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DECEMBER 2003 MBA JOURNAL: ADMISSIONS & ORIENTATION Maxim Mironov: Admissions, Pre-Term, and Orientation [Page 2 of 2] 1. Study the school's waitlist policy scrupulously. Some schools encourage candidates to submit additional information, some do not. MIT encourages applicants to organize a support campaign and submit additional recommendations. 2. Find contacts at the school. From my knowledge, the admissions committee is always receptive to the opinions of school alumni and students. I found two Sloan alums in Moscow and gave them reason to believe that I would be a good student. 3. Prepare a clear assault plan. Understand what issues were not covered enough in your information package and decide who would be the best person to speak to about your strengths. Find ten best friends who can write you a support letter and explain what aspect of your personality they should speak about. I asked my friends to concentrate on my personal qualities, as my professional ones were well described in my application. I contacted Alex Denissov, a Russian student at MIT, who was in a similar situation last year and got off the waitlist. I explained my strategy to him and asked for help in finding Sloan alums in Moscow who might interview me and be willing to send a support letter to Rod Garcia, Sloan's Director of Admissions. He found two alums and helped me contact them. I was surprised that both alums were eager to offer informal interviews. I want to thank Nestor Andriuk and Sergei Drojjin for supporting my application and helping me get into Sloan. I truly believe that their recommendations were critical to my admission. Again, I can't express just how thankful I am to my wife Olena for writing me a support letter. The very next day I received an invitation for an interview with David Capodilupo, Director of the MBA Program. David was coming to Moscow and I did my best to grab the first time slot. I remember asking if David had a 6 a.m. time slot. Only when I was assured that David was not going to start interviewing before 8:30, did I agree to this time. My interview was extremely easy-going. I didn't experience any of the artificial stress situations that I had prepared for after reading interview feedback on the BusinessWeek Online B-school forums. David asked me a lot about my creativity and how I demonstrated it. I had the impression that he was paying more attention to how I spoke about my achievements than what those achievements actually were. Nevertheless, David asked very detailed questions about situations and conflicts I'd faced and the ways in which I solved them. Some of the students I spoke with mentioned that they'd received positive feedback from their interviewers, such as continuing discussion without taking any further notes or small encouragements not to worry anymore. I had a great time talking to David, but had no idea what David's conclusion was. Before saying goodbye, he told me that I didn't need to take any further actions and that I would be informed of the decision with round two candidates. The journey began with stress and uncertainty. Visa difficulties. In the end, I was admitted at MIT Sloan, but that wasn't the end of my problems. This year, U.S. Immigration officials increased security requirements for visa applicants. About one-third of the Russian MBA students I know experienced some difficulties. I was surprised when I was denied a visa. I had visited the U.S. several times during last five years and our financial documentation was credible. But, during the interview I was questioned about a state taxation form that I was not aware of and was refused a visa. If it happens to you, relax and take a couple days to think over the situation. I went over the issue with my employer and collected all tax declarations for the last four years from all the countries I had worked in. To further strengthen my application, I asked Sloan alums to write support letters to the embassy elaborating on the career prospects in Russia for a Sloan MBA. The second interview was scheduled for July and resulted in an administrative check, which was supposed to collect information about my application. This was another stressful period. In such situations nothing helps more than communication with other people facing the same difficulties. Thanks to Elberd Dvurechinsky, my friend from the Duke MBA Program, for his initiative in bringing Russian students together and creating a Russian community in the class of 2005 (via a free online community service from Yahoo!). This was a great source of support in turbulent times -- and is also helping us now to share industry contacts and plan beer parties. I would also like to thank our friend, Maxim Puliaev, who helped us find people in the U.S. willing to write support letters to the consulate. Finally, I truly appreciate the help of Catherine Gamon, Director of Student Affairs, who used all opportunities to demonstrate that I am a valuable person to Sloan and the school really needs me. As a result of these joint efforts, my wife and I finally got our visas. In conclusion, if you're thinking about taking this wonderful journey, be prepared for complications - but remain optimistic. There are many great people around you can turn to for help. Be persistent and remember that opportunity seldom knocks twice.I am eager to answer more specific questions by email. You are welcome to write me at Maxim.Mironov@sloan.mit.edu
 
BW MALL
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