Admissions Advice: Wisconsin MBA

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Betsy Kacizak
University of Wisconsin-Madison

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dvillegas1: What are some of the most important qualities/experiences you look for in a brand management candidate and are there any specific things I should be doing or participating in? Is there a contact person for the brand management program I can get in touch with?

BetsyWisconsin: Amy Schmidt is the director and her contact is aschmidt@bus.wisc.edu.

As with any MBA student, we are looking for a person who has shown leadership either at work or in their community. We understand people will switch careers, so experience needs to be transferable. There are many students in the Brand Center who don't have brand management experience, but they all are proven leaders.

Your essays are key. We want to know if you understand what a career will be like in brand management. Your focus is important to Wisconsin because we want to make sure there is a fit and can deliver on your expectations. Talking with people in industry who are brand managers can help.

neelaabh: Would you know how many students SMILES accepts each year? When did the program start? Does it focus on entrepreneurship?

BetsyWisconsin: SMILES is a smaller career program at Wisconsin. We typically will have two to three students in SMILES. The Wisconsin MBA starts only in the fall and our first deadline for fall 2008 will be Nov. 1. There is a connection with entrepreneurship in SMILES; however, we do offer an entrepreneurship specialization as well. What we have found is many SMILES candidates are looking to move into startup or young biotech companies, so the entrepreneurial management focus is important.

The Wisconsin MBA accepts candidates for fall admission only. Our application for fall 2008 will be available on Sept. 1: www.bus.wisc.edu/mba.

BetsyWisconsin: We have multiple deadlines for fall, with Nov. 1 being our first deadline. For a complete list of all deadlines, please visit www.bus.wisc.edu/mba/checklist/deadlines.asp.

FrancescaBW: Ben, please tell us how you balance your school work and personal life.

BenWisconsin: For me, and other students, the key is time management. Making time for yourself, your friends, and family is possible, but it takes planning. First semester was by far the busiest, but I was able to make time for football games and a couple weekend trips by working ahead during the school week and not putting off reading/homework until the weekend.

FrancescaBW: Do many of your friends have families? How much of a role do they get to play on campus?

BenWisconsin: Yes, a number of students are married (including myself, but my wife is also in the program), and their spouses come to events. There is also the Joint Venture Club for spouses of MBA students.

BetsyWisconsin: There are a few students who also have children—including women in the program who are mothers. Again, the key is managing your time wisely.

bmandel: What can I expect in the interview?

BetsyWisconsin: Wisconsin interviews are by invitation. If invited for an interview, it would be much like an employment interview where we are asking you questions about your interest in the MBA. We are trying to assess your reason for the MBA and see if there is a good fit.

In return, you will also be able to assess fit. Will the school offer you the courses you want, can it provide the resources you are looking for, and is it a place you can call home for the next two years?

FrancescaBW: Any parting advice for applicants?

BetsyWisconsin: Thank you all for joining us today. We hope you had the chance to learn more about the Wisconsin MBA. We welcome you to contact us with additional questions regarding at the program at MBA@bus.wisc.edu. Returning to school is a big decision. Do your research and find the right fit in an MBA program for you.

BenWisconsin: The better you can explain why Wisconsin is for you, the better your chances of getting accepted.