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With HBS releasing its essay questions this week and with many more programs promising to do so in the coming weeks, we are re-launching our essay analysis series, in order to help MBA candidates discover their potential paths. Stay tuned to our Blog for ongoing updates to this series.

Firm-sponsored candidates are quite appealing to Admissions Committees, as the committee knows that these candidates will be employed upon graduation and that their post-MBA goals are within reach. Furthermore, the Admissions Committee will sleep better at night, knowing that their BusinessWeek responses will see a small statistical benefit in the “percentage of candidates employed upon graduation” and possibly even “average starting salary” categories. Firm sponsorship is almost always an asset.

We have worked with unsponsored clients, of course, but we have also worked with many clients who have been unaware that their firms sponsor employees. For that sake, we have worked with clients whose firms did not have sponsorship programs, but created them when our candidates brought forth the idea.

So, first things first, you need to discover if your firm has such a program and then, if they do, you need to learn all you can about the process for earning a firm scholarship. We have worked with international clients who have needed to apply internally 1.5 years before their proposed programs would begin; obviously, in such cases, you do not want to be applying at the last moment. Similarly, if you are going to “invent” your company’s program, this might take months of bureaucratic haggling and decision making. This is certainly a process that you should start now.

We offer specific pre-application services for those interested in charting a clear course to their MBA.

In the spirit of continuous improvement, we have updated our website. We hope that you will find our site to be more aesthetically pleasing, easier to navigate and have increased functionality. In particular, users will find a streamlined blog with an RSS feed and prospective candidates will find a resume upload page, so that we can ensure that we know you well and can run an efficient and informative introductory conversation.

We look forward to continuing to serve and enrich the MBA admissions community with up to date news and proprietary features.

Yesterday, India’s Pagalguy.com released an interview with the Director of Admissions at IMD, Katty Ooms Suter. What is striking about this conversation is Ms. Ooms Suter’s refreshing candor. She does not shy away from admitting that they have a GMAT minimum or that they don’t take more than 10 candidates from a certain country, in order to maintain their international diversity. While this is certainly required reading for anyone interested in the IMD MBA, it is also an important window into an AdCom, for almost any candidate.

Pagalguy Exclusive: IMD MBA Admissions Director

A simple exercise that can be quite helpful in addressing your strengths and weaknesses is reviewing previous applications to programs that you are certain you will apply to in the future. While the essays may change in the coming year, you can still learn a great deal by reviewing the questions and anticipating how you might have answered them. By contemplating your profile, you should come to a better understanding of your distinctiveness and marketability and target areas for improvement.

1. What would you like the MBA Admissions Board to know about your undergraduate academic experience? (400-word limit)
2. What are your three most substantial accomplishments and why do you view them as such? (600-word limit)
3. Discuss a defining experience in your leadership development. How did this experience highlight your strengths and weaknesses as a leader? (400-word limit)
4. In your career, you will have to deal with many ethical issues. What are likely to be the most challenging and what is your plan for developing the competencies you will need to handle these issues effectively? (400-word limit)
5. What is your career vision and why is this choice meaningful to you? (400-word limit)
6. What other information do you believe would be helpful to the Board in understanding you better and in considering your application? (400-word limit)

After taking some time to consider your answers to these (or any other school’s) essay questions, consider whether you are offering a diverse picture of your own experiences; try to understand whether you are able to offer something new and interesting in each essay; try to understand the entirety of your profile. It is possible that if you are lacking certain dimensions, repeat certain stories or are forced to place too much emphasis on one area of your life, you can target certain weaknesses and improve upon them going forward by taking on new activities.

We offer specific pre-application services for those interested in charting a clear course to their MBA.