The Touch MBA Admissions Podcast

Dozens of MBA applicants come to Touch MBA every month for free school selection help and a common concern is how to overcome a low GPA. How can you show top-ranked programs that you will perform well in an intense Master's level program? That you belong with other MBA candidates who got A and B+ averages as undergraduates? Applicants with low GPAs need to send 2 signals: 1) that they're academically capable and 2) that they have a strong work ethic. Listen on for 7 concrete ways you can communicate these qualities in your application to tackle a low GPA. Scoring well on GMAT Performing well in other academic environments (Masters Degrees) or tests (CFA, CPA, etc) Highlighting work experience that demonstrates your hard business skills Securing recommendations that rank you highly for intellectual ability Taking pre-MBA classes (MBA Math, online courses, community college courses) "The Shaq Rule" - being so strong employability and ambassadorial-wise that you'll still be a net contributor Using your optional essay to explain (not excuse) the context surrounding your GPA

Dean Nordheilm, a Kellogg admit, shares his round strategy for applying to top schools like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and Kellogg. He discusses positioning tips, researching post-MBA goals, and managing expectations. Tips on getting recommendations and building a strong application network are also shared.

This week I sat down with Jessica Chung, Associate Director of Full-time MBA Admissions at UCLA's Anderson School of Management. We had an in-depth and open discussion about UCLA's MBA offering and culture, what admissions is looking for, and how the program supports students in their career searches. After listening to our conversation, you'll get an insider's feel for the qualities Anderson is looking for and how the school is evolving. Jessica is very transparent about the admissions process so don't miss this one! About Our Guest Jessica Chung is the Associate Director of Full-time MBA Admissions at UCLA's Anderson School of Management. Jessica got her B.S. in Business Administration at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business, and got her Masters in Education from UCLA. She also worked for USC Marshall School as a Graduate Admissions Advisor before joining the Anderson School at UCLA in 2007. Program Highlights (3:12), Admissions (18:58), Financing (41:05), Careers (44:53) Go to http://www.touchmba.com/ucla-anderson-mba-admissions-interview for a full breakdown of the program's key advantages and fast facts about admissions, financing, and careers at the UCLA Anderson School of Management MBA program.

Over the past decade, Tyler Cormney and MBA Prep School have achieved a 90% success rate with clients at the world's top schools. What are the key steps to preparing an application that puts you in the top 10%? Hint: it's not your essay(s). Don't miss this value-packed episode and feel free to ask Tyler your questions in the comments! You can find a list of questions asked at http://touchmba.com/how-to-apply-for-a-top-mba-tyler-cormney-mba-prep-school About Our Guest Tyler Cormney is the CEO and Co-Founder of MBA Prep School. Tyler graduated from Harvard Business School with Distinction and has a Masters Degree in Professional Writing from USC. Tyler has been helping MBA applicants for 10 years and his company has a 90% success rate for top-ranked business schools. Questions Why preparing to apply is the most important step in the application process (3:47) How to determine your "points of difference" (6:50) Which points of difference should you highlight? (10:20) Career goals and how to tell your "career story" (12:45) A different and better way to answer "why do you need an MBA?" (17:40) Developing a compelling "career purpose" (19:28) How to show long-term and short-term MBA goals (24:10) Why self-reflection is the secret weapon in MBA applications (26:40) Admissions trends applicants should be aware of at top 7 schools (28:18) With schools shortening applications, how can applicants still tell their story? (33:28) Cultivating mentor relationships early for your recommendations (36:34) Common mistakes applicants make (37:44) The necessity of putting together a support team (40:20)

Darren speaks with Julee Conrad, Assistant Director of MBA Admissions and Recruiting at Fisher College of Business, Ohio State University, about Fisher's unique advantages and how to best position yourself in the admissions process.  Go to http://www.touchmba.com/ohio-state-fisher-mba-admissions-interview/ for a full breakdown of the program's key advantages and fast facts about admissions, financing, and careers at the Ohio State University Fisher College of Business MBA program.

Guest Li Daming shares his successful journey getting into top business schools like Kellogg, Insead, Ross, Fuqua, Johnson, and CEIBS. He discusses misconceptions about admissions, school selection process, recommendation tips, interview strategies, and the importance of authenticity in applications.

Learn how to demonstrate school fit in MBA applications by avoiding common mistakes and speaking the language of your target schools. Crafting a unique fit paragraph and using authentic storytelling are key to standing out in your applications.

What is the difference between Masters in Management, MBA and specialized Masters degrees? Which one makes most sense for you? A number of you coming to Touch MBA for school selection help are considering multiple Masters programs so I thought it would be good to dedicate one short episode to covering key differences from an admissions, curriculum, career and reputation perspective. Dirk is involved in all 3 programs for IE Business School so I played the role of "applicant" and asked him common questions I get. About Our Guest Dirk Hopfl is Director, IE Center Singapore for IE Business School. Dirk got his MBA from IE in 1999 and done admissions and development for IE's graduate and undergraduate programs for over 15 years.

Want to attend a top 30 program in the US that lives and breathes "business is personal?" Darren talks to Ruthie Pyles, Director of Graduate Programs Admissions and Recruiting, W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, about how Carey works intimately with its students to achieve their educational and career goals. Go to http://www.touchmba.com/wp-carey-mba-admissions-interview/ for a full breakdown of the program's key advantages and fast facts about admissions, financing, and careers at Arizona State W.P. Carey's MBA program.

How about getting your MBA from one of Hong Kong's most prestigious universities AND also having the option to study one semester at either Columbia Business School, London Business School or Fudan University School of Management? Sachin Tipnis, Executive Director of MBA Programmes at HKU, joins the show to discuss the HKU MBA's unique format and career benefits. Darren and Sachin also talk about HKU's admissions process in-depth so you know exactly how to best prepare your application. Go to http://www.touchmba.com/hku-mba-admissions-interview/ for a full breakdown of the program's key advantages and fast facts about admissions, financing, and careers at Hong Kong University's MBA program.