So the short version of the story is that the MBA Gods have smiled once again. I’ve just been invited to interview for a spot at The Wharton Business School, just 28 hours after receiving an invite to interview at The University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business (for which I’ve already been matched with a Booth alum for an interview). Woot Woot!
Doubts Borne of a Ding
There is a chasm between where I am right now and where I was a week ago mentally and emotionally. While I’m past the age where most people are likely to doubt themselves, I certainly doubted the quality of my execution.
There were things that I thought to say and situations that I remembered to highlight AFTER I had submitted everything. And that stiff, cold ding from HBS honestly made me second guess whether my approach had been all wrong. Who knows? Perhaps it was all wrong for one school and fairly spot on for others?
I’m a firm believer that things happen just as they are supposed to. And I’m more than glad about everything that is happening right now. Now its just a matter of whether I have what it takes to hold it together and close some deals. Only time will tell, and I will be proud of myself either way for having made it even this far.
Mach II with Your Hair on Fire
So here’s the trip: for months I’ve basically been agonizing day after day, week after week over the snail’s pace of this long and meandering journey to a world-class MBA program. Just a week ago, I needed a scotch on the rocks to cheer myself up. Today, I need a double to celebrate back-to-back invites. And within 3 weeks, this entire pre-MBA journey will pretty much be out of my hands until mid-December when I’ll find out if and where I’ll have the option of attending. It all feels somewhat surreal.
Well, I guess I’ll be putting down my book and PS3 control and jumping into interview prep with both feet starting tonight. I’m NOT giving up the gym again like I did for the GMAT and my apps though–if I am destined to be “the older guy” on campus, that’s fine; but I’ll be damned if I end up being the FAT old guy.
Congrats to everyone else who has been invited to interview at schools you are excited about and good luck to those who are both waiting and who have yet to apply (R2 is just around the corner!).
Cheers to all.
****
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November 1, 2012 at 1:55 PM
Congratulations! The 2 invites back-2-back are very encouraging and exciting! I’m prepared for my R2 apps with a 700 gmat, too. Will also be an older guy in B-schools if I’m lucky enough to get in. So seeing your positive progress definitely fuels up my tank to go through the journey. Best wishes!!!!
November 1, 2012 at 1:58 PM
Aw man that’s awesome! DEFINITELY keep me posted and let me know if I can be of assistance in your journey. It feels good to know that my winding road is inspiring others.
November 1, 2012 at 2:04 PM
Thank you! That would be helpful. Btw sorry for duplicate posts. I’m so new with blogging things :”> (old school I am) Feel free to remove my post at the end!
November 1, 2012 at 2:05 PM
November 1, 2012 at 1:58 PM
CONGRATULATIONS! I would be the happiest person on earth if I were to receive an interview invite by Wharton. Next year will tell…
November 1, 2012 at 1:59 PM
Oh, but you will be and you will! Please reach out to me for help when the time comes.
November 1, 2012 at 2:00 PM
“I’m NOT giving up the gym again like I did for the GMAT and my apps though–if I am destined to be “the older guy” on campus, that’s fine; but I’ll be damned if I end up being the FAT old guy.”
Ha ha, I hear ya man. Crossfit is my fountain of youth!
November 1, 2012 at 2:02 PM
I’m saying. Gold’s Venice Beach (The Mecca!) is mine. I’m going to miss it.
November 1, 2012 at 2:01 PM
You’re on fire…keep shooting.
November 1, 2012 at 2:03 PM
*loads and cocks…
November 1, 2012 at 2:02 PM
I am so mad that you counted the hours between invites. Boy bye!
But seriously, I am so very happy for you. I saw your Wharton application and my gut told me that you’d be a shoo-in for an interview. Looks like my instincts are spot on. I know you’ll kill it.
November 1, 2012 at 2:04 PM
You really should be in business as a consultant–or at least an essay reviewer. NONE of my apps would be in the condition they are if not for your ripping my essays to shreds (with a Cheshire grin each time, might I add LOL).
November 1, 2012 at 2:08 PM
Since you could not see my face during all of my critiques I will not allow you to assume that I took pleasure in ripping your essays to shreds. The burden of proof is on you my friend and you have not one shred of evidence. I will say that I am not in the least bit surprised that you received invites at the two schools whose applications I did the most essay reviews for. I’m not sayin’ but I’m just sayin’
November 1, 2012 at 2:11 PM
Right right….and I do have proof…your writing is vivid enough for me to pretty much know how you’re looking when you write things…like…don’t think I don’t know what your EXACT expression when you said “I’m not sayin’ but I’m just sayin” (actually the phrase is “I’m not saying; I’m just sayin”)
November 1, 2012 at 5:39 PM
Congratulaions again…you are on a roll….very happy for you
November 1, 2012 at 5:41 PM
Thanks man.
November 1, 2012 at 7:10 PM
BOOOO. No fistbump for this one.
Kidding. You are awesome. Happy for you.
November 1, 2012 at 7:21 PM
LOL! HA! Thanks man.
November 1, 2012 at 11:10 PM
Fantastic! I’m also an over-30, so have been following your adventures closely. Got an interview invite from Tuck, so looking forward to that! All the best!
November 1, 2012 at 11:12 PM
Awesome man! Tuck is an fantastic program that I will be applying to R2. Best of luck. Don’t forget to subscribe!
November 2, 2012 at 12:45 AM
Been a subscriber for a while already. When do Wharton and Booth come back to you with final decisions? Is it before the Tuck R2 deadline? Did you not look at Fuqua, btw?
November 2, 2012 at 1:17 AM
Wharton and Booth release final decisions just before Christmas. I did not look at Fuqua.
November 2, 2012 at 1:14 AM
Congrats! Hopefully some smiles will come my way as well in a different time zone
November 2, 2012 at 1:18 AM
Agreed. Best of luck to ou Str1der.
November 2, 2012 at 2:32 PM
Congratulations! @ interview invitations is great.
FYI. While obviously Accepted MBA Interview Feedback database has feedback from last year, it is full of questions going back years that you can use for practice. And yes, we have feedback from Wharton and Chicago. http://www.accepted.com/mba/interviews/advancedsearch.aspx
November 2, 2012 at 2:43 PM
Thanks Linda! Accepted has always been a phenomenal resource and I certainly plan on using it for interview prep.
November 2, 2012 at 7:20 PM
MBAover30,
Right now I am just overwhelmed at the amount of work I need to do before I turn in my first application. which is due a month from now. What would your advice be? 1) School research (which I have been doing btw) 2) Resume 3) Essays 4) Recommendation? Whats the order? Any tips on how I could streamline the application process? Thanks for reading and good luck with both interviews.
November 2, 2012 at 7:25 PM
Ouch! Here’s my advice:
#1 ESSAYS: Get on these pronto. You’ll probably do 50 revisions before they are where they need to be. Get help.
#2 RECOMMENDATIONS: At least one will wait until the last minute for each one. Make sure to take away the excuse of not having enough notice
#3 RESUME: Go over this at least 50 times as well….but it should be the easiest part
I didn’t mention school research because if a school has not been research a month before the app is due you may not want to apply.
November 2, 2012 at 8:06 PM
Ohh I forgot to add, I have my GMAT in 10 days
November 2, 2012 at 8:09 PM
FAST AND PRAY.
November 2, 2012 at 8:09 PM
FAST AND PRAY.
November 2, 2012 at 8:12 PM
I am actually in Chicago, I might hit Cheetarah up. Big fan of her blog, she has some good advice. But for the essays I am getting professional help,
November 2, 2012 at 8:13 PM
good moves.
November 4, 2012 at 9:45 PM
mbaover30,
I have a question for you. How important is it to justify the “why now” if you are 30+.?
And, in which section of the application can one answer this? Because, as such the application does not ask this question anywhere. All this noise over the 30+ being too old is making me feel like 60+.
Any suggestion/comment will be great help.
gaurav
November 4, 2012 at 10:16 PM
It’s really an important question for anyone to answer. It’s MORE important for 30+ because adcoms and interviewers will wonder why you didn’t take care of this earlier. Are you drifter? Trying to restart a failed career? As long as you can show how what you have done up to now not only leads up to this point but how it all pushes you toward your next step—which you NEED and MBA to accomplish….you’ll be fine.
November 5, 2012 at 12:40 AM
working late nights? huh?
thanks very much for the prompt reply.!
I am neither a drifter nor am I trying to start my failed career. It is only now that I feel that I need an MBA to advance my career. what is wrong with that?
gaurav
November 5, 2012 at 7:19 AM
Everything is right with that. Now flesh that story out more with details; illustrate how everything comes together as one big plan as opposed to a knee jerk decision. Do that, and you should be fine as long as there are no other glaring weaknesses in your profile.
November 5, 2012 at 8:48 AM
thanks bud!
wish me luck! my choice is similar to yours as far B schools are concerned
November 5, 2012 at 9:52 AM
Consider your luck wished for !
November 9, 2012 at 1:29 PM
My path is following yours in an eerily similar fashion. 30, dinged by HBS and invited to Booth and Wharton interviews. I’ll keep checking your blog to see what’s going to happen to me next.
November 9, 2012 at 1:39 PM
Best of luck to you Joey.
March 21, 2013 at 2:34 PM
Hey Love your Blog…Congrats! you are leaving the dream of a GMAT taker…I just turn 30, started studying for the GMAT and looking to go Wharton, booth or Columbia for finance.
Any advice??
March 21, 2013 at 3:42 PM
Score as highly on the GMAT as you an and create some great stories at work for essays. Best of luck!