How To Get Into the Top MBA Programs, 4th Edition

Extremely useful for MBA application process. Easy to read, clear and insighful ideas. Great for those who are considering applying or are just starting their application process.

Several other reviews here do sufficient justice to the strengths and weaknesses of this book (e.g., bensmomma). My professional background is outside of consulting, finance, or information technology and I do not have an undergraduate education in business. But I am enrolled at a top 10 program. As suggested elsewhere, there are better resources for profiling programs. I recommend bwonline, school websites, current students and the myriad published reviews. As for a behind the scenes view, Postcards from Hell (Peter Robinson) is still relevant.

Some reviewers have suggested that the book is out-of-date or doesn't acturally reflect the current admissions scene. Some of that is merited, but only because the admissions process is an evolving animal. Committees seem to adjust essay questions and focus interviews to shape specific attribute they may desire to attract. In that respect, any book is going to be out of date by the time it's released for publication. To those people, I recommend sticking to blogs. But if your tired of plowing through personal whine sessions about the application process, stick to this book and read for the broad suggestions: self-assessment, comprehensive packaging, appropriate references, and what to expect along the way.

This book is not perfect and,like anything, benefits from being supplemented with other sources. But as regards the nitty gritty of working through the application/admissions process, I referenced this book most frequently.

I found this book really helpful. A friend recommended it to me as I was applying to school. Coming from a non-profit background, I was worried about my application, so this provided solid guidance. However, because it is so "standard" I would not recommend following it too closely, lest your essays start to echo the ones printed in the book (since I'm sure admissions people have read it). I found its interview tips and "what to do once you've been accepted" sections particularly useful, as I have checked out many of the pre-MBA books he has suggested. Columbia, here I come!

This is the bible for anyone applying to an MBA program. Even if you're not trying to get into one of the top programs, the information in this book is helpful. After buying several books on this subject and looking at many more, this is hands down the best! Montauk did a fantastic job answering all the questions that will come up when you're thinking about an MBA...Why do I want to do this, how should I prepare for the GMAT, how should I prepare for an interview, etc. WELL WORTH THE PRICE!

This is an excellent book to teach you how to approach the MBA admission process as whole. Especially usefull to me were the essay tips and examples (used to pick up ideas which matched my own eperiences) and the recommendation letter sections.

However, I used the book succesfully to gain acceptance in two top canadian MBA programms - so no high flying US programms in my experience. The interviewing section is also useful, but, if you reach this stage, I recommend that you supplement this book by reading your target programm's website and some of the online interview databases.

One thing this book is not, even though is trying to be - it is not an MBA program selection guide. But once I figured out the classical "why MBA?" for myself and picked up my choice programms this book was an excellent help.