Henley DL MBA Application Form advice

All,

I am currently in the process of applying to Henley Management College for admission to their DL MBA programme.

I have quoted below a section heading from the form:

In support of your application please give a frank impression of your strengths and weaknesses. Explain why you believe you will benefit from the programme, stating your career objectives.

This answer box for this is a nine line box which can be continued on one separate piece of A4 (roughly equivalent to Letter) paper.

I know this is personal and subjective, but any general advice on what to include/not include here?

Thanks!

Dave C.

 

I truly don't know if it's relevant . . . but when my wife and I met with the people who run the Henley MBA program 8 or9 years ago -- we were exploring the notion of taking on their marketing in the US along with Heriot-Watt -- we found them charmingly blunt and no-nonsense sorts, with a twinkle in their eyes. They even asked us for our weaknesses. When Marina said, "We're Americans and we talk funny," one of the Deans replied, "You're bloody right -- and what about your taking on all those Smurfs?" [Probable reference: celtic warriors painted themselves blue.]

I have the feeling that the proper tone is, in a word, candor. Might set you apart from the multitudes who come on sounding astonishingly wonderful.

PS: As someone else mentioned here awhile ago, they have an extraordinarily beautiful campus, and they really were awfully nice (if gruff) people, with a splendid programme and reputation.

 

My personal and subjective opinions

1) Be frank

2) Give concrete examples (Good examples include those in working, volunteer activities.... ) showing your strengths or weaknesses. I can understand that everyone wants to talk more about his/her strengths than weaknesses. However, there are always two sides over one thing....Weakness is not always a weakness

3) Show that you know their programme well. If your career objective or benefits you are looking for are those fitting the programe/school specialities, this shows that you would be the suitable candidates for the school or programme. So you can try looking at what the programme / school sees itself as the major competitive edge over the others.

4) Finally, a school needs diversity in class. So don't worry too much if you find yourself too special, or do not fall into the "mainstream" among typical MBAs you know of.

 

Re: Re: Henley DL MBA Application Form advice

I'm a womanizer and I drink too much.

 

Re: Re: Re: Henley DL MBA Application Form advice

Not seeing any weaknesses. My wife might disagree, but what does SHE know?

 

Dave C., what made you apply to Henley ? Thanks.

 

Firstly, thank you very much to Dr. Bear and tcmak for their helpful comments.

As for the idiot timewasters, when you have finished cracking yourselves why not go and hijack some threads in the 'Off-Topic' forum...some people have serious questions in this section.

Stock,

Why did I choose the Henley MBA? Good question.

The first and probably most important reason is that I live in the UK, so my first criteria was that the course needed to UK based. However the industry I work in means that an international transfer is always a future possibility, so I needed a course that could be completed from abroad if need be.

I then did exhaustive research into the various UK offerings. I made a shortlist based on cost, reputation, course content and course structure. By structure I mean I didn't want a totally DL MBA, I was looking for something 'blended', with periodic residentials. (Henley has residentials, but also an 'International Stream' with just one a year, which means I could complete it if living abroad).

I also wanted something fully accredited, in the UK and abroad. (Including the USA, one country where I have worked before and may well work in the future).

I then took a look at rankings...for what they are worth.

In the end the only two options that filled all my criteria were Warwick and Henley. (It seems most people I speak to with my profile who has made the same decision have been left with the same two).

Anyway I went to a Henley 'MBA Preview Day' at their fantastic campus and that day made up my mind.

If you want a bit more detail on any of that let me know.

Peace,

Dave C.