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

The delivery is smooth. The content is nice.

A friend recommended this book to me while I was preparing to apply to business school and I found it invaluable. As a strategy consultant at a "Big Five" from an Ivy undergraduate with the standard GMAT of 700 or above, I could have easily blended in with everyone else with my qualifications. This book helped me to figure out what would help me to stand out at each individual business school. Moreover, it helped me to identify my weaknesses in time to address some of them. For example, because I read this book two years before applying, I had time to become a leader in several community service organizations (instead of just participating) and to take some classes in areas I'd neglected in undergrad. Finally, I was able to choose consulting projects that created a more compelling application. Thanks in large part to this book, I now have an MBA from a top five school. More importantly, the school was the right fit for me and I loved the experience.

When I was applying for b-school, I read this book twice all the way through, and used it as a reference thereafter. The first time, I read it just for the gist. The second time, I read it more carefully and thoughtfully. Finally, as I started to write my "story" I used the book as a reference - going back for hints on style as well as content.

Now that I am a Kellogg grad, people come to me regularly for advice on b-school applications. I have recommended this book numerous times. Thoughtfulness and self awareness are the keys to getting into b-school, and this book helps structure the thought.

I just received an email confirming my admission to a top-5 MBA program !!! Although getting into an MBA program is a combination of GMAT scores, interviews, experience and essays, this book will guarantee to improve the quality of your essays. A word of caution...just like any other book, do not take this book word-for-word, trust your own judgement and use the material that you find useful. I bought this book for some guidance through the essay and interview process. Definitely worth it's weight in gold !!!

I found this book by far the most helpful of all six or seven books I bought on the subject. It gives good, non-intuitive guidance, and even includes what to do *after* you are accepted so you can hit the ground running once you start your MBA program. I'm glad I had this book.