From the Admissions Office
August 27, 2007

As the summer winds down and the recruiting season gets underway, we wanted to take a moment to update you on the application to Yale SOM’s class of 2010 and the line-up of admissions events for this fall, as well as provide some tips on how to present the strongest application possible — this month, focusing on the GMAT exam. 

Application
The online application to the Class of 2010 is now available. The deadlines for each admissions round are listed on our web site, with the first round deadline on October 24, 2007. You can get answers to many common application questions online on our FAQ page. If you have any additional questions throughout the process, please feel free to contact us.

Admissions Events
We've also posted online our admissions events for the fall. The list will continue to be updated over the next couple of weeks, so please check back. These events are a great way to learn more about what makes Yale SOM unique, as well as talk with admissions officers and alumni. We look forward to meeting many of you on the road!

If you’re not able to attend an event, we encourage you to get to know the school through the various tools available on our website. You can chat with admissions officers and students on our discussion board, connect with one or more of our student admissions ambassadors, and read about the SOM experience on the SOM Community Blog.

GMAT Tips
Since many of you are beginning to prepare your applications for the Class of 2010, we wanted to give you a few helpful hints about the application process.

We are starting with the GMAT exam, since this is a component of your application that requires a lot of advance preparation and strategy.

• Scheduling your exam appointment: Once you select the test center that’s most convenient for you, register for the exam by phone, mail, fax, or online. Available appointments change as registration and capacity fluctuates, so it’s important to secure your appointment in advance. You can learn more about the exam at www.mba.com
  
• Preparing for the exam: The earlier you begin studying for the exam, the better. The Graduate Management Admissions Council encourages candidates to start preparing at least four weeks before your scheduled exam. There are practice tests online that will get you acclimated to the content and format of the exam.
  
• Sending your score: Once you complete the exam, please designate Yale SOM to receive an official copy of your score report. We won’t have access to your report unless you do, so it’s important to submit your request as soon as possible so we can match your report with your application. Each application then gets two independent reads before it is discussed by the Admissions Committee.
• Evaluating your score: In reviewing an application, we look for applicants with the strongest and most well-rounded set of skills. What this means in terms of the GMAT is that in addition to looking at the total score, we also want to make sure the verbal and quantitative sections are not out of alignment. To that end, we look for an overall balance in applicants’ scores in those sections. Although we know that the GMAT is not a perfect indicator of skill, historically, it has been a good indicator of how well students perform in our first-year curriculum.

We hope this information is helpful as you prepare your application. Look for more application tips on in the next issue of the newsletter.
 

Admissions Office
Yale School of Management
135 Prospect Street
Box 208200
New Haven, CT 06520-8200
203.432.5635, Admissions Office
203.432.6380, Visitor Center
fax 203.432.7004
mba.admissions@yale.edu