App Waivers

It's been months since I took the GMAT and my email inbox is already getting filled with emails from US business schools. Most of these aren't top schools but I get some pretty good ones from time to time. I guess that 690 wasn't so bad after all.

There's the Penn State Smeal MBA, the University of San Diego MBA, the California State U - Fullerton MBA and even the Texas Christian University's Neeley MBA. I even got an email from the UK's Cambridge saying that "we like your profile." From the deluge of emails I've received, I've found out that there are schools that offer app waivers especially to international students (and would probably offer generous scholarships as well!). What made me especially happy the other day was that one of the top 25 schools -- Notre Dame -- offered me an app waiver too!

Yes, that's $175 stricken off my pre-MBA expenses. App waivers are a big deal especially since the usual app fee for a highly-ranked school is more than $200 and I'm an applicant from a developing (read: third-world) country. $175 is such a great deal to me! (It's like taking the TOEFL for free. By the way, the TOEFL raised its fee to $185 from $175, did you know?)

Anyway, I'm applying to Notre Dame. I have been strongly considering it due to its brand, network, reputation and quality, but since I have 5 other schools in my list, I've been wavering in my decision. That day I finally decided to apply -- regardless of how much more it would cost me -- was the day I received the good news in my inbox. So, anyway, I hope you guys do good in your GMAT exams and receive those great offers too!

How to get those recommendation letters

No doubt, this is one of the most anxiety-filled steps you have to take in pursuing your application. Schools usually prefer getting recommendations from your direct supervisor, and telling your supervisor is tantamount to saying that you'll be leaving the company soon (or, at least, that you have plans of leaving).

I've already finished this step, and am very happy that my preferred recommenders -- including my supervisor -- are all very supportive. To be honest, I felt that time was running out on my applications, and so I just went ahead and did it. No role-playing, no prepared speech, no scripted plans beforehand. I just told each of them straight that I was planning to get my master's abroad (emphasis on planning), and there was a chance (just a chance!) of me leaving the company in the not-so-near future.

I searched online to see how other people dealt with this situation, and found a most interesting answer here from jaroth04:

I thought about this for a while myself, in the end this is what I came up with:

I'm applying to business school. I'm not going to business school. I'm asking them to help me with an application for an opportunity that I can't possibly know whether or not I'll actually take until I have it. It'd be one thing if you got admitted and only subsequently asked for a recommendation, but in this case, I don't think it's much different than asking someone to be a reference for you when you take out a loan or apply for a job. I have two people from my office writing me recommendations, including my current supervisor.

I understand that people and bosses differ in their interpretation of what it might mean to apply to business school. My boss asked me point-blank recently whether I'd be planning on continuing on with the company, and I told him, "At this point, I have no other choice: I haven't actually been admitted anywhere yet."

Again, your mileage may vary; I know that I personally wouldn't be happy working somewhere that didn't support my growth and advancement.

I hope this helps, this was one of the more stressful parts of the application process for me.



And I agree with him: working for a company that doesn't support your plans for career growth means that it isn't such a great company to work for after all!

Selling my copy of the Princeton Review (with DVD) for 1,000!

I probably don't need this book anymore so I'll sell it. I got it for nearly Php 1,600.00 in Fully Booked.
I've covered it with plastic, and the DVD is intact (never used it).
The book itself is hardly used; I've used it for only a few weeks during my review for the GMAT.
Post a comment below if interested. Meet-ups in Eastwood only.

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