Kelley MBA Online Chat Transcript—December 14, 2011
1. Brad Rosenwinkel, Associate Director of Admissions: Hello and welcome to the Kelley MBA Online Chat! We will begin at 1:00pm EST.
* Brad Rosenwinkel, Associate Director of Admissions: In the meantime, feel free to submit your questions and we will answer them once we begin. Your questions will appear in the chat once they have been answered. We look forward to the session!
2. Kelsey: I am applying direct from undergraduate. Does this have any impact on my application competitiveness? I know that most applicants have 4-5 years of work experience. I've alternated work quarters (AKA Co-Ops) with school quarters for the last three years. Does this count as years of work experience?
* Jim Holmen, Director of Admissions & Fin. Aid: Hi Kelsey. While most successful applicants have at least two years of full-time professional work experience (the average is five years), we will consider all the experience you present. We will certainly evaluate your co-op experience in our review. For those with limited full-time experience, we'll look at what you've accomplished in internships, clubs and organizations, and so on.
3. Kelsey: Anything I can do to increase my chances of a Forte Fellowship or a Graduate Assistantship? * Timothy Smith, Senior Associate Director of Admissions: Hello Kelsey--Thanks for your question! Your application for admission to the Kelley School of Business MBA Program is also your merit-based financial aid application. We offer fellowships, scholarships, and graduate assistantships to incoming students. These awards are based on academic merit, leadership abilities, professional work experience, and career interests. Again, these awards are not based on financial need but based solely on merit. All admitted students are automatically considered for merit-based aid (including Forte Fellowships) upon admission to the Kelley MBA Program. Over half of each incoming class receives merit-aid and awards are made until funding is exhausted. Apply for admission by the Priority Deadline (January 5th) for best possible consideration for merit-aid.
4. Soraya: Hi Jim, Tim, Brad and everyone! Thank you very much for your time. Here's my first question. As I'm going to have an interview tomorrow, I would like to know what you want to learn of the
applicant via the interview?
* Regina Lee, Associate Director of MBA Admissions: Soraya, The interview is an opportunity for you to communicate your personal experience and is typically a conversation about your managerial and leadership skills, as well as how you interact with others in team environments. Of course, it is also an opportunity to assess your communications skills as well.
5. Art: Hi. I have submitted my application earlier this month. I’d like to know when will it be reviewed and when will I hear back from Kelley?
* Brad Rosenwinkel, Associate Director of Admissions: Hello Art, as outlined in our admissions timeline and instructions, first round admissions decisions should be expected in mid-January. You can learn more at http://kelley.iu.edu/mba/admissions/applicationProcess.cfm.
6. Soraya: I'm interested in finance major, which could help me pursue the post-graduate career as a corporate financial consultant. With Kelley's reputable curriculum and faculty, I have no doubt in
education quality that Kelley will provide. However, would you please comment on the employer's views of Kelley's finance students? Are we competitive comparing to those of other leading schools?
* Timothy Smith, Senior Associate Director of Admissions: Hello Soraya! The finance major at Kelley is the most represented major in our full-time program. Many students find opportunity in corporate finance roles with major companies. Others seek and gain employment with investment management firms. A handful of students are passionate about investment banking and land jobs in that space. Kelley has an outstanding alumni-base in the finance world and this too is an excellent resource for those seeking employment opportunities in finance. Companies keep coming back to Kelley each year as our graduates add value in the finance world.
7. DeMario: When is a good time to apply for graduate school?
* Jim Holmen, Director of Admissions & Fin. Aid: DeMario, the best time to apply for an MBA Program is when you have gained enough experience to help you develop your short- and long-term career goals, and to develop an understanding of how an MBA can help you reach those goals.
8. Kelsey: How close to your application date should you try and schedule your interview?
* Jim Holmen, Director of Admissions & Fin. Aid: Hi Kelsey. While admission interviews are not required, we encourage you to schedule an interview as a part of the admission process. We offer interviews on the Bloomington campus and at MBA fairs held in a variety of locations in the United States. You are welcome to complete an interview anytime before you submit your application for admission--it can even be months before you apply! Once you submit your application, interviews will be available by invitation only. Those invited to interview may be offered the opportunity to interview by phone or Skype. Phone and Skype interviews are not available to candidates who have not yet applied. We do not offer alumni interviews; all interviews are conducted by members of the admissions committee. You may schedule a campus visit and interview at
http://kelley.iu.edu/mba/admissions/interviewVisit.cfm.
9. Brent: Good afternoon, thank you all for holding this chat. My first question is about financial aid. Are there any scholarships/aid still available to round 3 applicants?
* Timothy Smith, Senior Associate Director of Admissions: Hello Brent: Yes--we actually make merit-aid awards during each of the four rounds of admission yet the bulk of the awards are offered to those applying by round two. Inevitably we make more offers of merit-aid than we have $$$ in the bank. Not everyone will join us so if a student is admitted with merit-aid and chooses not to come to Kelley, we’ll offer the $$$ to another admitted student.
10. Jami: Hi, I am interested in Supply Chain program at Kelley. Which companies hire for supply chain at Kelley?
* Amanda Rauschkolb - Kelley Class of 2012: This is by no means an exhaustive list but some of the companies that recruit on-campus specifically for supply chain include Cummins, Chrysler, Sears, SteelCase, E&Y, Dish Network, Dick's Sporting Goods and many others that I can't think of right now as well as a significant number of companies that recruit through off-campus recruiting.
11. VyomCaesar: Hi, could you tell me what is the approximate distribution of lectures and case studies? I have noticed that in some schools it is 50-50, in some it is 70-30.What about Indiana?
* Amanda Rauschkolb - Kelley Class of 2012: I don't know of any exact breakdown of lectures vs. cases but some classes do use some sort of case basis for learning and mix in lectures as well. Other classes are completely case based and some don't use cases at all. Overall I would say it's probably somewhere in the 70-30 or 60-40 range.
12. VyomCaesar: What is the process to get accepted for an overseas exchange program and is it required or voluntary?
* Amanda Rauschkolb - Kelley Class of 2012: During your first year in the MBA program you will work with the MBA office to apply for the Study Abroad program. This program is not a requirement for graduation but is a great experience if you have never studied abroad.
13. Osama: Good Afternoon everyone and thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. My first question to the admission team is I know that the Kelley admission team takes a holistic view on applications but is there anything specific that a prospective student should do to tower or compensate a relatively low GPA? (Given that of course his GMAT is above the school average)
* Regina Lee, Associate Director of MBA Admissions: The interview committee typically looks at lower GPA scores to see if there may be a demonstrated trend of improvement or if the GPA may be low due to mitigating factors (illness, workload, etc.), we strongly encourage students to use the optional essay to give clarification.
14. Hiro: Hi, I have a question for the application online format. There are some boxes I have to write. For example, the accomplishments and responsibilities in my career. Is there any limitation for the number of characters?
* Jim Holmen, Director of Admissions & Fin. Aid: Hiro, there is not a limit, but we ask you to be brief and concise, similar to how you share information on a resume.
15. sethw: If I was interviewed before I applied, can you discuss how this is included in the application review and if the same as if getting invited to interview after applying? Would I be asked to interview again after I apply, should it be needed?
* Brad Rosenwinkel, Associate Director of Admissions: Hi Seth, we offer open interviews before you submit your application. Once an application is submitted, interviews are by invitation only. We do not require interviews, but typically you only need to interview once, at most.
16. Soraya: I would like to join some experiential learning or club that provide something like consulting project. What would you recommend? Is GLOBASE a great choice?
* Amanda Rauschkolb - Kelley Class of 2012: I think GLOBASE is an excellent choice to gain experiential learning experience. Additionally, most of the Academies do consulting type projects with company contacts that will also give you this experience.
17. Brent: I am interested in both Retail Marketing and Supply Chain Management. Is it possible to attend two academies? If not, how exactly are the assignments to the academies decided?
* Amanda Rauschkolb - Kelley Class of 2012: You cannot be a member of multiple academies. However, during orientation / your first month in the program you will have an opportunity to meet with the different Academy directors to share your interests / determine level of fit
18. sethw: How many spots are filled up from the first round deadline vs. the one coming up in Jan? And later rounds? Is it an even distribution or do most candidates apply for a specific deadline?
* Jim Holmen, Director of Admissions & Fin. Aid: We do not have a set number of seats for each round. You can be confident, however, that we will have seats available through the first three rounds. Depending on the year and the applicant pool, it can sometimes get a bit tight for applicants in our fourth and final round (the April 15 deadline). In any case, one should apply when their application is at it's best. It's better to meet a later deadline with a strong application then to submit an application for an early deadline if you're not quite ready.
19. Vatsal: Does Kelley have any cut offs for verbal and quant scores in GMAT?
* Timothy Smith, Senior Associate Director of Admissions: Hello Vatsal: The GMAT is only one part of a multi-faceted application process. We publish no 'cut-off' scores yet the GMAT score of an applicant should give us confidence that the individual applying to our program is prepared to handle the academic rigor involved with a top full-time program and add value to the classroom discussion. 20. Art: The only guideline concerning the length of essays is to limit them to two pages. There is nothing about spacing and font size. Could you please tell the expected length range in words? Thank you.
* Jim Holmen, Director of Admissions & Fin. Aid: Art, we don't have a suggested word count. They may be single or double-spaced. We ask that you use a traditionally sized font and regular margins. Use your best judgment. Be creative in your content, but also concise!
21. sethw: Is it beneficial to have an alumni write a letter of recommendation if you have worked with them closely or not really matter who writes it but more the content and how able to describe our working relationship, etc.?
* Regina Lee, Associate Director of MBA Admissions: While it may be nice to have an alumnus write the letter of recommendation, the true focus of the recommendation needs to be the content and the recommender's knowledge of your performance in a work environment, as well as your strengths and opportunities for improvement.
22. Danielle: What is the biggest mistake that you see applicants make?
* Timothy Smith, Senior Associate Director of Admissions: Hello Danielle: It's very obvious to all of us when an individual rushes when putting their application together. It is best to submit your application when it is at its strongest rather than rushing to make a deadline. We accept strong candidates from each of the four application rounds (that's why we have four rounds of admission). :-)
23. apavlofsky: Amanda, could you elaborate on why the Kelley program was the right fit for you, and one thing that pleasantly surprised you upon arrival?
* Amanda Rauschkolb - Kelley Class of 2012: I knew Kelley was the right choice for me because I really felt comfortable being a part of the community here. All programs that I applied to had academic rigor but the differentiating factor at Kelley was really the true sense of community. I think the most
surprising aspect of Kelley is really how that isn't just a marketing ploy, it's definitely true. Students, staff and faculty are truly motivated by everyone's success
24. Pate: Hi, Thanks for this chat opportunity! Does Kelley guarantee a loan for international students who do not have a US co-signer?
* Timothy Smith, Senior Associate Director of Admissions: Hello Pate: We no longer have a guaranteed loan program. We did yet it went away in 2008. Our hope is to have another program soon yet the private lending market is still a tight one. International students who have a U.S. based co-signer are eligible for private loan funding.
25. Jeff A: Hello everyone. For the open interview policy, how can I schedule one?
* Jim Holmen, Director of Admissions & Fin. Aid: Hi Jeff. To interview on campus, you can go to our visit calendar and complete an online request for an interview and visit:
http://kelley.iu.edu/mba/admissions/visitCalendar.cfm. We also offer a limited number of interviews while we are on the road. Check our off-site recruitment calendar,
http://kelley.iu.edu/mba/admissions/onTheRoad.cfm, and if you want to arrange an interview while we are in town for an event, you can contact us by email with your request ([email protected]). 26. Art: Who and how conducts the interview? What are the options for an international applicant (skype or phone)? How to prepare for an interview?
* Regina Lee, Associate Director of MBA Admissions: Members of the admissions team include various staff members of the MBA office as well as current graduate assistants that are second-year MBA students. All interviews are given equal weight, whether they are before or after application or conducted by a student or staff member. Interviews can be scheduled face-to-face on campus and at many of our on-the-road events. We also do interviews via Skype and telephone. Keep in mind that our interviews are an opportunity for us to assess your management and leadership experience, so be prepared to speak to your professional accomplishments and share examples of teamwork. Just as importantly, we will be assessing your communication skills as part of the interview.
27. sethw: Does Kelly offer admissions on a rolling basis after applying or if applying for Jan 5 deadline, will be notified in mid-March and not sooner?
* Timothy Smith, Senior Associate Director of Admissions: Hello sethw: We do have four admissions rounds and do not operate on a rolling basis.
http://kelley.iu.edu/mba/admissions/applicationProcess.cfm
28. Amit: Do you have any mentor program which can connect you to a professional/Alumani in your target industry?
* Amanda Rauschkolb - Kelley Class of 2012: Depending on your Academy, you are often matched, either formally or informally, with a mentor in your target industry. Additionally, you are paired with a specific Graduate Career Services coach who likely has many contacts in your desired industry.
29. Omar: If interested in a business strategy role in the biotechnnology industry...is the consulting and plus life science the right concentration for my interests?
* Timothy Smith, Senior Associate Director of Admissions: Hello Omar: Your suggestion is a good one. You will need to gain the skills needed to give your future employer the confidence that you will add value to their organization. Some students have followed your aforementioned path. Others have joined the Entrepreneurial Management Academy with a Strat. Management major and been a part of the Life Sciences Academy Plus. I always suggest finding a student in the program and one already working in the space you seek and ask them how the got/are getting there.
30. Evan: I am a US citizen currently living abroad until mid-February. If I am asked to inteview, is it possible for this to occur over Skype/video conference if I am unable to travel to Bloomington?
* Brad Rosenwinkel, Associate Director of Admissions: Hello Evan, we offer phone and Skype interview options for those invited to interview if they are unable to visit campus.
31. Brady: can you get merit awards even with a gmat score just slightly lower than the average? * Timothy Smith, Senior Associate Director of Admissions: Hello Brady: We do review candidates holistically when making both admission and merit-aid decisions. The GMAT is only one metric in a multi-faceted application process. We have offered merit-aid to those with GMAT scores below our mean yet there is much in a student's application to offset the lower GMAT score.
32. Brent: I am interested in possibly pursuing a joint MA program. Is it possible to first enter Kelley then apply for the other program? How does this process work?
* Jim Holmen, Director of Admissions & Fin. Aid: Hi Brent. For any of the joint degree programs we offer, you can apply for admission to the other program during your first year in the MBA Program (or
candidates can apply to the MBA Program during their first year in the other program, if they choose). Of course the benefit of applying for both at once is that you don't have to juggle working on an
application during your first year in the program. Also, by applying to both at once, you have a complete picture of your options before you make your final enrollment decisions. But either path is fine. The choice is yours.
33. Osama: Is there a certain industry that Kelley prides itself for preparing it's students for better than other schools and which are the highest recruiting companies/industry at Kelley?
* Brad Rosenwinkel, Associate Director of Admissions: Hi Osama, you will find Kelley students pursuing a number of various career paths including marketing, finance, supply chain, entrepreneurship, and consulting, among others. You can learn more about career services and the areas students pursue at http://kelley.iu.edu/mba/careers.
34. Soraya: How competitive in admitting to join GLOBASE?
* Timothy Smith, Senior Associate Director of Admissions: Hello Soraya: We have three GLOBASE trips this year (Ghana, Guatemala and India, I believe) thus students who self-identify as wanting to
participate in a GLOBASE trip are able to go and not subject to overcapacity issues. We too have the KIP trips (Israel and Brazil) this year.
35. Elisabeth: Hello, I am Brazilian and I am currently sales manager at Nestlé. Is there a specific scholarship for MBA students from emerging markets?
* Timothy Smith, Senior Associate Director of Admissions: Hello Elisabeth: All admitted students are considered for all merit-aid programs when one is admitted to the Kelley Program. The Global
Fellowship Program (http://www.kelley.iu.edu/igoe) is available and preference is given to students who are originally from Latin America or have a direct connection with Latin America (e.g., knowledge of Spanish, Hispanic ancestry, nationals from Latin American countries, work or have worked in Latin America companies).
36. Brent: For the Global Business Achievement certificate, what sort of language credit courses are offered? Are there any intensive programs located in Bloomington or are those primarily found in the study abroad programs?
* Timothy Smith, Senior Associate Director of Admissions: Hello Brent: MBA students may take up to 12 hours outside the MBA Program here on the Bloomington campus. Some students have chosen to further their language studies with additional coursework while in the Kelley Program.
37. Kelsey: I've heard that there is a "Jump Start" program. How many of your incoming Graduate students participate and is this a beneficial program?
* Amanda Rauschkolb - Kelley Class of 2012: I think a majority of the incoming students participate in Jump Start. I think it was a great way to "refresh" on being back in school mode as well as a great way to get a head start on the material you'll learn in the core and a pressure-free way to interact with your new classmates.
38. Danielle: What are some of the marketing-specific opportunities at Kelley beyond the Marketing Club?
* Amanda Rauschkolb - Kelley Class of 2012: There are definitely a lot of marketing opportunities at Kelley. The academies are a great way to get experience with jobs that you are likely to have post-graduation as well as experience working on a project from a company during your Academy Intensive Week experiences. Additionally, Bloomington Brands offers a unique experience for you to get real-world experiences that will relate to marketing. There are also opportunities for independent study projects.
39. Emily: What companies typically recruit for marketing positions? Is it mostly Indiana based companies or do you see companies from across the country recruiting?
* Jim Holmen, Director of Admissions & Fin. Aid: Hi Emily.. We have a strong marketing program. Our graduates work across the country. I encourage you to download our Consumer Marketing Academy brochure for lots of great info (http://kelley.iu.edu/CBL/files/CMA_Brochure.pdf). You'll discover that we have alums working out west for companies including Amazon, Del Monte Foods, Disney, Google, Nestle USA, Neutrogena, and others. In the Southwest we have marketing alums at American Airlines, Frito-Lay, PetSmart, and others. You'll find alums in the South at Delta Airlines, Hanesbrands, Wal-Mart, and others. In the East you'll find marketing alums at L'Oreal, Unilever, American Express, Colgate-Palmolive, and others. And we have lots of alums in the Midwest at firms including P&G, 3M, Abbott, ConAgra, General Mills, Kimberly Clark, Land O'Lakes, Target...the list goes on.
40. DeMario 2: What is the typical GPA of someone admitted to the finance program? Also, what is the typical GMAT score?
* Brad Rosenwinkel, Associate Director of Admissions: Hello DeMario. Because we consider many factors in the admissions and financial aid selection process, there is not a specific GPA or GMAT required. You can review a profile of the fall entering class on our website
(http://kelley.iu.edu/mba/admissions/classprofile.cfm) if you’d like to benchmark your statistics against current Kelley MBA students.
41. Soraya: I heard from somewhere about the Me, Inc. Is Kelley still having that? What does it actually do and when will it take place?
* Brad Rosenwinkel, Associate Director of Admissions: Hello Soraya. Yes, Me Inc is an innovative approach that we have developed to assist with professional development and career management. We actually start working with students via online systems in July before you get to campus. The program is also incorporated throughout the two week orientation program in August and continues throughout your two years on campus.
42. Hiro: I am an international applicant. As the admission criteria require at least 100 on TOEFL, do you have any cut offs or preference for each section?
* Jim Holmen, Director of Admissions & Fin. Aid: While we prefer balanced scores across each section of the TOEFL (listening, speaking, reading, writing), we do not have specific minimums by section. We simply require an overall minimum score of 100.
43. Judy 2: Hi everyone. Is the Kelley application a rolling basis? I noticed that Kelley has application deadlines. But I know some school are reviewed applications on a rolling bases while still have the deadlines?
* Regina Lee, Associate Director of MBA Admissions: Kelley has four rounds of applications with deadlines of November 1, January 5, March 1 and April 15. All of these deadlines pertain to admission for Fall of the coming school year (2012) as we only have one start date per academic year. Students who are interested in receiving consideration for financial aid are strongly encouraged to apply by the second round deadline (January 5).
44. Brent: Amanda, what is, in your opinion, the best thing about the facilities (Godfrey Center or anywhere on campus) at IU?
* Amanda Rauschkolb - Kelley Class of 2012: I think Bloomington offers a lot of great facilities, both academic, sports, living, etc. It's a very affordable place to live, especially being on a student budget, with great access to cultural activities - I went to my first opera here.
45. Emily: I took my GMAT at the beginning of this year with the intention of waiting a couple years before actually going back to school. I've heard some schools will take up to a 5 year old GMAT score. How far back are you willing to accept GMAT scores?
* Brad Rosenwinkel, Associate Director of Admissions: Hello Emily. GMAT scores are valid for five years. 46. Megha: Good Afternoon. I have a question regarding the optional essay. Does it have to be an essay in words, or can I express myself more creatively (without words) in the same space?
* Jim Holmen, Director of Admissions& Fin. Aid: Megha, we don't have specific requirements for the optional essay--but whatever you do it must be in the same uploaded file with your other essays. The application allows you to upload one file with your essays into the application. Make sure that whatever you submit is truly adding value to your application.
47. Pate: Could you please share the %age of students broken down by US and international who accepted a job within 3 months of graduation in 2011. What %age of this was in consulting industry? * Jim Holmen, Director of Admissions & Fin. Aid: 16% of the Class 2011 accepted jobs in consulting. The employment rate for the Class of 2011 was 93% three months after graduation. The employment rates for domestic and international candidates was similar. In a recent report by BusinessWeek, our
48. Jami: @amanda, I am interested in Supply Chain Management. What is your opinion about SCM program at Kelley?
* Amanda Rauschkolb - Kelley Class of 2012: I think the Supply Chain program is great here - we have a lot of unique courses that focus on supply chain analytics. Additionally, with the Academy structure there is a great opportunity to interact with current Supply Chain professionals and get live-consulting type experiences in the industry.
49. Brad Rosenwinkel, Associate Director of Admissions: Great questions by all!
* Brad Rosenwinkel, Associate Director of Admissions: We are working to answer them as quickly as we can but if you have others, continue to submit them.
50. Jeff A: Besides the concentration/major, is it possible to take additional classes, such as computer programming languages during the two-year program to acquire additional skill sets for career development?
* Timothy Smith, Senior Associate Director of Admissions: Hello Jeff A: Yes--Kelley MBA students are able to take up to 12 hours outside the MBA program at no additional cost to you. You would submit the course request to the the student services office and, once approved, would count as an elective course. 51. sethw: Are there organized "fun" international trips before orientation as an informal way for peers to meet before starting at Kelly?
* Regina Lee, Associate Director of MBA Admissions: The Kelley School does not organize any trips before the beginning of the academic year. All travel that is organized in conjunction with the program is designed to be either academically or professionally oriented. That said, incoming students are given significant opportunity to connect with one another during orientation and also during the optional "jump start" sessions that occur the week prior.
52. Jeff A: When is the deadline to submit the FAFSA form?
* Timothy Smith, Senior Associate Director of Admissions: The FAFSA is able to be submitted after January 1st of the year you will enter B-School. The deadline depends on the school. Since only federal loans are available from completing a FAFSA, best to submit it by May 1st to be in time for the summer processing window.
53. Kelsey: Hi all, this may be information I can find on the website, but what kind of financial aid is available in addition to merit based?
* Timothy Smith, Senior Associate Director of Admissions: Hello Kelsey: Federal loans are available for all domestic students. You are able to borrow through the Stafford and Graduate PLUS loan program up to the full cost of attendance. http://kelley.iu.edu/mba/admissions/finaid.cfm
54. Siyang: I have been working in an academic environment after receiving my Ph.D. degree in Biology. I don't have any industry experience. How is my chance getting accepted at Kelley?
* Regina Lee, Associate Director of MBA Admissions: The Kelley School admits students from a variety of professional backgrounds, and does not require applicants to have specific business education or work experience to be considered for admission. We look at skills that your professional experiences develop, including management, leadership, teamwork, communications skills, all of which are not industry specific and are transferable across most professions.
55. Vatsal: If I am aiming for a management role like that of a Project Manager/Program Manager, what is the major I should opt for?
* Amanda Rauschkolb - Kelley Class of 2012: I think this will depend on the industry/companies that you target and what that role is likely to incorporate. Most companies definie project management
differently and PMO roles exist within a lot of different functions of an organization so it's hard to say what major is right. I think the Business Analytics major does address a lot of these types of areas but there are certainly classes that will help from other majors as well.
56. Huaiyu: I am interested in both Entrepreneurship and information system programs due to my I.T. background. What is your opinion on the combination of these two programs?
* Regina Lee, Associate Director of MBA Admissions: The combination of the very detail-focused training in the Information Systems program and the very strategic focus of the Entrepreneurship Program would bring a great balance to business education. If you are interested in how to strike the right balance between these two programs, it may be beneficial for you to talk to someone offices about your specific case. If you call the MBA Office, we can arrange an opportunity for you to speak to a currents student, faculty or staff member.
57. Emily: Thanks for answering everyone's questions so quickly! You said that you award merit-based scholarships, but considering that most students have likely quit their jobs and are paying for tuition out of their savings, how do you determine "merit"?
* Timothy Smith, Senior Associate Director of Admissions: Hello Emily: Academic merit (GPA, test scores, leadership abilities, professional work experience and career interests. This is how we determine merit at Kelley.
58. VyomCaesar: I am an international student but am currently working in the US. I am not familiar with the interview process. My question is that do I schedule an interview myself and if the school invites me then do I attend the interview on that date? Is that how the process works? Also, how long after I've applied can I expect the interview invite?
* Regina Lee, Associate Director of MBA Admissions: Our interview process is fairly straight-forward. As Jim answered earlier, "While admission interviews are not required, we encourage you to schedule an interview as a part of the admission process. We offer interviews on the Bloomington campus and at MBA fairs held in a variety of locations in the United States. You are welcome to complete an interview anytime before you submit your application for admission--it can even be months before you apply! Once you submit your application, interviews will be available by invitation only. Those invited to interview may be offered the opportunity to interview by phone or Skype. Phone and Skype interviews are not available to candidates who have not yet applied. We do not offer alumni interviews; all interviews are conducted by members of the admissions committee. You may schedule a campus visit and interview at http://kelley.iu.edu/mba/admissions/interviewVisit.cfm." Timing is, of course dependent upon application volume.
59. Brent: Besides the industry insight provided by the academies, what other options do Kelley students have to interact with business leaders? Also, how often does Kelly have guest speakers/lecturers? * Amanda Rauschkolb - Kelley Class of 2012: There are definitely opportunities outside of the Academies, including networking nights, company presentation, in-class presentations, independent study projects, etc. The number of guest speakers/lecturers depends on the professor and his/her openness to these individuals.
60. Ko-fan: Hi, I'm applying to Round2. Is the deadline for recommendation letters the same as the application rounds? What if the recommender submits the recommendation later than 1/5? * Jim Holmen, Director of Admissions & Fin. Aid: To meet one of our deadlines, the application and supporting materials including test score reports and recommendations should be received by the deadline. You can view our complete instructions here:
http://kelley.iu.edu/MBA/admissions/applicationProcess.cfm.
61. Jami: What are the stats for summer internship, particularly in SCM firms? And how does 1st year course at Kelley help in getting internship?
* Amanda Rauschkolb - Kelley Class of 2012: 100% of my class who were looking for an internship had an internship last summer - that goes for all students, not just SCM students. The first year of Kelley allows you to get a good understanding of different aspects of business courses as well as allows you to focus on your own area of interest by selecting electives in your spring semester which helps you focus on the courses you think will be useful for your internship selection/performance.
62. Hiro: What do you think Kelley's strength for support students' job preparation?
* Amanda Rauschkolb - Kelley Class of 2012: I think the individual support that we are given has been a great asset. Each student gets unique job preparation support from their career coach.
63. Taiwo: Hi All. For career switcher who may have had little experience in their intended field, what might you look out for to validate one's ability to succeed in that field?
* Regina Lee, Associate Director of MBA Admissions: Hello, Taiwo. For a career switcher we are
definitely going to be looking at the logic and thought that is being put into your transition decision, but also transferable skills that are going to carry over from your prior academic and professional experience and possible affect your likelihood of a successful transition. Mental fortitude and perseverance are also key for those transitioning, as they will likely be in competition for hiring opportunities with others with more direct work experience.
64. Osama: @ Amanda: Do you see any disadvantages of Kelley being located in Bloomington in terms of job search and how is the career services department in helping students and bringing recruiters to campus?
* Amanda Rauschkolb - Kelley Class of 2012: I don't see Bloomington as a big disadvantage. Companies are still willing to recruit here - the one disadvantage is for 2nd rounds when you have to drive to the airport! The career services center is very committed both to bringing companies to campus, new and returning companies, and have and continue to build relationships with companies.
65. Ricardo: Can you give examples of when to NOT use the optional essay?
* Brad Rosenwinkel, Associate Director of Admissions: The optional essay should be utilized to clarify or highlight anything that is not included elsewhere in your application. Applicants should focus on explanation rather than excuses. If you feel that the other components of your application provide a clear picture of your candidacy, you should not feel the need to complete the optional essay.
66. Jeff A: For the admission process, does Kelley have any state restrictions on the number to admit out-of-state students, like North Carolina state?
* Brad Rosenwinkel, Associate Director of Admissions: Hi Jeff, we do not have any quotas or restrictions on students we admit.
67. Kelsey: Is it possible to apply for in-state status (tuition) your second year?
* Brad Rosenwinkel, Associate Director of Admissions: Hello Kelsey, residency is determined by the Office of the Registrar. It is typically not possible to qualify for in-state status during your second year as their policy states that students must live in the state for one year other than the purpose of going to school.
68. Akshansh: Good Afternoon. My career goals are quite global. I plan to venture out in India as well as Africa. How well is Kelley recognized outside the US?
* Timothy Smith, Senior Associate Director of Admissions: Hello: The Kelley Alumni Network is now over 96K strong! Our presence is indeed a global one and each year students (both domestic and
international students) have an interest in pursuing global opportunities. Our brand is a global brand. 69. Soraya: Amanda, could you please tell us briefly how you spend time in Kelley/Bloomington? :) Like how you spend time for group assignment, relaxing time with friends, or fun activities we could find in this warm small town?
* Amanda Rauschkolb - Kelley Class of 2012: I try to spend as little time at school as possible (which doesn't always work out!) so I try to plan group meetings to be at my or someone else's apartment. Aside from school work, I enjoy attending different social events planned by Kelley, informal gatherings at someone's apartment or a bar/show and having dinner with friends. I think there are a lot of great opportunities in Bloomington and just not enough time to enjoy them!
70. Jeff A: Question for Amanda, besides tuition and necessary school expenses, how's the living expenses in Bloomington, like housing,?
* Amanda Rauschkolb - Kelley Class of 2012: Bloomington is a really affordable place to be in school. Depending on location/quality of your housing, you can spend as little as $400 (and it could be less) per month. Other costs tend to be really affordable too - though I'm originally from New York and I lived in Chicago before moving to Bloomington so my sense of affordable may be different! But you can certainly live very comfortably here on a student budget.
71. nd: does having non-popular carrier choices reduce your chances of admission
* Brad Rosenwinkel, Associate Director of Admissions: All students have equal chance of admission regardless of particular career choices. However, it is important to highlight why you have chosen a specific career path and how you see yourself being able to make that adjustment in your career. 72. Evan: Amanda - Looking back on the application process, what is something you wish you had known or something that would have been helpful to know during the application process?
* Amanda Rauschkolb - Kelley Class of 2012: I think it's really important to think hard about what your intentions for returning for your MBA are. This will not only help you through the application process but is also useful as you begin the journey to look for internships and full-time opportunities.
73. Art: Do you start reviewing applications submitted in 2nd round only after Jan 5? When do you usually send interview invitations?
* Brad Rosenwinkel, Associate Director of Admissions: Hello Art, we are constantly reviewing applications. However, at this time our priority is on the first round applicants in order to release decisions by mid-January. Once we have completed first round decisions, we will move into the second round. Interviews are not required but an invitation to interview can come at any point in the process.
74. DeMario 2: I'm interested in the finance major. What companies and investment firms recruit from Kelley?
* Jim Holmen, Director of Admissions & Fin. Aid: Since we're running out of time, I'm going to provide you with a link to a list of companies that recruited Kelley MBA during the 2010-2011 year:
http://kelley.iu.edu/GCS/Recruiting/Companies/page20166.html. Students also joined other firms through self-directed searches, with the support of our Career Services Team. You can contact Career Services directly at [email protected] for more specific information by industry or function.
75. William: Hello All and thank you for time. In regards to the financial mess we have had over the past few years can you speak to what the school has done to prepare Kelley students in this type of
environment and speak to any noticeable trends? Applications? Company recruiting?
* Timothy Smith, Senior Associate Director of Admissions: Hello William: Great question! I believe the program does an excellent job of preparing students. That being said, many of the skills learned and opportunities available in the program have been in place for decades. Others stem directly from the needs and desires of the both the marketplace and prospective employers. Our size and location allow us to be nimble in a dynamic landscape. Our placement ratings are nearly perfect and this speaks volumes to the validity of the Kelley MBA Degree Experience in the current economy.
76. Pate: What consulting companies hire international students from Kelley for full time positions? Do these companies visit Kelley or is it mostly student initiated and outside career services?
* Jim Holmen, Director of Admissions & Fin. Aid: Some companies do interview on campus, and others connect with students through other means. Our Consulting Academy works closely with all students interested in consulting careers to support and guide them through the internship and full-time search. You will also have a career coach working closely with you.
77. Brad Rosenwinkel, Associate Director of Admissions: We are nearing the end of our session today. We will answer the questions that have been submitted to this point and thank you for joining us. * Brad Rosenwinkel, Associate Director of Admissions: Please visit our website to learn more about the program and admissions process. You may also submit additional questions to [email protected] and follow our admissions blog at http://kelleymbaadmissions.blogspot.com. A transcript of this session will be posted to our website in the coming days. Again, thank you for joining us and have a great week! 78. Brent: Diversity seems to be very important at Kelley, what sort of cultural events are held?
* Amanda Rauschkolb - Kelley Class of 2012: Each semester a different diversity group will host a night that is dedicated to them - so last year we had Korea night and India night which were focused on learning more about the cultures and their practices/beliefs/business models. In addition, there are several opportunities through the clubs and team projects to focus on diversity.
