It's that time of year again, when BusinessWeek.com starts planning the new series of MBA Journals. Here's how you can become part of this select group of writers.
Dream of sharing your MBA adventure with others? We're looking for entering MBA students in the 2009-2010 academic year, the significant others of MBA students, and those applying to business school now to share the best and worst of their business school journey. The MBA Journals are a special part of BusinessWeek.com's business school coverage. We use them to give prospective and current MBA students and their families an insider's look at the business school experience from start to finish. These journals should go beyond the brochures that business schools put out. More than 100 people have brought their stories to the BusinessWeek community so far. You can be next. Here's how:
1. You must be starting (or have already started) an MBA or EMBA program during the 2009-2010 academic year, or you must be the significant other of someone who will be starting (or has already started) an MBA or EMBA program during the 2009-2010 academic year, or you must be planning to apply to an MBA or EMBA program for the 2010-2011 academic year.
2. You must be willing to submit about one journal entry per month.
3. You must be able to meet deadlines.
4. You must be willing to do all of this on a volunteer basis.
If you meet the above requirements and would like to be considered as an MBA Journal writer, you should send the following material to francesca_dimeglio@businessweek.com by June 30, 2009:
1. Two writing samples (Word limit: 1,300 words each)
If selected, the first sample will be used as your first journal entry for BusinessWeek.com. It should introduce yourself to the business school audience, describe your professional and personal background, and let us know why you want to attend business school—and particularly the one you'll be enrolling in (if applicable). Other questions your first sample might address include: What will the MBA do for you? Is B-school part of your overall career plan? Or are you looking to broaden your managerial horizons and see where you end up? Feel free to offer application tips, but the main goal of this essay should be to acquaint the reader with you and your personality. Do not send application essays for this sample. This should be an original work written for BusinessWeek.com.
For the second sample, you can send a personal statement or your best application essay. This sample should also clue us in to who you are.
2. The name of the university you (or your significant other) will be attending, the type of MBA program (full-time, part-time, distance, executive), and the program's length. Applicants should describe the kind of program they're aiming to attend and let us know what stage in the process you have reached. For instance, have you taken the GMAT? Visited any schools? Sent out applications?
3. An updated résumé.
4. Permanent contact information (mailing address, e-mail, and phone number) where you can be reached until Oct. 31, 2009.
5. A digital photo taken recently and sent in JPEG format.
We look forward to your application. BusinessWeek will make its selection in late August/early September, and all applicants will be notified of our decisions. Thanks!
Di Meglio is a reporter for BusinessWeek.com in Fort Lee, N.J.
