Okay. So you're probably wondering, "what is the purpose of this blog?" I have been doing my due diligence on MBA and MFA programs for over a year, and I have seen the same things: work experience needed, we will accept you straight from your undergrad as long as you meet these requirements..., and early career applicants encouraged (particularly Stanford GSB, Chicago Booth and Washington University Olin). But, what I have not seen are strong support and examples for early career applicants to feel comfortable in applying. How do I make myself standout in a positive fashion compared to applicants that have work experience? How can I articulate my passion and potential success in their program? And, that is the purpose of this blog.
Arguably, Seasonable Applicant will focus on my applying to MBA and MFA programs. Although I have been out of undergrad for almost 2 years, I am still considered an early career applicant because of my lack of full-time work experience. I have a moderate to strong work background with internships every year since freshman year and some full year programs, but because none of it is classified in full-time experience, I am an early bird.
My goals for this blog are to provide tips, writing examples, school spotlights, personal insights and recommendations by admission committees and previous graduates. I want this blog to be your 24/7 resource guide. And, although I am the writer for this testament, I am not claiming to know all of the answers because I do not. I am just trying to provide FREE assistance to my fellow applicants.
When considering if I should wait to construct this blog (taken that I have yet to apply to any programs, and are beginning the application processes now), I decided that I wanted my constituents to follow my path with me. I want you to learn with me. I will be as transparent as possible when providing my highs and my lows, and, hopefully, my acceptance to MBA and MFA programs. I know myself, as well as others, feel that this is the right time to apply to these programs, but our job is to convince the adcoms of this revelation. We will assist each other in this process.
Additionally, the other focus of this blog would be the discussing of scholarship and fellowship opportunities, and how early career applicants should try to differentiate themselves from the other applicants when applying for funding. Coming straight from undergrad or, in my case, graduate school, we really do not have the funds to finance our post-graduate paths. So, we have to work 200% harder to finance our education. You will follow me on this path as well.
For future purposes, below you will find a list of the schools I am currently considering for my MBA program:
University of Chicago-Booth School of Business (http://www.chicagobooth.edu/); DREAM PROGRAM
Washington University in St. Louis-Olin Business School (through Consortium; http://www.cgsm.org/)
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor-Stephen M. Ross School of Business (through Consortium; http://www.cgsm.org/)
Loyola University Chicago-Graduate School of Business (http://www.gsb.luc.edu/)
Depaul University-Kellstadt Graduate School of Business (http://kellstadt.depaul.edu/)
University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign-College of Business at Illinois (http://www.mba.illinois.edu/)
And, my very tentative list of MFA programs to which I am applying (in 2013) includes:
School of Art Institute of Chicago (http://www.saic.edu/); DREAM PROGRAM
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor-School of Art and Design (http://www.art-design.umich.edu/); Contingent on if I attend Ross for my MBA studies
Columbia College Chicago (http://www.colum.edu/)
University of Illinois-Chicago-School of Art + Design (http://adweb.aa.uic.edu/web/)
As you can see, I have a lot of hard work in store, and hopefully you will join me for the adventure!
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