Kaneisha Grayson's Blog, page 10

Y Combinator Application Tips

Impress Investors and Showcase Your Startup’s Wow Factor with an Impactful Y Combinator Application

Are you ready to start seeking venture funding for your startup? Y Combinator is an excellent option for founders in search of seed funding as they scale their business. As this well-known startup accelerator only accepts applications twice a year, crafting a competitive application is daunting for entrepreneurs looking to showcase their startup. We share some Y Combinator application tips to help you refine your pitch.

Do your research. 

It may seem obvious, but take the time to clarify the major components of your business for your application. Evaluate your market, verify that your business model is the best fit for the product/service you’re offering, and research your competitors. Think about what kinds of questions a critical investor might ask and make sure you have clear answers for them, as this will help you determine where you can further solidify your vision. Only bring your proposal to the application stage once you’ve vetted your business plan as thoroughly as your investors will.

Be conscious of your wording. 

Use impactful words for each part of your Y Combinator application proposal. Be consistent and intentional with the wording you use to describe your business and business process, without relying on flowery language. Answer each question concisely and provide compelling explanations. Remember that even though you’ve been working at length with this concept, those reading your application are hearing about it for the first time! It’s up to you to convey the key elements of your business in a way that leaves a lasting impression.

Have supporting details ready. 

Strengthen the credibility of your application by providing specific and relevant details. Be careful of phrasing that simply states the viability of your proposal, or that your business is market ready. Instead, prove your proposal’s viability by backing up each of your assertions with details from the research and preparation you’ve done. Give specifics on the data you’ve used or gathered to clarify your market. Don’t forget that you are your business’s best and most important asset. This is not the time or place to downplay your accomplishments. Confidently list the qualifications and expertise that make you an outstanding candidate and entrepreneur!

Give your business a name that leaves a great first impression. 

Your business name should be easy to say and easy to remember. Go for something catchy, simple, and relevant. Avoid names that are hard to spell or require explanation. Think about existing business names that you find particularly memorable, or take a look at existing Y Combinator companies for inspiration. A good name will grow and evolve with your business. Think about how it will look as a domain name, in your branding, and what similar names might already exist. If possible, your business name should be something you can build a whole ecosystem around in the future. For example, think of a name that can be turned into a verb.

Have an effective description of your business prepared. 

Your application should include a clear, accurate, and specific description of each component of your proposal. Those descriptions need to provide a straightforward understanding of the product/service your business offers, how your business addresses a clear market need, and demonstrate why your business is the best fit for that market. This is where we circle back to the importance of wording and backing up your proposal with data. Using deliberate wording and supporting data in these descriptions will make for a far more coherent, impactful application.

Don’t forget about the wow factor and don’t lose sight of the bottom line. 

Remember, this application is a business pitch! Find the intersection of your passion, your professional experience, and your education to highlight the unique insights that set your business apart from competitors. This application is a chance for you to convey the differentiating factor your business has to bring a new, innovative solution to the market. Your business’ wow factor should be the cornerstone of your proposal, and ultimately the reason the Y Combinator investors choose your application out of the rest.

Want to take your Y Combinator application to the next level? If you’re an entrepreneur in the ideation or early operating stages of your startup looking for venture funding through Y Combinator, The Art of Applying® can help. Book a Quick Call to hear how our Hourly Coaching can help you craft a Y Combinator application that truly showcases what makes your business worth investing in!

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PhD Series: Letters of Recommendation for Graduate School

Recommendation letters are becoming an increasingly important component of graduate school applications. Applicants often have stellar GPAs, test scores, and extracurricular activities, making it difficult for admissions committees to differentiate between them. Letters of recommendation offer a unique opportunity for outstanding applicants to shine, by providing additional insight into their character and capabilities from experienced and trusted professionals.

Who to Ask

When deliberating on who to ask for a letter of recommendation, consider professors or supervisors who can speak to your strengths (academic background, knowledge, skills, or character traits). Did you regularly attend office hours for a particular class or work in an undergraduate research laboratory? Even if you did not work directly with a research mentor, it’s worth asking them for a letter. Research professors (or “Principal Investigators”) will often ask their post-doctoral trainees and graduate students for additional feedback regarding your performance, making their letters both specific and personal.

How and When to Ask

While asking for letters of recommendation can be uncomfortable for applicants, writing them is a common responsibility for professors and supervisors. That is to say, don’t worry about it! Be direct, professional, and courteous in your email. The most common and biggest mistake applicants make with letters of recommendation is asking for them too late. This can be perceived as unprofessional, and may suggest that the applicant is irresponsible and disorganized. Instead, ask for letters 2-3 months prior to the deadline (the earlier the better). This allows recommenders plenty of time and flexibility to write the best possible letter.

Important Information to Include

After a recommender agrees to write a letter on your behalf, respond with the following pieces of information in an organized package: CV, Transcript, Personal Statement and/or Statement of Purpose, and Deadlines (click on the hyperlinks for advice regarding these pieces of your application). Do not forget to include detailed instructions on how to submit the letter, which varies based on program and institution. You may suggest your willingness to meet (now virtually due to the pandemic), but communicate that it is not necessary, as you recognize the time-commitment involved with writing a thorough letter. Ask if there is any additional information that would be helpful for them and then thank them again for their time. The key is to anticipate their needs and simplify this process as much as possible for them.Still feeling stressed about your letters of recommendation? The Art of Applying is here to help. Our experienced team of consultants have trained at the top academic institutions in the world and more importantly, are dedicated to your success. To learn more about how we can help, click here to schedule your free 15-minute Quick Call with one of our consultants.

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Which countries qualify for the HKS MPA Mason Fellows program?

The Mid-Career Master in Public Administration (MC/MPA) at the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) is a sought-after program for professionals interested in policy school. The MC/MPA curriculum is a one-year program, including a 5-week summer program and two semesters of coursework. 

International applicants from developing countries applying to the MC/MPA from HKS will apply for the MPA Mason Fellows Program. The Mason Fellows program is a cohort within the year-long HKS MC/MPA program and is exclusive to applicants from countries with emerging economies. 

Mason Fellows benefit from a built-in network, a specialized pre-semester program called Mason Fall Launch (MFL), and Mason seminars during the school year. Participants will graduate with an MPA and the Mason Certificate in Public Policy and Management. 

Which countries qualify for the program? 

The Mason program is specifically for applicants from “a transitional economy or developing or newly industrialized country.” This means that the committee only considers applicants from certain countries. According to HKS, Mason Fellows are from the following regions and countries:

Region Countries AfricaNigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, DR Congo, Tanzania, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Algeria, Sudan, Morocco, Angola, Mozambique, Ghana, Madagascar, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Malawi, Zambia, Senegal, Chad, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Guinea, Rwanda, Benin, Burundi, Tunisia, South Sudan, Togo, Sierra Leone, Libya, Congo, Liberia, Central African Republic, Mauritania, Eritrea, Namibia, Gambia, Botswana, Gabon, Lesotho, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritius, Eswatini, Djibouti, Comoros, Cabo Verde, Sao Tome & Principe, SeychellesAsiaChina, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Turkey, Iran, Thailand, Myanmar, South Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Malaysia, Yemen, Nepal, North Korea, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Syria, Cambodia, Jordan, Azerbaijan, United Arab Emirates, Tajikistan, Israel,Laos, Lebanon, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Singapore, Oman, State of Palestine, Kuwait, Georgia, Mongolia, Armenia, Qatar, Bahrain, Timor-Leste, Cyprus, Bhutan, Maldives, BruneiLatin AmericaMexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Venezuela, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Guyana, SurinameThe CaribbeanHaiti, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Bahamas, Barbados, Saint Lucia, Grenada, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Kitts & NevisThe Middle East Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, YemenEastern EuropeRussia, Czech Republic, Poland, Croatia, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova,Serbia, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Belarus, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Kosovo, and MacedoniaCentral Europe Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland, United KingdomFormer Eastern BlocSoviet Union, Poland, East Germany, Albania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Romania, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary.

MPA applicants from the above regions should consider applying to the Mason Fellow program for an enhanced MPA experience. 

Preparing your application 

Applying to an MPA program is a lot of work. If you qualify to apply to the Mason Fellow program, you’ll also have to think about presenting the experience you have in advancing positive change in your home country. 

For applicants who may qualify for the Mason Fellows program, we can help you with your application. In fact, we’ve helped clients successfully become Mason Fellows in the past. Read more about Mauro’s experience working with us. 

Whatever stage you are at in your application process, we can help. Book a Quick Call with our team to learn more about our services. 

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PhD Series: How to Write a Statement of Purpose

What is a Statement of Purpose?

A Statement of Purpose goes beyond the traditional Personal Statement. It asks applicants to not only describe their professional journey and how that led to their research interests, but also offer additional insight into their proposed area of study. This article offers a useful framework for writing your Statement of Purpose as well as tips to get you started.

Step 1: Introduction and Outline of Goals

The first section of the Statement of Purpose should include a broad overview of your academic interests as well as a brief outline of your short term and long-term goals. Introducing your interests and goals early frames the rest of the essay for the reader, and more importantly, answers the prompt.  

Step 2: Relevant Academic History

Describe relevant academic or work experiences in detail and how they have shaped your desire to pursue a graduate degree in your proposed field. A common mistake made by applicants is providing a detailed account of every single past experience in their Statement of Purpose. While certainly comprehensive, it is not necessary, and can reflect poorly on the applicant, especially if it excludes or dilutes other essential components of the essay. Instead, consider including 3-5 of your most impactful experiences. Describe the projects in detail, skills you developed, lessons learned, and any outcomes. For example, for a research project involving human subjects, you could describe the process of obtaining IRB approval, developing and validating a survey, or mixed methods data analysis. PhD programs are rigorous. Convince the selection committee that you “know what you are getting into,” that you have the knowledge and resilience to be successful in their PhD program.

Step 3: Next Steps and “Why X” Program

Here, describe your research interests, detailing potential projects, research aims and methodologies. Discuss potential mentors at the institution you would like to work with (the buzzword here is “mentoring team”), and the specific skills you will learn from each of them. If done correctly, this section has the most potential to set you apart from other applicants.

Writing a Statement of Purpose that is both comprehensive and concise can be challenging. Before you begin, outline your essay using the above sections, paying close attention to your overarching goals. Do your past experiences clearly explain what brought you to your proposed field of interest? How will pursuing a PhD help you achieve your future goals? Connect the dots for your readers.   

Need more guidance with your Statement of Purpose essay? The Art of Applying® is here to help. Our experienced team of consultants have trained at the top academic institutions in the world and more importantly, are dedicated to your success. To learn more about how we can help, click here to schedule your 15-minute Quick Call.

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Client Case Study: Amanda

30-Year-Old Latina with ADHD Accepted to NYU Stern Part-time Langone Program 

Before our client Amanda met our founder and CEO, Kaneisha, she didn’t know much about business school. Amanda had an eclectic work history, from nonprofit work to fundraising, and she even worked for The Art of Applying® for a bit! Once she learned about business school, Amanda started taking pre-MBA classes to prepare.

However, test preparation proved quite tricky for Amanda. She said, “I was doing study groups. I bought all the books and would just spend my entire weekends literally reteaching myself from scratch. I would take these practice tests and nothing was changing. I was getting the equivalent of around a 550 GMAT, no matter what. I put thousands of hours into studying and nothing was changing.”

Amanda worked at her test score over a few years, and she almost let the difficulty cause her to give up on her dream of applying to graduate school. However, she knew she would regret it if she didn’t apply, so she decided to sign up for the Application Accelerator® and get help on the other parts of her application. Regarding her decision to apply, she said, “I’d question the rest of my life, what would have happened if I hadn’t gone for this. There’s still that little voice, even though you love your job, you still want to do this.”

Fortunately, that decision would also help her learn something about herself. After discussing her testing journey with The Art of Applying® team, Kaneisha encouraged her to get tested for a learning disability, and she was eventually diagnosed with ADHD. Once she was diagnosed, she said, “It was such a big weight off my shoulders. I did better on the test after, because I was able to get GRE accommodations. That was the game changer for me.”

Throughout her time with The Art of Applying®, Amanda also realized that a full-time, two-year MBA program might not be the best fit for her. So she set her sights on part-time programs, and she ended up finding the perfect program for her. Amanda was accepted to and now attends the NYU Stern Part-time Langone program!

Throughout the ups and downs of her journey, Amanda learned something significant. She said, “There’s so much else that I bring beyond a test score. I’m still working hard to learn what I need to learn from my classes, even if I might not be the best at statistics or certain subjects.”

If Amanda’s graduate school journey inspires you, why not start your own? Book a Quick Call with our team to learn how to get started:  https://theartofapplying.com/quick-call/ 

Start Date: May 2020 | End Date: June 2021

Applicant Information 

Age: 30GPA: 3.5 GRE: 317, V: 163, Q: 154Work experience: Nonprofit, tech marketing and sales, client engagement Undergraduate: Amherst College Major: Psychology 

Acceptances 

NYU Stern, Part-time Langone program 

Notable quotes 

Amanda’s advice for people feeling discouraged by low test scores or pressure to follow a linear path.

“It’s going to be okay, first and foremost. I think the closer you are to college and the K-12 experience, the more you are used to checking boxes and [you] beat yourself up more for not being able to perfectly do them. For me, now in an academic setting again for the first time in like 10 years, you see that that’s not everything, and the real world doesn’t work by checking boxes necessarily. The real world is a lot messier than that, and you know while you might feel like a mess right now, that is actually a gift in a way, and it’s not you, it’s the system. Know that just because you’re creating your own way through systems, that is okay. It was kind of meant for me to end up on the path that I did because I look back now and I’m like, ‘I love my job, and I would have never discovered this if at 28 I’d gone to business school’. It also freed me up to think about how to create your own life outside of this linear progression that you’re sold through a lot of conditioning growing up.”

Amanda reflects on the benefits of charting her path: 

“Being able to see that I’m not dependent on a path shows that I can create my own path. Working with The Art of Applying® showed me that you still can get value from an MBA and help people tell their story even if you’re non-traditional, because people want to create their own way. But that’s okay, and The Art of Applying® can help them tell the best stories. Getting into graduate school is storytelling at the end of the day.”

How Amanda went from spending thousands of dollars and hours studying for the GMAT and GRE to finding out she had ADHD: 

“I did all the programs. I did all the group programs. I did everything I could, and Kaneisha said, “Why don’t you go get tested for a learning disability?” And I mean I did well enough in school, and I went to a competitive undergrad. I remember just going online and looking at an ADHD self assessment. I was just at the end of my rope, and so I got evaluated. And it turns out that I had ADHD. It was such a big weight off my shoulders, not even just for the test, but I did do better after, because I was able to get GRE accommodations. That was the game changer for me, even just personally, because I’ve had a lot of careers and it just explained a lot. And also kind of showed me why a two year program wasn’t exactly right for me.” 

Amanda discusses how she knew the part-time program was a better fit for her: 

“The two year program has such a focus on being purely this academic experience. Versus when you’re in a part time program it’s like you’re able to balance a little more everyday work experience and bring that into the classroom, and that is valued differently versus in the two year program. The two-year program is very academic and linear; and just knowing an ADHD diagnosis your brain doesn’t really work in an extremely linear way.”

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Client Case Study: Yash

24-Year-Old Ashoka University Graduate Gets Into Columbia SIPA and Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy with Scholarships

After graduating from Ashoka University in India, Yash worked as both a climate change policy researcher and a geopolitical analyst for a risk management firm. But, his heart was set on serving in conflict zones for non-profits. Yash decided the best way to begin doing the work of his dreams was going to a top policy school, but he knew he needed help to get there. 

When asked what was difficult about the application process initially, Yash said, “I think the biggest challenge for me was the number of pieces you need to put together. For an application, it’s not just one component. It’s not just your test scores, your GPA, or your essays. There are a lot of moving parts. You need to ensure that they are one cohesive unit, and that is the one thing I was struggling with and I needed help on. Prior to working with my consultant [at The Art of Applying®], I needed to take my quant coursework, do my standardized testing, and write my essays. That just seemed like a mountain of work.”

At the urging of a friend who’s a former client of The Art of Applying®, Yash reached out to us for a Quick Call to talk about our Application Accelerator® program. In Yash’s words, “This particular individual urged me to reach out because I was just venting about the whole process. Then, I looked you guys up, saw some of the [client case study] videos that you have done, and I think what really appealed to me was that you didn’t have a cookie cutter model like a lot of firms have. It was very personalized.”

Knowing that this was a big decision, Yash chose to have his father, mother, and sister join the Breakthrough Call as his support system so they could counsel him on whether or not to enroll in the Application Accelerator®. On recapping the Breakthrough Call, Yash said, “To be honest, I was fairly confident going into the Application Accelerator® program because I knew that there are a lot of moving parts and there’s a lot of work that needs to be done, but I felt that I would have the necessary support I need and that would lead to a desirable outcome… I think the Breakthrough Call did wonders for me and even for my family. My mother, my dad, and my sister felt the same way.” 

Yash quickly agreed to join the Application Accelerator® program and loved getting to know other applicants in our community, “My most favorite part would be interacting with [other clients who are] in the same boat as me. I did not understand the value of it when I was going through that process. But now, a month or two removed from it, I see the value in it because while it’s always good to get the expertise that The Art of Applying® provides, talking to someone continuously who’s in the same boat as you makes a big difference… So I think that was the biggest and most enjoyable factor because these are connections for life.”

After working hard at his applications with guidance from his Consultant. Yash recently got into both Columbia School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) and Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy with scholarships! 

On how his life will change going forward, Yash shared, “These are really good policy schools, and I think it is the launchpad to a career that I have always wanted, but have not been able to get with my current skill set. More importantly, I’m getting to that goal with less debt. Policy school is not cheap! Getting that scholarship really makes a difference because it enables me to achieve the goals I want without taking too much debt.”

By the way, Yash almost missed the deadline for applying to the scholarship from Columbia SIPA, but his consultant encouraged him, worked with him, and pushed him to persevere and get the results he wanted. “Another shoutout to my consultant. I remember there was the SIPA scholarship deadline and I had a little bit of work still to do prior to the deadline and I had pretty much given up on hitting the deadline. And my consultant wrote to me and said, ‘Hey, listen. I know there’s X, Y, Z that’s left, but we can work this out. Just stick with it and trust me. You might have to put in a few more hours, but just do it and you will get the results at the end of it.’ So yeah, I think that’s another key aspect I had learned. I had kind of given up and my consultant really helped me on that particular front of just sticking with it and getting it done.”

Congrats on your acceptances and scholarships, Yash! We’re so proud to have been a part of your journey to policy school.

Start Date: June 2020 | End Date: May 2021

Applicant Information 

Age: 24GPA: 3.57GRE: 166 Quantitative, 165 VerbalMajor: HistoryUndergraduate: Ashoka UniversityWork Experience: Climate Change Policy Research and Geopolitical Analysis

Acceptances

Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) – Masters of International AffairsGeorgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy – 

Scholarships

Columbia SIPA – $10,000Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy – $18,000

Notable Quotes

On how Yash felt during his Breakthrough Call with The Art of Applying® 

“It was very seamless. It was exactly what I was hoping The Art of Applying® would be in that it would give the expertise I sought and it was still done in a people-friendly manner. I just realized I didn’t have to stress about anything and that I think that was a sign of how the next few months would be. There’s work to be done, but there’s no need to sort of stress and pull your hair out, which I was doing prior to the Breakthrough Call.” 

On why Yash chose to include his family on the Breakthrough Call:  

“Generally, I do involve them in a lot of decisions. Especially these big ones, but even with small ones, I always keep them in the loop… Going through this process requires a very strong support system. Your support system needs to be onboard and in the loop so they’re better equipped to help you. The Art of Applying® in itself is a great system, but to have a similar system back home I knew would do me good…  I think that the [Breakthrough Call] helped in that sense because I remember we also spoke about what their role in this is so they knew how their role was defined and I think that sort of helped them help me better.”

On whether Yash thinks you should try to take the GRE first or to reach out to The Art of Applying® for a Quick Call to begin the process:

“I would say that it is definitely much better if you do the GRE concurrently with the [Application Accelerator®] program. I started my GRE preparation alongside doing this program. The reason it worked is there is a Test Prep Power Hour so you can get a lot of your doubts solved and you can seek expert advice, but more importantly, you have a consultant that you can talk to to help you manage your time better… I think what is truly needed is not just a GRE score, your application is much more than that. There are a lot of moving parts and you need to ensure that all of them are moving in a coordinated fashion, and that’s what this program really does. It manages your time and ensures that it’s one cohesive unit that is being formed at the end of it.” 

Yash’s words for people who are still on the fence and want to go through the process one step at a time instead of accelerating their application by working with The Art of Applying®:

“To all future applicants, I had this very concern during my Breakthrough Call. I took that leap of faith. Having gone through it, I can assure you it works. And it works better. Because if you just focus on your testing, that can go on and on and on. There’s no end to it. That is not a system that works as opposed to this, which is a proven system.”

Ready to get amazing results, too?
If you’re ready to stop feeling like you need to climb the mountain of work by yourself, we’re here to show you the way. Book a Quick Call with our team today to get started!

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MBA Alternatives

What are some alternative business master’s degrees to an MBA?

If you are hoping to get an advanced business degree or pursue a career in business, you are probably very familiar with a Master of Business Administration, the MBA. But, is that the only advanced degree for business? We are here to share some alternatives to the traditional MBA.

As Harvard Business Review  defines it, an MBA “is a graduate degree focused on building leadership skills and learning business principles.” MBAs are a very popular degree, and graduates can take many different career paths after obtaining one.

While an MBA may be the most popular or well-known advanced business degree, it’s certainly not the only option if you’re looking to uplevel your career in business.  

There are several viable alternative business master’s programs applicants may consider. Some alternative degrees include a Master in Management (MiM), Master of Finance (MFin), and Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA). Depending on your career goals, one of these programs may be a better fit for you than an MBA. 

What is an MiM?

An MiM is a generalist business degree that was originally established in Europe. An MiM is a beneficial degree for recent graduates who are looking to transition into a business career or who are trying to understand what specific expertise they’d like to pursue. Another positive about an MiM is that this degree generally has lower tuition than an MBA.  

What are some of the top schools offering an MiM?

University of St. GallenHEC ParisLondon Business SchoolESSEC Business SchoolESCP EuropeWhat is an MFin?

As its name suggests, an MFin is a concentrated degree in the field of finance. While many MBA programs offer a finance concentration, There are still some critical differences between these degrees. As Ohio University puts it, an “MBA will prepare students for the entire corporate landscape, as opposed to just the finance field.” Because the MFin is more concentrated, it generally requires less time than an MBA. If you are committed to the mastery of finance and find a shorter degree appealing, the MFin may be for you. 

What are some top schools offering an MFin?

The University of Texas at Austin Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyColumbia UniversityIndiana University – BloomingtonWhat is an MSBA? 

Like an MFin, an MSBA is a very focused degree in comparison to an MBA. MSBA degrees focus heavily on analytics and big data. Candidates for MSBA programs should be interested in senior analytics careers or other data-heavy paths. MSBA programs can take one to two years to finish and generally provide opportunities to hone in on particular fields of interest with electives.

What are some of the top schools offering an MSBA?

MIT SloanUCLA Anderson School of ManagementESSEC Business SchoolThe University of Texas at AustinImperial College Business School Are you interested in pursuing an alternative business master’s?

While an MBA is undoubtedly the most well-known of business master’s degrees, it’s certainly not the only option for individuals interested in a business career. Whether you are looking for something more general or more specialized, exploring alternative business master’s degrees may be the right move for you. 
If you are looking to pursue one of the degrees mentioned in this article or any other business master’s, The Art of Applying® can help. Book a Quick Call to chat about your goals or questions with one of our consultants. We can help you gain admission to a top master’s program, whether it’s an alternative business master’s or any other degree.

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Client Case Study: Anthony

African-American Man Working in Tech Gets 10 Acceptances with Over Half of a Million Dollars in Scholarships, including the University of Pennsylvania Wharton Lauder MBA/MA Program

Anthony knew he wanted to go to graduate school after college, but wasn’t sure what he really wanted to do or why he wanted to go to graduate school. Immediately after graduating from college, Anthony applied to six top business schools and policy schools on his own, but unfortunately, he didn’t get admitted to any of them. Despite that setback, Anthony regrouped by taking a couple of years to build work experience and re-apply to his dream schools. Needing guidance and wanting to make this round of applications count, Anthony reached out to The Art of Applying® for help. 

Here’s how Anthony describes his state of mind before he joined the Application Accelerator® program, “I just didn’t know where to start. I thought I needed to focus on the test score, so I didn’t really pay too much attention to the other components of my resume and if I needed to take additional coursework. Also, because I’m a reapplicant, I felt directionless. I guess I wasn’t fully confident that the MBA was the right degree for me, so I was looking into so many different programs (JDs, MBAs, etc.) and just kind of throwing things at the wall to see what stuck.”

After enrolling in our Application Accelerator® program, Anthony became one of our hardest-working and most successful clients! If his story sounds familiar, you might have read about it in our first Hit Submit blog where he talks about applying to fourteen different schools and was still planning to submit more before the December 2020 deadlines. Anthony worked hard to submit eighteen applications in total and was admitted to ten school acceptances, awarded five scholarships and fellowship programs, and was waitlisted at four schools. 

It wasn’t easy though. Anthony talks about what his initial results were like after working so hard to submit that many applications, “My first result was a rejection from HBS… That was a really disappointing experience to hear the first result back. Then, I was rejected from Stanford. Then, I started getting waitlists. I was first waitlisted at INSEAD and then I got waitlisted at Ross. I was feeling really disappointed because I had essentially been working for nine months straight on my essays and test score.”

But, Anthony’s hard work would pay off shortly after the initial rough patch, “I had just been putting in all of this work and I remember I had reached out to you, Kaneisha (Founder & CEO of The Art of Applying®), and I was like, ‘I don’t know what’s happening. None of my interviews had produced anything yet.’ And Kaneisha was just like, ’Stick in there. The positive results are going to be on the tail-end.’ And that was totally right because it seemed like every result after my Ross waitlist was an acceptance.”

By aiming high, Anthony uncovered one of the seven secrets to getting multiple top graduate school acceptances. It pays to be a Wild Card applicant!

What was Anthony’s favorite part of working with The Art of Applying® in the Application Accelerator®? Here’s what he had to say, “Of course, there’s my consultant who was very amazing and wound up a great fit in terms of background and personality. [They were] really able to guide me on schools that I was planning on applying to and how to position my story. Besides that, I really liked how many resources The Art of Applying® had and it seemed like there was a resource for whatever question or concern that I had like which supplementary courses I should take and a list of all the classes and where I should sign up. Resume and email templates. And a list of past applicants I could reach out to. I just liked how everything was there for you to, once you’re in the Application Accelerator®, go after any part of your profile that you think needs improvement on your own time, but there’s just so many resources to make use of and it was a really holistic process.”

What’s Anthony’s advice for you if you’re thinking about getting help with your applications to graduate school? In his words, “Don’t put off investing in yourself with time or money. You really won’t go wrong with investing in yourself.” 

Those are wise words from a high-dollar scholar. Congratulations, Anthony! We’re so proud of the hard work you put in and the results you achieved!

Start Date: February 2020 | End Date: May 2021

Applicant Information 

GPA: 3.5GRE: 158 Quantitative, 163 Verbal, 5 WritingWork Experience: 3 years in techEthnicity: African AmericanGender: Male

Acceptances

University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business MBA/MA Lauder Joint Degree ProgramColumbia Business SchoolCornell University Johnson Graduate School of ManagementUniversity of Virginia Darden School of BusinessAsia School of BusinessUCLA Anderson School of ManagementUniversity of Michigan Masters in International and Regional Studies (MIRS)Columbia SIPA Harvard Kennedy School (MPP) 

Waitlists

Yale School of ManagementMIT Sloan School of ManagementUniversity of Michigan Ross School of BusinessINSEAD

Scholarships

Wharton – $80,000 Scholarship and Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS) $18,000 Scholarship with a $15,000 StipendColumbia Business School – $80,000 ScholarshipCornell Johnson – $40,000 ScholarshipUVA Darden – Consortium Fellowship Valued at $150,000Asia School of Business – Full Ride Valued at $100,000Michigan MIRS – $50,000 Fellowship for Year One with Potential to Renew

Notable Quotes

Anthony had heard of The Art of Applying® before, but chose to apply to graduate school on his own initially. Why didn’t he join initially and why did he come back to enroll in the Application Accelerator® for his second round?

“I initially heard of [The Art of Applying®] when I was applying to programs in 2017, but it was too late to join the Application Accelerator® then to join and get the full value. It was right in the middle of round 2 applications… So, I just decided it was too late for me to join and went through the process without the Application Accelerator® and I didn’t get any results. But this time after I was rejected from my scholarship application in the fall of 2019, I decided I wanted to reapply to grad school one more time and to make it count. So that’s why I decided to reapproach The Art of Applying®.”

On Anthony’s initial concerns about the cost of tuition for enrolling in the Application Accelerator®: “I was really afraid of the cost initially because it was a significant investment, and honestly at the time, I wasn’t 100% aware of all the resources The Art of Applying® had to offer… It wasn’t just the number, but I thought, ‘Oh my gosh. The stakes are so high.’ It made me feel like ‘Oh, wow. I have my family depending on me to make sure that I actually make the most of the program and get the results that I wanted.’ And so it was a big jump and I spoke with [my mom] one on one and we both decided that even if I didn’t get into my top choices I would still be gaining a lot of skills like how to write a resume, how to write about myself, writing these essays. The guidance is so valuable. We just decided to do it and I made sure that once I put down the tuition payment that I was always making use of all the resources that were available to get the best result.

Did you know we offer a Green Light Guarantee for those who enroll in our Application Accelerator®? Yes, this does mean if you join us in the Application Accelerator®, do all the work, and don’t get in, we’ll work with you again for your next application cycle for free so it doesn’t have to feel like you aren’t getting your money’s worth. Your success is our success.

Did you know?

We offer a Green Light Guarantee for those who enroll in our Application Accelerator®? Yes, this does mean if you join us in the Application Accelerator®, do all the work, and don’t get in, we’ll work with you again for your next application cycle for free so it doesn’t have to feel like you aren’t getting your money’s worth. Your success is our success.

What would Anthony say to someone who’s surprised by the schools who waitlisted him when he got accepted to amazing programs with scholarships?

“I personally didn’t think it made any sense myself when I found out I got accepted [to Wharton while being waitlisted at other schools]. I kept a little bit of hope thinking, ‘It’s Wharton and they’ll be more willing to, because they have the largest class size after HBS, take a risk. They’re also always ranked pretty high. Maybe I might be one of those applicants that can get in and be one of the Wild Card applicants that actually gets in with money and it turned out to be true.’”

What would Anthony say to someone that says, “Working with The Art of Applying® sounds great, but first I want to get a really strong test score before reaching out for help or starting this program?”

“I definitely understand that motivation and I don’t think it’s necessarily wrong to want to start off with a strong test score. But, I think you really want to start early. You want to sign up with The Art of Applying® early and you want to start preparing for the test early to give yourself time to raise the score if that’s something you want to actually pursue… 

Test scores are important, but focus more on what you can bring to the program and on conveying that. And if you want to reach a good score, that’s fine too, but make sure that it’s not your number one priority.”  

Ready to get amazing results, too?

If you don’t know where to start, are already working on your applications, or just need some help getting into your top choice programs, we’re here to help. Book a Quick Call with our team today to get started! 

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Client Case Study: Rachel

Accepted to Policy Programs at Harvard, Oxford, and the University of Chicago with Scholarships

Our client Rachel started her career in the nonprofit space and always had a passion for social impact. To take her career to the next level, Rachel set her sights on a policy degree.

Rachel knew that she wanted to attend a top-tier policy school. However, she was worried that her 3.6 GPA might hurt her chances of getting into a top program. Fortunately, she decided to look for help and found The Art of Applying® in 2018.

Rachel shared, “I just didn’t really know where to get started…I felt like I didn’t have structure and that’s why The Art of Applying® was so appealing to me…There was that structure and…[they had] an amazing track record with students and [helpful] resources and knowledge.”

Although Rachel signed up for The Art of Applying® in June of 2018, a career opportunity changed her application timeline. Rachel had the chance to work on a project at her non-profit job that she was confident would ultimately strengthen her application. Although she was worried about delaying graduate school and self-conscious that she might be a slightly older student, she decided to take the professional opportunity.

Upon reflecting on her decision, Rachel shared that she now realizes, “It’s okay to be a little bit older going to grad school. You just know more about what you want to do and what you want to get out of it. It’s been a blessing to wait a year because that’s exactly what happened. My story was so much stronger. [My reason for] why I wanted to attend the school was so much stronger and it just also gave me so much clarity about what I wanted to do.”

Fortunately, Rachel’s instincts were correct. Her application was so strong that she was accepted to the MPA/ID program at Harvard Kennedy School, among other policy programs. Now that she’s on the other side, Rachel is thrilled to start graduate school.

Looking ahead at what’s to come, Rachel shared, “it’s just taking me to the next level. Before I was on a sort of linear path. It’s exponential growth now! I can see myself really excelling.”

We know that Rachel will excel in anything she does and can’t wait to see where the exponential growth in her future takes her! 

Start Date: June 2018 | End Date: May 2021

Applicant Information 

Age: 28GPA: 3.6GRE: 158 Verbal / 167 Quantitative Work experience: Non-profit financial service for underserved communities Undergraduate: UC Berkeley Major: Business Administration

Acceptances 

Harvard Kennedy School (MPA/ID) University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy (MPP)University of Oxford – Blavatnik School of Government (MPP) 

Scholarships  

University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy – $25,000 

Notable Quotes

 Rachel’s take on why her Breakthrough Call solidified her decision to work with The Art of Applying®

“That Breakthrough Call was [what] sealed the deal for me because I just felt like… You knew exactly what needed to get done for me, and you guys were asking me questions about what I wanted to do instead of what would look great on paper. I think that was really key…because [what you want to do] shows through your personal essays and all these other things that you need to do. I felt like it was very personalized versus a cookie-cutter program.”

How working with The Art of Applying® gave Rachel a new perspective on her own life experiences.

“Consultants helping out with the essays [was one of my favorite parts of working with The Art of Applying®]. I think the essay part has been just life-changing for me, in this process because…I don’t think of myself as a great writer or anything, and I just felt like working with the consultants has really highlighted certain parts of my life story that I didn’t really think about before.”

Rachel’s advice for anyone who wants to delay their application until they reach a ‘perfect’ GRE score:

“I would say just start with [The Art of Applying®] first. Don’t wait because there is a whole GRE component, and the support…was so helpful for me. Having a whole group around studying together and having other consultants who are GRE experts to come and help and guide [sessions]… I was very concerned about my GRE scores because I hadn’t taken the standardized tests in the years, and when I first took it, I went in blindly… I got a pretty bad score, and that also got me in the spiral of low self-confidence. I didn’t want to apply, but then, once we started working together, I saw that there’s a whole support track for the GRE…I don’t think that you should wait to get started on working with [The Art of Applying®] just because you haven’t taken the GRE.”

Rachel’s advice for applicants who may be self-conscious about a particular part of their application: 

“If you feel like there’s one aspect or even several aspects of your application that you are very concerned about, I don’t think that should stop you from applying. Because there are so many different strategies out there that you can use to boost up other parts of your application, and that’s one thing…I was extremely worried about. After seeing that there are so many strategies, there definitely is a way [to make it work]! I think I’m an example of that. I would say just don’t feel that lack of self-confidence. Just go for it, even if it’s not perfect, because [the admissions committees] look at the application very, very holistically.”

Want to have a success story like Rachel’s? Whether you’re self-conscious of your GPA like Rachel was, or you don’t know where to start, we can help. Our team specializes in helping applicants from all different types of backgrounds get into their dream schools. Book a Quick Call with our team to start your graduate school journey.

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Client Case Study: Aleksej

25-Year-Old Latino Man Accepted to MBA Programs at Oxford, USC, and Georgetown

Our client Aleksej had a unique journey with our team. He worked as a Breakthrough Coach for The Art of Applying® before becoming a client and working with us to develop his MBA applications. 

Since he visited the city at 20 years old, Aleksej dreamed of moving to London and having a career there. However, he assumed that might not be possible until he was in his thirties. After joining The Art of Applying® team and being inspired by the clients he got to work with, he decided to apply at 25 years old, well ahead of the timeline he thought he had to follow. 

Still, Aleksej had doubts about his candidacy. He shared, “I was looking at what my [GRE] score was compared to the average for Oxford and I was so below this average. Also, I come from this nonprofit background… I’m 25. The average age for an Oxford class member is 29 years old…I [said] okay, this is, again, excuses Aleksej. I can’t listen to that just because I have those weaknesses, I’m not going to postpone my dreams and my application so I clicked submit.“

Fortunately, with the help of The Art of Applying® team and some work on his mindset, Aleksej was accepted to Oxford and many other prestigious MBA programs. He even received scholarships from three of the schools he was admitted to. 

However, his work in securing financial aid didn’t stop there. He worked with The Art of Applying® team to negotiate scholarships with schools he was accepted to. He said, “I was kind of under the impression that what a school gives you, that is what they give you. It’s the end of the story. You should be grateful just for an admittance…[But at The Art of Applying® the] next step is to actually graciously ask for more funding and to do it earnestly and to express why it’s important… In total, [I received] about $75,000 just through that…financial negotiation.”

For other applicants who may be doubting their candidacy or finding excuses to put off applying, Aleksej has the following advice, “Don’t [make] another excuse. Don’t wait another year. Don’t wait another month to sign up….Just really listen to what your dream is and if it’s something you’ve obviously been wanting for so long, give yourself the permission to get the best help to make it possible.”

Start Date: November 2020 | End Date: June 2021

Applicant Information 

Age: 25GPA: 3.69GRE: 318; 158 V, 160 QWork experience: Nonprofit theater space, Breakthrough Coach at The Art of Applying®Undergraduate: Cornell University Major: Industrial labor relationsMinors: Theater, Business, Inequality, Performing and Media Arts 

Acceptances 

Saïd Business School, University of Oxford (MBA)University of Southern California Marshall School of Business (MBA)Georgetown University McDonough School of Business (MBA)  Carnegie Mellon University – Entertainment Technology Center (Master of Entertainment Industry Management) 

Scholarships  

University of Southern California Marshall School of Business (MBA) – $50,000Georgetown University McDonough School of Business (MBA) – $20,000 Carnegie Mellon University (MEIM) – 60% scholarship

Notable Quotes

Aleksej reflects on how deciding to invest in the program and himself was the push he needed: 

“It was scary but part of me kind of related it to this idea of…a personal trainer. You’re committed to working out because you’re like, ‘I spent a good chunk of my money. I’m getting my money’s worth.’ Prior to The Art of Applying® I just wasn’t showing up as my best self. I wasn’t making the commitment to my applications I needed to. I need to make this investment because it’s an investment in myself… What used to be maybe an hour a day or postponing until tomorrow became every free moment that I had making sure that the essays that I’m bringing to the next consulting call are as polished as they can be, to really use that time to its most efficient value. Yeah, it was definitely a scary plunge but I needed this expertise, I needed this guidance, because I had these dreams and I couldn’t postpone them any longer. “

Aleksej shares his perspective on why you shouldn’t let your GRE score hold you back: 

“In retrospect, during 2020 I genuinely thought all the excuses I had were legitimate… I was like, ‘Oh, I absolutely cannot [apply]. I need this GRE score. Or…I need to settle into a new city… I almost feel like getting that perfect GRE score is people’s permission to allow themselves to apply. They’re like, ‘Once I do this, then I’m worthy enough to be considered by all these great schools.’ I just want to challenge that mindset… It’s one piece of the entire application process. It’s a holistic process. So first of all, you can actually still be working on your GRE while working on your essays. It’s not like you have to do either or but also…what happens if you don’t reach your score? [You’re] still going to apply. Then why are you telling yourself that you’re not even going to start all the other processes?”

How Aleksej went from being skeptical about mindset coaching to never missing a session: “I had no clue what to expect from mindset coaching. In fact, [for] the first month of the mindset call, I was almost like…’I’ll just skip this.’ Then I went, and I was just so surprised. I just started having these like preconceived notions that I had about myself and success and being successful in business school…[torn] down. It was just so useful, and now it’s my favorite part. I will make sure my entire day is clear, so I can do that monthly mindset call and it’s just something that I really was not expecting because I had no clue what it was, and now it’s like my favorite thing.”

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