consulting sites : not much here but did read through adcom and alumni interviews
I have put in effort in researching all the schools I've applied to but have spent more time and effort on London. My essays are done a week before the deadline and should be able to get this out hopefully before time.
A little on approach to Essays -
- It is extremely important to know what you want
- I tried visualizing my life in London and after
- I wrote my essays then took a few hours to research London Business School and then looked at them again with a little more understanding of the school
- I also took breaks for few hours to research a different school and then looked at my essays afresh
- The essays look different everytime and then I kept getting surer
- I'm taking today off and not looking at my London's essays to take a break from them
I'm also hitting another app with deadline clashing with London Business School... more on that later
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
INSEAD check
I finally submitted my INSEAD application today and sent out the transcripts. Its kinda last minute, I wanted to submit by Friday but couldn't hold the temptation of reviewing my essays and apps over the weekend. Now its a long long wait to Diwali!
Friday, September 24, 2010
Writing Essays
I'm working non stop on my INSEAD and London Business School essays. I was reading through forums and realized people getting into the details of things like whether to use LBS or London Business School or whether to use Americanism or Englishism. I don't worry too much about these things and I can be wrong. Here's my take - if we're applying for global program they probably would go easy on the usage and should not be egoistic about it. Anyway the London essay app is automatically switched to Englishism spell check so I guess it would fix things.
My focus is more on the content. Yes good communication is required but it won't make up for application with no substance in it.
I feel I'm improving with essays for each application. And now I wonder if it was a good idea to start working on essays months before application process begins so that we have suficient practice. I know consultants encourage writing why mba, why now kind of stuff way before app process begins. That I think is a good idea, because by the time app and interview time comes you'd know what you want and how to express it with conviction.
My focus is more on the content. Yes good communication is required but it won't make up for application with no substance in it.
I feel I'm improving with essays for each application. And now I wonder if it was a good idea to start working on essays months before application process begins so that we have suficient practice. I know consultants encourage writing why mba, why now kind of stuff way before app process begins. That I think is a good idea, because by the time app and interview time comes you'd know what you want and how to express it with conviction.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Productive day
After 20 days of not knowing what to write I finally got an idea for the INSEAD essay I hadn't touched till now - "Describe a situation taken from school, business, civil or military life, where you did not meet your personal objectives, and discuss briefly the effect. "
Here's how I dealt with the block. I sat down this morning and decided I have to complete my essays... well I did not have much option. My deadline is on 29th and I have been losing sleep over this. Last night at 11 I told myself that I need good sleep and that I'll find a way tomorrow morning. So I slept and woke up and sat down to work. I started with thinking about my learning in life without any focus on failure and then I thought of a situation where we did not meet the objective we started with. Once I started working on that I thought of another situation which I thought was just what I wanted to write about. And it fell in place. So I'm completing my essays today and sending them for review, this time to two people.
Its weird that I can't find 5 people who would have time to review my essays and will give me helpful feedback. Its also funny how there is this one person I want to send my essays to but am not doing so because I know this person is overtly critical and will shatter my confidence to pieces making me feel like I'm not worth it. To add to that this person won't even give me suggestions on how to improve my essays only say its bad. I've never seen myself as someone who cannot take criticism but I don't think I'm always the most confident person. Enough justification on my choice of essay reviewers.
Today was so far productive and hope it stays this way
Here's how I dealt with the block. I sat down this morning and decided I have to complete my essays... well I did not have much option. My deadline is on 29th and I have been losing sleep over this. Last night at 11 I told myself that I need good sleep and that I'll find a way tomorrow morning. So I slept and woke up and sat down to work. I started with thinking about my learning in life without any focus on failure and then I thought of a situation where we did not meet the objective we started with. Once I started working on that I thought of another situation which I thought was just what I wanted to write about. And it fell in place. So I'm completing my essays today and sending them for review, this time to two people.
Its weird that I can't find 5 people who would have time to review my essays and will give me helpful feedback. Its also funny how there is this one person I want to send my essays to but am not doing so because I know this person is overtly critical and will shatter my confidence to pieces making me feel like I'm not worth it. To add to that this person won't even give me suggestions on how to improve my essays only say its bad. I've never seen myself as someone who cannot take criticism but I don't think I'm always the most confident person. Enough justification on my choice of essay reviewers.
Today was so far productive and hope it stays this way
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Back to business
It has been extremely hectic two weeks. Work is crazy, been in and out of meetings. Mom is visitng and I feel bad to not find time to spend with her, even when I'm there I usually am on my laptop for work or my apps. Apps which did not make much progress till last night.
I couldn't think of what to write for a long time, the words were crude nothing made sense and then I started reading through blogs mostly from INSEAD. I called up a friend and whined about no progress. He asked me to start writing things I have to tell adcom, I had already done this before but I started fresh with not much result. Over the last 3 days I kept thinking if I have to give bulleted points what would they be and it helped me
- I have done all aspects of training management, explored LnD function
- I want to move into Talent Mgmt and all aspects of HR
- I want to handle global audience
This helped me put some of my thoughts together and I managed to write first draft of 3 essays yesterday. I had read this blog sometime back and used it yesterday in my essays - http://rusgirl.blogspot.com/2005/09/writing-essays-to-insead.html
I wrote everything I wanted to cut it short and then discarded it and re-wrote, discarded not deleted.
Today I had my one on one with my manager. I'm lucky to have a manager who earlier was my mentor. He has seen me learn, mature, knows my challenges, feelings, aspirations etc etc. He is also happy to write all my references with a quick turn around. I discussed some of my career aspirations and options with him. Work eats up most of our time to discuss much on my apps but I'm trying to find 5-10 mins on our one on ones whenever I can.
Hoping to complete most of my INSEAD essays today and then send it to 5 people for review. Something I did not do with my IMD essays. I'll also add some posts on how I approached various essays in the next post.
I couldn't think of what to write for a long time, the words were crude nothing made sense and then I started reading through blogs mostly from INSEAD. I called up a friend and whined about no progress. He asked me to start writing things I have to tell adcom, I had already done this before but I started fresh with not much result. Over the last 3 days I kept thinking if I have to give bulleted points what would they be and it helped me
- I have done all aspects of training management, explored LnD function
- I want to move into Talent Mgmt and all aspects of HR
- I want to handle global audience
This helped me put some of my thoughts together and I managed to write first draft of 3 essays yesterday. I had read this blog sometime back and used it yesterday in my essays - http://rusgirl.blogspot.com/2005/09/writing-essays-to-insead.html
I wrote everything I wanted to cut it short and then discarded it and re-wrote, discarded not deleted.
Today I had my one on one with my manager. I'm lucky to have a manager who earlier was my mentor. He has seen me learn, mature, knows my challenges, feelings, aspirations etc etc. He is also happy to write all my references with a quick turn around. I discussed some of my career aspirations and options with him. Work eats up most of our time to discuss much on my apps but I'm trying to find 5-10 mins on our one on ones whenever I can.
Hoping to complete most of my INSEAD essays today and then send it to 5 people for review. Something I did not do with my IMD essays. I'll also add some posts on how I approached various essays in the next post.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Essays and Writers block
Update from last time... I did get a reject from IMD. I'm now working on INSEAD and LBS. One out of my top 3 is gone and I'm psyched about the other two. I have the writers block, don't know what to write in the essays. I have some idea but the IMD reject has left me much more unsure. This may sound like my self esteem shakes easily but that's not the case. Its just a phase and I'll get over pretty soon.
I've been reading through INSEAD blogs and site to know more about INSEAD. There are many interesting things I've found. The biggest gap I see is that I've had a very normal life. I haven't lived abroad, I don't speak 5 languages, I haven't traveled a lot outside India and I haven't done anything extraordinary in my acads or extracurriculars. So, what do I have? A little of everything. Not sure if that would work in my favor or against.
There is something that makes everyone unique, I too should have something in me... can't figure what it is.
I've been reading through INSEAD blogs and site to know more about INSEAD. There are many interesting things I've found. The biggest gap I see is that I've had a very normal life. I haven't lived abroad, I don't speak 5 languages, I haven't traveled a lot outside India and I haven't done anything extraordinary in my acads or extracurriculars. So, what do I have? A little of everything. Not sure if that would work in my favor or against.
There is something that makes everyone unique, I too should have something in me... can't figure what it is.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Results and next applications
IMD result has been out, at least many applicants who are selected for interview in September have been communicated the dates and case study. I'm not one of them. I do feel bad because IMD was on the top of my list, on the other side each school I'm applying to has its charm for me. There is something in each one of them which should keep me happy if I get through. Yes, it does look very difficult.
Not getting selected also calls for some analysis of the application. Like for IIMA its objective, they give points for each achievement, acads, work exp, international exposure etc. I saw the profiles of those selected and they were mostly from IIT, NIT's had worked outside India for considerable amount of time. In comparison I have low acads and less international exposure. There is a possibility I was a border line and there is a possibility that I was outright reject. I did have my strong points like field of work, decent extra curriculars. But most of this cannot be highlighted objectively. Realistic look at my profile tells me there is nothing exceptional in it, I have everything good but I'm yet to figure what is it that makes my profile exceptional.
About IMD, I sent them an email asking when are the results expected and what is the status. They have not said a no, just that the admission committee is currently making decisions and will communicate soon. They have three interview dates announced for September - 7th 10th and 17th. They usually have a group of 8 interviewed at a time, which would mean that only 24 have been invited to be interviewed in Round 4. Not sure how many they select in a single round. If there are more, I wonder if I still have a chance.
I however am going with the assumption that they have probably not sent out the rejections and might send them out by next week. I wonder if there is a waitlist in case some candidates drop out from the interview. My positive side always takes over!
Moving ahead, LBS application is out and I am hitting round 1. I'm also working on my INSEAD app for rouns 1. They're both for Sept end. Its less time, but I've started working on my INSEAD essays already, hoping to make considerable progress this weekend. I enjoy writing essays so its fun doing the applications. Also, I think about how much information a particular school is looking for and what it might tell them. For example, I found LBS application very impressive, lots of space to present self analysis. Even the essays are more direct and focused. This also makes it a tougher application. And with the pool of extremely competent applicants writing more only gives way to adcom to find a gap in application to be able to reject a candidate.
Not getting selected also calls for some analysis of the application. Like for IIMA its objective, they give points for each achievement, acads, work exp, international exposure etc. I saw the profiles of those selected and they were mostly from IIT, NIT's had worked outside India for considerable amount of time. In comparison I have low acads and less international exposure. There is a possibility I was a border line and there is a possibility that I was outright reject. I did have my strong points like field of work, decent extra curriculars. But most of this cannot be highlighted objectively. Realistic look at my profile tells me there is nothing exceptional in it, I have everything good but I'm yet to figure what is it that makes my profile exceptional.
About IMD, I sent them an email asking when are the results expected and what is the status. They have not said a no, just that the admission committee is currently making decisions and will communicate soon. They have three interview dates announced for September - 7th 10th and 17th. They usually have a group of 8 interviewed at a time, which would mean that only 24 have been invited to be interviewed in Round 4. Not sure how many they select in a single round. If there are more, I wonder if I still have a chance.
I however am going with the assumption that they have probably not sent out the rejections and might send them out by next week. I wonder if there is a waitlist in case some candidates drop out from the interview. My positive side always takes over!
Moving ahead, LBS application is out and I am hitting round 1. I'm also working on my INSEAD app for rouns 1. They're both for Sept end. Its less time, but I've started working on my INSEAD essays already, hoping to make considerable progress this weekend. I enjoy writing essays so its fun doing the applications. Also, I think about how much information a particular school is looking for and what it might tell them. For example, I found LBS application very impressive, lots of space to present self analysis. Even the essays are more direct and focused. This also makes it a tougher application. And with the pool of extremely competent applicants writing more only gives way to adcom to find a gap in application to be able to reject a candidate.
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