Applying for business school

I am a student in my first year at Wharton (a business school in the US) and have enjoyed my first six weeks in Philadelphia. However, I haven’t forgotten how challenging the application process is. Last year I prepared my application. I had worked for an investment bank for three years. I enjoyed my job but business school interested me. It was a way to improve my business skills and expand my career opportunities.

How did I make my application? First, I had a General Management Admission Test (GMAT). I took the test twice. Then I did the essay writing. It took two months to finish the essays. Other MBA graduates said that the essays were the most important part of the application. Business schools use the essays to get to know applicants. Very few schools interview candidates. In my essays I wrote about what I had learnt from my work experience since graduating from university. I also wrote about what I wanted to achieve in my career.

I posted my applications. I waited for two months for the schools' decisions. In February letters started to arrive. Two business schools offered me places. Wharton was my first choice. So here I am.

From FT.com

1. Read the article again and answer the questions.

1. What country is Wharton business school in?

2. What did MBA graduates say was the most important part of the application?

3. How long did the writer wait for the schools' decisions?

4. When did the letters arrive?

5. How many business schools offered the writer places?

6. Which business school did the writer choose?

2. Number the steps below in the order that they appear in the article.

• post applications

• take GMAT tests

• go to business school

• write essays

• wait for offers

Over to you

What have you learnt since starting work or university? What do you want to achieve in your career?

Unit 12 Jobs

Unemployment

Level of difficulty **

Before you read

Underline the correct word or phrase in italics to make true sentences.

a) A jobless person is employed /unemployed.

b) If something gets results it doesn't succeed /succeeds.

c) When people are laid off they get /lose a job.

Reading

Read this article adapted from the Financial Times and answer the questions.

WeWantWork

Lisa Rosevear worked in public relations in New York. A year ago, she was laid off from her job. She thought that she would find a new job quickly but she didn't. There was eight percent unemployment in New York. Lisa sent out her CV and phoned companies but nothing worked. Lisa talked about the problem with two friends. They were also unemployed. The three friends had tried all the usual ways to find employment such as applying to job advertisements and contacting companies. Now it was time to try something, new.

Lisa, her two friends and forty other jobless executives started an organisation called WeWantWork. All the members had excellent CVs. Most had graduate business degrees and good work experience. There were executives, IT managers and sales directors in the group. The members put information about their work experience on a website. They also went out on the streets at 7 a.m. and spent the morning giving out CVs and information to advertise their website.

The idea got results. Eleven of the forty-three members have found work. Another group has started in Boston. But the original group does not want new members. The group and the website will finish when all forty-three have found jobs.

From the Financial Times

1. Complete the sentences with the correct numbers from the article.

43 11 8% 7 2

no/

a) New York had ….. unemployment.

b) Lisa talked to her……friends.

c) There were…………members of WeWantWork.

d) They gave out CVs at………a.m.

e) …….members of the group have found work.

2. Are these sentences true or false?

a) Lisa lost her job last year.

b) She worked in human resources.

c) She soon found a new job.

d) Lisa and her friends started WeWantWork.

e) Most members had graduate business degrees.

f) They gave out CVs in the afternoon.

g) WeWantWork wants new members

Over to you

Do you think WeWantWork is a good idea? Why?/Why not? Have you heard of any other unusual ways to find jobs?

Unit 13 Great Ideas