4 essays, 200 words each.

[Denny]

Sounds like the point went whizzing right over your head, Tom. I was simply pointing out that the questions aren't ever going to be able to net their real answers. Just fluff to blow up the skirt of what seems like their egos. And NOT what I would be putting on mine.

That's where knowledge and talent come in.

[Denny]

I'd shoot for as close to 172 words per essay as possible.

[Gasser64]

Sounds like you have it figured out, Justin. I'm sure that'll catapult you to the upper echelon of the 10-20 applicants vying for each available spot at the good programs.

Sounds like the point went whizzing right over your head, Tom. I was simply pointing out that the questions aren't ever going to be able to net their real answers. Just fluff to blow up the skirt of what seems like their egos. And NOT what I would be putting on mine.

[Strychnine]

Any word back yet?

Not yet. I decided to apply for the Dec '15 start instead of June '15 which meant I didn't have to rush the application (that was not the driver for the decision though). My portion of the app was submitted Feb 27. One rec letter is still outstanding and I need to follow up on that this week. Hopefully an interview will happen in the next couple weeks and I'll be on my way.

[Cooter]

Sounds like you have it figured out, Justin. I'm sure that'll catapult you to the upper echelon of the 10-20 applicants vying for each available spot at the good programs.

lol, he's a smart guy

[slow99]

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.

Sounds like you have it figured out, Justin. I'm sure that'll catapult you to the upper echelon of the 10-20 applicants vying for each available spot at the good programs.

[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.

[Broncojohnny]

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

[Ruffdaddy]

Any word back yet?

[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.

[slow99]

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

Yes

[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?

[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.

[Ruffdaddy]

What school btw?

[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.