4 essays, 200 words each.

[Strychnine]

Fuck. It sounds easy, but culling big thoughts down to what amounts to one paragraph kinda sucks.

1. How will the MBA/MS degree enhance your career plans? Project the kinds of positions you anticipate having five years after earning the degree. What experiences have you had that form the foundation of your goals?
2. Give a candid appraisal of yourself. Include some discussion of your strengths and weaknesses.
3. Discuss three of your achievements or accomplishments.
4. Describe your level of commitments to education and the ways in which you might make a special contribution to the learning experience of others.

My high level bullet point notes for each question are like 30 words.


Do you dare sacrifice writing style to bump up the information density, or just cut your level of information and keep it somewhat high-level?

[mstng86]

I dunno, but if I had to appraise myself, I'd be modest and go with 3 billion.

[Baron Von Crowder]

Um, no way in hell I could do that. Im way too long winded.

[slow99]

Both. Welcome to grad school apps, better you than me!

#1 is standard. Just be sure to cover 3 things: 1) why MBA 2) why this school 3) why now?

[slow99]

The whole process is simply an opportunity to showcase yourself and exhibit that you want to attend THEIR school, not just A school. My rec for #1 is above.

#2 - Highlight your strengths with an emphasis on humility. On the weakness, include how xxxx program/class/etc at xxxx university could help you improve upon that area. (shows you want to go to THAT school, not just A school)

#3 - Two professional, one personal. Try to tie in how that school's program could help you expand upon those achievements.

#4 - What's unique/intriguing about your application? This is the ideal spot to address a potential weakness and illustrate how it could be a positive.

[GeorgeG.]

I don't get that whole process...can't they just take my money?

[Ruffdaddy]

The whole process is simply an opportunity to showcase yourself and exhibit that you want to attend THEIR school, not just A school. My rec for #1 is above.

#2 - Highlight your strengths with an emphasis on humility. On the weakness, include how xxxx program/class/etc at xxxx university could help you improve upon that area. (shows you want to go to THAT school, not just A school)

#3 - Two professional, one personal. Try to tie in how that school's program could help you expand upon those achievements.

#4 - What's unique/intriguing about your application? This is the ideal spot to address a potential weakness and illustrate how it could be a positive.

But some programs will high lite that you should focus on strengthening your strengths...not you weaknesses. Jk...mostly good advice

For my masters, I had a recommendation from an alumni that helped a lot. also make sure you keep the content to only shit that will be important to the reviewers. They are probably going to push the whole concept of being able to compress information.

[Ruffdaddy]

What school btw?

[Strychnine]

What school btw?

MS Global Energy Management at University of Colorado.

I decided that I wanted to differentiate myself a bit from the MBA crowd, but still stay O&G / Energy focused. Oh and it's less than the $96,000 price tag on the Rice MBA I was looking at.

The program started as a collaboration between CU, Pioneer Resources, and Encana.

Courses:
Energy Law: Property, Contracts and Transactions
Interacting with Governments and State Enterprises
Organizational Behavior in the Energy Industry
Energy Marketing
Advanced Financial Management in the Ener
Commercialization and Management/Leadership of Renewable Energies
21st Century Global Energy Issues and Realities
Global Energy Economics
Environmental, Regulatory, Legal and Political Environment in the Energy Industry
Technical Aspects of Energy Science
Leadership and Decision Making in the Global Energy Environment
Managerial Accounting in Global Energy Markets
Introduction to Financial Management in the Global Energy Market
Strategic Human Capital Management in the Global Energy Environment
Strategic Management for the Energy Industry


87% of the professors have energy industry experience (average of 15 years in the industry) and come from around the world.



The program's advisory council is made up people from within the energy industry:

Banko Petroleum Management
Thunder River Production
Americas Planning and Strategy, IHS Corporation
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Whiting Petroleum
Mercator Energy
Xcel Energy
Pioneer Natural Resources
ExxonMobil Corp
Kodiak Oil & Gas
Encana Oil & Gas
Colorado Oil & Gas Association (COGA)
Western Marketing, Inc.
Energy Corporation of America (ECA), Inc.
Bill Barrett Corp
Teocali Energy, LLC
PDC Energy
Denver Petroleum Club
Sacramento Valley & Exploration, Venoco, Inc.
Cirque Resources
Newmont Mining
Cordillera Energy Partners

For my masters, I had a recommendation from an alumni that helped a lot.

I don't have alum contacts, but my rec letters will be from a VP title, then either an Executive Director or General Manager.

I got my essays done over the weekend and I'm working on my rec letters right now. Should get something back by the end of the month for a July start.

[Strychnine]

Essays are 187, 215, 221, and 216 words. Average 210. Close enough for "Try to limit each of your responses to approximately 200 words" right?

[slow99]

Close enough for "Try to limit each of your responses to approximately 200 words" right?

Yes

[Ruffdaddy]

Man that sounds like a solid program...especially when oil comes back. It also sounds like a solid plan to specialize over and MBA with your background. You're gonna be big Ballin soon enough.

I picked an MS in engineering and technology management partly to break away from the standard MBA as well. additionally, the company I was at during the program would bump anyone with an MS degree a job grade.

[Ruffdaddy]

Any word back yet?

[Broncojohnny]

One of the guys I work with is in a horse club with Rex Tillerson, I'll put in a word for you.

[Gasser64]

Both. Welcome to grad school apps, better you than me!

#1 is standard. Just be sure to cover 3 things: 1) why MBA 2) why this school 3) why now?

What exactly is it that they want to hear? Obvious answers?

1. I want more money 2. This school is reputable and close to me or offers online courses for ease of use. 3. Cause I need to get this shit done before too much time goes by, so I don't waste my time and so I can more quickly get more money.

Lets be real here, those are the real answers.