In a previous article, I discussed how MBA recommendation letters are a crucial component of the overall application. This process can often feel daunting, particularly when you’re asking someone to support you while you’re preparing to leave their company. What is required of MBA recommendation letters Typically, recommenders will need to respond to several questions […]
Category: B-School / Consulting Clubs
As mentioned in a previous article, most business schools require either a GMAT or GRE score for their MBA programs. These test scores typically account for about 20% of the overall application. Many students have shared stories of peers who studied for just two weeks and achieved high scores. However, based on my own experience […]
Standing out in an MBA application involves a strategic approach to showcasing your unique qualities and experiences. With thousands of management consultants applying to top MBA programs each year, consulting is one of the most overrepresented candidate pools, alongside finance. Entering class statistics at US M7 schools (2025) US M7 school Total class size (2025) […]
Starting university as a business student is an exciting and transformative experience. You’re about to embark on a journey that will shape your future career, and the opportunities available to you are vast. From academics to extracurriculars, internships, and even your own entrepreneurial ventures, the possibilities seem endless. However, with so much on your plate, […]
The MBA journey is a deeply reflective process, centered around understanding your goals and aspirations. Being honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses is crucial in determining how you measure up and which schools are the best fit for you. While targeting M7 schools is an admirable goal, it’s important to diversify your application […]
After years of planning for your MBA, you will eventually reach the stage that involves completing the MBA application package. This includes compiling your background information, reflecting on your goals and aspirations, writing essays, and securing recommenders. Below I’ve outlined key tasks to consider starting 12 months before application deadlines. 9-12 months before application deadline […]
I was always inspired by students who graduated from top MBA programs. Through several internships and networking opportunities, I met many individuals from these programs who thoroughly enjoyed their experiences. As a result, I knew that I wanted to pursue an MBA after completing my undergraduate business degree in 2018. Over the past few months, […]
I have often heard from leaders at MBB firms that management consulting is a close substitute for an MBA program. From my experience at one of the MBB firms and now as an MBA candidate, I want to share the similarities that I have found between being an MBB consultant and doing an MBA, whether […]
In my last series of publications, I shared my opinions on the MBA and the key elements of an MBA application package. However, when it comes to actually applying to schools, it can often be a daunting task. I found that reading articles and watching YouTube videos only provided high-level, general advice, not something specific […]
MBA rankings are a significant factor for many prospective students when choosing a business school. However, understanding the methodology behind these rankings, their significance, and how to interpret them is crucial for making an informed decision. In this article, we will delve into global MBA rankings and provide guidance on how to use or not […]
In the previous article, I provided a high-level overview of the MBA landscape. Now, I will delve deeper into each component of the MBA application package. The key application components, along with their estimated importance weights, include: Standardized tests (GMAT or GRE) – 20% Academic transcripts – 18% Resume – 15% Letters of recommendation – […]
If you are a business student or working professional, terms such as “MBA”, “M7” and “GMAT” may be familiar. For me, I never seriously considered pursuing an MBA until my final year of undergraduate studies. Now as an experienced professional, I want to share the potential significance of pursuing an MBA and offer guidance on […]
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized test widely used for admissions into various graduate and business programs across the globe. Understanding what the GRE is, how it aids in unlocking master’s programs, particularly MBAs, and effective preparation strategies is crucial for prospective graduate students. In this article, we’ll delve into the key aspects […]
The GMAT is a necessary hurdle that individuals who aspire to pursue an MBA or a graduate degree in finance need to overcome in order to gain admission to a top school. The GMAT assesses a wide range of skills, from analytical writing to quantitative and verbal reasoning. Success on the GMAT requires a well-thought-out […]
Are you signed up for a case competition, ready to showcase your skills and get a quick resume-building experience? Maybe you’ve been a part of a team that for some reason failed to even make the first cut because of inexperience or a lack of cohesion. Or maybe this is your first exposure to case […]
Whether you are studying for your MBA, Ph.D., or J.D., graduate school is an incredible opportunity to learn as much as you can. You might be completing case studies, conducting experiments, and writing lengthy legal reports, all of which will prepare you for your career. As someone who recently completed graduate school and began a […]
MBA programs typically have an orientation day. Some have an entire week dedicated to orientation. This program is meant to help students get to know each other before the official start of the program. In addition, that crucial week will give you time to set up your apartment, learn the transportation system, open a bank […]
If you have the privilege of attending university and are excited about problem solving, you may be interested in building software solutions. Being a student at university is a great time to build products that serve as a solution to problems the world may face. As a student you have access to incredible resources such […]
Some of the best years of your life will be spent at university. After spending 18-years under the guidance of your parents, you gain the freedom to explore the world, study a degree of your choice, discover who you are, and explore potential career options. Pursuing tertiary studies is not only about the academics, but […]
Whether you are in school or working full time, the goal is to eventually make enough money to become financially free. While many consulting blogs help you land a lucrative main job and career, this specific article will suggest some side hustles to bring in extra cash. Since there are different opportunities at the various […]
The most common reasons people choose to pursue an MBA is for a career switch or as a steppingstone to a managerial role. MBA candidates have the opportunity to acquire a multitude of skills that are applicable to a variety of industry and managerial positions. One of the less pursued career paths is that of […]
Academic learning is no doubt incredibly important. Attending lectures delivered by experts is the foundation of a university program. However, learning does not end at the end of class. Experiential learning is the idea that you can learn by doing. In experiential learning, you learn skills such as communication, project management, and teamwork. These skills […]
In a locked-down world, global opportunities have been all but forgotten. That may be an exaggeration, but cross-cultural exchange has been drastically lessened. This is a shame since international experience is greatly beneficial for young professionals. To succeed in a global business environment, it is important for the next generation of young leaders to be […]
MBA consulting recruiting season starts every fall. For a few falls now, in my capacity as a volunteer career advisor, I have had to uncomfortably tell incredibly intelligent MBA students from highly respected schools that they are utterly ill-informed about entering the consulting profession. It isn’t that they did anything wrong per-se or that they […]
If you are a current student and are interested in consulting, chances are you are familiar with your school’s consulting club. Maybe you’ve attended a competition hosted by them, or perhaps you’ve utilized resources made available by them – no matter how you’ve interacted with the club, it’s a valuable resource for aspiring consultants to […]
If you have decided to pursue an MBA, then taking the GMAT is an unavoidable part of the process. The Graduate Management Admission Test is a very challenging exam divided into 4 sections: Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment, Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning. Your GMAT score will range from 200 – 800, calculated solely based […]
Deciding to do an MBA is a big decision. Besides the financial cost of attending the program, you will incur the opportunity cost of lost income or other benefits that you would have obtained from doing something else for those two years, and you will have to invest time and energy which are the two […]
If you are looking to get into consulting, there are several ways to gain experience during your graduate studies. You can take classes, enroll in the graduate consulting club, or volunteer for pro-bono consulting projects. You can also participate in case competitions, which are in a league of their own. Each case competition is different […]
Deciding whether to obtain an MBA can be difficult. It is a rewarding experience that can allow you to improve your job prospects, expand your network, and learn all about business. But, you also need to study for the GMAT, leave your current job, and possibly relocate to a new state. If you decide to […]
During the MBA experience, meditation was one of those words that I constantly heard of, read about and wanted to practice but never actually did. I kept hearing about its benefits from the people practicing it, and it still kept being an item on my long want-to-try list. Whenever I would set the alarm for […]
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a rigorous program of study. While other typical MSc degrees require 30-40 credits, MBAs require 50-60 credits over the course of two years. To graduate from the Global MBA Program at The George Washington University you need 55 credits. That means the program is heavily loaded with classes, […]
Thinking about consulting as a career? Thinking that an MBA program is a good place to start? Well, you’re on the right path! You are probably curious about HOW exactly an MBA program will support you with your transition to consulting. Maybe you’ve heard about school consulting projects, strong alumni networks, and classes that can […]
There are various reasons why people decide to pursue an MBA including career advancement, career change, wanting to start a business, and professional networking. Most MBA programs teach the same core topics: finance, marketing, human resources, negotiations, strategy, consulting and organizational management. What really distinguishes a program from its peers are the students that the […]
As a volunteer graduate school advisor, I often get asked if acquiring an additional graduate degree in addition to an MBA as a dual degree student improves consulting recruiting opportunities. As a dual degree myself (MBA and MPP) who has encountered numerous MBA dual degrees in consulting of all types, I thought it would be […]
As I’ve watched the COVID-19 situation unfold, like many of you, I’ve been fearful for the future of the economy and the well-being of individuals around the world. Quite honestly, however, during the first few weeks of the crisis I hadn’t focused on how it would impact my own situation or how it would disrupt […]
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to sit down with another blog contributor to the SpencerTom community, Jason Oh, to share our experiences about the consulting recruiting process. More specifically, we were able to go over a few common questions about the differences in recruiting at a ‘target university’ and a ‘non-target university’ […]
As addressed in my article from last week, non-MBA graduate students face a comparatively more challenging journey in their quest to enter the management consulting industry. That being said, I know plenty of non-MBAs who have received offers from prestigious consulting firms, and so I thought it would be helpful to share some strategies that […]
An MBA degree has long been known as a robust pathway towards accessing management consulting career options. Yet, what about other graduate degrees in comparison to an MBA? Having been a student ambassador for a program at my university’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, I have had plenty of conversations with prospective students asking […]
“There was a doctor from Boston and a lawyer from Chicago, a philosopher from Australia and an engineer from France. There were people who had Ph.D.’s in mathematics, sociology and astronautics. In fact, in the tiered classroom filled with 50 clean-cut, casually dressed people in their 20’s and 30’s, there seemed to be just about […]
The clients won’t be household names. Compensation for your volunteer consulting work is at an exciting zero. Worst of all, it will be just another project that competes with school work, networking, and sleep for a piece of your time. Yet for graduate students seriously considering a consulting career without prior professional consulting experience, I […]
It’s almost summer, and you have probably accepted an offer from your favorite B-School that you pursued for months. Based on conversations with your B-school seniors, you know how intense the first few months of the program is, with coursework, networking, and internship hunting all happening at the same time. Perhaps the thought of such […]
Case competitions are amazing opportunities to demonstrate your ‘case cracking’ abilities in front of industry judges, quickly expand your network, and win great prizes. I was fortunate enough to be involved with several during my undergraduate days, both as a participant and as a judge. I even started one, which is now one of the […]
If you are going to university, it is likely that you will attend a corporate networking event at some point. Whether you want to form connections with your dream employer, find out about a specific company or industry, or simply go because that’s what all of your friends seem to be doing, these events can […]
Everyone knows what an MBA is, but if you’re living outside Europe, the MiM, or Master’s in Management, may have passed under your radar. Nonetheless, whether you’re looking to change your career or kick-start it, a Master’s program is worth looking into, and in the world of business, the MBA and the MiM are the […]
One of the most enduring reasons to get your MBA (or even EMBA) goes far beyond the “so-called” traditional reasons for going back to grad school (starting with increasing your pay check). It also extends much further than your expanded business network and the knowledge that you pick up along the way, including bettering how […]
International business degrees, in particular the MBA, are of increasing importance in a world where globalization (no matter how you define it) is here to stay. If anything, despite the recent backlash against globalisation, international business people who have an understanding of different business cultures are far better prepared for the world that lies ahead. […]
In the fall of 2015, after spending two years in a small town in the Ruhr Valley starting to learn German (I will appreciate Mark Twain’s perspective on the sprache so much better going forward), I moved to Frankfurt to begin my Executive MBA at the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management. There are many […]
THERE MAY be a business school bubble for other people, but not for you. Whether you are buying into a bubble depends on whether the cost of what you are buying significantly exceeds its intrinsic value. For most assets, you can find the intrinsic value by looking at the expected return – the more money […]
THANKS to Wil for pointing us towards an interesting HBR article looking at The Business School Tuition Bubble. Is there a business school bubble? Almost certainly, and you can view a scary graph of the higher education bubble here.
IT would be easy to forget that there are many fine people out there who have never heard of this “CFA Program”. What is the CFA Program? The CFA Institute describes the CFA Program as a graduate-level course for investment professionals. The course covers an extremely broad range of topics including: ethics, quantitative methods (read: […]