The MBA Admissions Studio » ambition

‘If you aren’t an idealist at 25, you’re a rogue; if you’re an idealist at 50 … you’re a fool’

Avi Gordon — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 16:08:39 +0000

In the headline above I’m paraphrasing Winston Churchill, who is alleged to have said: “If you’re not a communist at 20, you’re a rogue; if you’re a communist at 50 you’re a fool.” In fact the quote in one form or another goes all the way back to Francois Guisot (1787-1874) who said during the [...]

How Mr Swatch can take you past management consulting as an MBA admissions platform

Avi Gordon — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:19:46 +0000

The Economist recently ran an obituary of Swatch magnate Nicolas Hayek, and this offers me a concrete example to explain why management consulting is a weak long-term goal for MBA admissions. (Yes, I’m always pushing clients to give clear examples or anecdotes to back up their MBA admissions claims. So this is me “practicing what [...]

How to dent the universe (or how to apply for an MBA like Steve Jobs would)

Avi Gordon — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:28:53 +0000

In dealing with MBA admissions clients, I’m always looking for ways to push them beyond the ordinary, both in terms of how they frame their life to date and what they plan to do in the future. I also counsel applicants to ‘think like a CEO-in-waiting,’ that is, ask: what would a senior executive do [...]

Getting distinctiveness into your MBA application even if you think you have none

Avi Gordon — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:34:04 +0000

One of the biggest problems I have as an MBA admissions adviser – friend, coach, confidant, drill sergeant, etc., to applicants trying to crack top-tier schools – is explaining to clients that “good is nice, great is nicer,” but neither will get you into a top-tier MBA program. Only “good + special” will get you [...]

What does the “MBA Oath” mean for MBA admissions? Ways to broaden your ethical platform, for a start

Avi Gordon — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:51:38 +0000

This year, in the wake of the financial meltdown and global recession, much of which (rightly or wrongly) is blamed on MBAs, the accent is squarely on business ethics and long-term sustainability of decisions. These issues have been on the rise for a while, but their sudden prominence is demonstrated in the emergence and rapid spread of the "MBA Oath.

Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn founder, offers some reality on entrepreneurship lifestyle

Avi Gordon — Tue, 12 May 2009 11:31:50 +0000

Entrepreneurship plays well in admissions. This is because business schools want to put their effort into and brand on the person who will build great new companies or institutions, rather than someone who will become a salaryman, no matter how big the salary. Problem is, it’s easy to say “I want to start a company,” [...]

Some great interview advice between the lines in “Harvard is my hump”

Avi Gordon — Fri, 08 May 2009 16:34:08 +0000

For better or worse most Adcoms like idealism. They don't want naivete, but they do like world-changing visions. If you are not a dreamer at 25, you'll never be, and they are not looking to put the HBS brand on money-grabbing cynics. See Gina Valeria Chua's Harvard Business School admissions story.

The “World MBA Tour” MBA essay advice session transcript

Avi Gordon — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:42:32 +0000

Transcript of a World MBA Tour online admissions essay advice service, where Avi appeared live as expert MBA essay advisor.