Donna Levinson:
Yes, we did receive many applications. Our latest MBA*** has 406 students, 50 of whom are from the Global Leadership in Operations (LGO) program, and the remaining 356 are two-year MBA students. In addition, women accounted for nearly 40% (39.4%). 60% are American students and 40% are international students. International students come from 60 different countries in the world, so their backgrounds are quite diverse. Students' work experience ranges from 0 to 12 years, with an average of about 5 years. Our students come from all walks of life, some from consulting industry, some from financial services industry and banks, but some from art industry. We also recruited entrepreneurs to start our own businesses. Everyone has a different background.
Yan Ting: Every school has its own inherent impression of the outside world, and these impressions are not always correct. Some people say that "MIT Si Long is mainly aimed at engineers who want to start their own businesses". What do you think of this impression? What do you think applicants will think when they hear the name of MIT Si Long School of Management?
Donna Levinson:
MIT Si Long is certainly a part of MIT. As far as students are concerned, people who succeed here have various backgrounds. Yes, people with science and engineering backgrounds will pay more attention to MIT, so they are more inclined to apply for our projects. But we didn't deliberately look for people with science and engineering backgrounds, not at all.
Yan Ting: You are also responsible for the enrollment of many other projects in Si Long. What's special about Si Long compared with other business schools?
Dawna Levenson: Now we are sitting in this coffee shop (Si Long Business School Coffee Shop) and see people from many different projects. In fact, you can get a bachelor's degree in Si Long. We also have a one-year master of finance program, a one-year management science program and a two-year MBA—— program, which is the largest and possibly the most famous project of Si Long School of Management. We also have a part-time EMBA program. In addition, there are Si Long researchers and doctoral programs. Many different projects will bring great benefits, that is, they will attract people with all kinds of experiences, so the discussion and socialization in class are quite rich and varied.
Yan Ting: Regarding the application, can you briefly summarize the application process first?
Donna Levinson:
Our application procedure is very simple and clear. We have made great efforts to standardize the application process, so the application process of other projects is basically the same. As far as MBA is concerned, two papers are needed. We also require resumes, and we provide resume templates for applicants. We need two professional letters of recommendation, as well as all the degree transcripts obtained. If you are an exchange student, we also want these results. In addition, GMAT or GRE is needed, but there is no longer any TOEFL requirement. Then we will review all the applications.
Yan Ting: Don't even non-native English speakers need TOEFL scores?
Donna Levinson:
No, because the next step after you submit your application is to be invited for an interview. This interview is face-to-face, and only when an interview invitation is received is this the necessary next step. We prefer to help us evaluate the English level of applicants through interviews.
Yan Ting: In the past, you asked applicants to submit a cover letter. Why didn't you ask them later?
Donna Levinson:
Yes, it is no longer needed. We are always trying to change, sometimes just because we want to try new methods. You know, we find that sometimes people's contents in their cover letters are a little repetitive with their short essays, which is very complicated. So we decided to eliminate it.
Yan Ting: What is the biggest change in the MBA application process this year?
Dawna Levenson: I think the biggest change is our second paper. Students who applied last year should remember that the title of our second composition last year was "Tell me about an experience when you walked out of your comfort zone." But this year, our second paper is to ask applicants to write a letter of recommendation for themselves, just as if they were their current references. The questions we ask in the recommendation letter are the same as those we ask the referees. This is very interesting and our team is very excited about this change.
Yan Ting: What is the reason behind this change?
Donna Levinson:
There are several factors. A simple factor is that we want to make this change to reflect the current industry dynamics. Nowadays, compared with the past, people need to evaluate themselves more and more in the workplace. In addition, the data we want to see, that is, the problem we designed, is actually the information required in our recommendation letter. We use this to judge whether the applicant has some qualities we are looking for. So we thought, why not let the applicant write a letter of recommendation for himself? I think this is a question that deserves our deep thought.
Yan Ting: It also helps you to evaluate the applicant's ability. I know that you have adopted a grading system when screening applicants. Are you still using this system?
Dawna Levenson: Yes, our whole admission procedure is based on a behavior model, through which we can find some abilities we want. Many years ago, we confirmed these four or five characteristics with consultants, which are reflected in many successful students and alumni. We design essays, letters of recommendation and interview questions to obtain data that can reflect these abilities. For example, leadership, we hope to find evidence of leadership ability, and we are also looking for evidence of relationship building ability. Here are just a few examples.
Yan Ting: What are the other features?
Donna Levinson:
In addition to leadership and the ability to build relationships, we also want to look for the characteristics of independent thinking ability, such as the ability to think in an eclectic way. Another point is the unremitting pursuit of goals, that is, the ability to set goals and consistently achieve them, even if you encounter various obstacles on the way to pursuit. Finally, the ability to innovate. You know, at the Si Long School of Management at MIT, we are always looking for people who pursue innovative ideas. These are the most important qualities to be evaluated.
Yan Ting: Interestingly, you didn't ask the applicant about his career goals and future plans. Why?
Donna Levinson:
We found that students of two-year MBA came to see us, got to know many people, and found and learned about other opportunities in all walks of life, so that most people changed their minds. So what determines your success here is not your professional interest, but the quality we mentioned before. Those are the real key indicators to see whether a person can succeed.
Yan Ting: So how do you evaluate the potential of the applicant?
Donna Levinson:
We believe that past performance is the best indicator of future success. Our work is also based on this. We look for evidence from your past experience to prove your ability to build relationships. This is a good example, because it is very important to us. Counseling, team building, teaching and training, if these are what you are good at in the past three years, then these qualities will not disappear with time, and it is very likely that you will continue to move in this direction.
Yan Ting: In the application package, you received many things: various data, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities and personal essays. How does each piece of information work together?
Donna Levinson:
No part is necessarily more important than another part. We will refer to each part of the application and read specific data from it. We actually evaluate the applications we receive from two aspects. One is what we call "proven success" and the other is "personal attribution". Recognized success includes your achievements at work, your GMAT or GRE scores and your GPA. A lot of this information is revealed by individuals, some from your resume and some from your recommendation letter. On the other hand, we are looking for what we call "personal attributes", which are exactly what we mentioned before: leadership, relationship building ability and so on.
Yan Ting: What are the common mistakes that applicants need to avoid?
Donna Levinson:
A common mistake or challenge is that applicants often struggle to use "we" or "I" in their documents. On the one hand, we would like to know what the applicant has done as an individual. On the other hand, we also want to know whether the applicant has good cooperation with the team. Therefore, it is very important to find the balance between "we" and "I" in the article. In addition, we encourage people to comply with our application requirements. For example, we have a word limit, so you need to make sure you are within the word limit. In addition, we only ask for two letters of recommendation, and we are sure that everyone can get five letters of recommendation if they want. You know, we don't advise applicants not to follow the requirements of the application guide. We understand that everyone wants to be different, but some ways to be different are right, while others are not.
Yan Ting: Every decision you make may change a person's life. Do you sometimes have to make difficult decisions?
Donna Levinson:
We realized that, as you said, what we did changed our destiny. I actually like this very much, and I often remind everyone in our office, especially those who read the application materials, about this. Because it can really change a person's fate. I am honored that my job allows me to call others and tell them that I have been accepted by MIT Si Long. But sometimes this kind of dialogue is difficult, for example, telling them that this is not the best place for them, and we can't accept them yet. These are all part of my job, and I enjoy it more than others. Of course, I also realize that it has two sides.
Yan Ting: Some people have been rejected, but they can apply for a second chance.
Donna Levinson:
Yes, that's right. We encourage people to apply again. Those who applied again did very well in our program. This is an extremely competitive place. There may be no seats for some people here for the time being, but there may be some people who have improved their resumes in the past few years to improve their qualifications. Re-applying is undoubtedly a demonstration of one's perseverance. It embodies a person's pursuit of goals, even if he doesn't succeed at first time, he won't give up. So we did admit some people who applied again, and they all performed very well in our project.
Yan Ting: What are the common reasons why you put applicants on the waiting list? What do they need to do to be admitted?
Donna Levinson:
We encourage people on the waiting list to inform us of any new situation during the opening window. This does not mean that they need to email us every day, but when something important happens, such as their promotion or job change, please email us and we will add the information to your file.
Yan Ting: What's your general impression of the applicants and students in China?
Donna Levinson:
We receive a large number of applications from China every year, and the scale is very considerable. We have just passed the deadline of the first round, and we have received many applications this time. The class we want to build is a very diversified international class. The students from China all performed well. We are glad to see more applicants from China.
Yan Ting: How did you interview China students?
Donna Levinson:
Speaking of interviews, we go all over the world. So we will also go to China, Beijing or Shanghai, depending on the number of interviews. Personally, I think the first duty of an interviewer is to make the candidates feel relaxed, because this is mainly to get to know another person. I interviewed many applicants from China, and they all did well.
Yan Ting: Do you have any specific suggestions for China applicants?
No, my advice is the same for everyone. Be yourself and spend some time on the application. The interview was Si Long's first impression of you. Try your best to get in touch with us and get to know us through the activities we hold in your country, or you have the opportunity to visit the school directly.
Yan Ting: From an industry perspective, did MBA education change before and after the financial crisis?
Donna Levinson:
We have observed that many people's interest in seeking career development in the financial industry has dropped significantly. We have students in the financial industry, but many people want to change careers.
Yan Ting: Speaking of changing careers, you have been consulting for Accenture for 18 years, but you decided to change careers and go to a brand-new field. Why did you make such a decision? What advice do you have for others who want to change careers?
Donna Levinson:
Yes, this question is very interesting. I understand why many people think this is a big career change. But for me, I don't think there is much change in doing what I find interesting according to my own advantages. I know that at some point I will leave Accenture to do something else. In fact, I knew for a long time that I wanted to work in an academic environment, and I always wanted to go back to the university campus. So when I left Accenture and started working at MIT, my goal was clear. I think I have some skills that can easily change fields. I learned a lot in Accenture, about project management and business development, personal development, interpersonal relationship management and so on. I still continue to rely on these skills in my daily work. So it makes no difference. Another thing I want to mention is that I find that I like being in a very strong cultural atmosphere, whether in Accenture or MIT Si Long School of Management. They all have strong cultures, and I really want to be one of them.
Yan Ting: Do you have any advice for MIT Si Long and others who are planning to change their careers?
Donna Levinson:
It's easier said than done. Now that I have completed my career change, it's easier to say. I mean, follow your instincts. Find out what you are good at, what you are interested in, where you need this ability, and the combination of the three. Concentrate on this point and fight for it, and you will find your next career. This is exactly where I am now. Frankly speaking, five years ago, it was hard for me to imagine who I am today. Now I am lucky to be who I am today. I also support others to make similar career choices in their lives.