boberts27

I have recently been accepted into part-time MBA programs for both The College of Saint Rose and The University at Albany, and I was wondering which of these two schools would provide a better overall learning experience. The UAlbany has AACSB accreditation, which they often promote, while Saint Rose has small class sizes taught only by full-time professors, not adjuncts. If anyone is familiar with these schools and their programs, I would greatly appreciate some feedback. Thanks a lot.

I have utilized all of the comments and attempted to reshape my statement of goals. If anyone would be so kind as to provide feedback, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. My professional experience began four years ago, when I was made manager of __________. This position has allowed me to gain insight into multiple facets of business operations, including financial management, staffing, and marketing. The experience that I have acquired during this time has undoubtedly cultivated my desire to move my career into a new direction. Out of all of the managerial responsibilities that I have, those relating to marketing are the ones that have provided me with the greatest satisfaction. My position has afforded me the opportunity to be involved in many stages of marketing, from the formulation of strategies to their subsequent execution. Working for a small business has allowed me to experiment with various forms of marketing, which I have been made aware of through my undergraduate coursework. I have successfully implemented cross-promotional campaigns and secured sponsorship of local events. The flexibility of my employment has been invaluable in shaping my admiration for marketing, as well for the fundamentals of management. My professional background in management has made me well aware of the versatility and commitment that is required to achieve financial growth and operational success. With an MBA from the ___________, I would be better equipped to pursue my short-term career goal of obtaining employment as a marketing assistant in the consumer products industry. Such a position would utilize the business acumen gained from my academic and professional experiences, and would place me on track for my long-term career aspiration. The consumer electronics industry is one that has always fascinated me. When I was nine years old, my older brother taught me how to build my first computer. I would spend my weekends scouring for hardware components at local electronic expos. This fascination with technology is something that has never left me, as I now spend a meaningful portion of my leisure time gathering news and information about upcoming trends and developments in the world of consumer electronics. With this knowledge, it is my long-term career aspiration to become a marketing manager for an internationally recognized consumer electronics company. The __________ offers a comprehensive academic program that would, without question, equip me with the necessary business skills and knowledge to place me one step closer to my long-term career objectives. The reputation of the University and its faculty, the comprehensive educational program, and the academic flexibility that is offered through its evening MBA program, are all leading factors in my decision to apply. I feel that my personal and professional experiences have served to strengthen my character by allowing me to develop into a responsible, motivated, and successful individual.

I've been reading a lot of contradicting information about how to explain one's education blunders, but your recommendation makes sense. I think that if I get asked for an interview, then this is where I should explain this area of my academic career.

I am going to consider the format that you suggested in your earlier post. I do want to keep the life history at the forefront, but I will compact it and make it more positive, as you recommended. Also, I am going to build up my skills and goals to make myself more appealing. Thanks.

From what I've read, it seems that it would not be wise to solely talk about one's positives, as this could come across as pretentious. This is something I do not want to convey. While my intro is a bit negative, if you were to continue reading, you would see that it is more a story about redemption than anything else. Maybe you can give it another look and let me know what you think. Thanks for the advice.

Hello everyone, I am in the process of applying to multiple unnamed business schools, and I am having some difficulty with my Statement of Purpose. I have posted my first draft below, with some emissions, and was hoping for some constructive criticism. Please feel free to reply or message me directly. All comments will be greatly appreciated. Requirements: "your Statement of Purpose should clearly and concisely describe your personal and professional objectives and your commitment to graduate study. (Length: approximately 300-500 words)" My early undergraduate endeavor was fraught with uncertainty and illness that precluded me from obtaining academic success. During this time, my preoccupations rested with the ability to maintain stable employment, which relegated academic commitments to an afterthought. I ultimately completed my associate’s degree, albeit in a manner not indicative of my intellectual competency. The desire to achieve my bachelor’s degree came to fruition several years later, but these intentions were met with resistance. At sixteen, I was diagnosed with ____________; this would remain in remission for nearly a decade. In autumn 2009, I had resumed my studies, but soon relapsed. My academic performance suffered greatly during this period. As I physically improved, financial hardship dictated that my educational aspirations be placed on hold. My professional experience began four years ago, when I was made manager of _______________. This position has allowed me to gain insight into multiple facets of business operations, including financial management, staffing, and marketing, which proved to be instrumental during my academic hiatus. The responsibilities that this position has instilled upon me have undoubtedly cultivated my passion for a career in business. Some of my managerial responsibilities have been in marketing, such as with the development and implementation of cross-promotional campaigns. The managerial and marketing experience that I gained have served to focus my career aspirations. I realized that additional education would be required for any future advancement, so last winter, I chose to resume the pursuit of my bachelor’s degree. Since then, I have maintained full-time employment, while fulfilling my academic obligations. The grades that I have received during this period are indicative of a renewed academic vigor. As the conclusion of my undergraduate studies nears, much thought has been placed into my future. Marketing has been the discipline that has given me the greatest satisfaction; the formulation and implementation of a strategy is something that appeals to me on both an intellectual and personal level. My undergraduate coursework in marketing has served to deepen this passion. I wish to obtain a career with an internationally recognized corporation developing marketing strategies for their products. The consumer electronics industry has always fascinated me, and it is one that seems poised for growth, necessitating the need for strong marketing campaigns. A master’s of business administration degree, with a focus in marketing, would undoubtedly expand upon my present skill sets, while providing me with the necessary knowledge to obtain my career aspirations. The ______________ School of Business offers a comprehensive management and marketing program that would be conducive towards my goal. The reputation of the university and its faculty, the comprehensive educational program, and the academic flexibility that is offered, are all leading factors in my decision to apply. I feel that my personal and professional experiences have served to strengthen my character by allowing me to develop into a highly responsible and motivated individual.

In the next few weeks, I will be attending a couple of open houses for MBA programs, and I was just curious if anyone had some advice on what types of questions I should ask the faculty or admissions staff that are present. I am doing my best to learn background information on these individuals, so that I might be able to use something to my advantage. Any thoughts?

I am to be attending an open house for an MBA program during the first week of February. My application for this particular program is almost complete, and I was wondering if it would be wise for me to submit it prior to attending this open house. I have a good deal of knowledge about the program and figured that it might be beneficial for admissions to have my application on file, as they might be more likely to make an association using my impression, rather than just being another name. Any thoughts?