Stanford GSB announced today that Nike founder Phil Knight, (Stanford MBA '62) will give $105 million to his alma mater.  The majority of the money ($100 million) will go towards construction of a new $275 million b-school complex consisting of eight buildings to be set around three quadrangles and called the Knight Management Center.

According to the announcement, "The Knight Management Center design will include more flexible classroom space for the greater number of small classes and seminars the school will offer. The new campus is also designed to support more interaction with University faculty and students, including facilities for cross-disciplinary classes and lectures." Stanford recently revamped its curriculum, which will emphasize a more flexible and individualized approach to management education and small-group learning. The new facility is geared to this new approach. It will also integrate the business school into the larger Stanford University community.

Stanford GSB plans to break ground on the new facility in 2008.

Darden's copy is in black. My comments are in red for the remainder of this post. 

 Darden 2006-7 Deadlines

Round 1 (Early Action)      October 19, 2006

Round 2                               December 5, 2006

Round 3                               January 11, 2007

Round 4                                March 1, 2007 

2006-2007 MBA Application Essay Questions

Darden made some major changes in wording to its questions this year. All the questions are new. 

1.  Why is an MBA a critical next step toward your short- and long-term career goals? (500 word limit) (Required)

This is the goals essay for Darden. Where are you at? Where do you want to go? And how will an MBA (specifically a general management MBA from a case method school) help you to achieve both your short-term and long-term goals. Slant the essay to show fit with Darden's general management, case-method program structured around study groups and teams.

2.  Each of our applicants is unique. Describe how your background, values, education, activities and/or leadership skills will enhance the experience of other Darden students. (500 word limit) (Required)

Organized around study groups and teams, Darden values collaboration, dialogue, and strong inter-personal skills. To learn more about it, and you should, first review the Darden web site, attend info sessions and receptions, read the blogs of Darden students, and do everything you can to get a feel for Darden. If you can, visit before writing your essays. In addressing this question, write about how you, with your background, values, etc. can contribute to the Darden community.

Realize that you only have 500 words. So use this essay to focus on a  1-3 elements that will allow you to contribute uniquely while at Darden.  This essay is a great way to demonstrate self-knowledge, a little color, and your knowledge of Darden.

3.  Choose one of the following questions. (250 word limit) (Required)

a. What would you do if you didn’t have to work for a living?
b.  Describe a significant maturing experience.
c.  What have been the most satisfying aspects of your work life thus far and the most dissatisfying?

Answer the question that will best complement the required essays and add value to your application. Then using a modified PAR approach, keep it short and sweet. Describe the occupation, experience, or aspects, and then provide a succinct analysis of their importance, or in the case of C, the reasons you found these experiences satisfying or dissatisfying.

4.  If there is further information that you believe would be helpful to the Admissions Committee, please provide it below. (250 word limit) (Optional)

Use this optional essay,  or lose a great opportunity to provide even more reasons for Darden to admit you.

If you would like help with Darden's essay, you still have time to work toward submitting before Darden's Early Action Round 1 deadline. ( A great option if you are committed to Darden.) Plus Accepted.com recently added a Darden Comprehensive Package to its MBA essay editing options. Check it out. 

Our 10% Early-Bird Discount on MBA Essay Editing and Comprehensive B-School Packages ends on July 31, 2006. That's Monday. You can obtain the critical eye of an seasoned editor and MBA admissions expert, save $$$, and prepare quality essays for round 1 deadlines, if you start ASAP.

Anything in black is from the London Business School pages at the links provided below. I am writing the red copy. 

London Business School Application Deadlines:
Stage 1: 20 October 2006
Stage 2: 05 January 2007
Stage 3: 23 February 2007
Stage 4: 27 April 2007
(Applications must be submitted by 17.00 London time).

London Business School MBA Essay Questions

The Admissions Committee met ... to determine the essay questions for the coming admissions year, and this is the result.  One or two changes have been made to last year’s questions, notably that Question 1 has been split into two.  Following a little bit of confusion last year, the wording of Question 4 has been tweaked in order to make it clearer (Tip: There is no need to think of a club that does not currently exist).

New to this year’s application, Question 6 has been added following several queries as to where applicants might submit additional information that they wanted to relay to the Admissions Committee.  However, this question is optional.

Question 1 (500 words)
In what role do you see yourself working immediately after graduation?  Why?  How will your past and present experiences help you achieve this?  How will the London Business School MBA Programme contribute to this goal? 

This is a clear goals question with the focus on your short-term goals -- what you want to do immediately after you receive your MBA. How did you develop this goal? Why does it appeal to you? How did your experiences shape your goal and how do they reveal the appropriateness of your goal. (If you are a couch-potato or klutz, don't say you want to be a professional athlete.--which wouldn't be a match for b-school anyway.)  Finally, how will LBS help you achieve your goal?

Question 2 (200 words)
Where do you see your career progressing five years after graduation and what is your longer term career vision?

Here come the long-term goals. As LBS noted above, LBS decided to split the goals question in two. That doesn't mean the two unrelated. Far from it. Although a separate short question, your long-term goals should flow naturally from your short-term goals and previous experiences, including your hoped-for stint at London Business School. 

Question 3 (500 words)
Please describe your experience of working in and leading teams, either in your professional or personal life.  Given this experience, what role do you think you will play in your study group, and how do you intend to contribute to it?

First of all learn about the role of student life at LBS, in particular the role of study groups. Also, reflect on your experience in teams. If you have been involved in teams outside of work and your other essays focused on work, then this essay presents an opportunity to discuss another facet of your life. Have you been able to both lead and occasionally take a back seat when others with skills or qualifications your lack are better prepared to lead your team? After thinking about your team experience and the role of study groups at LBS show how your past experience will help you contribute to your study group.

Question 4 (400 words)
Student involvement is an extremely important part of the London MBA experience and this is reflected in the character of students on campus. What type of student club or campus community event do you envisage yourself leading? How would you set about becoming involved in a leadership position and how would you align and communicate the goals and vision for the club to the wider School community?

Again, you need to research student life at LBS before you can answer this question. The best answers will directly respond to all elements in the question by showing that you have been involved in similar college, community or professional organizations in the past. And you will be able to illustrate your abilities to contribute at LBS by discussing your earlier contributions. 

Inside Higher Ed provides a brief survey of journalism programs The J-School Boom. As the article points out, traditional mainstream media may be struggling, but j-schools are booming.

 On both the undergraduate and graduate level, schools of journalism are opening and expanding. They have growing enrollments are expanding into areas like digital media, advocacy communications, and public relations, media marketing.  So if you have excellent writing and communications skills, don't default to law because you can't think of anything better to do. Take a class or two in journalism and see if it grabs you.