2010 Yale SOM MBA Admissions Q&A with Bruce DelMonico & Michelle Vitali
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Linda Abraham (Sep 2, 2009 12:00:00 PM)
Hello. My name is Linda Abraham. I am the founder of Accepted.com and
the moderator of today’s chat. First I want to welcome all applicants
to the Yale School of Management chat today, and I want to congratulate
you for taking the time to learn more about Yale. To make a sound
decision and to get accepted, you need to know as much as you can about
the schools you are applying to. Being here today allows you to ask the
experts about this outstanding business school.
I also want to welcome our special guests:
- Bruce Delmonico, Director of Admissions
- Michelle Vitali, Associate Director of Admissions
Thanks to everyone for joining. Bruce will be joining us shortly.
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:00:31 PM)
Welcome - thanks everyone for joining us!
Linda Abraham (Sep 2, 2009 12:01:09 PM)
Michelle: Yale’s R1 deadline is in a little more than a month (Oct. 8th).
Any advice for Yale applicants planning to apply on or before your
first deadline?
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:01:38 PM)
Plan ahead - the most important thing you can do is contact your
recommenders in advance and give them enough time to write your letters. Sit down and talk with them about your goals and reasons for wanting an MBA so they have a full picture. Also, don't leave the GMAT until the last minute-you may want to take it more than once (most folks do), so leave yourself enough time to do that.
Linda Abraham (Sep 2, 2009 12:02:37 PM)
Do you weigh the letters of recommendation heavily in the admissions process? Don't most people get flattering positive letters?
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:02:55 PM)
Most are positive, but you'd be surprised!
Tconigl1 (Sep 2, 2009 12:03:24 PM)
Michelle: Can you describe Yale's leadership training?
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:03:38 PM)
Linda, recommendation letters are important because it gives us a window into your
leadership and teamwork abilities, as well as your contributions to
projects at work.
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:04:24 PM)
Tconigl1: All first-year students are assigned to a leadership development group.
It is a group of 15-20 students, as well as a faculty adviser. You'll begin to think about your long term goals, as well as how you're
perceived by your peers. This is helpful for your career search. You'll also have the opportunity to lead a club during your second year, if you wish.
adi (Sep 2, 2009 12:05:35 PM)
How important is the GMAT and no. of attempts in the process of making your decision?
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:06:52 PM)
Adi, the GMAT is one piece we use to evaluate whether someone will be
successful in our program. Generally I tell students that by the third
exam your score generally levels out and it's not worth taking again. But it's up to you how many times you want to take it. We also look at your academic record and any quantitative work you've done at your job.
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:08:08 PM)
I would choose recommenders who you feel know you best. If that's your
previous manager, then I would go with that one. Just be sure to
explain it in your optional essay.
Rafa (Sep 2, 2009 12:08:21 PM)
Michelle, what are the strengths of Yale SOM in Entrepreneurship?
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:08:47 PM)
Rafa, we have some great classes in entrepreneurship as well as business plan competitions. Yale's Entrepreneurial Society is also a great resource for our students.
King (Sep 2, 2009 12:09:17 PM)
Does Yale have a specialization in Healthcare management?
Tconigl1 (Sep 2, 2009 12:10:27 PM)
Do members of your career services sit on the admissions committee?
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:10:36 PM)
Kings, we do have classes in healthcare management that you can take as
electives. While you don't technically specialize, you'll be able to do
deep dives or just take a class or two. We also have an executive program focused on leadership in healthcare
Linda Abraham (Sep 2, 2009 12:11:00 PM)
Welcome Bruce! Thanks for joining us.
BruceDelMonicoYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:11:15 PM)
Thanks, Linda!
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:11:35 PM)
Tconigl1, we do have career services folks who sit on the admissions policy committee.
Woo (Sep 2, 2009 12:12:15 PM)
Michelle: During information sessions, what should candidates be looking for
and do you pay attention to the people who come to those?
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:12:44 PM)
Woo, info sessions are a great way to learn more about the school and also ask questions of admissions staff. I love meeting people and making personal connections at the events.
Fedrick (Sep 2, 2009 12:13:20 PM)
Michelle: How is Yale's finance program?
BruceDelMonicoYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:13:28 PM)
We get a fair number of people who want to switch careers, so that's not an unusual trajectory. We actually updated our
essays this year to make it easier for career switchers to talk about
their future goals. One thing I would highlight is that it's helpful to
show what you've done to prepare for the switch--that is, it's nice
to want to make a switch, but we want to see that you're serious about
it and have made some effort to prepare for it.
Linda Abraham (Sep 2, 2009 12:13:55 PM)
Bruce: Yale is accepting the GRE now. Is there any difference in the
way you evaluate an application with a GRE as opposed to a GMAT score?
Any advantage or disadvantage to applying with the GRE?
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:13:59 PM)
Fedrick, we have a very strong finance program-about half our students go into finance each year.
Tconigl1 (Sep 2, 2009 12:14:52 PM)
Michelle: How important is the level and/or ranking of undergraduate institution?
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:15:40 PM)
Tconigl1, we do consider where someone went to school, but more importantly, we look at the rigor of the classes and how well you did.
BruceDelMonicoYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:15:44 PM)
Linda, yes, we are now accepting the GRE. We're not sure how many
applicants we'll see with a GRE, but we're excited to find out. One way
the GRE score will be different is that the scale will be different
from the GMAT, so we'll need to calibrate that.
Sarang (Sep 2, 2009 12:15:49 PM)
Michelle - What resources are available at Yale to pursue technology management?
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:16:25 PM)
Sarang, we work with all the big IT firms - Microsoft, Google, Apple, etc. Typically the roles are marketing ones, but the relationships afford us the opportunity to explore other roles within the firms.
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:18:25 PM)
This year about 4% of our class is from Europe, although we would love to increase that number. About 5-7% of our students pursue international jobs post MBA, but that
number will likely increase. We just hired a relationship manager in
the career development office who is focused on international positions.
aspirant (Sep 2, 2009 12:18:35 PM)
Michelle: How will you convert the average grade 7.0 (out of 10) to the
GPA? Is it equivalent to 3.0? Do you have minimum requirement for the GPA?
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:19:29 PM)
Aspirant, You don't need to convert your GPA. Just enter it into the application as 7/10.
bru (Sep 2, 2009 12:19:41 PM)
Michelle: How do you compare different grades in different academic
courses? My college was known for its tough marking and only 5% could
manage a first class while in college it's not very difficult. Is
there any predetermined conversion factor to convert marks in to grades?
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:19:46 PM)
Bru, we have a global applicant pool and are used to different grading scales. We don't have a pre-decided conversion but will likely be familiar with the grading at your university.
Linda Abraham (Sep 2, 2009 12:19:54 PM)
Bruce, are you looking at the raw GRE score or the percentile? If the latter,
what would you like to see, while acknowledging that the score is just
one element in the application and is not viewed in a vacuum?
Kate03 (Sep 2, 2009 12:20:47 PM)
Michelle: I am interested in advancing in a people management and human
resources career - do you have many students interested in this area? I
have spoken to a few interested in consulting in this field, but am
wondering about people who are more non-traditional for b-school and go
for internal jobs.
aspirant (Sep 2, 2009 12:21:23 PM)
Michelle: How many of the career switchers in your MBA class have indeed successfully changed their industry and function?
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:22:01 PM)
Kate, the number of people interested in HR has grown over the past few years. We just had someone go to Google to work in HR and the head of people operations at Google is an SOM grad. He was just on campus to welcome our class of 2011 at orientation.
BruceDelMonicoYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:22:06 PM)
Linda, the same raw score on each test may indicate something
different. We look more at the percentile to get a sense of the
applicant than the raw score. One advantage of the GRE (other than it's
cheaper) is that it's more widely used across graduate programs so it
has broader applicability. Conversely, it doesn't have universally
acceptance among business schools, so that's a drawback. And certainly
for applicants who have taken the GRE, we want to make sure they're
serious about business school and aren't just throwing their hat in the
ring lightly.
King (Sep 2, 2009 12:22:24 PM)
Bruce: Has the recession impacted the recruitment stats at Yale? If
so, has career services taken any steps to deal with this?
ES (Sep 2, 2009 12:22:35 PM)
Michelle: How important is the GMAT score? Is a score below or just below the 80% range too low?
BruceDelMonicoYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:22:46 PM)
King, our recruitment statistics have actually be very much inline with past years.
Linda Abraham (Sep 2, 2009 12:23:17 PM)
Bruce: How did 2009 grads do? What percentage are employed at this
point, which is roughly 3 months after graduation? Do you have average
salary data for 2009 grads?
Deena (Sep 2, 2009 12:23:31 PM)
Michelle: What do you look for in the applications of younger
candidates? (Approximately) what percentage of admitted students have
less than 3 years of work experience?
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:23:52 PM)
Hi ES-the GMAT is only one piece of your application, but an
important one in determining whether someone will be able to be
successful academically in our program.
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:24:29 PM)
Deena, to check out the stats for the class of 2011, you can visit our web
site. Keep in mind these are only averages, but will give you a sense of where you will place in the applicant pool.
Dan (Sep 2, 2009 12:24:42 PM)
Michelle: I'm very excited about the opportunities in environment,
sustainability/business of climate change/energy-- the Center for Business and the Environment at Yale format is
very exciting. But considering job opportunities in this domain are
nascent at this stage, how good are the jobs for students coming out of
Yale (pay, choice of opportunities etc.) compared to some of the other
Green MBAs out there?
BruceDelMonicoYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:24:48 PM)
Linda, we had 100% internship placement this year, as we have in the
past, and although our full-time numbers aren't final yet, we're within
a few percentage points of last year, I believe. So we've held up well.
The Career Development Office (CDO) has done a great job of sourcing
opportunities for students, and the Dean and rest of the administration
has called on our alumni to step up in the down economy, and they
really have. Alumni have also been a nice source of opportunities for
students.
ss (Sep 2, 2009 12:25:28 PM)
Bruce: What is the age/work experience range and how should an
applicant with more work experience than SOM's average approach the
essays?
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:25:45 PM)
Dan, we actually place very well in terms of green jobs. Our joint degree program with The Environment School at Yale is our largest. You may want to connect with an admissions ambassador to ask about their experience.
D.Noonan (Sep 2, 2009 12:26:24 PM)
Michelle: Yale is a relatively small place as far as B-Schools go, and
I know your materials play up the advantages of such an intimate place.
But I'd also guess being small limits some aspects of the student
experience (e.g., number of electives and clubs, on-campus recruiting,
etc.). Could you talk a bit about what you perceive as the biggest
drawbacks to attending a small school and, possibly, what Yale does to
compensate for these? Thanks!
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:27:21 PM)
D.Noonan, we have over 60 clubs on campus, which is a number that I always found amazing given our small class size. I think if you're someone who's looking for a close-knit community,
then SOM might be a good fit. You'll be in small classes, get to know
your classmates well, and have lots of opportunities for leadership in
clubs. That said, a small school isn't for everyone. It's best to
narrow your choices and visit the MBA programs that are of most
interest.
BruceDelMonicoYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:27:35 PM)
Linda, according to the CDO, we're at 87% employment rate right now,
which is within 5% of last year. We're still working on the official
3-month-out number (not set yet), but those should be coming soon. The
average salary is around $100,000, roughly on par with last year.
snv85 (Sep 2, 2009 12:27:40 PM)
Michelle - what resources are available to customize learning to a
particular industry, and then reflect them in consulting firm
project?
Linda Abraham (Sep 2, 2009 12:27:59 PM)
Bruce, that's impressive given the recession.
Brookecb (Sep 2, 2009 12:28:39 PM)
Hi Bruce: Is there a certain type of applicant you would recommend
taking the GRE vs. GMAT (e.g. maybe someone who does not have as strong
a quantitative background)?
BruceDelMonicoYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:28:51 PM)
SS, our average age is in the 27-28 range, with the average years of experience being 4-5 years. That's very much an average, though -- we have students on both
sides of that, some coming directly from undergrad and others with 10+
years experience. If you're about the average, your goal should be the
same as every other applicant -- explain why now is the right time for
you to get an MBA, what make the degree compelling to you, and what you
hope to do post-MBA.
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:30:31 PM)
Snv85, before you start interviewing for consulting positions, you'll have the
opportunity to sit down with a consultant who will teach you the ins
and outs of case interviews. Our consulting club also holds boot camps so second years can pass down the information they've learned to the first year students.
MBA1 (Sep 2, 2009 12:30:55 PM)
Bruce: How do you view younger applicants who have just a few years of experience?
BruceDelMonicoYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:31:14 PM)
Linda, it is! We're doing extremely well on the employment front. It helps to have great students :).
Linda Abraham (Sep 2, 2009 12:31:23 PM)
:-)
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:31:27 PM)
If you don't have a GPA, we'll take a look at the classes you took and the level of rigor.
MBA1 (Sep 2, 2009 12:31:40 PM)
Michelle: When is the deadline for taking the GMAT if a student is planning on submitting her application for round 1?
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:31:48 PM)
This year 34% of our first year class are women - but we would certainly love it to be 50%. We've made some great strides over the past few years as a founding
member school of the Forte Foundation. Their mission is to increase the
number of women in business. We also have a very active Women in Management club on campus.
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:33:14 PM)
MBA1, you need to take the GMAT by the application deadline to be considered in a round.
We receive the scores electronically and match them with your application.
BruceDelMonicoYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:33:52 PM)
Brookecb, I think that's what will likely happen -- that applicants who
may not be as strong quantitatively will look at the GRE as a way to
appear stronger. I would be wary of this approach -- we'll still
calibrate scores and will try to normalize to the GMAT, so it's not a
way to "hide" a weak quantitative background. I think there are good reasons
to take the GRE -- especially for applicants who are thinking of
different types of graduate programs -- but I don't know that a less
strong quant background is one of them.
Kate03 (Sep 2, 2009 12:34:08 PM)
Thanks for the answers on HR Michelle - I'm familiar with Mr. Bock and have read much about him! I'd love to speak to the student who went
to Google in HR, would it be possible for me to email you for his or
her contact information?
bru (Sep 2, 2009 12:34:23 PM)
Bruce: I have spoken to few students of different top B Schools and all
have said that the average GMAT score for Indian students is around 700
and it's very difficult to get through with a lower score (below 80
percentile) - could you please throw some light on this matter?
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:35:22 PM)
Hi Kate, if you email me later, I can connect you with one of our students who's interested in HR.
Helen (Sep 2, 2009 12:35:47 PM)
Hi Michelle, how do you evaluate the level of undergraduate university in China?
BruceDelMonicoYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:36:18 PM)
MBA1, we have a number of students with just a few years of experience
-- and some who come directly from undergraduate. The key is not so
much the number of years, but what you've been doing. If you have
quality work experience, then the fact that you have relatively less of
it temporarily is not a huge deal. It really depends less on how
long you've been doing it, and more on what you've been doing (finance firms,
for example, have a standard two-year analyst track before people go to
business school).
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:36:36 PM)
Hi Helen. We receive a large number of applications from China, so we're knowledgeable about the University system there.
D.Noonan (Sep 2, 2009 12:36:55 PM)
Michelle: Does the integrated curriculum mean that more classes are
taught by lecture or with cases? I know Yale talks a lot about the
"raw" cases it uses, but how many have you written? Are they used in
every class? In core classes only? Just trying to get a sense of the
pedagogy. Thanks!
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:39:10 PM)
D.Noonan, I think we have about 30-40 cases so far, since we started writing two years ago. We're about 60% case and 40% lecture.
BruceDelMonicoYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:39:12 PM)
Bru--first off, love the screen name! Our average GMAT score this
year for our incoming class is 715. That's for everyone. I don't know
what the breakdown is by cohort, but getting a good score is definitely
a help. We don't have any minimum scores, though, so we don't think
along those lines.
snv85 (Sep 2, 2009 12:39:15 PM)
Michelle: How active is the consulting club in Yale? What are the companies that are its promoters?
bru (Sep 2, 2009 12:39:44 PM)
Bruce: Does Yale helps students in funding--getting a loan from a US bank?
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:40:03 PM)
Snv85, the consulting club is very active--BCG, MCK and Deloitte have all sponsored events in the past few years.
snv85 (Sep 2, 2009 12:40:08 PM)
Michelle: Could you shed some more light on selection process in Round 1 vs. Round 2?
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:40:54 PM)
Snv85, your chances of being admitted in the first or second round are the
same, so I encourage students to apply when they feel they have the
strongest application. If that means waiting until the second round,
that's fine. The only exception is the third round, when we admit on a space available basis.
MBA1 (Sep 2, 2009 12:41:16 PM)
Michelle: Can a student apply for a joint degree (a JD/MBA) during the
first year of business school? How is that generally viewed?
Helen (Sep 2, 2009 12:42:50 PM)
Bruce, since Yale's alumni network is mainly in politics and NPO, etc, what does Yale do to overcome the drawback?
BruceDelMonicoYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:42:55 PM)
Bru--we do have a financial aid office that helps students in their
funding decisions. For domestic students, this involves filling out a
FAFSA form. For international students, we have an in-house loan program
(the Yale International Student Loan) that allows international
students to borrow up to the full cost of tuition and mandatory fees
without a co-signor and at favorable rates.
BruceDelMonicoYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:43:18 PM)
Helen, thanks for your question. That's actually one of the misconceptions about SOM. Our alumni
network is actually very diversified and although we certainly are
quite strong in public and non-profit management, we're arguably even
stronger in finance and other areas. Of the two alumni who spoke to the
incoming class during orientation, one is the head of HR at Google and
the other is in the senior management of the NBA. So we're strong
across the board -- and the fact that we can tap into the larger Yale
alumni network makes the SOM network even stronger..
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:43:49 PM)
MBA1, for the three year JD/MBA you need to apply to both programs at once. That may change in the future, but for now that's the policy. For other joint degree programs, you can apply together or wait and apply to the second school during your first year.
somhopefull (Sep 2, 2009 12:44:23 PM)
Michelle: How important is the GMAT for acceptance to the SOM? Scale of 1-10?
Brookecb (Sep 2, 2009 12:47:08 PM)
Bruce: Can you talk a bit about the revamped curriculum and how it
benefits the wide-range of students from varying backgrounds/disciplines to
gain a solid grasp of the material?
BruceDelMonicoYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:47:59 PM)
Brookecb, that's a very good question. The idea behind the new core curriculum is to bring management
education in step with the way business is operated today. So instead
of teaching functionally discrete classes (which is not responsive to
how people's careers evolve nowadays), our curriculum integrates these
disciplines in a way that teaches our students how they interact and
influence each other. We also use Yale-branded "raw cases" to teach the
core -- they rely on primary data and real-world materials, which also
makes the learning much richer. And these cases are drawn from all
sectors and industries, so they get people thinking broadly about
problems and issues. The idea is to train general managers who can lead
in any industry and across all sectors.
Sarang (Sep 2, 2009 12:48:29 PM)
Michelle- Does Yale consider the pay package of the applicant as a factor in admitting him/her?
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:48:30 PM)
Somhopeful, it's tough to quantify because the GMAT if only one part of the
application process. Obviously it's great to have a solid score, but
the rest of your application should be strong as well.
Somhopefull (Sep 2, 2009 12:48:43 PM)
Michelle: What is more important; High GMAT or High GPA?
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:48:43 PM)
A high GMAT doesn't guarantee admission. Both are ideal ;-) but one doesn't have more weight than the other. We
use your GMAT and GPA to determine whether someone has the skills to do
well here. If one is low and you'd like to explain, you can use your
optional essay to relay that information directly to the admissions committee.
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:52:40 PM)
Sarang, we sometimes use salary as a data point to determine your level of responsibility or role within an organization.
Linda Abraham (Sep 2, 2009 12:52:59 PM)
Michelle and Bruce: If you are looking at an application and the
numbers and basic profile is in the ballpark for a Yale student, what
distinguishes an application that is accepted from one that is rejected?
BruceDelMonicoYALE (Sep 2, 2009 12:56:46 PM)
Linda, if the basic profile's there, we look at things like how
passionate and driven someone is and how well they think through their
decisions (as an indication of judgment and common sense). We're
looking for the additional spark that might set someone apart.
MBA1 (Sep 2, 2009 12:57:00 PM)
Thank you for your feedback, Bruce. You mentioned the quality of work
experience as a consideration for admissions. If an applicant was part
of a financial company that collapsed last year and has since switched
jobs--and is a younger applicant--will her quality of work experience
be thought less of? Is it advised for a younger applicant to wait
another year to apply, even if that person is looking for a career
change?
Helen (Sep 2, 2009 12:58:20 PM)
Hi Michelle, thanks for the reply for the university system in China.
However, I am just wondering whether the level of the University (GPA is
definitely important) plays a crucial role for your admission
consideration? What if the candidate is from a middle-level university
with a high GPA, but extraordinary working experience and worldwide
exposure?
BruceDelMonicoYALE (Sep 2, 2009 1:00:00 PM)
MBA1, that's a tough question and very much depends on the specifics of
the situation. In general, we don't hold it against people that their
firm went under -- it's not their fault. The key factor is what you've been
doing since then. So whether you're working in an equivalent position
or not, we want to see that you're keeping busy (whether through work,
volunteering, etc.) and trying to improve yourself.
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 1:00:55 PM)
Hi Helen. It's really a combination of all the aspects of your
application that will ultimately help us arrive at your admissions
decision. If you went to a less competitive school, we'll be looking
specifically at the rigor of the courses you took as well as how well
you did.
snv85 (Sep 2, 2009 1:01:03 PM)
Michelle: Yes, I agree for third round, but I have heard people saying
the spaces with similar profiles may get filled and a candidate might
not be so lucky to get into even the second round.
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 1:01:40 PM)
Snv85, I don't think there's one profile of student who applies in either round, so I wouldn't worry about that. We don't have quotas for certain industries or backgrounds, but do have an eye towards diversity when crafting the class. I'd apply when you're ready and try not to game it.
ES (Sep 2, 2009 1:01:55 PM)
Michelle: How does Yale view two GMAT scores (I am aware they consider
the higher score) - but the fact that you have taken it more than once?
Just for the standardized test, if someone who scored a 750 on first
attempt vs. somebody who scored a similar score on a second attempt
viewed differently?
snv85 (Sep 2, 2009 1:02:35 PM)
Bruce: I have seen couple of cases/pdfs on SSRN. Do students get to
participate in building those cases or those cases act as a repository
for class discussion purposes?
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 1:03:34 PM)
We do see all of your GMAT scores, so it's best to be prepared when you take the exam. If your scores are dramatically different, you may want to explain in your optional essay. I'd say it's probably better to go in and take the exam once or twice and have a true indicator of your abilities as opposed to taking it several times with the hope it will go up.
jack (Sep 2, 2009 1:03:57 PM)
Michelle: If I am planning a career change, how important is it for me
to know what my short-term Post-MBA career goals are before I apply to
Yale?
BruceDelMonicoYALE (Sep 2, 2009 1:06:00 PM)
Snv85, I'm not sure which cases are up there, but that' a multi-school
repository. In terms of Yale cases, we do have students who sometimes
help research and write cases--that's one of the ways students be
involved in building the curriculum. It's another really nice feature
of the school and another way the faculty and students interact.
snv85 (Sep 2, 2009 1:08:28 PM)
Thanks Bruce! Also, how responsive is Yale in terms of bringing another
elective in to the curriculum if a student is willing to study it?
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 1:08:48 PM)
Jack, if you're planning a career change it's really important to outline
your career goals and how an MBA will help you get there. You should
also tell us why this new industry is of interest to you and
demonstrate you have done some research.
applicant1 (Sep 2, 2009 1:08:57 PM)
Michelle: Does that imply that a high salary is a generally favorable data point?
Linda Abraham (Sep 2, 2009 1:09:44 PM)
Michelle going back to the career changer question, is it also
important to relate past experience and activity (not only research) to
the future goal?
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 1:09:52 PM)
Applicant, not necessarily - it's just one data point among many that we look at.
BruceDelMonicoYALE (Sep 2, 2009 1:10:37 PM)
Snv85, the list of electives do change. I think the key factor is how much
student support there is for a course. If it's just two students, the
faculty likely won't build a course around that--although it's always
possible to create an independent study and work directly with the
faculty that way. My sense is the faculty is extremely responsive to
student interest, whether by building a new course or working with
students individually on their interests.
Linda Abraham (Sep 2, 2009 1:10:47 PM)
Bruce, could you tell us a little about Yale's virtual presentations?
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 1:11:31 PM)
Good point Linda - for example, if you're looking to move into
nonprofit but we don't see any evidence of volunteer or nonprofit work,
we may be skeptical. It's important to demonstrate your commitment to
your career goals.
snv85 (Sep 2, 2009 1:11:47 PM)
Thanks Bruce! Could you tell me more about the experiential learning activities at Yale?
Linda Abraham (Sep 2, 2009 1:12:21 PM)
Thanks Michelle.
BruceDelMonicoYALE (Sep 2, 2009 1:12:35 PM)
Snv85, there are a lot of opportunities for experiential learning at
SOM. We try to make the classes themselves as "real world" as possible,
but they're still classes. We have the international experience trips
that get students out into the world, and club activities such as SOM
Outreach (which involves consulting opportunities), the GSE club (also
consulting), Board Match, and other chances for students to get out and
apply their learning in the real world. There's no lack of
opportunities!
Linda Abraham (Sep 2, 2009 1:12:36 PM)
Michelle: How do you use the interview in the admissions process?
BruceDelMonicoYALE (Sep 2, 2009 1:13:05 PM)
Sure, Linda, we actually just had one today. The idea is that we can't be everywhere and
meet everyone, so we've created a series of "virtual receptions" that
allow people who aren't in cities we'll be visiting to connect with us.
The next one -- which will be on "application tips" -- will be on
September 16th. You can register for it on our website. Thanks for asking, Linda!
Linda Abraham (Sep 2, 2009 1:13:17 PM)
Thank you again all for participating. Special thanks to Bruce and Michelle for joining us today.
We look forward to seeing you at future chats. On deck:
Sept.10: Michigan Ross MBA Admissions
Sept.16: London Business School
Sept.24: Notre Dame Mendoza
Oct. 1: Columbia Admissions Q&A
Oct. 12: Cornell Chatter
Oct. 20: Consortium Application Strategies
If you would like to automatically receive notices about these MBA
admissions chats and other MBA admissions events, please subscribe to
our MBA event list.
Good luck with your applications! Have a great day!
snv85 (Sep 2, 2009 1:14:24 PM)
Thanks a ton to all of you!
MichelleVitaliYALE (Sep 2, 2009 1:15:03 PM)
Thanks everyone for joining us today! If you have additional questions, feel free to email or post on our admissions discussion boards.
D.Noonan (Sep 2, 2009 1:15:22 PM)
Thank you!
Rafa (Sep 2, 2009 1:15:50 PM)
thank you very much
ES (Sep 2, 2009 1:16:24 PM)
Thank you!
BruceDelMonicoYALE (Sep 2, 2009 1:17:08 PM)
Thanks, Linda!
Linda Abraham (Sep 2, 2009 1:17:15 PM)
You're most welcome.
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