So I admit to not exactly sticking to my studying schedule. My GMAT is in late July and I've been studying about 7-9 hours a week. I do feel like I'm learning a lot and I never feel completely overwhelmed by a question--however I do worry that I spend too much time on them, particularly on math questions. While I rarely get questions in the book wrong, I probably need to learn to do them faster...
June is such a busy month, with constant birthday celebrations, out-of-state weddings, pre-planned vacations...it is hard to study more than 10 hours a week. Although I'm technically slacking from my schedule, I am almost finished with my GMAT 800 book. I can't believe I've blown through over 1000 problems! I will be stepping up the studying, beginning today with the Official Guide.
Lately I've been panicking about business school on a daily basis. I unfortunately have a lot of self doubt and I worry that this will be reflected in my essays and interviews. While I have the same basic reasons that everyone else has for going to business school (fundamental business/management knowledge, network of peers, greater flexibility and opportunity, status, money, etc.), I worry that my current lack of a specific post-mba plan will be detrimental to my applications.
While I know I am very interested in Entrepreneurship and Marketing, I can't say for certain exactly what it is I want to do. I also wonder exactly how specific my goals need to be. A friend of mine who recently went to the USC Marshall admit weekend was told by the second-year and alumni panel that it really isn't that important to one's b-school success to have a clearly defined path prior to attending. I want to believe this, as I can't imagine knowing what I'll want to do with my degree until I've had a taste of other possibilities I might not have previously considered.
I'm doing as much research as I can. But I still feel uneasy that the answer to my "Why" question isn't solid. Then I wonder if anyone's is really solid. Or if the very detailed, specific answer on their application isn't actually the reason they're going. Should I be able to explain why I want to go to business school in a single sentence? Or a few sentences?
Ugh, now I'm panicking again!
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9 comments:
from what i have heard, your goals should be pretty well defined, and your chart should be neatly connected to what you are doing currently.
the dictum might differ from one school to another, but you wont loose out if you have solid goals.
You do need to have specific short-term goals. And dream big for your long-term ones. I too felt that way when I first planned on applying to business school. But once I started thinking about my essays, my goals started to take shape. Focus on what you have always wanted to do(of course focussing on what is realistically possible) and write about that in your essays.
I go with dharu. Most of the times I also feel like being without short-term goals (applying next fall). But then I tell to myself that in the Business School I will be in a so stimulant place, with lots of really interesting peers, that this inmersion will help me clarifying all this! maybe you can reflect that on the essays...
I also have issues with long and short term goals and the Why question. And they want you to be so specific knowing damn well that in reality you really have no idea what you want to do. Isn't that the point of going back to school anyway? To open up doors and discover new and exciting options?
I have decided to concentrate on the GMAT for now and worry about the goals and why after. I think I was a man in my past life, I have problems multi-tasking :-)
Cheers to the mediocre b-school applicants ;-)
I agree with you! Isn't the value of an MBA in its span, as opposed to its depth. Let's be very clear; you don't really "learn" anything in an MBA program. Rather, the value is in networking and the best career placement services that money can buy...so why do schools harp on the goal essays?
I think I know what I want to do in the future. But I know it will change. How specific it has to be? Not sure either. There are so many problems and questions that one needs to sort out for this application process it seems. : )
Don't panic. We still got time. Cheers!
I agree with all of the above and am probably repeating what has already been said, but if you don't define a clear path towards a short term and long term goal you are killing your chances.
In no way do you ever have to follow this pathway, or truly believe in it for that matter, you just have to show (a)how your prior work experiences will help you get there (b)how this particular program will help you get there (c)why are you interested in this particular path from a personal/personality viewpoint.
When I sat down to write my essay I had no idea what I wanted to end up doing (I am still not sure) so I tried to think of something I could write about that I wouldn't mind doing and i built a case around it.
It helps to have goals that help you bind your essays together. They also keep your essays focussed without any rambling on your part. Just find something you are willing to consider as a future career and write about it.
You probably have something in mind already as you need a sense of your future path to choose the schools.
By the way, mba_salsera, guys can multi-task just fine!
Great blog!!!
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