- What typical mistakes do applicants make when preparing a package of documents?
- Most typical are two mistakes. The first is that most pay too much attention to rankings. The second is excessive attention to one's current position and the one a person plans to occupy in the future.
The most important part of the package is the essay, the topic of which is your life attitudes and values (What matters most to you and why). In them, you should not emphasize your achievements and career plans. We are interested in what you are like as a person. It is important that the story is sincere, from the heart.
Another common mistake concerns letters of recommendation. We ask for three letters: two from people in higher positions, and one from a person equal to you in status. Many seek to get all three recommendations from the head of the company and some senior management, without taking into account that these people do not work directly with them. For us, it is not so much the position of the recommender that matters, but their knowledge and objectivity. It is necessary that the person signing the recommendation knows you personally. It is better if it is someone with whom you have common affairs and with whom you have long collaborated.
- Which essays attract you first? What conclusions do you draw about the author after reading the essay?
- The greatest sympathy is evoked by sincere, honest works that show what kind of person you are, rather than what heights you have achieved and what, in your opinion, taking the program will give you. Of course, you cannot make a decision based solely on an essay. Admission requires several conditions to be met. But the essay is perhaps the most important stage, as it gives us an idea of a person's ambitions and leadership potential.
- What else do you pay attention to? In general, are there any selection criteria?
- First, it is academic ability, the desire and ability to learn. We evaluate, among other things, the results of previous studies and the diploma. The second point is a person's leadership qualities, their potential, what they have achieved. But you can enter our programs without any work experience, immediately after graduating from university. Therefore, personal achievements are also taken into account: someone was a group monitor during student years, someone actively participates in one or another social movement, someone acts in an amateur theater - all this helps identify leaders.
- Is there any surefire way to get into business school?
- I don't think so. No one will tell you: 'If you do such and such, you will definitely get in.' Everything is very individual, and there are no ready-made solutions. Of course, the simplest way is to send documents to several business schools at once (on the principle 'surely one will accept you'). But this is not entirely correct. After all, not every school is right for you! Each has its own strengths and weaknesses: some schools focus on finance, others on marketing, some on management, and others on teamwork. It seems to me that it is better to decide right away where exactly you would like to study and apply there.
- A candidate receives an admission letter, what next?
- The student does not arrive on campus right away. First, we invite them to an admit weekend to get acquainted, where all admitted students, professors, and university staff gather. As a rule, this happens in early March and mid-April. We ask some students to come early. We have programs that help adapt to life and study in America or quickly 'fill in' missing knowledge, say, in quantitative analysis. Practice has shown that before classes begin, students should take care of three things: a visa or residence permit, housing and its arrangement, and resolving financial issues.
- By the way, now let's talk simply about finances. How are loans and financial support for not very wealthy but talented people handled?
- Of course, you can get a loan. However, neither your merits nor your talents will affect its issuance, because we focus on need-based scholarships. You must provide all required documents. It is important that foreigners do not need a guarantor who is a US citizen. However, we have programs that allow you to receive a grant. For example, for students about whom we can say: they will bring great benefit to the school's reputation after graduation. Or for those who are initially confident that they will work in non-profit organizations, the social sector, or the government. In addition, each year we select five most outstanding, high-performing students among freshmen and give them an incentive prize of $25,000.
- How much do two years at Stanford cost?
- Approximately $65 thousand per year. This includes $41 thousand for tuition and $20-25 thousand for living expenses, including insurance, spending on textbooks, etc.
- What is the most difficult thing in the process of entering a business school and in the process of studying?
- In admission, the most difficult thing is writing an essay; in studying, it is the workload. We have a very intensive curriculum. Add to that participation in various clubs and associations in free time, excursions, visiting exhibitions... Moreover, many of our students take additional courses and seminars.
- What is the fundamental difference between Stanford GSB and other schools? What are the strongest and weakest sides?
- Our strength is small groups, the opportunity to establish closer contact and give attention to each student. As a rule, we enroll 360-370 students annually. On the other hand, a small number of students can be a disadvantage, since it does not allow one to acquire many business acquaintances and connections. It is also worth considering that the school specializes only in General Management. However, students who know which industry they will work in later can choose any additional courses.
- What are the most interesting and popular programs at your school?
- If we talk about the business school as a whole, we have four research centers specializing in leadership, entrepreneurship, global aspects of business, and the social and public sectors. As for individual courses, the most interesting and popular is probably Interpersonal Dynamics. Its goal is the development of communication skills. Also, in my opinion, courses in production and finance are very interesting. Part of the educational process consists of 'simulations', where a student can try to manage a company for two weeks. Equally interesting are thematic seminars (the very same elective additional courses), which bring together a group of 15 students, an instructor, and someone from the top management of a well-known company.
- Who are the most prominent professors at your school?
- I would especially single out Jack McDonald (finance), Irv Grousbeck (production), and David Bradford (leadership). By the way, among our professors there are several Nobel laureates.
- Do our students differ from their colleagues from other countries? Who finds it easier to get into Stanford - an American, a European, a Russian?
- I don't think there is a difference. We have students from 45 countries, and we are glad about that; it contributes to expanding business contacts and a deeper understanding of cultures. The main differences are in the perception of the program. Often in student conversations you can hear: 'In our country this works, but this doesn't!' If we talk about who finds it easier to adapt... Probably representatives of English-speaking countries and people who are fluent in English.
- Many business publications compile business school rankings. What is your opinion of them?
- We don't pay attention to rankings. Most of them are compiled using incorrect methodologies and aim not at objective research but at increasing the publication's sales. Harvard and Wharton have even refused to participate in any rankings and stopped providing contact information for their students.
- What criteria should one use to choose a business school?
- A few years ago, the main guideline for choosing a school was its position in the rankings. Today priorities are changing. In my opinion, you should first decide which particular business school you want to study at - with a small or large number of students. Next, you need to understand whether you need a school with a clear specialization or whether it is better to take a general management program, whether you want the training to consist entirely of case studies or to use various methodologies. It is equally important to pay attention to the spirit of the school, its internal culture. For example, find out what the emphasis is on - leadership or teamwork. In this regard, the grading system practiced by the business school itself (open or closed) is indicative. At Stanford, grades are closed; each student knows only their own results, which fosters team spirit. In addition, you should also consider the location of the school - whether it is in a large or small city and, accordingly, what industrial and economic centers, company headquarters are nearby.
- Which companies does the university's career services cooperate with? Who comes to campus?
- We cooperate with more than 1,000 large global companies, including American Express, The Boston Consulting Group, BP, Cisco Systems, Citigroup, Deloitte Consulting, Ford Motor Company, HP, L'Oreal, McKinsey, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, Nike, SAP, Pfizer, The Walt Disney Company, and others. 340 of them regularly hold presentations on campus. Admittedly, some students find jobs themselves through alumni. And some students decide where they want to work already upon admission and strive to get there. But the majority plan their careers during their studies, changing their decisions more than once, sometimes choosing between completely different industries. For example, we had a student who worked as an engineer in the military industry for 12 years and now works in a bank. Companies also have their own tactics. For example, some of them give schools a quota of places: 20 places for students from one school, ten places for another. There is also the practice of a 'lottery' for the right to have an interview with a particular employer.
- The most beautiful tradition of Stanford GSB?
- Perhaps it is the spring GSB show. All students, professors, and school staff gather here. They sing songs, watch films, dance, perform amateur acts, skits...
- The most famous alumni of Stanford GSB?
- Oh, there are so many! These are the founders of Cisco Systems (Sandra Lerner and Leonard Bosack), HP (William Hewlett and David Packard), Yahoo (Chih-Yuan Yang and David Filo). And even fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier! Our alumni are in the governments of India and the United States. In every industry, every field of activity, and in most large companies, Stanford graduates work!