MBA Admissions Wire by "Tad Holbie""Tad Holbie's" weblog of his 2002-03 business school application experience. |
| Useful Links | ||||
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Applicant Weblogs
* League of MBA Bloggers - best resource for listing all MBA blogs. * Modz (Anderson-bound) * Thibault (Kellogg-bound) * Michael (Wharton-bound) |
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Books
Currently Reading: 
Liar's Poker: Rising Through the Wreckage on Wall Street 
How the Bond Market Works MBA Prep Books I Used: 
How To Get Into the Top MBA Programs 
Kaplan GMAT 2003 
Kaplan GMAT 800 |
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Message Boards & Chat Rooms
* Business Week Forum * Wharton S2S Message Board * Wharton S2S Chat Room * Accepted.com scheduled chats |
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Rankings
* Business Week 2003 Rankings (free registration required) * Financial Times 2003 Rankings (PDF) * US News & World Report 2003 Rankings * Wall Street Journal 2003 Rankings * Forbes Magazine 2001 Rankings |
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Internet Tools
The MBA Admissions Wire would not be possible without all the cool stuff available for free on the internet: * Blogger - Publishing tools * Hotmail - E-mail * MSN - Groups * SiteMeter - Traffic monitoring * SurveyMonkey - Web surveys * HaloScan - Commenting system * Tag-Board - Message board * ZonkBoard - Message board (old) * BlogHop - Weblog rating system * FreeFind - Free website search engine * WhoIS - IP/Domain Lookup |
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| My Applications | ||||
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Michigan
Status: Admitted in R2! * Homepage * Ambasador Program * M-Track Message Board * Monroe Street Journal newspaper * University of Michigan Merchandise * UMBSA FAQ about life in Ann Arbor * Ann Arbor Weather My posts: * List of essay topics * Outlining the essays * My alumni interview * UMBS/Ann Arbor photos: 
(Click to enter my UMBS photo album) |
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Chicago GSB
Status: Submitted for R1; Denied Admissions after interview * Homepage * ChiBus newspaper My posts: * My alumni interview * Approach/status of essays: 1, 2, 3, 4 * Posts on essay B: 1, 2 * Dinged! * Chicago photos: (Click to enter my Chicago photo album) |
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Columbia
Status: Denied Admissions after Interview * Homepage * Online Status Check * Finance Dept. homepage * The Bottom Line Newspaper * Columbia Merchandise * Adrian Hind, student weblog * New York weather My posts: * Info session summary * My second campus visit * List of essay topics * Outlining the essays * Posts on essay #1: 1 * Posts on essay #2: 1, 2 * Posts on essay #3: 1 * My alumni interview * Columbia photos: (Click to enter my Columbia photo album) |
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HBS
Status: Submitted for R1; Denied Admissions * Homepage * HarBus newspaper * Adam Medros, student weblog My posts: * Info session summary * Recommendation e-mail * Approach/status of essays: 1, 2, 3, 4 * Essay word counts * Posts on essay #3 and #4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 * Posts on essay #6: 1, 2, 3 * Photos from campus * Class visit experience * Dinged! * HBS photos: (Click to enter my HBS photo album) |
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Kellogg
Status: Denied admissions after waitlist * Homepage * Online Status Check * 2002-03 Calendar * Kellogg Merger newspaper * Professor McGee's Musings * Northwestern University Merchandise * Evanston weather My posts: * 2002 Waitlist Wrapup * List of essay topics * Starting the Kellogg app * Outlining the essays * Posts on essay #1: 1, 2 * Posts on essay #2: 1 * Posts on essay #3: 1, 2 * Posts on essay #4: 1 * Reviewing my essays * My alumni interview * Notes on my second campus visit * Northwestern/Kellogg photos: (Click to enter my August Kellogg photo album) (Click to enter my April Kellogg photo album) |
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Sloan
Status: Submitted for R1; Denied admissions after interview. * Homepage * Sloan Management Review * 2002 Employment Report (PDF) My posts: * Info session summary * Links to Sloan's tracks * Note the mail-in items * Approach/status of essays: 1, 2 * Cover letter: 1, 2 * Post on essay #1 * Post on essay #3 * My interview experience * MIT/Sloan photos: (Click to enter my Sloan photo album) |
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Stanford GSB
Status: Submitted for R1; Denied Admissions * Homepage * Stanford Reporter newspaper My posts: * Online recommender setup * Posts on essay A: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 * Posts on essay B: 1 * Dinged! |
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Wharton
Status: Submitted for R1; Denied Admissions after interview * Homepage * Student2Student message board * Wharton Journal newspaper * Laura Bennett, student diary * Student Diaries My posts: * Info session summary * Approach/status of essays: 1, 2, 3, 4 * Posts on essay #1: 1, 2 * Posts on essay #4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 * Photos from campus * The interview experience * Dinged! * Wharton photos: (Click to enter my Wharton photo album) |
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| Archives | ||||
| Search Archives: | ||||
| 08/25/2002 - 08/31/2002 | ||||
| 09/01/2002 - 09/07/2002 | ||||
| 09/08/2002 - 09/14/2002 | ||||
| 09/15/2002 - 09/21/2002 | ||||
| 09/22/2002 - 09/28/2002 | ||||
| 09/29/2002 - 10/05/2002 | ||||
| 10/06/2002 - 10/12/2002 | ||||
| 10/13/2002 - 10/19/2002 | ||||
| 10/20/2002 - 10/26/2002 | ||||
| 10/27/2002 - 11/02/2002 | ||||
| 11/03/2002 - 11/09/2002 | ||||
| 11/10/2002 - 11/16/2002 | ||||
| 11/17/2002 - 11/23/2002 | ||||
| 11/24/2002 - 11/30/2002 | ||||
| 12/01/2002 - 12/07/2002 | ||||
| 12/08/2002 - 12/14/2002 | ||||
| 12/15/2002 - 12/21/2002 | ||||
| 12/22/2002 - 12/28/2002 | ||||
| 12/29/2002 - 01/04/2003 | ||||
| 01/05/2003 - 01/11/2003 | ||||
| 01/12/2002 - 01/18/2003 | ||||
| 01/19/2002 - 01/25/2003 | ||||
| 01/26/2002 - 02/01/2003 | ||||
| 02/02/2002 - 02/08/2003 | ||||
| 02/09/2002 - 02/15/2003 | ||||
| 02/16/2002 - 02/22/2003 | ||||
| 02/23/2002 - 03/01/2003 | ||||
| 03/02/2002 - 03/08/2003 | ||||
| 03/09/2002 - 03/15/2003 | ||||
| 03/16/2002 - 03/22/2003 | ||||
| 03/23/2002 - 03/29/2003 | ||||
| 03/30/2002 - 04/05/2003 | ||||
| 04/06/2002 - 04/12/2003 | ||||
| 04/13/2002 - 04/19/2003 | ||||
| 04/20/2002 - 04/26/2003 | ||||
| 04/27/2002 - 05/03/2003 | ||||
| 05/04/2002 - 05/10/2003 | ||||
| 05/11/2002 - 05/17/2003 | ||||
| 05/18/2002 - 05/24/2003 | ||||
| 05/25/2002 - 05/31/2003 | ||||
| 06/01/2002 - 06/07/2003 | ||||
| 06/08/2002 - 06/14/2003 | ||||
| 06/15/2002 - 06/21/2003 | ||||
| 06/22/2002 - 06/28/2003 | ||||
| 06/29/2002 - 07/05/2003 | ||||
| Advice/Thoughts | ||||
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GMAT
Taken: Once, in 2002 Score: 760+ Advice: Get it over with quickly, aim for 670+ * Thoughts on the GMAT: 1, 2, 3 |
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Recommendations
Advice: Ask them at least 2 months in advance * Initial thoughts * On delays: 1, 2 |
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Essays
Advice: Develop an overall message. Write outlines. Revise many times. Have a friend proofread. Be honest. Answer what is asked. * My initial thoughts * Don't write what you think they want to hear * My process |
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Interviews
Advice: Know yourself. Review your application, answers to common questions. * AdComm or Alum? * My list of prep questions |
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Application Process
Advice: Start early. Give yourself at least two months to finish your first application. * The "bible" of MBA application's, Montauk's How to Get Into the Top MBA Programs * Tips on where to start * Living the double life * Dealing with disappointment |
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Financial Aid
Advice: Start early, even before getting accepted anywhere. Americans should fill-out and submit their FAFSA forms as soon as they have 2002 financial/tax info. * Department of Education FAFSA Website * Request a PIN for the FAFSA * List of documents needed to complete the FAFSA form * FAFSA School Code Lookup * Legal Disclaimer |
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| Site Info | ||||
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Started:
August 28, 2002
Creator: "Tad Holbie" Daily Traffic: Emails Received: 909 (as of 6/26/03) Rate this site: 5***** | 4**** | 3*** | 2** | 1* | ||||
| Disclaimers | ||||
| Who is "Tad Holbie"? Tad Holbie is a pseudonym I created to protect my privacy and identity as I apply to business school (don't believe me? Google it for yourself). I am a young, American, first-time applicant to some of the elite business schools in the fall of 2002. My e-mail is tholbie@hotmail.com. If I am accepted to one of the business schools I've applied to, I will be more revealing about my identity and personal details. | ||||
| When did I start all this? I started this Weblog a couple months after I got serious about applying to business school. The first post was on August 28th, 2002. When do I have time to write this site? In between my full-time job and writing essays, time is limited. But I am a fast typist and am quick to jot down my thoughts during spare moments. | ||||
| Why MBA Admissions Wire? I started this website to record and share my experiences applying to business school (a long and stressful process). As time has gone by and greater numbers of readers e-mailed me to ask for advice, encourage me, and share their experiences, I have turned this site into a resource for all MBA applicants, in effect creating an online community. | ||||
| How do I do MBA Admissions Wire? It's very easy, and (best of all) free. Just go to Blogger.com and after a free registration you can have your own Weblog too! Even better, they offer free hosting on their Blogspot.com server! | ||||
| Disclaimer:I am not an admissions officer, nor am I affiliated with any of the schools, organizations, or sites listed on this page (i.e. I haven't even been accepted to any B-School--this is my first time applying!).
The events described on this web page are real events, though certain names, genders, locations, and dates (i.e. interview dates, submission dates, etc.) may be changed to protect my identity.
If you are applying to any of the schools listed on this page, please refer to their official web sites for the definitive deadline dates, application procedures, etc.
(i.e. It's not a smart move to rely on this page while applying). The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author.
I am also neither a lawyer nor an accountant. All information and events describing or related to financial aid, tuition, scholarships, loans, and other monetary matters is strictly meant to only describe "Tad Holbie's" situation, and should not be considered instructions, financial advice, or in any way pertaining to the [reader's] financial situation. Consult your own accountant/lawyer when making important financial decisions. Any questions, e-mail him at tholbie@hotmail.com (and no, that isn't my real name). | ||||
| About Interviews: I may or may not disclose if/when/with whom I have been invited to interviews. At present, I'm leaning towards discussing my interview experiences a few days/weeks after they happen. Mark me "undecided". | ||||
| Privacy Policy: If you choose to e-mail me, I promise not to publish your name, e-mail address, or contact information on my website without first getting your permission. I may excerpt part or all of your e-mail on my site, but will take care to edit out any information that might identify the source. If you don't want any or your e-mail posted on my site, just put "Please keep private" at the bottom of your e-mail. Any questions, e-mail me at tholbie@hotmail.com. | ||||
| Posting Policy: Basically, anything you post can be reviewed by me. If I find a post to the message board or comment system that is sufficiently rude, offensive, moronic, I'll feel free to a) delete it, and/or b) ban you from posting ever again. In conclusion: You don't have free speech on my site, so don't be a jerk. | ||||
| Commentary |
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Welcome! First time visitors are encouraged to start here. Tuesday, March 22, 2005 Posted 7:00 AM EST by Tad Holbie, Post #110299061154416196:
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