The Best Business Schools' Admissions Secrets: A Former Harvard Business School Admissions Board Member Reveals the Insider Keys to Getting In,   ISBN:9781402212130

Customer Rating: 

This is a very sound book focused on the admissions to the top 8 MBA programs. The only regret I have with this book is that I wish I had read it earlier.

The author provides deep insights into how each applicant is evaluated. MBA admissions in the top business schools is not all about GMAT and GPA.

In order to be admitted to the top 5 business schools in particular, one needs to show tremendous leadership and other WOW factors. One needs to foster good relationships with potential MBA recommenders. And don't forget the arduous preparation for GMAT.

Unfortunately, one can't just build a MBA WOW factor in few months. It may take years to build extracurricular credentials and leadership experience that an MBA program would find compelling and credible (it is too late to join the Peace Corp 3 months before the application).

This would be an ideal book to read for those who just finished their undergraduate program and would like to attend an MBA program in a few years. It will provide quite helpful tips on how to prepare for the grueling and challenging MBA admissions process in a top school. DO NOT think high GMAT and GPA will guarantee you admission into a top MBA program (although they will surely help).

To summarize the book, one needs to build a compelling personal brand and allow other parts of the application,interview, and recommendation confirm that brand. DO NOT write boring and trite essays that will put admission officers to sleep. Make your essays interesting and compelling with a touch of humor. The book also outlines a list of things an MBA applicant should never do in the essays, interviews, and recommendations.

Other suggestions from the book:
1)Valid reasons why you would want an MBA (money and intellectual challenge should not be emphasized).
2)Choosing between Fulltime, partime, executive, and accelerated MBA programs. (They are NOT the same).
3)Writing proper and effective Essays (Writing boring essays that do not foster strong personal brand is a sin).
4)Choosing and prepping the recommenders.
5)International student challenges (visa, obtaining financial aid, language barrier etc).
6)Financial Aid
7)How to handle interviews, open houses, and information sessions. Note, you WILL be evaluated in all 3, so be nice and professional to everyone.

My main disappointment with the book is that the author provides deep insights into only top 8 MBA programs. Clearly, most of the suggestions are focused on the admissions to top 8 programs. The school I am targetting, which is a top 12 MBA program, was not dealt in any level of depth.

Customer Rating: 

I like the tips in this book. It shows you a step by step approach from an insiders perspective. Though I'm still in the application process, I believe that this book has well equipped me to face any admissions board. Good job Chioma!

Customer Rating: 

I reluctantly read this book at the urging of a friend and I am glad that I did. This book provides excellent insight to the admission process and covers everything from writing memorable essays, to how to select the right person to write your recommendation letter, to navigating the interview process. I hired Expartus, the author's admission consulting company, for additional help and was pleased. I highly recommend that this book be read and the tools applied before submitting an MBA admission packet.

Customer Rating: 

I bought this book out of curiosity. After spending one week on reading all chapters carefully, i felt disappointed. The first chapter used real life cases such as BMW, GM etc as examples to emphasize how important a great marketing strategy is which is true. However, the reasons i felt disappointed are, first, strategy is not a new idea. These days, more and more people talk about strategies everyday. and we can find many similar books in the market. second, the book titled with secrets. however, all the secrets revealed in the book are not secrets anymore, in my opinion. if you open any other biz school related books, you can find all the secrets there too. The most disappointing part for me is, the book is quite misleading. Admission officers read thousands of essays full of dramas every year. if you intentionally follow the methods in the book, it probably works several years ago because few people use them at that time . Now, if you want to follow again, it is easier to drop into "patterns" and most important, forget "be yourself"

Customer Rating: 

I've spent the last couple years researching my MBA, such as reading books and websites, meeting alumni from top programs, and meeting current students from top programs including almost 10 from Harvard. This book was simply the best resource I've found. It was the most insightful, actionable, and efficient read so far. The author cuts the fluff and tells you what really matters from an admissions perspective, what you should do, and even poses some good questions to rationalize the MBA and what's right for you. Awesome book!!!