The Pulse – Weekly Newsletter 7/6/20
We are living in turbulent times here in 2020. Industries are shifting, traditional macro and micro economic models are under question and some are even calling these next two years “the lost years.” Rather than tread water and “hold on” as the world figures itself out, many business professionals are looking at the 2020 MBA Admissions intake as the perfect opportunity to begin working on their network, placing themselves at the helm of new trends and best practices, and “leveling up” in top MBA programs so they can come out on top in the next 2-3 years when the chaos has been calibrated. Here is an introduction to the MBA and GMAT that might give you or a friend the push needed in the right direction to take control of your future.
What is an MBA?
The world of postgraduate studies can be confusing with the litany of potential postgraduate degree options across the world. Here we will break down what exactly an MBA is to help you figure out if going to business school is the right option for you!
When should I start studying for the GMAT?
The amount of time and ‘type of studying’ you need to prepare for the GMAT should be tailored according to your needs, what you need to improve, and your routine.
Meet admissions directors, one on one, in the biggest virtual MBA Tour this month!
Merchant has paired up with GMAC and The MBA Tour to offer a platform to connect admissions directors, alumni, and candidates in one virtual space!
1. Network with admissions decision makers from top business schools such as Columbia, Chicago Booth, Wharton and IESE.
2. Be matched with high-potential schools by our smart algorithm.
3. Explore the unique features of various business programs during interactive presentations.
4. Get exclusive GMAT tips from the exam creators.
5. Learn from industry specialists during 25-minute advising sessions.
Houston – July 14 – Free Registration
Chicago – July 16 – Free Registration
New York City – July 18 – Free Registration
Atlanta – July 21 – Free Registration
The 2020-2021 application updates for the week!
Click if you would like to book a free 30 minute consultation for immediate advice and learn how we can help you get to where you want to go (hopefully with a scholarship too!).
Below you’ll find a list of news regarding GMAT, MBA programs, and webinar updates!
GMAT and GRE
With more states and countries now reporting new surges of coronavirus cases, GMAC has now extended the deadline for taking the at-home version of its test a second time until Aug. 14th. Of course, it’s also possible that with the pandemic still wreaking havoc in the world, test-takers will have even more time to take the test. For now, however, it will be available at least until the middle of August. Read more here
Wharton
The University of Pennsylvania Wharton School has announced the launch of a new full-ride MBA fellowship available to a LGBTQIA+ student. The new funding will cover the full cost of tuition for the two-year MBA program (the current cost of tuition is over $80,000 per year.) The new “Prism Fellowship” was established in 2019 by a Wharton alum and will be awarded annually to one student in the MBA program.
UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School
UNC Kenan-Flagler will delay the official start of the Full-time MBA program to August 31 and has extended the Round 4 Full-Time MBA program deadline through July 13. Applications will be reviewed and admissions decisions released on a rolling basis. Due to COVID-19 and applicants’ reduced ability to access and prepare for the GMAT or GRE, GMAT/GRE waivers are available for new applicants. Applicants can submit other standardized test scores (e.g., SAT/ACT/LSAT/MCAT/etc.) and for those receiving waivers, formal offers of admission may be based on the successful completion of our Analytical Skills Workshop prior to the start of the program. Our admissions team is eager to help you with your questions about the application process, admissions policies and program-related information. We encourage you to connect with us any time by email at mba_info@unc.edu, join us for an upcoming webinar or visit our admissions status page for timely updates. In the meantime, be kind, be compassionate, be safe.
Georgetown University McDonough School of Business
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Amid testing center closures and economic uncertainties related to COVID-19, we have given Fall 2020 Full-time and Flex MBA applicants more flexibility. We now accept the online and onsite GMAT/GRE and expired GMAT/GRE scores, the EA, MCAT, and LSAT. For English testing requirements, we accept the online TOEFL and online DuoLingo in addition to the standard TOEFL/IELTS. For those who meet strict COVID inaccessibility and academic standards, we will consider waiving the standardized test. Applicants should visit the “Application Components” portion of our website for more information. Applications accepted through July 13.
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Georgetown McDonough this month announced the launch of a new online MS in Business Analytics, the latest foray in the school’s search for “future business leaders interested in learning how to understand and use data to create, share, and sustain value.” The new program will begin in January 2021 and applications are open through mid-December.
UNSW
Australia’s UNSW Business School has announced plans to launch a new online Master of Financial Technology (FinTech) program.The FinTech program will be delivered completely online and is designed to be completed in two years. The program’s core courses include “Technical Tools for FinTech,” “Data Management for FinTech,” and “FinTech Ecosystem and Industry Insights,” among others. Students will also work to develop their own applied FinTech project. For more information, please see the UNSW news release announcing the launch of the new Master of Financial Technology (FinTech) program.
2020-2021 Application Deadlines
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HBS:
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Round 1: September 8
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Round 2: January 5 2021
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Wharton:
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Round 1: September 15
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Round 2: January 5 2021
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Round 3: March 31 2021
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Stanford:
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Round 1: September 15
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Round 2: January 6 2021
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Round 3: April 6 2021
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Cambridge Judge:
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Round 1: September 7
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Round 2: October 19
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Round 3: January 11, 2021
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Round 4: March 8, 2021
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Round 5: April 26, 2021
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Columbia:
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Round 1: October 2 (Early and Regular Decision)
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Round 2: April 9 (Regular Decision)
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INSEAD:
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Class of July 2022
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Round 1: September 11
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Round 2: November 6
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Round 3: January 8, 2021
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Round 4: February 26, 2021
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Class of December 2022
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Round 1: March 5, 2021
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Round 2: April 23, 2021
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Round 3: June 18, 2021
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Round 4: July 30, 2021
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Michigan Ross:
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Round 1: September 14, 2020
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Round 2: January 4, 2021
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Round 3: March 29, 2021
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Round 4: June 1, 2021
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Duke / Fuqua MBA Deadlines 2020-2021
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Early Action: September 23, 2020
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R1: October 20, 2020
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R2: January 7, 2021
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R3: March 25, 2021
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Berkeley Haas
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R1: September 24, 2020
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R2: January 14, 2021
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R3: April 5, 2021
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Darden
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R1: October 5, 2020
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R2: January 4, 2021
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R3: April 7, 2021
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Chicago Booth
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R1: September 24, 2020
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R2: January 12, 2021
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R3: April 1, 2021
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- Dartmouth (Tuck)
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R3: March 29, 2021
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R2: Jan. 4, 2021
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R1: Sept. 28, 2020
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This Week’s Live MBA Events
Take advantage of these free online MBA events updated weekly!
In this current Covid world we are living in now, traditional networking events and school visits have been replaced by online webinars and meetings. It is absolutely crucial that you participate in these meetings in order to have those first “touches” with admissions directors and show your interest in learning the most you can about your target MBA programs.
Take note of the dates, important messaging and phrases the speakers say, and who proctored the event to leverage in your future essays and interviews. These small details can make the difference between getting accepted and not.
- July 7: Berkeley Haas Admissions Chat Q&A
- July 7: Columbia Virtual MBA Student Chat: Learn about the culture and community at Columbia Business School by having your questions answered live by current MBA students at a virtual student chat.
- July 7: HBS Joint Degree Series: Harvard MS/MBA Virtual Q&A: Join Jill Fadule, Director of Joint Degrees, for a virtual Q&A on Harvard’s two-year MS/MBA programs.
- July 7: HBS Diverse Perspectives Series: Women in Retail and Consumer Goods: Please join faculty member Dr. Jill Avery as she moderates a panel of HBS women making a difference in the retail and consumer goods space. Learn about their experiences and how HBS has played a role in their journeys.
- July 7: IE Virtual Panel: How an MBA can boost your career in times of uncertainty?: Hear directly from our Academic Directors Ignacio Gafo and Jose Esteves on their perspective on business education within the current context as well as from our top alumni to get that first-hand experience on what they gained in their programs.
- July 7: Stanford Online Chat with a Student
- July 7: Wharton Carey JD/MBA Overview Webinar: Join Director Kelly McLaughlin for an interactive overview of the Carey JD/MBA Program. This webinar will discuss the three-year curriculum, student life, career information, and the admissions process. After an overview of the program, Kelly will answer your questions live.
- July 7: Yale Admissions Q&A: Join us for a live online Q&A session hosted by a Yale SOM Admissions Committee member. These are small, interactive sessions where all participants are encouraged to share their audio and video, replicating the group conversation you would experience during an in-person campus visit.
- July 7: Tuck Tuesdays with Tuck
- July 8: Berkeley Haas Admissions Chat Q&A
- July 8: Berkeley Haas Multi-School Event – MBA Women’s Panel
- July 8: Berkeley Haas Women in Leadership: Coffee Chat
- July 8: Columbia Virtual MBA Information Session
- July 8: HBS Get to Know HBS Series: MBA Program & Admissions Information Session: This online information session will be hosted by a member of the MBA Admissions Office and will include a short presentation on the HBS MBA experience, admissions process, and financial aid offerings. The information session is primarily Q&A based)
- July 8: INSEAD HOW PRIVATE EQUITY & VENTURE CAPITAL IS CHANGING: BEYOND ‘DRY POWDER’: We will have the opportunity to host Professor Claudia Zeisberger, INSEAD’s PE & VC guru and advisor to global investors and government entities, who is back in Hong Kong for Super Return this year. Claudia is well-known to our Asian alumni and she is the author of ‘Mastering Private Equity – Transformation via Venture Capital, Minority Investments & Buyouts’ and ‘Private Equity in Action – Case Studies from Developed & Emerging Markets’
- July 8: MIT Sloan MBA Virtual Coffee Chats: opportunity to contribute to the conversation and learn more about the MIT community. Additionally, because space is limited, please register for one chat only.
- July 8: MIT Sloan MBA Program • Overview & Networking: In this webinar, Admissions and current students will share more about the MBA program at MIT, talk you through the application process, and answer your questions. Plus, you will have an opportunity to network with current students.
- July 8: NYU Stern Virtual Information Session: Join current MBA students or members of the Admissions Committee to learn about all that Stern has to offer. Information sessions will provide an overview of our programs and the application process.
- July 8: Stanford MBA Student/Alumni Online Panel (Women’s Perspectives)
- July 8: Wharton MBA/MA Lauder Joint-Degree in International Studies Webinar: Join Director of Admissions Marketing and Financial Aid, Kara Keenan Sweeney, for an interactive overview of The Lauder Institute’s MA International Studies joint degree program with the Wharton MBA. This webinar will discuss the two-year curriculum, student life, career information, and the admissions process. After an overview of the program, Kara will answer your questions live.
- July 8: Yale MBA Women’s Panel: Women are leading in the business world in greater numbers than ever before. Join the movement and shape the future. Attend this webinar to hear alumnae from seven top business schools, including the Yale School of Management, share about their MBA experiences. Gain insights into the MBA journey and post-MBA career opportunities. Develop your personal story and learn how to present your authentic self through your MBA application. This is a non-evaluative event for your benefit.
- July 9: Berkeley Haas Admissions Chat Q&A
- July 9: Berkeley Haas The MBA Tour – San Francisco
- July 9: Berkeley Haas HSA Information Session
Merchant GMAT & Admissions Is Now Offering Free Admissions Consultation Meetings!
Interested in a free consultation with our Admissions Director to answer some of those big questions you have about applying this year? Don’t know where to start? Worried about how you will pay back the initial investment for school fee’s and living expenses? So does 95% of all business professionals who are beginning to explore their MBA options. Click the button below to fill out our Admissions Introduction Form and schedule your free meeting this week!
