Applying for MBA essay Yale University

1.Please discuss the principle elements of your educational and work experience to date. Describe your specific career objectives as a professional manager(three to five pages, double-spaced)

Since I had worked in the xxx product department of xxx, established by my deceased father, the yearly income was $xx million in 19xx and in the top 10 rank in Korea, my major problem was a lack of knowledge in Finance and Management. Upon graduation from undergraduate studies, I was employed in the Management Planning Team. Because I did not have the background in business administration from majoring in English Literature in undergraduate, I realized the
difficulty in grasping the concept of general company matters, marketing analysis, and setting up the short and long-term marketing plan. When I participated in the future development of xxx and sales project for 10 months that began in February 19xx, I realized that I was incapable of successfully performing my duties as an
Assistant Manager with 8 staff members for a project in which the company heavily depended upon. It was then that I had realized what special talent was needed to become a successful manager. For instance, while analyzing xxx, xxx’s technological advantage and marketing strategies, I realized the importance of learning Marketing Research and Strategy. I also realized the importance of Financial Management and Corporate Financial Policies when planning sales and marketing strategies for the future sales of xxx and strategies for increasing our market.

Through these experiences, I became strongly motivated to applying to your college.Upon graduation from Yale, I plan to be the most
representative person at xxx by learning and applying the strategies of these large growing global corporations in the United States., and if possible I would like to analyze our competitors, xxx and xxx. I would also like to have experience with the U.S. market and its’ customer characteristics in preparation for future plan of xxx to set up xxx subsidiaries in the United States. I plan to work for 5 years at xxx after graduation from Yale, by improving xxx so that it will rank second to xxx. My long-term goal is to be able to challenge the CEO’s of the top 5 ranking companies in Korea, such as Hyundai of Korea. In addition, to achieve my goals, I plan to earn the CFA certification upon my MBA studies. Armed with the CFA certification and Top School’s International bent, strength in finance and management training, I will be ready to place that call to the trader in China, conduct a teleconference with xxx corporation in Tokyo, and visit the CFO in America.

2.Please describe your learning goals in the MBA program. Discuss the value of the MBA education as applied to your career plans(one to two, double-spaced)

By selecting courses in my major such as management strategy, finance, and entrepreneurship, I intend to establish a firm and fundamental framework of business management knowledge that is essential to my carrer. And if possible, I will obtain summer internships at McKinsey and A.T. Kearney while enrolled at Yale, and attempt to gain an understanding of U.S. corporate culture, which will be essential to my international experience. If I am given the opportunity, I would like to study Corporate Finance and Financial Strategy. In my situation that I should come back to the xxx which was established by my deceased father and join the management team, without the knowledge of finance, I could not successfully manage the company and be an incompetent businessman. I would like to focus my studies #p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#
on subjects relating to Entrepreneurship and Marketing. I believe that I am qualified to be competitive among your students because I have earned a certificate of Accounting and Finance, sponsored by the xxx.

Along with this basic background, I am currently studying Finance as a graduate student at the xxx University Business School. Yale is my top choice for three main reasons. First of all, I would like to get engaged in the studies as to Strategy and Finance. In particular, I want to explore the comprehensive details about the strategic consulting through such subjects as Entrepreneurship and Corporate Finance. To the best of my knowledge, Yale SOM is academically strong enough be called 'International Center for Finance' particularly in the field of finance. Second reason is the many advantages that can be offered from the location of your school, with worldwide competitive corporations gathered in New York and Boston.
Third, I am planning to pursue the CFA in 2002 based on the knowledge related to the corporate finance, valuation and investment, and investment management that I will learn from Yale. I strongly believe that this certificate will enhance the credibility of my potential carrer to great extent.

Essay 3: Optional Is there any information not presented elsewhere in the application or any aspect of your credentials that needs an explanation to help the Admissions Committee understand your candidacy?

I would like to explain why I want to transfer to your school from xxx University which I am currently attending. First, the primary reason is the importance of alumni association in which the school advocates. I believe that close interpersonal relationship and networking will serve as the basis for practical business in the future. My colleagues and I will be able to learn the importance of cooperation in supportive environment that Yale will provide. For the past few months I have been in the U.S. with few connections, I realized the importance of a strong supportive alumni association. For instance, if an alumni association of Yale in Korea proves to be weak in the future, I believe that it can be a downside in proving my talents and in taking the advantage of networking as a businessman.

For this reason, I made it necessity to transfer to a university in the Top 20 ranking. Secondly, Yale will enable me take the opportunity of its’ location. Due to the location of xxx University in a rural place, I am having a difficult time in experiencing the American culture. I would like to learn about American corporations that are located in the city and this will enable me to get a better grasp of the American market. With this knowledge, I believe that I can successfully apply it to xxx in xxx’s diverseness in customer characteristics. I would like to transfer to your university because of the opportunities that I can take from its location in the city because I realize that I cannot combine class time and individual studies from the xxx University, which is x hours away from the city. #p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#
Thank You.

 

UCLA
Hong, Kil Dong

1. Please provide us with a summary of your personal and family background. Include information about where you grew up, your parents, your siblings, and perhaps a highlight or special memory of your youth.

One of the special memories of my youth dates back to 17 years ago. Four siblings of us were living relatively affluent lives thanks to our parents who had very respectful and well-paid jobs: my father was a judge and my mother, a pharmacist. However, as my maternal grandfather’s business, which my mother stood guarantee for, went bankrupt, we faced a crucial crisis. The creditors created a series of commotion at our house for almost everyday. We had to square the debts by disposing the whole of our fortune and subsequently had to move to a small and shabby place. My father heartily consoled my mother who reproached herself for all the mishaps. And he also told his children, who were having difficulties adapting themselves to the circumstances totally different from the ones they had in the past, that the crisis we were undergoing was only one of the many challenges we would have to face in the course of our lives. This financial crisis eventually forced my father to quit working as a judge and he had no choice but to practice law in order to stabilize our family’s finance. Despite his financial difficulties, my father never gave up living up to his own motto, “A life with justice and volunteering”.

He not only provided free legal services to the poor and the powerless but also continued to offer donations to xxx (an institution for the disabled) which was a shock to me when I first visited. Having compared myself with those disabled people, I came to realize that my life was so blessed that I should be living with more passion and effort. From that day on, I volunteered with my father to take care of the disabled children every weekend. My father’s confident way of life gave our siblings great courage. We began to work part time in order to help our parents. My sisters, who had extraordinary talents in music, tutored young children in piano and violin. My brother and I worked at carwash and delivered newspapers. We kept saving money in a siblings’ savings account. After a few years of united family efforts, we were able to move into a new and better place. I would never forget the emotional sensations and delights we felt and shared at that moment. My siblings and I spent a part of money we saved on decorating the front yard of the new house and donated the rest of the money to xxx.

After a long time, my brother became a lawyer. He serves as a key member of the Association of the Lawyers who care for the Human rights, a non-governmental organization composed of lawyers that actively seek to enhance social welfare and justice amongst the underprivileged. His continuous and active participation in these social activities despite his hectic life schedule as a practicing lawyer demonstrates to me his enthusiasm for acting on his own convictions. His enthusiasm has inspired me to act on my own beliefs. One of my sisters became a physician and the other, a broadcasting writer. Both of them are leading passionate lives at present. My family has shaped my beliefs and actions in profound ways. From my family’s never-ending practice, I have learned the courage to fight against the hardship as well as the generosity to help the underprivileged people. I truly love and respect all members of my family. Given the chance, I hope to show to my future classmates of Anderson, the perseverance and the sense of sacrifice for others that I have learned from my family. #p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

2. Discuss a situation, preferably work related, where you have taken a significant leadership role. How do this event demonstrate your managerial potential?

I believe the primary element of a leadership is to build confidence from the associates. In addition, I believe that this confidence is possible when there is professionalism, passion and a clear vision of the future about the assigned duty. My confidence in the leadership was achieved through a project on the merger of xxx and our company xxx in which I participated for 3 months in 19xx.
As a leader of one of the 5 loan-evaluation teams to inspect the bad loan section of xxx, I conducted a research on the actual status of the loan of xxx. As a result of a meeting for the conclusion after the research, 4 leaders, except me, turned out to be against the merger. That’s because there was too much risk involved in the poor loan of xxx. For the 3 months, I worked on average over 100 hours a week, researching every inch the loan companies of xxx.

Because I had confidence on the successful outcome of the merger based on my research, I proposed an additional meeting. In this meeting, I emphasized two factors. First, there is huge possibility for the poor loan of xxx to be transferred into a high grade loan assets within 2~3 years because the Korean economy is getting back on the right track with rapidity out of the IMF regime. Secondly, xxx is relatively vulnerable where xxx is strong in terms of market share. Therefore, xxx has a good chance to revive through the maximization of the synergy effect. The research leaders and executives encouraged by my argument based on comprehensive research decided to take over xxx in the long run. After a year of restructuring, the poor loan has recovered to great extent as I expected. In this context, the merger was considered successful. Throughout the experience, I was able to refine and prove my leadership skills, particularly in leading the participation of my colleagues by suggesting a clear vision for the future based on in-depth research and analysis. I believe that my leadership skills will continue to improve and will in the end enable me to serve as an effective manager in the future.

3. Discuss your career goals and why you want an MBA, particularly at this point in your career. Why, specifically, are you applying to the Anderson School?

My long-term career goal is to establish a consulting firm offering integrated services for small to mid-sized companies in Asian countries such as Korea and China. In Korea, they currently accounted for over 60% of national GDP. However, their management skills and business approach are rather unsophisticated. I want to offer them integrated services that would cover major aspects of their needs especially in strategy development and financial infrastructure. I will contribute not only to their growth, but help them attain management expertise to compete with bigger and richer companies. In 19xx, I chose the xxx Company, a high-performing affiliate of the $xx billion of the Korean conglomerate, as my first career step out of college in order to broaden my professional capabilities in corporate finance and to obtain a more comprehensive understanding on the actual business organization.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

I majored in the field of philosophy in college and volunteered for the ‘Intensive Course on Financial Management’ from xxx after entering the firm in order to develop my inadequate knowledge related to the field of financial affairs. In effect, I completed 6 basic subjects such as Financial Reporting, Financial Statement Analysis and Capital Budgeting in full-time during 4 months. My experiences at the Loan Team and the Credit Analysis Team during the first 3 years provided me with skills in corporate analysis and evaluation, an understanding of corporate financial structure, and a professional knowledge of Korea’s financial industry. During the next one year, I have also gained knowledge on various functions, ranging from corporate vision development to management system control at the Business Administration Team. However, while I have had the hands-on experiences in the real business world, I believe a more structured training to complement my real-world experiences at this point in my career will enable me to advance into a more sophisticated level of thinking. I am convinced that I will be able to cultivate my consulting foundation through an MBA program.

By selecting courses for my major such as management strategy, finance, and entrepreneurship, I intend to establish a solid and fundamental framework of business management knowledge that is essential to a consultant. Aside from gaining theoretical business knowledge from an MBA, I would like to form a long-lasting relationship with my future classmates with whom I can provide help as well as receive support. When I establish my consulting firm, the international networks that would have formed during the MBA courses will help me reach potential clients, share knowledge, join partnerships and exchange our resources. I'm very attracted to Anderson School for its well-deserved reputation in entrepreneurship. I learned that Anderson School offers many extracurricular activities for entrepreneurial students through the Harold Price Center of Entrepreneurial Studies. I would like to have chances to advance the theory and practice of entrepreneurship to make my future clients successful. Another reason I apply for Anderson is a wide range of opportunities with reference to geographic advantages of Los Angeles, one of the biggest international cities. I will make vigorous efforts to become a substantial leader in international arena in the upcoming 21st century by developing global business perspectives at Anderson.

Upon graduation from the Anderson School, I would like to work for an international consulting company such as McKinsey, BCG or A.T.Kearney as a management consultant in order to develop more diverse experiences before I venture out to set up a consulting company. Based on my current experiences and the potential knowledge obtained at Anderson as well as the professional consulting firms, I will be able to achieve my long-term goal of establishing a consulting company for the small to mid-sized enterprises of Korea and other Asian countries within 10 years to come. #p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

4. Describe your most significant personal accomplishments to date, explaining why you view it as such.

My most significant personal achievement was the contribution to the successful establishment of a night school when I was a college student. Because I was interested in minority rights, social injustice and other social issues, I joined the ideology-focused student movements after entering the xxx University. After a while, however, I realized that these movements could not grant real support to those who were suffering from the pain. I changed my personal interest into the solution of the practical social problems. My congenial friends and I tried every effort to find out something we could do in an underprivileged region of Seoul. We soon realized that most of the students in the region, aged 13 to 17, could not attend school at all because they had to earn money to support their families or because of their parent’s objections and disinterest in their children’s education. We decided to offer a more comprehensive educational program in place of regular schooling to provide the essential education in a more personal setting.

I was responsible for recruiting more teachers and soliciting donations, while others recruited students and developed various contents of the programs. Owing to two years of our personal sacrifice, this institute named 'xxx' built strong reputation as a secondary educational institution within the community. This night school in which I am participating as a counselor has developed into one of the biggest institutes among the night schools run by college students. I was able to learn leadership and the way to manage an organization by solving a lot of problems originated during the process of establishment and management of the school. I was also able to mature myself in terms of humanity by working together with teen-agers from underprivileged environments. Above all, I am most proud that I was able to serve as an inspiration to the underprivileged people in terms of hope and courage.

 

 

Hong, Kil Dong
Applying for MBA
Berkeley -Haas

"The unexamined life is not worth living." - Socrates, The Apology by Plato
1. In light of the above quotation, please discuss a decision you have made which, in retrospect, has had a profound influence on your present circumstances. In hindsight, would you have made a different decision? Please explain. (500 words minimum ; no maximum length.)

When I was recognized as ‘the employee of the year’ in the department of trade in 19xx at xxx. thanks to the affirmative introduction of the position skill, my colleagues took my potential success as a trader for granted. Thus, the interview with the general manager for the transfer to the new field to which I had never been before was a great shock to my fellow workers. When I got the proposal of scout from international marketing team, a brand-new department in xxx, I considered which factor would be more favorable to my potential career among good success as a trader, high annual salary, and the acquisition of knowledge on the field of international market analysis. #p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#
I am a kind of risk-taker based on the rational calculation on the side of the so-called ‘Frontierism’. The sense of challenge as a risk taker rather than simple decision-making such as ‘High risk, High return’ serves as basis for my decision-making procedure. Since the international marketing team, a brand-new department in xxx was so risky due to no base for every task that they assessed my analysis ability and experience that I had obtained in the process of task as a analyst would be essential element for the establishment and management of specialized trading firm, my long-term goal.

In return, my role as an analyst was successful. Due to vigorous efforts of my colleagues and I, it was possible to introduce the business policies of xxx and xxx into the mainstream of business policy of xxx. In this regard, I am proud of its crucial role of decision-making procedure in terms of business policy. As far as I am concerned, the sense of challenge is the first step toward the achievement of all. As presigious historian Arnold Toynbee addressed, “ The history has been formed through the challenges and its responses”, the challenges and responses have served as the most important criteria for my decision-making. In retrospect, I overlooked many internal risks even though I tried various risk hedges as many as possible. To be more than honest, I carried out the task many times without recognizing such factors. Despite the successful career development up to now, I realized that there is a plausibility that my challenge may turn out a failure without in-depth academic achievement. A wide variety of curriculum in Hass that tries to link various fields such as accounting, finance, production, marketing, human resource management will help me get rid of many possible fallacies in decision-making process in the long term. This is one of the main reasons why I apply for Hass.

2. Please discuss your intermediate and long-term professional goals and why you want an MBA at this point in your career. In what ways do you think an MBA degree will help you to achieve these goals? What do you want from an MBA program and why have you chosen the Haas School? (500-750 words)

In 2007, I might be in the middle of wrestle with my brain in terms of purchasing conditions such as local buyer, price, and market in the Bulk cargo-trading firm. I might have to decide how the change in the market will happen and also how the decision-making procedure should vary. My short-term goal is to conduct the business as a trading manager who can analyze current situation of market, grasp the tendency of future, and make accurate decision as well as to maintain and develop the flow of efficient business with all the partners in East Asia including Korea. My long-term goal is to establish a professional trading company, introducing new selling technique based on a cutting-edge mechanism such as Internet Web Site. Highly necessary is the professional knowledge in the sense that I will have to learn through the curriculums of UC Berkely such as marketing research, international marketing, integrated marketing communications. To the best of my belief, I am confident that my experience for the past 5 years will serves as great help achieving my goal.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

During the xxx Company, I learned the technique such as bridge loan, project finance, and risk hedge in the field of international finance as well as international marketing utilizing positioning in the field of international trade. In addition, I have analyzed the market price and the factors of demand fluctuation such as exchange rate occurred in international deal and the oil price. While working at xxx for about x years, I have improved my capability to conduct business based on a rational decision through my main work of the collecting and analyzing the market data. I learned the role as a member of our team and a coordinator in the sense that we can create synergy effect that might go beyond each and every one's ability based on the teamwork. I chose UC Berkely for the following reasons:
First, small-scale classroom and small group interactions that UC Berkely provides are the primary reason why I apply for. My colleagues and I will be able to learn the importance of cooperation in supportive environment that UC Berkely will provide. Moreover, a variety of ethnicity of my colleagues will enhance my global perspective. Secondly, UC Berkely will help me achieve a series of processes such as strategic pursuing, negotiation skill, finalizing business deals with the limited data in an efficient manner. Third, the program of UC Berkely will serve as a decisive role in cultivating leadership in terms of the role not only as a manager on the spot in the short term, but also a leader in the establishment of a trading firm in the long term.

 

Hong, Kil Dong
Applying for MBA
University of Michigan

1. What has been your most significant professional achievement?What has been your toughest professional challenge and how did you address it?(500 words)

After graduation in 19xx, I was granted job offers from big 4 enterprises including xxx. Nevertheless, I entered the xxx, one of the leading companies in Korea in the field of international marketing. I was stationed at the export department in charge of xxx. During that time, the trading companies in Korea were in the middle of making research on availability of the so-called ‘positioning’ technique. That is, it was related to the prediction of the market tendency of the cargo to sell and purchase in timely manner.

Despite the mandatory period of time for about 3-4 years to become a person in charge of one item in the trade department, I have visited xxx, xxx in Japan in order to check the data after I had worked for three months. That’s because I was highly recognized for my outstanding ability to conduct the business for standardized price variable and controls over the exchange rate fluctuation in order to reach the rational conclusion in an objective manner when I made a decision on the international oil price fluctuation and announced the research on the case of position deal such as xxx and xxx, which are the materials of xxx. After all, it became to be a source of research in the company.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

Based on my outstanding job performance, I was officially appointed as a person in charge of exporting the cargo of xxx, xxx whose annual turnover came up to x million dollars on the average. As a result, we were placed at the top in terms of sales in Korea because the sales in xxx sector revealed the increase of xxx% in 19xx compared to that of last year. In addition, the net profit has been increased around xxx %, compared to that of last year after I took in charge of this sector. Therefore, I became the main source of jealousy from my seniors and fellow workers. In addition, on May in 19xx, we were awarded about x million dollars worth of Tender under my supervision, which xxx Authority under xxx Government started in the process as World bank loan was made, beating 17 companies such as xxx, xxx and Japanese companies.

Therefore, I was selected as the employer of the year in the trade department by achieving net profit of about xxx$ by delivering pre-positioned cargo from domestic industries.
When I was recognized as ‘the employee of the year’ in the department of trade in 19xx at xxx. thanks to the affirmative introduction of the position skill, my colleagues took my potential success as a trader for granted. Thus, the interview with the general manager for the transfer to the new field to which I had never been before was a great shock to my fellow workers. When I got the proposal of scout from international marketing team, a brand-new department in xxx, I considered Which factor would be more favorable to my potential career among good success as a trader, high annual salary, and the acquisition of knowledge on the field of international market analysis.

I am a kind of risk-taker based on the rational calculation on the side of the so-called ‘Frontierism’. The sense of challenge as a risk taker rather than simple decision-making such as ‘High risk, High return’ serves as basis for my decision-making procedure. Since the international marketing team, a brand-new department in xxx was so risky due to no base for every task, I assessed my analysis ability and experience that I had obtained in the process of task as an analyst would be essential element for the establishment and management of specialized trading firm, my long-term goal. In return, my role as an analyst was successful. Due to vigorous efforts of my colleagues and me, it was possible to introduce the business policies of xxx and xxx into the mainstream of business policy of xxx. In this regard, I am proud of its crucial role of decision-making procedure in terms of business policy.

2. Describe your post-graduation career plans. How you’re your education,experience,and development to date support those plans? How will an MBA from the University of Michigan Business School help you attain your goals? (500 words)

In 2007, I might be in the middle of wrestle with my brain in terms of purchasing conditions such as local buyer, price, and market in the Bulk cargo-trading firm. I might have to decide how the change in the market will happen and also how the decision-making procedure should vary. My short-term goal is to conduct the business as a trading manager who can analyze current situation of market, grasp the tendency of future, and make accurate decision as well as to maintain and develop the flow of efficient business with all the partners in East Asia including Korea. My long-term goal is to establish a professional trading company, introducing new selling technique based on a cutting-edge mechanism such as Internet Web Site. #p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#
To the best of my belief, I am confident that my experience for the past 5 years will serves as great help achieving my goal. During the xxx, I learned the technique such as bridge loan, project finance, and risk hedge in the field of international finance as well as international marketing utilizing positioning in the field of international trade.

In addition, I have analyzed the market price and the factors of demand fluctuation such as exchange rate occurred in international deal and the oil price. In terms of international business, a variety of skills in reference to the management skill and negotiation skill as well as global way of thinking obtained in the xxx Seminar held in xxx in April 19xx will be great basis for the potential and quality in the upcoming future.
Since the January of 19xx, I have been in charge of collecting and analyzing the data on the Asian xxx market for the most part for 3 years, moving into the department of international marketing, which was newly built in xxx. During that time, I was able to enhance the capability related to the decision- making procedure through data analysis and the establishment of follow-up measures.

Meanwhile, I helped the executives, who were stuck on the concept of traditional decision-making procedures, face the changes in business environment more positively by serving up continuous analysis on the business policy of advanced companies such as xxx, xxx, which were world leading companies. While working at xxx for about 3 years, I have improved my capability to conduct business based on a rational decision through my main work of the collecting and analyzing the market data. I learned the role as a member of our team and a coordinator in the sense that we can create synergy effect that might go beyond each and every one’s ability based on the teamwork.
It is clear that only those who possess the well-balanced capability both in academic and practical context along with accurate prospect for the future are likely to survive in the sharp whirlpool of future economy. Along with the necessity of lifelong education, the rapid change in the environmental factors in worldwide economy, as you might see in the IMF economic crisis in Korea at the end of 1997, expedites my desire for the pursuit of MBA program. Based on this decision, I chose University of Michigan for the following reasons:

First, small-scale classroom and small group interactions that University of Michigan provides is the primary reason why I apply for. I will be able to learn the process of reaching the conclusion with reference to the specific theme based on the close interpersonal relationship with classmates and faculty at your school. In addition, the process that I will have learned at your class will serve as the basis for practical business in the future. My colleagues and I will be able to learn the importance of cooperation in supportive environment that University of Michigan will provide. Moreover, a variety of ethnicity of my colleagues will enhance my global perspective. #p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#
Secondly, University of Michigan will help me achieve a series of processes such as strategic pursuing, negotiation skill, finalizing business deals with the limited data in an efficient manner.

In this context, I believe it will be great basis to establish and manage a trading company, which is my long-term aspiration. Besides, I am confident that case-base approach, team & field project, and computer simulations that University of Michigan provides will serve up highly efficient standards in terms of the solution to the problem in actual business practice.
Third, the program of University of Michigan will serve as a decisive role in cultivating leadership in terms of the role not only as a manager on the spot in the short term, but also a leader in the establishment of a trading firm in the long term. I strongly believe that it is quite clear when it comes to every single achievement of graduates of University of Michigan in each company.

3. Describe a failure or setback in your life.How did you overcome this setback?What,if anything,would you do differently if confronted with this situation again?(500 words)

On December 7th in 19xx, I had serious conflicts with a general manager in our department as hard as I should consider the resignation as a last option when our vessel heading for the xxx with x million dollar’s worth of xxx was caught on the rock. Through this experience, I realized the important fact that the role of leader is basically the coordination of the group rather than the implementation for the purpose of obedience. In this case, I also experienced the fact that leadership is derived from the fairest judgment by collecting and analyzing information after the accurate evaluation of the situation. At that time, I had conflicts with my general manager in terms of the benefit in the future and the cost at the present. This experience put me into an ethical dilemma between the ethical responsibility of the company and the pursuit of interest.

During that time, the team head and I had conflicts in various aspects such as potential gain, present loss, the commitment to the integrity in terms of contracts. The net profit in a xxx trading was about xxx$ worth, whereas it required xxx$ worth of expense to pay for the repair in place of missing ship owner after declaring general average. In the situation in which there was more possibility for ship owner to declare bankruptcy, I powerfully insisted on managing all business in the burden of our company because I judged that there was grand anxiety to lose long-term customers and moral commitment to conduct the contract with due integrity if we spent more time. General manager, however, avoided making a decision which could serve as major damage in his career. Therefore he was wasting lots of time by ignoring my opinion although I was in charge of the matter.

As a consequence, we were able to deliver the xxx to the buyer in xxx after refilling the vessel under the instruction of the boss who recognized the seriousness of situation through the interview with me around 5 months later. Since then, however, Buyer in xxx got our firm to disqualify in the same bid in 19xx, which produced serious conflicts as to who was to blame inside the firm. It is self-evident fact that the enterprise is in pursuit of its interest. Therefore, the team head has good reason to emphasize the aspect of Profit & Cost in decision-making process. Yet, it is much more important to enhance the credibility in the long term and secure the long-term contractors by accomplishing the commitment rather than pursue the short-term profit. That is the main lesson that I obtained from this case. No matter what is big or small problem, we are always in the situation where to find out the solution, and meet a great turning point in life by what decision we make. I found the important lesson from this case in the sense that the decision was not performed by the same fixed standard in every situation. In addition, it required accurate judgment of situation, the rational assessment of one’s own capability, and the bold determination for the purpose of more desirable decision-making procedure. #p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

4-b.What ’s the most creative solution to a problem or situation you ’ve ever developed?(500 words)

Many contingent problems arise in the process of making contract and delivery in international trade. Sometimes, additional terms and conditions, which were not part of original contract, are inevitably added and various unacceptable demands are requested later on. Once, I contacted buyer to make confirmation about the vessel chartering in order to deliver the xxx to the xxx in April 19xx. At that time, the chartered ship was made in Korea, meeting every single condition required in the contract. That’s why I thought there would be no problem in getting confirmation. Out of the blue, however, the buyer suspected the quality of Korean ship and asked for xxx ship as a substitute, denying the vessel confirmation. As a result of investigation on the buyer through various sources, some importers in xxx experienced the damage in cargo transported by Korean ship. Therefore, the buyer didn’t seem to trust the quality of Korean ship and the technology of shipbuilding in Korea. Rather he argued that he would reject the vessel confirmation on a continual basis as long as we wouldn’t transport the cargo by xxx ship. Moreover, the buyer seemed to make claims as a last option. In effect, in the vicinity of Korea, there was no xxx ship that could meet the xxx of delivery during that time.

Korea has been competing with Japan for the top in terms of the number of shipbuilding contracts, which means the competitiveness in price and the technology of shipbuilding in Korea is in the realm of the top-notch quality. As far as my conviction goes, it was a hidden intention of coming down the cost of contract to suspect the technology of shipbuilding in Korea. I sent to the buyer the data on the number of shipbuilding contracts in Korea as of 19xx, the table comparing the figure of Japan with that of Korea, and 500 won worth of Korean bill in the 1960’s. In addition, I accounted for the meaning of ‘Geobookseon’ (turtle ship) portrayed on the bill in the sense that it was the first and foremost steel ship in the world designed by the General Lee, Soon-Shin when Japan invaded Korea in 16th century. In addition, Korea was able to get the better of Japan thanks to the ‘Geobookseon’ (turtle ship). Based on my further explanation, the buyer was impressed by the early development of the shipbuilding technology in Korea. Therefore, he faxed me that he would confirm the Korean ship. The lesson that I obtained in this case is that creative idea rather than accurate figures or specific data could serve as much better solution to the problem from time to time.
 

 

Name of Applicant: Hong, Kil Dong
Applying for MBA degree
Harvard Business School

Essay 1.Please describe three different leadership experiences that have been significant for your. (600 words)

The best leadership that I want to point out as a primary one is the leadership without any price and the leadership of pure service. In fact, I personally exercised this sort of leadership in the small island to the northern part of Korean peninsula, xxx. The island, where I was supposed to serve as of May 19xx according to the regulation of Korean government as an alternative to a military service, was a traditional society stuck in the traditional sense of value and ruled by the senior citizen apart from the modernized urban life. As far as I am concerned, it was a backwater duty for the first time in my life. My original mission in this island in the first place was to cure light diseases or injuries and prevent epidemics in the region. I came to be, however, one of leaders in the community regardless of my intention over time. As a matter of fact, it was a relatively small community where the number of college graduates was nothing but ten personnel and small office was supposed to take care of almost all the affairs happening in the community.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

Just because I graduated from the xxx, made a good reason for being classified into a celebrity or considered as some kind of genius. Apart from the medical treatment, I played a vital role of a consultant with regard to a variety of personal problems as well as the community matters in the island. In effect, I was cordially invited to every single event happening in the community such as Korean traditional Thanksgiving Day and collective conference in the village. After 6 months of residence in the island, I came to be one of the best consultants who are supposed to give advice or make comments on a wide range of matters that inhabitants in the island might have. What was the primary reason the residents in the island put me up to the position of a leader accepting most of advice from me almost one hundred percent? To the best of my belief and knowledge, I guess I took a part of a volunteer providing service, not seeking any price for the service at all. In other words, my position and my behavior that required disinterestedness and neutral attitude towards the residents in the island basically enabled me to become a leader of them. As a result, I was able to learn a significant lesson that 'The real leader should be generous about the members of the team' and 'The leader should be impartial.' from the experience in the island for about a year.

The second lesson that I learned from my own experience in terms of leadership was 'The leader should be humanitarian enough to embrace the subordinates.' In particular, I have realized that it is critically necessary for the leader to control the older person who is under his or her supervision. When I work as a medical director in the xxx Korea for x years, I worked with eight fellow workers under my control as a team. Among them, there were three personnel older than I in the light of age including a research fellow even older than me by 15 years. In fact, they were highly qualified experts in their field. No wonder each and every one of them obtained at least master's degree in the field of medicine or basic science with a high self-esteem although they were relatively late for the promotion compared to my case. After I was appointed as a medical director, I absorbed myself in the studies on their inclination in the first place. As a result, I was able to come to the concrete conclusion that I need to employ a humane interaction and conversation with them rather than a unilateral command.

According to the conclusion, the first policy that I exercised was to hold a regular meeting in the restaurant near the company every Friday night. In the meeting for two or three hours along with dinner, we were able to have a conversation over everything including our privacy, let alone the topic related to the company. In particular, the senior staffs were somewhat skeptical about the outcome of this meeting in the beginning. My recommendation and serious attitude towards the meeting, however, increased the number of members in the meeting on a gradual basis. The existence of the regular meeting served as the main source of maintaining good atmosphere of our team, eliminating every possible conflict within members and compromising our interests in the team. With reference to the complaints and the policy of the company, I made vigorous efforts to the implementation of agreements made in the meeting. Accordingly, the team members were generally favorable to my endeavor and enforcement in most cases.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

On the other hand, the president of xxx Korea from overseas did not seem to understand my attitude from time to time. For example, I took myself to the rural area through 10 hours of driving in order to visit the funeral of the father of one of my colleagues and got back to the work even at dawn. As such, I was able to lead the team without any big trouble through the efforts to understand the counterpart on a humanitarian basis. I have realized the third pillar of the leadership through the ordinary philosophy that 'The leader should take the initiative.' When I applied for the position of salesperson in xxx Korea February 19xx, most of the personnel in the company including the president were casting doubts on my success as a salesperson. More than that, even my colleagues tried to leave me left out because I used to be a medical doctor, which didn't fit for the position. The principle that I chose during that time was ' Set a good example for others. Try my best twice as hard as others do.' Based on this principle, I firmly set my working hours from seven to nine on a daily basis. Accordingly, I kept my hands full for 14 hours a day for six months.

In return, I achieved the 210% of accomplishment compared to the original objective and eventually received a promotion as a reward for my achievement. In this regard, I was able to realize the fact that I should work twice as much as others do in order to be a real leader. Unlike the supervisor checking in the office later than the subordinates or the leader just pushing their proteges to work hard, I believe that the virtue of the leader is to set a good example for the subordinates in order to obtain heart-felt trust from the proteges.

2. Recognizing that successful leaders are able to learn from failure, describe a situation in which you failed. (300 words)

"Respect what others did." This is the conclusion I made after I wrapped up one of the most regrettable strategic meetings that I had in my job career. One of the basic qualities of the leader is to respect the accomplishment of the precedent person and even the achievement of subordinates. I am confident that it will function as a solid basis for the career development of a skillful leader. September 10, 19xx. It was the day when I stepped in the office as a product manager in charge of the marketing of cozaar which was one of the most important products in xxx Korea, the current working place 7 months after I had joined the company. In the first strategic meeting after I became a product manager, I firstly made a comment starting "We should modify the goal in the annual sales from 11 million dollars up to 17 million dollars in the future." After I made my short presentation, one of district managers suggested in jest saying, "Why don't you accomplish 6 million dollar worth of return on sale at the extra goal." Awkward laughter came out in the conference for a while. It was just a joke that he cynically implied a record-breaking sales achievement that I made for 6 months. Yet, it stroked my heart like a stab in my back. I might not get a full credit from the staff because of the makeshift remark without any consideration two months ago.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

Since then, I happened to learn three major lessons. First of all, I should not change or ignore the time-honored agreement based on the consultation of the members initiated by the precedent person. In case of modification of the previous plan, it is critically necessary to have a through market research and collection of the opinions of every team member in advance so that I could enhance the cooperation among team members. Secondly, it is essential for the leader to obtain the credibility from the subordinates in order for the project to make it. If I had been an employee, I could not have been able to trust the leader who modified the previous plan without any sufficient data. Finally, every single word that the leader spit out should be more prudent. My remark during that time was not necessarily the effect that we should increase the sales as much as I added up to. My instant remark that we should increase the sales compared to the previous year eventually put me in line because most of employees took it very seriously. Since then, I was more than careful about the official remark and drew a clear line between the joke and serious comment.

3. Describe a situation when your value and belief were challenged. What did you do, and why? (300 words)

In May 15 19xx, I couldn't leave the harbor of this deserted island, xxx, populated xxxx people and located at the tip of the Korean peninsula. More than anything else, waiving hands and tears of almost one hundred local people were the source of dragging my feet. I could have been the last time I saw them in person. When I was given a humble certificate of achievement in my hand made by pupil's small hands in local primary school, I was able to realize the ontological value that I should cherish in my heart for the rest of my life. In addition, I could catch a glimpse of the way my life should pursue in the long term. This value and belief was totally different from the past life in which symbolized as the comfort and wealth. In this context, I am confident that the value and belief will serve as a great momentum for the rest of my life. The reason why I went to xxx in April 19xx is due to the Korean government's regulation, which led me to finish the military service as a doctor in underdeveloped island. I arrived in this island accepting the backwater duty like other military doctors with open-minded. Yet, xxx was unbelievably an area equipped with no medical care in the perspective of those who were accustomed to the urban life. In small makeshift medical facility where I should offer medical service to local people with an assistant nurse, there was no surgical equipment anywhere in the hospital. All I got for the sick was aspirin and simple digestion pill.

Local people's concern for the medical treatment was close to the level of self-abandonment. For instance, when having stomachache, their best medical care alternative was to take a simple digestion pill or to lie on the floor without eating. On top of that, when the children had slight injury, they were asked to stop bleeding by applying pressure on the wounded part with a cloth. In most cases, most of senior citizens that had not received any preventive medical care at all were suffering from the symptoms such as degenerative arthritis, repetitive gastritis, and hypertension. Nevertheless, they had no choice but to accept the reality like their fate without any doubt. What they needed during that time was not a grand operation of modern hospital and even expensive medicine but the medicines such as anti-hypertensive drugs, anti-inflammatory drugs, and insulin that could be easily bought in the urban area. They could easily relieve the pain with simple medication. As a matter of fact, they could not afford to cover the medical cost due to low income. Inevitably, they tend to accept the diseases as their fate. It serves as a big burden for them to purchase the drug on their own other than the basic medicine such as aspirin provided by the government free of charge. Furthermore, it was a bigger burden for the aged without any income to buy the medicines in case of the diabetes or dislocation of joint. In two months in the island, the first effort I made was to persuade the pharmaceutical companies and charity organizations to provide medical equipment and medicines necessary for the people in the island on a complementary basis by sending letters.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

Therefore, I was able to accumulate the available drugs provided without any cost. For example, I received the anti-hypertensive drug from xxx pharmaceutical company as much amount as the people in the island could utilize for about a year. This kind of efforts that I initiated might relieve the pain of disease to some degree. All the same, it was not enough to liberate them from the disease in an ultimate sense. As a result, I realized that we should develop the medicine to terminate the disease and produce effective drugs substantially in order for everyone to get benefits in terms of medical care. Besides, I want to dedicate myself to the improvement on the public health system in order those who are financially inviable to get medical support whenever they want. This is one of my objectives that I would like to accomplish as long as I am involved in the pharmaceutical company. I still make dear the certificate of achievement made by pupil's small hands in the local primary school in xxx.

Although it is made of rugged wood, it reminds me of the best memory for one year and two months when I spent in the island. Sometimes, it makes me feel proud of myself in that I dedicated myself to the honorable service such as medical treatment and operation. I will never and ever forget the royal summon that I felt from the bottom of my heart when I arrive in the island after xx hours of sailing in the rough sea in order to make a surgery of the finger which cut in half. When I followed a little girl who called me for her mother who passed out at dawn in the nippy winter as cold as 10 degree centigrade below zero, I felt the same fate deep inside of my heart, as well. The experience in the island, xxx, serves as the momentum for my lifetime goal - to contribute to the harmonious society as a doctor, researcher in medicine, and the leader of public health and pharmaceutical field in the long term. Now that I look upon the experience in xxx as the most valuable career in my whole life, I will keep addressing this experience to my next generation over and over again in the rest of my life.

4.Describe your three most substantial accomplishments and explain why you view them as such. (600 words)

My first accomplishment was the establishment of 129 Emergency Calling System on a full scale when I worked for the xxx. At first, the emergency center had nothing but the name when I was transferred from xxx the late May 19xx. Most of citizens were not aware of the existence of the center. In addition, the rate of utilization was nothing but 10 cases a day. During two years since 19xx, I made several attempts-to publicize the center in the local newspaper, make advertisements to the public, publish brochures, and visit the nursing home-in order to establish the solid foundation for this center. As a result, the rate of utilization rose up to 200 cases a day including medical consultation in the late of 19xx. In return for my efforts, I was granted the certificate of achievement from xxx Headquarters in 19xx.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

The decision to make this center flourished was primarily derived from the assessment over the poor condition of local medical attention. As a matter of fact, there are few systems efficient for the emergency and relatively small scale of medical benefit in the local area. For example, I have been able to witness the lack of emergent treatment led to the aggravation of the disease or even to a death several times since I worked for the xxx. Among them, I cannot forget the case of a farmer who died of excessive bleeding due to late arrival of medical staff. As a matter of fact, the people around the farmer didn't know what to do when the emergency came up. The farmer could have survived if one of his acquaintances had known the number of 129 Emergency Calling System, that is to say, 129.

Ever since, I realized from the bottom of my heart the need for the PR of 129 Emergency Calling System to the public on a large scale. My efforts to the PR and medical consultation worked so well that I could be welcomed and supported by the community. I believe that it is worthwhile to save people's lives with the help of every single effort that I made. My second accomplishment is surely the Ph.D. dissertation approved in September 19xx. On top of that, I am supposed to obtain the Ph.D. degree in xxx in February 20xx. Although this Ph.D. degree is my personal accomplishment, it is closely related to my lifetime goal - to contribute to the harmonious society as a doctor, researcher in medicine, and the leader of public health and pharmaceutical field in the long term.

The reason for studying pharmacology for six years and obtaining a Ph.D. degree is to dedicate myself to the reform of Korean phamaceutical industry in order to contribute to the majority of the community. Based on the firm conviction that the studies on pharmacology is critically necessary to achieve my goal, I have so far kept on the studies along with the work leaving the award ceremony of Ph.D. degree behind. With this Ph.D. degree, I am now qualified for an expert in the pharmaceutical field. If I add up the advanced knowledge and skill on business management and the leadership that I will learn from Harvard Business School, it is certain that I will be able to become one of the greatest managers in the pharmaceutical field in Korea. More specifically, the Ph.D. degree will be a great asset in achieving my goal- to create the cure-all, make a mass-production of drugs with good quality, provide medical attention for the financially inviable, and improve the public health system. In this context, the Ph.D. degree is one of the most important accomplishments that I have made up to now.

My third accomplishment lies in the sales achievement and various experiences for about six months. The experience enabled me to confirm the potential of being a capable manager in a pharmaceutical company in the future. In addition, I inspired the product team members of the company, addressing"Just do it."in order to solidify their confidence. #p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#
When the article covering my story was introduced in the title of 'xxx' in xxx,19xx, most of my acquaintances including my relatives and friends of mine were casting doubts on my decision with cynical voices. They didn't seem to understand my decision to go for a salesperson instead of being a medical director of pharmaceutical company or a professor in medical school. As a matter of fact, I was able to understand their doubts and concerns because I myself was afraid of my adventure more than anyone else. I, however, accomplished the return on sales as much as 210% of sales objective only after I had been involved in sales with local hospitals for about six months.

As a result, I was appointed as a product manager in cozaar, an anti-hypertensive drug which came as the most important product of xxx Korea. It was the time when I was confident that my challenge will be carried out in the future. This experience, I certify, was more valuable accomplishment than the admission to medical school in xxx and the license of medical doctor as well as the Ph.D degree that I will be conferred in February, 20xx. That's because I confirmed the chance of success in terms of my career development in the challenge that I took loyal pains during my life.

5. What are your career aspirations and why? How will you get there?
(300 words)

Upon graduation from Medical School in 19xx, I have consistently served in the pharmaceutical industry for the past 10 years on a continual basis, 3 years of military service since 19xx as a doctoral officer excluded. As soon as I graduated from the Medical School, I entered the course of Clinical Pharmacology in the Department of Medicine in the graduate school. After that, I served in the military as an officer in order to complete the Master's degree and review medical practices. When I made it into the Ph.D. program, I was able to get a job in a pharmaceutical company. I started my first job career as the manager in the Clinical Research Team, xxx pharmaceutical Co. in Korea. In fact, I was disappointed with the obsolete management system of Korean pharmaceutical companies and the passive attitude toward the development of brand-new medicine. As a result, I decided to transfer myself to the local subsidiary of overseas pharmaceutical company called xxx Korea in November 1996.

Ever since, I have worked as a medical director for the field of drug development for about 2 years. After that, I applied for the xxx Korea, the current work, and got a job as a sales representative in February 19xx. Only 6 months later, I was able to get promoted to a product manager in recognition of the outcome of sales. The primary reason why I chose the sales and marketing department in xxx Korea is based on the fact that I came to the conclusion that obsolete and dogmatic management of Korean pharmaceutical companies and hospitals would undermine the development of medical industry. As far as my personal experience goes, the owners of Korean pharmaceutical companies are by no means specialists in this field. On top of that, most of them didn't seem to have a rational and efficient management skill. In particular, the lack of clinical research and backwardness of marketing management skill is the main obstacles that Korean pharmaceutical companies should tackle in the long term.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

Secondly, I have so far recognized the limitation of drug development in domestic pharmaceutical companies as well as overseas pharmaceutical companies located in Korea. Third, I wanted to experience the essence of sales and marketing in person as a sales representative in xxx Korea in order to strengthen the basis for the business management. Fourth, I was deeply moved by the ethical sales practice of xxx Korea that had been recognized as one of the most prestigious companies. Finally, I wanted to acquire the custom-oriented mind like 'Customer is the basis for sales and marketing'. As a matter of fact, xxx, the president of xxx Korea, was sort of skeptical about my career since I had been basically involved in the drug development for 3 years. None the less, I was able to become a product manager as a medical doctor for the first time in Korea by eliminating every single doubt. Personally, I believe the success in life lies in a series of ordeal from bottom to top. In other words, success stems from the process from the salesperson to the C.E.O of the company. Even though I may learn the advanced management skill of pharmaceutical company through on the job training as product manager in xxx Korea, it is certain that I will be able to obtain the necessary capability of manager in pharmaceutical company through systematic approach and studies in the MBA program.

Like Korean saying "Even the finest building built on the sand is bound to collapse in no time", I believe the MBA program in the U.S.A will provide me with a solid basis to grow up as a business manager in the future. To the best of belief and knowledge, now is the best time for me to obtain MBA degree in the light of my life goal now that I have so far experienced the field of research as well as sales, not to mention my career. The knowledge of medicine, basic science, and drug development as well as the understanding of pharmaceutical industries will serve as great asset in completing the MBA program at HBS. I would like to devote myself to the reform of Korean pharmaceutical industry with the advanced knowledge and skill on business management and the leadership that I will learn from your business school.

Applicant name: Hong, Kil Dong
New York University

1.Think about the decisions you have made in your life. Describe the following:
PAST: What choices have you made that led you your current position?
PRESENT: Why is a Stern MBA necessary at this point in your life?
FUTURE: What is your desired position upon graduation from the Stern School?

Since I had worked in the xxx department of xxx, established by my deceased father, the yearly income was $xx million in 19xx, my major problem was a lack of knowledge in Finance and Management. Upon graduation from undergraduate studies, I was employed in the Management Planning Team. Because I did not have the background in business administration from majoring in xxx Literature in undergraduate, I realized the difficulty in grasping the concept of general company matters, marketing analysis, and setting up the short and long-term marketing plan. When I participated in the future development of xxx and sales project for 10 months that began in February 19xx, I realized that I was incapable of successfully performing my duties as an Assistant Manager with 8 staff members for a project in which the company heavily depended upon. It was then that I had realized what special talent was needed to become a successful manager.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

For instance, while analyzing xxx, xxx’s technological advantage and marketing strategies, I realized the importance of learning Marketing Research and Strategy. I also realized the importance of Financial Management and Corporate Financial Policies when planning sales and marketing strategies for the future sales of xxx and strategies for increasing our market. Through these experiences, I became strongly motivated to applying to your college. If I am given the opportunity, I would like to study Corporate Finance and Financial Strategy. In my situation that I should come back to the xxx which was established by my deceased father and join the management team, without the knowledge of finance, I could not successfully manage the company and be an incompetent businessman. I would like to focus my studies on subjects relating to Entrepreneurship and Marketing. I believe that I am qualified to be competitive among your students because I have earned a certificate of Accounting and Finance, sponsored by the xxx. Along with this basic background, I am currently studying Finance as a graduate student at the xxx University Business School.

Stern School is my top choice for two main reasons. First of all, Stern offers diverse courses such as ‘Restructuring and Firm & Industries,’ ‘Venture Capital Financing,’ and ‘Investment Strategy,’ that are not offered at the xxx University. Second reason is the many advantages that can be offered from the location of your school, with worldwide competitive corporations gathered in New York. Upon graduation from the Stern School, I plan to be the most representative person at xxx by learning and applying the strategies of these large growing global corporations in New York, and if possible I would like to analyze our competitors, xxx and xxx. I would also like to have experience with the U.S. market and its’ customer characteristics in preparation for future plan of xxx to set up xxx subsidiaries in U.S. I plan to work for 5 years at xxx after graduation from Stern, by improving xxx so that it will rank second to xxx. My long-term goal is to be able to challenge the CEO’s of the top 5 ranking companies in Korea, such as Hyundai of Korea. In addition, to achieve my goals, I plan to earn the CFA certification upon my MBA studies. Armed with the CFA certification and Top School’s International bent, strength in finance and management training, I will be ready to place that call to the trader in China, conduct a teleconference with xxx corporation in Tokyo, and visit the CFO in America.

2.Please agree or disagree with two of the following quotes. Give relevant reasons and/or examples to support your answer.

“The truth is the strongest argument”

An argument is one of the most important factor that creates an economic gap between western and eastern countries. The most critical theory in the West is an argument society. Because I grew up in a strict Confucius family, the idea of an argument with an older person was not accepted and prohibited. Those of the younger generation were to obey the older unconditionally. I was educated that because those who were older were considered to be wiser, there was no need to challenge them in their beliefs. Not only was I raised under Confucianism, but most of Korean students were educated and have been habitually behaving this way as well, that any form of disagreement with an elder is unacceptable. Generally, most students even after they have graduated from college, try not to argue with older students or professors. I came to realize the necessity of an argumentation society in Korea from my 2 years and a half experience at xxx. Top executives generally make critical decisions for the future of the company, solely based on their ideas, and by ignoring the other employees. Based on my experience in the company, a major decision without making a detailed analysis and not considering employees’ opinions was bound to be a failure, damaging the company with a tremendous loss. I would like to have the opportunity to experience and study in an argument society as can be demonstrated in American universities and companies, so that I can apply this theory for the future management of xxx.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

Another matter I would like to discuss about an argument is the truth behind an argumentation. I believe that the truth should support an argument persuasively. Even though an argument without a form of truth can win in the short-term, it is bound to be a failure in the long-run by its’ true evidence. I strongly believe that an argument under truth is a critical factor in the success of a company’s management. Today, some companies’ management strategy focuses only on techniques that can be beneficial for an argument rather than focusing on an argument based on the truth, in which some companies view as the key factor. In the end, the company will not survive in the long-run because the truth will be proven by the consumers. I would like to use such a situation of a company that induces the customers with false argumentation and their consequence as a precaution to the future strategic management of xxx.

“Change in all things is sweet”

Aristotle insisted that all changes are not developmental, but I would like to see changes in the most positive way. In my philosophy, although innovation can bring about negative consequences, effort for innovation should not be negatively perceived or underestimated. The relevance of this theory can be seen not only through my deceased father who had been working for the company for 30 years, but through my experience in the company for two and a half years, where employees were hesitant to make changes. My father has always been striving for ‘change,’ even though he was raised and educated in the typical Korean Confucian family. He always challenged the company’s conservative culture and encouraged a ‘creative mind,’ by emphasizing a common Korean proverb ‘old water in a small hole will be decayed.’ When I left the Management Planning Team of xxx, I proposed a sole brand strategy for the company beyond the set boundary of 5 years – xxx goal called OEM, with the strong influence of my late father. In order to be in competition with xxx, xxx and to create a global brand, xxx should in the long-run change to a sole brand priority beyond OEM that captures 70% of the total income.

Even though my proposal was slow in its’ process, I believe that change in itself will be the cornerstone for the firm’s future development, since xxx never had significant changes for the past 15 years. First, the most important factor in change is the belief in success. Second, by investigation and definite strategic planning, there is a less chance for risks in the process of change. We should not mistakenly assume that once we make a change, we will have definitive results for success without any strategic preparation. I strongly support that a company that tries to make changes without the basis of knowledge and experience is bound to fail. These are the reasons for my desire to study in your college.

3.Describe yourself to your MBA classmates

My nickname is ‘Godfather.’ I admire the old movie star named Marlon Brando because of his strong characteristics, which characterizes me. My close friend calls me the ‘Godfather’ because I listen to my friends’ worries and try to help them in the best way that I can. I am thankful to my parents who enabled me to grow up in a family that was economically and physically stable. I never had the experience of not being well off because my father was the president. Some might argue that this background was my weakness, however it was fortunate that I became a person who did not take this privilege for advantage and a person with self-control. I was strictly educated by my father who had a strong belief that “money can spoil a child.”The other reason for being called the ‘Godfather,’ is that when I was in middle school and high school, I secretly helped some of my poor friends who could not afford tuition. I remember back in high school when I helped a friend without letting him know for a year and a half, who was on the brink of being sent out for not paying tuition. However, when this secret was found out, my friends always called me the ‘Godfather.’#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

Growing up in a financially stable family influenced me to be a person with composure and flexibility. Such characteristics can be reflected upon my experience. When I was in the xxx management planning team, as an Assistant Manager, I delayed the deadline for the report and analysis of the xxx in the Korean market, even though the deadline was already set by the manager. Conflict arose between us. I did feel sorry for my wrongdoing, but I believe that managers should not push the employees especially when given a difficult task. From experience, I can say that trying to complete a difficult task within a limited amount of time can reduce the employee’s motivation and as a result make the work less qualitative. If I am given the opportunity to be a MBA candidate, I would like my fellow colleagues to recognize me as a person with flexibility - a person who is willing to spend all night together, exploring new ideas for a report or a person who can help others relieve their stress when feeling tense. Thank you.

4.Think about the decisions you have made in your life. Describe the following:
PAST: What choices have you made that led you your current position?
PRESENT: Why is a Stern MBA necessary at this point in your life?
FUTURE: What is your desired position upon graduation from the Stern School?

Since I had worked in the xxx department of xxx, whose yearly income was $xx million in 19xx, my major problem was a lack of knowledge in Finance and Management. Upon graduation from undergraduate studies, I was employed in the Management Planning Team. Because I did not have the background in business administration from majoring in xxx Literature in undergraduate, I realized the difficulty in grasping the concept of general company matters, marketing analysis, and setting up the short and long-term marketing plan. When I participated in the future development of xxx and sales project for 10 months that began in February 19xx, I realized that I was incapable of successfully performing my duties as an Assistant Manager with 8 staff members for a project in which the company heavily depended upon. It was then that I had realized what special talent was needed to become a successful manager.

For instance, while analyzing xxx, xxx’s technological advantage and marketing strategies, I realized the importance of learning Marketing Research and Strategy. I also realized the importance of Financial Management and Corporate Financial Policies when planning sales and marketing strategies for the future sales of xxx and strategies for increasing our market. Through these experiences, I became strongly motivated to applying to your college. If I am given the opportunity, I would like to study Corporate Finance and Financial Strategy. In my situation that I should come back to the xxx, and join the management team, without the knowledge of finance, I could not successfully manage the company and be an incompetent businessman. I would like to focus my studies on subjects relating to Entrepreneurship and Marketing. I believe that I am qualified to be competitive among your students because I have earned a certificate of Accounting and Finance, sponsored by the xxx. Along with this basic background, I am currently studying Finance as a graduate student at the xxx University Business School. Stern School is my top choice for two main reasons. First of all, Stern offers diverse courses such as ‘Restructuring and Firm & Industries,’ ‘Venture Capital Financing,’ and ‘Investment Strategy,’ that are not offered at the xxx University.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

Second reason is the many advantages that can be offered from the location of your school, with worldwide competitive corporations gathered in New York. Upon graduation from the Stern School, I plan to be the most representative person at xxx by learning and applying the strategies of these large growing global corporations in New York, and if possible I would like to analyze our competitors, xxx and xxx. I would also like to have experience with the U.S. market and its’ customer characteristics in preparation for future plan of xxx to set up xxx subsidiaries in U.S. I plan to work for 5 years at xxx after graduation from Stern, by improving xxx so that it will rank second to xxx. My long-term goal is to be able to challenge the CEO’s of the top 5 ranking companies in Korea, such as Hyundai of Korea. In addition, to achieve my goals, I plan to earn the CFA certification upon my MBA studies. Armed with the CFA certification and Top School’s International bent, strength in finance and management training, I will be ready to place that call to the trader in China, conduct a teleconference with xxx corporation in Tokyo, and visit the CFO in America.

5.Please agree or disagree with two of the following quotes. Give relevant reasons and/or examples to support your answer.

“The truth is the strongest argument”

An argument is one of the most important factors that create an economic gap between western and eastern countries. The most critical theory in the West is an argument society. Because I grew up in a strict Confucius family, the idea of an argument with an older person was not accepted and prohibited. Those of the younger generation were to obey the older unconditionally. I was educated that because those who were older were considered to be wiser, there was no need to challenge them in their beliefs. Not only was I raised under Confucianism, but most of Korean students were educated and have been habitually behaving this way as well, that any form of disagreement with an elder is unacceptable. Generally, most students even after they have graduated from college try not to argue with older students or professors. I came to realize the necessity of an argumentation society in Korea from my 2 years and a half experience at xxx. Top executives generally make critical decisions for the future of the company, solely based on their ideas, and by ignoring the other employees. Based on my experience in the company, a major decision without making a detailed analysis and not considering employees’ opinions was bound to be a failure, damaging the company with a tremendous loss. I would like to have the opportunity to experience and study in an argument society as can be demonstrated in American universities and companies, so that I can apply this theory for the future management of xxx.

Another matter I would like to discuss about an argument is the truth behind an argumentation. I believe that the truth should support an argument persuasively. Even though an argument without a form of truth can win in the short-term, it is bound to be a failure in the long run by its’ true evidence. I strongly believe that an argument under truth is a critical factor in the success of a company’s management. Today, some companies’ management strategy focuses only on techniques that can be beneficial for an argument rather than focusing on an argument based on the truth, in which some companies view as the key factor. In the end, the company will not survive in the long run because the truth will be proven by the consumers. I would like to use such a situation of a company that induces the customers with false argumentation and their consequence as a precaution to the future strategic management of xxx.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

“Change in all things is sweet”

Aristotle insisted that all changes are not developmental, but I would like to see changes in the most positive way. In my philosophy, although innovation can bring about negative consequences, effort for innovation should not be negatively perceived or underestimated. The relevance of this theory can be seen not only through my deceased father who had been working for the company for 30 years, but through my experience in the company for two and a half years, where employees were hesitant to make changes. My father has always been striving for ‘change,’ even though he was raised and educated in the typical Korean Confucian family. He always challenged the company’s conservative culture and encouraged a ‘creative mind,’ by emphasizing a common Korean proverb ‘old water in a small hole will be decayed.’ When I left the Management Planning Team of xxx. I proposed a sole brand strategy for the company beyond the set boundary of 5 years – xxx goal called OEM, with the strong influence of my late father. In order to be in competition with xxx, xxx and to create a global brand, xxx should in the long-run change to a sole brand priority beyond OEM that captures 70% of the total income. Even though my proposal was slow in its’ process, I believe that change in itself will be the cornerstone for the firm’s future development, since xxx never had significant changes for the past 15 years. First, the most important factor in change is the belief in success. Second, by investigation and definite strategic planning, there is a less chance for risks in the process of change. We should not mistakenly assume that once we make a change, we would have definitive results for success without any strategic preparation. I strongly support that a company that tries to make changes without the basis of knowledge and experience is bound to fail. These are the reasons for my desire to study in your college.

 

Hong, Kil Dong
Applying for MBA
M.I.T

1. Explain how the MIT Sloan MBA Program’s focus on innovation will help you achieve your career goals.

I always remember my deceased father always regretting his inability to make change. My father has taught me that even though you may be ahead of others by walking, you are still behind because the others are running. My late father managed the xxx Corporation. In 19xx, He was unable to promptly prepare for the new flow of westernization into Korea, such as the firm’s information system, westernization of employees’corporate culture; acknowledgement of the labor union, new classified customer’s appearance, and westernization of the manufacture. My father who had managed the firm for 30 years with dynamic effort was faced with bad luck. In the end, his corporation was to be dismissed. Along with his frustrations, he contributed his writings of thoughts to many places. His writings emphasized that a firm that has not gone through change is soon to be a firm that is bound to fail. My fate has always been to become a great businessman because ever since my childhood days, my father made incessant speeches concerning a businessman’s attitude. Before my father passed away, he left me a message saying, “the key to a firm’s survival is innovation.” I will treasure his words forever.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

From my late father’s great influence, I decided to work for xxx upon graduation from undergraduate studies. While employed at xxx, I always kept in mind the possibilities of improvement and innovation of my work, the firm’s policies, and current organizational matters. I persuaded the managers and the top
executives, who were stuck on the concept of traditional decision-making procedures, face the need for innovation by accepting the labor union, through discussions and negotiations with my contributed efforts into increasing productivity. I also proposed for the ‘xxx Project’ with strategic intent to the CEO executives who were only satisfied with the fixed income of continuous OEM production. I was evaluated and complemented that the proposal not only brought great opportunities for the firm to exclusively create and develop the brand in itself, but a great opportunity for the firm to explore the foreign market. Thereafter, I made another initiative to improving on most of the enterprises, such as organizational downsizing, transferal of employees, reformation of authoritarianism in the management, adoption of the ERP system, and employee training for obtaining information, that xxx was after for a year and a half since 19xx. I performed these tasks heartily.

Although there were many problems and many who opposed my proposal for the firm’s innovation, xxx had a great common vision in terms of creating the firm’s brand in itself and in terms of exploring the foreign market for the first time in 20 years. When I left the company, there were many employees who were willing to face the changes in business environment more positively with greater future vision for the company. I strongly believe that innovation and creativity are valuable tools for the 21st century businessman. In order to survive in the business world, a firm should be able to change rapidly in accordance with the 21st century hi-tech information society of the Internet. If a firm cannot adjust under such circumstances of high-tech, the firm cannot survive. To become such a businessman who can quickly adapt to these changes, I chose Sloan. Sloan’s program will enable me to become a businessman who sees the importance of innovation and leadership in the business world. More importantly, I believe that Sloan will provide me with the kind of tool to propel forward in the field of strategic planning and marketing, organizational design and change management.

2. Describe a situation where you introduced and/or managed change in an organization. Tell us how you influenced others in an organization (business, school, extracurricular activity) and comment on the professional and/or personal attributes you used to do that and how these attributes (an others) might be important to the attainment of your career goals. How do you expect the Sloan School to further the development of these attributes?

The most significant improvement that I have made while employed at xxx was the ‘xxx Project’, which began in February of 19xx, to develop a strategic plan in order to become a global enterprise such as xxx or xxx. xxx that began to produce the xxx 21 years ago set up the project based on the traditional pattern of the OEM export. The director of xxx development who had worked for the company for over 9 years was negative in creating the company’s brand and the opinion of the majority was that such a project was too risky to produce a product in competition with global brands. Despite the negative opinions around me, I submitted the proposal for the xxx and I insisted that xxx create its’ own brand image and challenge the global market. Because x foreign companies, such as xxx and xxx hold over xx% of the domestic market up to 19xx, it would be impossible to create the company’s brand name and develop technology in the future if the product does not develop or if the company continues to develop the product based on the OEM system. There was also a possibility that even our occupied market in the domestic market would be deprived from those foreign companies.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

Based on these facts, I insisted technology cooperation with xxx that boasts xx years of excellence, developing technology, creating distribution channels and subsidiaries in the industrialized countries including the U.S., and getting involved in the global market vigorously. My report brought on many debates about the feasibility and the investment outlook for 10 months of next-generation xxx development process. When the CEO executives supported my proposal, the firm decided to lay out the xxx development process for x years and take its’ brand abroad with a strategic intent. I learned that a talented businessman should have exact judgment with clear-cut resources and have clear vision for future development. One of the critical factors that led the firm to strategically compete in the global market was that my “xxx”for 4 months, was able to strike down all of the negative opinions with my specific data and detailed strategy. This experience has encouraged me to continue my studies in an American graduate school in order to learn more detailed analytical approach and gain the knowledge behind effective management strategy.

Sloan has all the important necessities to fulfill my needs. I strongly believe that Strategic Management and Consulting Track of Sloan have diverse resources for businessmen such as research and development, finance, human resource management, and marketing. These important resources will enable me to achieve my goal to becoming a CEO of a corporation. Program of Sloan provides both entrepreneurship and leadership. I strongly believe that Sloan is the best graduate school of business for me as well as future businessmen.

Cover letter

Since I had worked in the xxx department of xxx, whose yearly income was $xx million in 19xx, my major problem was a lack of knowledge in Finance and Management. Upon graduation from undergraduate studies, I was employed in the Management Planning Team. Because I did not have the background in business administration from majoring in xxx Literature in undergraduate, I realized the difficulty in grasping the concept of general company matters, marketing analysis, and setting up the short and long-term marketing plan. When I participated in the future development of xxx and sales project for 10 months that began in February 19xx, I realized that I was incapable of successfully performing my duties as an Assistant Manager with 8 staff members for a project in which the company heavily depended upon. It was then that I had realized what special talent was needed to become a successful manager. For instance, while analyzing xxx, xxx’s technological advantage and marketing strategies, I realized the importance of learning Marketing Research and Strategy. I also realized the importance of Financial Management and Corporate Financial Policies when planning sales and marketing strategies for the future sales of xxx and strategies for increasing our market.

Through these experiences, I became strongly motivated to applying to your college. If I am given the opportunity, I would like to study Corporate Finance and Financial Strategy. In my situation that I should come back to the xxx, and join the management team, without the knowledge of finance, I could not successfully manage the company and be an incompetent businessman. I would like to focus my studies on subjects relating to Entrepreneurship and Marketing. I believe that I am qualified to be competitive among your students because I have earned a certificate of Accounting and Finance,sponsored by the xxx. Along with this basic background, I am currently studying Finance as a graduate student at the xxx University Business School.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

Sloan is top choice for two main reasons. First of all, Sloan offers diverse courses for a businessman who needs innovation and leadership that are not offered at the xxx University. Second reason is the many advantages that can be offered from the location of your school, with worldwide competitive corporations gathered in New York and Boston areas. Upon graduation from the Sloan School, I plan to be the most representative person at xxx by learning and applying the strategies of these large growing global corporations in East Coast area, and if possible I would like to analyze our competitors, xxx and xxx. I would also like to have experience with the U.S. market and its’ customer characteristics in preparation for future plan of xxx to set up xxx subsidiaries in U.S.

I plan to work for 5 years at xxx after graduation from Sloan, by improving xxx so that it will rank second to xxx. My long-term goal is to be able to challenge the CEO’s of the top 5 ranking companies in Korea, such as Hyundai of Korea. In addition, to achieve my goals, I plan to earn the CFA certification upon my MBA studies. Armed with the CFA certification and Top School’s International bent, strength in finance and management training, I will be ready to place that call to the trader in China, conduct a teleconference with xxx corporation in Tokyo, and visit the CFO in America.

 

Hong, Kil Dong
Applying for MBA
Northwestern University

1.Briefly assess your career progress to date. Elaborate on your future career plans and your motivation for pursuing a graduate degree at Kellogg. (one to two pages double-spaced)

Since I had worked in the product department of xxx, the yearly income was $xx million in 19xx, my major problem was a lack of knowledge in Finance and Management. Upon graduation from undergraduate studies, I was employed in the Management Planning Team. Because I did not have the background in business administration from majoring in xxx Literature in undergraduate, I realized the difficulty in grasping the concept of general company matters,marketing analysis, and setting up the short and long-term marketing plan. When I participated in the future development of xxx and sales project for 10 months that began in February 19xx, I realized that I was incapable of successfully performing my duties as an Assistant Manager with 8 staff members for a project in which the company heavily depended upon. It was then that I had realized what special talent was needed to become a successful manager. For instance, while analyzing xxx, xxx’s technological advantage and marketing strategies, I realized the importance of learning Marketing Research and Strategy. I also realized the importance of Financial Management and Corporate Financial Policies when planning sales and marketing strategies for the future sales of xxx and strategies for increasing our market. Through these experiences, I became strongly motivated to applying to your college. I am applying to Kellogg in order to develop my management talent and abilities. Through the various advanced management theories and the LEAP and GIM programs offered at Kellogg, I hope to cultivate practical problem-solving skills. By selecting courses in my major such as management strategy, finance, and entrepreneurship, I intend to establish a firm and fundamental framework of business management knowledge that is essential to my career.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

And if possible, I will obtain summer internships at McKinsey and A.T. Kearney while enrolled at Kellogg, and attempt to gain an understanding of U.S. corporate culture, which will be essential to my international experience.Upon graduation from Kellogg, I plan to be the most representative person at xxx. by learning and applying the strategies of these large growing global corporations in Chicago, and if possible I would like to analyze our competitors, xxx and xxx. I would also like to have experience with the U.S. market and its’ customer characteristics in preparation for future plan of xxx to set up xxx subsidiaries in U.S. I plan to work for 5 years at xxx. after graduation from Kellogg, by improving xxx so that it will rank second to xxx. My long-term goal is to be able to challenge the CEO’s of the top 5 ranking companies in Korea, such as Hyundai of Korea. In addition, to achieve my goals, I plan to earn the CFA certification upon my MBA studies. Armed with the CFA certification and Top School’s International bent, strength in finance and management training, I will be ready to place that call to the trader in China, conduct a teleconference with xxx corporation in Tokyo, and visit the CFO in America.

2.You have been selected as a member of the Kellogg Admissions Committee. Please provide a brief evaluative assessment of your file. (one to two pages double-spaced)

I am confident that Mr.xxx is an applicant with the qualifications that meet Kellogg’s standards, for the following reasons. In his experience, his creative ideas stand out. xxx Campaign program for Korean customers, which was implemented in June 19xx by his suggestion, was evaluated to have improved customer growth rate by 7% after 6 months of implementation, and was given the Best Suggestion Award in 19xx. A program called “Contests for English Writing”for the xxx University students which was implemented by his suggestion during college, increased English Composition Club participation by 80%; we judge this to be a concrete case in point that demonstrates Mr. xxx’s creativity. His business administration talents were made evident during xxx’s labor-management negotiations process, which took place in April of 19xx. In these labor-management negotiations lasting two months, which dealt with the salary increase limits for employees, Mr. xxx was selected to be the deputy team leader among the negotiations mediation team of four people representing xxx.

The accurate materials on employee surveys from other xxx companies in Korea, which he researched for a month and presented, played a crucial role in the 50% mutual compromise reached between labor and management. During his employment, Mr. xxx was active in xxx’s labor union as a non-permanent member of the mediation committee.His strong academic credentials are also a big plus. He showed in just 4 months up to increase GMAT xxx points. He accomplished this while working full time and attending evening classes, which is further proof of his outstanding ability to excel in his studies. #p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

4. Complete three of the following six questions or statements. (Two to three paragraphs each)

E. What personal qualities do you need to develop to become a more effective manager?

If I am given the opportunity, I would like to study Corporate Finance and Financial Strategy. Without the knowledge of finance, I could not successfully manage the company and be an incompetent businessman. I would like to focus my studies on subjects relating to Entrepreneurship and Marketing. I believe that I am qualified to be competitive among your students because I have earned a certificate of Accounting and Finance, sponsored by xxx in 19xx. Along with this basic background, I am currently studying Finance as a graduate student at xxx University Business School so that I may not have any difficulty in come up with your program.

F. I wish the Admissions Committee had asked me…

First, the primary reason why I apply for Kellogg is the importance of alumni association in which the school advocates. I believe that close interpersonal relationship and networking will serve as the basis for practical business in the future. My colleagues and I will be able to learn the importance of cooperation in supportive environment that Kellogg will provide. For the past few months I have been in the U.S. with few connections, I realized the importance of a strong supportive alumni association. For instance, if an alumni association of Kellogg in Korea proves to be weak in the future, I believe that it can be a downside in proving my talents and in taking the advantage of networking as a businessman. For this reason, I made it necessity to transfer to a university in the Top 20 ranking.

Secondly, Kellogg will enable me take the opportunity of its’ location.
Due to the location of xxx University in a rural place, I am having a difficult time in experiencing the American culture. I would like to learn about American corporations that are located in the city and this will enable me to get a better grasp of the American market. With this knowledge, I believe that I can successfully apply it to Unix Electronics, Co., Ltd. in Shaver’s diverseness in customer characteristics. I would like to transfer to your university because of the opportunities that I can take from its location in the city because I realize that I cannot combine class time and individual studies from the xxx University, which is x hours away from the city.
Thank You.

 

 

2000? ???(Duke U)

Applicant name: Hong, Kil Dong
Applying for: Fall, 2000(Fuqua)

1. Please discuss your previous professional experiences, your long-term career goals and the role the MBA will play in those plans. Why are you interested in The Fuqua School of Business and what do you hope your contribution will be to an MBA environment? (Limit - 4 pages)
My long-term aspiration is to manage a Venture Incubator company that brings up an enterprise and concurrently supports the fund investment and management consulting of the Venture Company. It is extremely difficult for any firm to be recognized in the market in the beginning. In particular, in the case of a newly born firm, it is inevitable that they fall behind on the marketing, settling vision, and performing strategy. If we can find such companies and provide them with the fund and management consulting at the same time, we will be able to create value worth no less than hundreds of times greater than the amount of investment. We will be able to recognize some purpose as an incubator in the sense that we raise a desirable company. #p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#
My objective, as mentioned above, stems from working experience for 3 and a half years as an expert in terms of credits and one year of working experience as a consultant. In order to become an expert in credit, especially a loan officer, I entered the KRW 19 billion (approximately USD 16 million) asset-scale of the biggest professional organization for long-term credit, the Korea Long-Term Credit Bank upon graduating from the university in 1995. I became well aware of the concept on the management of risk on the assets as well as the management of risk on credits through 6 months of on-the-job training on the risk management from Assets & Liabilities while developing the Banks management system. Afterwards, as a loan officer, I was in charge of around 30 deals of credits for the big and small companies. All I learned from 18 months of experience was the assessment of the potential value of the firm simply by its number of financial affairs could commit a considerable mistake. Among the 16 times of new credit loan cases I had handled, 2 cases were left delinquent by the time I quitted working at the end of year 1998. The lesson that I learned at that time was that if I had viewed the firms in terms of assessment from diverse angles such as vision and performance strategy of the company, the driving force of management strategy, and the active organization structure, I would have been able to prevent the bad loan. The opportunity to change my career into a consultant also came from this experience.
From the beginning of 1999, I changed my career to a consultant of the strategic consulting group in a local consulting firm called the ABL. It was done for the purpose of actually going inside the firm, and being able to study the vision and strategy as well as broaden the understanding on the firms. Although 1-year period was relatively short, I was able to participate in 4 projects including the outsourcing project for SK Telecom, organization-restructuring project for Kookmin Bank. During that period of time, I learned to raise the success of our team through bench marking, method of setting up vision and strategy, method of establishing a scenario and the assistance of our team. In addition, I realized from the colleagues, especially those who had achieved the MBA, that their knowledge on management and consulting skills are far better than mine. From then on, my desire to study in full scale on management, which is necessary for a consultant, began to grow rapidly.
A business school is very significant to me for three major reasons. First, I can learn the managerial knowledge and skill through advanced course of studies on management and various practical experiences. Secondly, it provides the chance to mutually interchange with superior men of ability. Thirdly, the MBA degree can build confidence to the prospective clients upon performing as the Project Manager and being in possession of the MBA degree will be much help on the fund forming for venture investments.

The primary reason why I choose Duke is the strong point in terms of environment. I would rather explore my overseas studies in a typical American small and medium-sized city than a metropolis such as New York, which is full of immigrants. Among top 10 business schools, Duke is the only one to my taste in this perspective. #p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#
I would like to spend two years being engrossed in academic fulfillment in an academic atmosphere in Duke located in the center of ?esearch Triangle?where the largest number of scholars with doctoral degree may live throughout the United States.

The second reason is that Duke is located in the vicinity of Washington D.C in which my wife wants to pursue her goal in museum studies. If my wife comes to study at George Washington University, I would choose between Duke University and University of North Carolina in order to spend the weekend with my wife. For this reason, I apply for the MBA schools within 4 hours of driving from Washington D.C.

The third reason is that I evaluate Duke located in the research triangle park- the so-called ?merica? next Silicon Valley?provide the best course in the field of entrepreneurship for new ventures. In particular, the only courses of Duke managing venture and growth mentored study program with entrepreneurship for venture capitalists will serve up essential knowledge on the establishment of venture capital company, which is my long term aspiration. During the period of time in Duke, I would like to share my business know-how, which is necessary to establish the venture company, with follow students by participating in the entrepreneurship and venture capital club.

The most crucial thing that I can contribute to Duke is my experience in and knowledge on internet business and venture company in Korea. Korea is one of top 10 nations in the world in terms of internet business and emerges as the experimental arena for the venture company, which is expected to belong to top 5 telecommunication countries by the year 2010. One of the themes that I want to make research is the detailed report on strategic investment with reference to the status of and the prospect for investment in 100 representative venture companies out of the main telecommunication nations in Asia including ROK, Taiwan, and Singapore. Given the opportunity, I would like to make a specific study group related to the theme of research along with professors and fellow students. I hope Duke will be recognized as one of the most prestigious business schools as far as Asian venture company is concerned thanks to my research in the long term.

2. Tell us about the most challenging team experience you have had to date. What role did you play? What factors made it a challenge for you? How did you and the group address these issues? What did you learn? (Limit - 2 pages)

3. a) Discuss a personal failure that had an impact on your professional practices or management style. Why do you consider the situation a failure? How did you resolve the situation? Did it change your professional outlook? If so, how? (Limit - 1 page)

During my first year at Asset & Liability Management Team of Korea Long Term Credit Bank, I went through a significant failure that made the schedule of my team unnecessarily delayed. It occurred in the middle stage of my first project, which was to build up the risk management system for the bank. Within the project, I was responsible for performing benchmarking JP Morgan? ?AR (Value At Risk)?system. At the case team meeting where I was supposed to present my work, I had only prepared the results of how VAR system works without my analysis and interpretative thoughts on the results. Thus, I was not able to answer important questions raised by my team members with reference to the results. Since the answers were critical for the progress of their work, they had to wait for me to formulate my thoughts and have a discussion with them at our next meeting. At last, with the help of one of the colleagues in my team, I was able to finish interpretative analysis of the benchmarking three days later, which eventually brought about an unnecessary delay. #p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#
I created this situation because I was not fully ready to be a pro-active and creative in terms of idea. Being raised in Korea where responsibilities are categorically assigned by position, I was not fully set to execute the task without permission of my supervisors when key decisions were required. Although I was commended as the best worker in military service, I was nothing but a performer who accomplished tasks in an efficient manner. I was not trained to plan and accomplish an assignment for myself. Through this failure, I recognized that ? good worker?in an intellectual organization requires vigorous self-planning and self-training. In the wake of this failure, my first priority in any project is placed to accept full responsibility for the task at hand, self ?plan and accomplish as much as possible, and develop answers to any contingent questions. I want to change myself from an executor to a leader. I strongly believe that my early failures in my career have encouraged me to be a better consultant, manager and leader. Thank you.

 

Hong, Kil Dong
Applying for MBA
Dartmouth College

1.Discuss your career progression to date.Elaborating on your short-and long-term goals,how do you see your career progressing after receiving a Tuck MBA?

In 20xx, I might be in the middle of wrestle with my brain in terms of purchasing conditions such as local buyer, price, and market in the xxx-trading firm. I might have to decide how the change in the market will happen and also how the decision-making procedure should vary. My short-term goal is to conduct the business as a trading manager who can analyze current situation of market, grasp the tendency of future, and make accurate decision as well as to maintain and develop the flow of efficient business with all the partners in East Asia including Korea. My long-term goal is to establish a professional trading company, introducing new selling technique based on a cutting-edge mechanism such as Internet Web Site. After graduation in 19xx, I was granted job offers from big 4 enterprises including xxx Group. Nevertheless, I entered the xxx, one of the leading companies in Korea in the field of international marketing. I was stationed at the export department in charge of xxx.

During that time, the trading companies in Korea were in the middle of making research on availability of the so-called 'positioning' technique. That is, it was related to the prediction of the market tendency of the cargo to sell and purchase in timely manner. Despite the mandatory period of time for about 3-4 years to become a person in charge of one item in the trade department, I have visited xxx, xxx in Japan in order to check the data after I had worked for three months. That's because I was highly recognized for my outstanding ability to conduct the business for standardized price variable and controls over the exchange rate fluctuation in order to reach the rational conclusion in an objective manner when I made a decision on the international oil price fluctuation and announced the research on the case of position deal such as xxx and xxx, which are the materials of xxx. After all, it became to be a source of research in the company. Based on my outstanding job performance, I was officially appointed as a person in charge of exporting the xxx, xxx whose annual turnover came up to x million dollars on the average.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

As a result, we were placed at the top in terms of sales in Korea because the sales in xxx sector revealed the increase of xxx% in 19xx compared to that of last year. In addition, the net profit has been increased around xxx %, compared to that of last year after I took in charge of this sector. Therefore, I became the main source of jealousy from my seniors and fellow workers. In addition, on May in 19xx, we were awarded about x million dollars worth of Tender under my supervision, which xxx Authority under xxx Government started in the process as World bank loan was made, beating 17 companies such as xxx,xxx and Japanese companies. Therefore, I was selected as the employer of the year in the trade department by achieving net profit of about xxx $ by delivering pre-positioned cargo from domestic industries.

Since the January of 19xx, I have been in charge of collecting and analyzing the data on the Asian xxx market for the most part for x years, moving into the department of international marketing, which was newly built in xxx. During that time, I was able to enhance the capability related to the decision- making procedure through data analysis and the establishment of follow-up measures. Meanwhile, I helped the executives, who were stuck on the concept of traditional decision-making procedures, face the changes in business environment more positively by serving up continuous analysis on the business policy of advanced companies such as xxx, xxx, which were world leading companies. Due to high recognition of my vigorous efforts, I was able to develop the negotiation skill and the global way of thinking by participating in the 'xxx Seminar' held in xxx in April 19xx. In addition, I learned the role of a team member and a coordinator in the sense that we can create synergy effect that might go far beyond the ability of each member based on the teamwork. I strongly believe these experiences will be great basis for me to participate in the international trading company in the short term as well as manage one of the international trading firms in the long term.

2.What qualities will the 21st century demand of its business leaders?To what extent have you demonstrated these qualities through personal and professional interactions?How do you envision your Tuck experience preparing you to become such a leader?

On December 7th in 19xx, I had serious conflicts with a general manager in our department as hard as I should consider the resignation as a last option when our xxx heading for the xxx with x million dollar's worth of xxx was caught on the rock. Through this experience, I realized the important fact that the role of leader is basically the coordination of the group rather than the implementation for the purpose of obedience. In this case, I also experienced the fact that leadership is derived from the fairest judgment by collecting and analyzing information after the accurate evaluation of the situation. At that time, I had conflicts with my general manager in terms of the benefit in the future and the cost at the present. The net profit in a xxx trading was about xxx$ worth, whereas it required xxx$ worth of expense to pay for the repair in place of missing ship owner after declaring general average. In the situation in which there was more possibility for ship owner to declare bankruptcy, I powerfully insisted on managing all business in the burden of our company because I judged that there was grand anxiety to lose long-term customers if we spent more time.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

General manager, however, avoided making a decision which could serve as major damage in his career. Therefore he was wasting lots of time by ignoring my opinion although I was in charge of the matter. As a consequence, we were able to deliver the xxx to the buyer in xxx after refilling the vessel under the instruction of the boss who recognized the seriousness of situation through the interview with me around 5 months later. Since then, however, Buyer in got our firm to disqualify in the same bid in 19xx, which produced serious conflicts as to who was to blame inside the firm. No matter what is big or small problem, we are always in the situation where to find out the solution, and meet a great turning point in life by what decision we make. I found the important lesson from this case in the sense that the decision was not performed by the same fixed standard in every situation. In addition, it required accurate judgment of situation, the rational assessment of one's own capability, and the bold determination for the purpose of more desirable decision-making procedure. It is clear that only those who possess the well-balanced capability both in academic and practical context along with accurate prospect for the future are likely to survive in the sharp whirlpool of future economy. Along with the necessity of lifelong education, the rapid change in the environmental factors in worldwide economy, as you might see in the IMF economic crisis in Korea at the end of 1997, expedites my desire for the pursuit of MBA program.

Based on this decision, I chose Tuck School for the following reasons:
First, the primary reason why I apply for Tuck Business School is the small-scale classrooms and small group interactions. I will be able to learn the process of reaching the conclusion with reference to the specific topic based on the close interpersonal relationship with classmates and faculty at your school. I am sure that it will serve as the basis for practical business in the future. My fellow students and I will be able to learn the importance of cooperation in supportive environment that the Tuck School will provide. Moreover, diverse ethnicity of my classmates will extend the perimeter of my perspective on the global society. Secondly, Tuck School will enable me to achieve a series of processes such as strategic pursuing, negotiation, finalizing business deals with the limited data in an efficient manner. In this context, I believe it will be great basis for the establishment and management of a trading company, which is my long-term aspiration. Besides, I am confident that case-base approach, team & field project, and computer simulations that Tuck School provides will serve up highly efficient standards in terms of the solution to the problem in actual business practice.

Third, the program of Tuck School will serve as a decisive role in the leadership development in terms of the role not only as a field manager in the short term, but also a leader in the establishment of a trading firm in the long term. I strongly believe that it is quite clearly based on every single achievement of graduates of the Tuck School in each company. I would like to share the idea with the classmates in terms of the limited data analysis, success and failure in the process of rational prospect for the future, prompt decision and the leadership in every single program at Tuck School. #p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

3.What are your interests outside your job or school?

There is a saying "sound in body, sound in mind", which means both body and mind are equally important. We, however, tend to keep our distance from the handicapped, or make light of them, since most of us judge a person by his appearance. I didn't belong to the category of exception, either. But a little incident during my military service came to alter my point of view. In September 19xx, I had an opportunity to serve for 4 days in a rehabilitation center for the disabled called 'xxx', located in xxx, run by xxx. On the first day, all I did was to help in a construction site under construction and harvest vegetables in a farm field. On the second day, I cleaned bathrooms and living rooms where the disabled were staying and helped feed them. I felt very awkward, in particular, in feeding the handicapped suffering from cerebral paralysis or apoplexy because I have never met such people before.

Sincerely speaking, I spent the whole day as if I had only to complete the mandatory service rather than serve from the bottom of my heart.At that night, however, the lecture left a deep impact on my life. xxx said that out of the people he had met, the disabled were the most good-natured people but they wouldn't easily open their mind, for we treat them in an exclusive manner. I did not realize that I had not shared enough what I had with others until I heard him saying that a bitter ordeal suddenly strikes everyone of us, only the time being different. Since then, I have volunteered to support 'xxx' with certain amount of money on a monthly basis and organized 'xxx society' at xxx, helping people in a financial difficulty every other week. I have learned from this lesson that since we live in a community, it is impossible not to associate with others and we should share what we have. The primary reason I will pursue my goal in MBA might be to accomplish a better performance. Furthermore, I am confident that it would be a good motive to make a better society by sharing what I have learned in MBA program.

 

Cornell

Hong, Kil Dong
243 words

1.Why are you seeking an MBA from the Johnson school? What do you hope to experience and contribute here and what are your plans/goals after you receive your degree? What factors have influenced your career decisions to date?

In 20xx, I might be in the middle of wrestle with my brain in terms of purchasing conditions such as local buyer, price, and market in the xxx trading firm. I might have to decide how the change in the market will happen and also how the decision-making procedure should vary. My short-term goal is to conduct the business as a trading manager who can analyze current situation of market, grasp the tendency of future, and make accurate decision as well as to maintain and develop the flow of efficient business with all the partners in East Asia including Korea. My long-term goal is to establish a professional trading company, introducing new selling technique based on a cutting-edge mechanism such as Internet Web Site. Highly necessary is the professional knowledge in the sense that I will have to learn through the curriculums of Cornell University such as marketing research, international marketing, integrated marketing communications.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

To the best of my belief, I am confident that my experience for the past x years will serves as great help achieving my goal. During the xxx Company, I learned the technique such as bridge loan, project finance, and risk hedge in the field of international finance as well as international marketing utilizing positioning in the field of international trade. In addition, I have analyzed the market price and the factors of demand fluctuation such as exchange rate occurred in international deal and the oil price. While working at xxx. for about x years, I have improved my capability to conduct business based on a rational decision through my main work of the collecting and analyzing the market data. I learned the role as a member of our team and a coordinator in the sense that we can create synergy effect that might go beyond each and every one's ability based on the teamwork. I chose Johnson Business School for the following reasons:

First, small-scale classroom and small group interactions that Johnson Business School provides are the primary reason why I apply for. My colleagues and I will be able to learn the importance of cooperation in supportive environment that Johnson Business School will provide. Moreover, a variety of ethnicity of my colleagues will enhance my global perspective. Secondly, Johnson Business School will help me achieve a series of processes such as strategic pursuing, negotiation skill, finalizing business deals with the limited data in an efficient manner. Third, the program of Johnson Business School will serve as a decisive role in cultivating leadership in terms of the role not only as a manager on the spot in the short term, but also a leader in the establishment of a trading firm in the long term.

2.Describe a recent national or international event that has had a negative effect on the business or economic climate of a paticular region of the world. How would you address this issue? What are the implications of your approach?

In 1997, an extreme shift in economy, which changed the structure of mindset of the Korean people, happened in Korea. In the wake of IMF regime, the invincible banks collapsed all of sudden. In addition, some big businesses-the so-called 'Chaebol'- were bound to go out of business unless they rationally respond to the change in the business environment. In my company, xx% of all employers were destined to suffer from the massive dismissal due to restructuring of the company. Although I survived from the turmoil, I recognized many problems derived from the restructuring. The biggest problem was that arbitrary state-led restructuring could undermine the potential of the company. As a matter of fact, in case of xxx, the department of xxx- the prospective field that will reflect its outcome 5 years later - was abolished due to its weak return on investment during that time. Since xxx, however, reestablished the same department a year after abolition, I realized the restructuring coerced by the government would bring about considerable damage on a national scale.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

Secondly, it is a matter of the means and the criteria of implementing restructuring. A number of Korean companies that selected the department system before IMF regime enforced the restructuring by each department. That is to say, while the team/department with good business record was bound to keep it as it had been, much more the status of the employees, the team/department with poor business record was likely to break down, much less the layoff of employees. In addition, as the size of restructuring regarding the number of employees in the context of the whole company was established, restructuring was implemented by ambiguous standards such as the layoff of women and the employee with longer career in the company. The means of restructuring should be formalized in the direction of enhancing the motivation of the employees and the productivity by utilizing the evaluation data and objectifying the coordination of labors through vocational training.

While the concept of 'lifetime employment system' in Japanese companies collapsed, Korea suffers from lots of problems such as distrust between the labor and the employer, the decline in motivation of members, moral hazard among members, and etc., in the wake of IMF regime. Many people say that the restructuring in 1997 was inevitable course of action. As far as Korean companies, however, do not establish proper business plan nor figure out the way of accomplishing its plan and appropriate number of labors in the project, it is not safe to say that there will be no more restructuring like that of 1997 in Korean economy.

3-b. The Johnson School is well known for its leadership curriculum and for building great business leaders. Please describe your most significant leadership experience.

On December 7th in 19xx, I had serious conflicts with a general manager in our department as hard as I should consider the resignation as a last option when our xxx heading for the xxx with x million dollar's worth of xxx was caught on the rock. Through this experience, I realized the important fact that the role of leader is basically the coordination of the group rather than the implementation for the purpose of obedience. In this case, I also experienced the fact that leadership is derived from the fairest judgment by collecting and analyzing information after the accurate evaluation of the situation. At that time, I had conflicts with my general manager in terms of the benefit in the future and the cost at the present. The net profit in a xxx trading was about xxx$ worth, whereas it required xxx$ worth of expense to pay for the repair in place of missing ship owner after declaring general average. In the situation in which there was more possibility for ship owner to declare bankruptcy, I powerfully insisted on managing all business in the burden of our company because I judged that there was grand anxiety to lose long-term customers if we spent more time.

General manager, however, avoided making a decision which could serve as major damage in his career. Therefore he was wasting lots of time by ignoring my opinion although I was in charge of the matter. As a consequence, we were able to deliver the xxx to the buyer in xxx after refilling the xxx under the instruction of the boss who recognized the seriousness of situation through the interview with me around 5 months later. Since then, however, Buyer in xxx got our firm to disqualify in the same bid in 19xx, which produced serious conflicts as to who was to blame inside the firm. No matter what is big or small problem, we are always in the situation where to find out the solution, and meet a great turning point in life by what decision we make. I found the important lesson from this case in the sense that the decision was not performed by the same fixed standard in every situation. In addition, it required accurate judgment of situation, the rational assessment of one's own capability, and the bold determination for the purpose of more desirable decision-making procedure. #p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

4. Optional essay:

I would like to account for the worse mark than expected in the listening section of TOEFL even though I graduated from xxx University. Although I sustained the availability of TOEFL, I would like to point out the vulnerability of objective assessment due to the problematic facility that implements the test. As a matter of fact, since each and every TOEFL is conducted in the classroom of university in Korea, the level of facility is different ranging from college to college. In one university, it is possible to take a test in as high quality of facility as the communication lab. In other university, it is almost impossible to take a decent test because of lots of noise and terrible echo in the listening test. In this context, it depends on the place s/he is supposed to take to get a good mark in TOEFL. That is, the mark in the listening section of TOEFL has a lot to do with the place where s/he takes it. In my case, I was able to take only one TOEFL because the time was running out. Besides, the level of facility in which I took the test couldn't be worse enough for 40 students to ask for retest.

But the chances were so slim that my listening mark eventually turned out just as half as the original score that I had usually got in the tests. When I was in college, I took as many as 15 credits of English subjects. In that context, I tried to develop my command of English in terms of communication. In addition, when I was a senior in college, I made every effort to develop my communication skills through the courses such as English rhetoric and presentation for six months at the xxx Program provided by xxx University English xxx. I am confident about my English ability particularly in terms of communication skill because I reflected my fluent command of English while I prepared for the international conferences such as International xxx Association, xxx Seminar. Moreover, I was granted the citation of the top among xxx employees in the English test implemented by English institute in the company when I was working at xxx. If necessary, I am willing to prove my listening ability by taking TOEFL again. Once again, I hope your school will not assess my English proficiency only based on TOEFL result. Thank you.

 

 

Hong,Kil Dong
Applying for MBA
Boston University

1. Describe your experiences as a member of a team working in a professional or volunteer capacity. Comment on how you might have used leadership skills in these situations, and how your involvement helped to improve the functioning of the organization.

I was able to recognize the true nature of leadership when I joined the ' Nationwide College Student xxx Contest' in the summer vacation of the third year in college. The xxx team at xxx University of which I was in charge was just a club newly established and the members of my team was afraid of being placed on the bottom among 24 participant teams. As a result, they seemed to agree with the idea of passing up the participation in the contest. Given the chance of making my own argument with reference to the participation, I firmly decided to take part in the contest as a team head, although we might be placed on the tail, in order to set a good example to the following underclassmen. Once the decision was fully made, my mission was to build confidence of the team.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

Therefore, I participated in the 'Motivation Building Camp' for 5 days implemented by the xxx with 18 members of my team, preliminary candidates for the team included. Owing to survival from 12 hours of rigorous training such as penetration of mud and 2 km swimming on a daily basis, the first outcome was friendship and confidence. My colleagues were able to gain confidence that we could do it whatever it takes because we had gone through the real training of xxx that we usually saw in the movie. By the end of harsh training, we were able to feel strong brotherhood like ' We are the one.' between ourselves. The next step I took was to join the intensive training in terms of technology and localization for 10 days in xxx by introducing a professional coach of xxx from Korea xxx Association. The decision was based on my conviction that we would not be able to accomplish our goal only with motivation but effective training. Compared to other teams involved in 40 days of training annually, we trained ourselves for just 10 days. The qualified instruction of the professional coach served as great help to the development of technique in our team. Although our team eventually gained the second runner-up in the contest in August 15 19xx, the members of our team shouted for joy, saying ' We made it!' over and over again.

Although we couldn't win the contest, all of us were able to experience much more valuable things than the championship-confidence, friendship, and the sense of challenge. During the whole phase of the contest, I had no choice but to make lots of decisions as a leader of the team all by myself. Throughout this experience, I realized the significant elements of leadership for the sake of right decision as follows. The leader should have the sense of challenge and the ability to make the members of the team build confidence not to speak of friendship. In this context, I realized the outcome of business depends mainly on the efficient leadership from the bottom of my heart.

2. Boston University seeks a diverse entering class, rich with students of unique talents and experiences. Describe how your personal distinctiveness will make for a stronger learning environment at Boston University, and how this distinctiveness will contribute to your success as a manager.

My main contribution to Boston MBA program is the knowledge on the Asian information and communication business circle and venture business. Since I was in college, I have been deeply interested in the field of information and communication in Asia, devoting myself to the research on the field. In college, I established a research club on venture business by the name of 'xxx' with other 12 fellow students in the department of business administration. Therefore, we opened conferences on a regular basis for the sake of predicting their technology, business management, and prospect for the development of 50 potential venture businesses in Korea. As a matter of fact, we expected 8 companies such as xxx and xxx would grow as world leading companies during that time. Like the way we expected, they are currently marking rapid increase in stock value more than xx times of its original value in x years. In this context, it proved our high level of capability in terms of analysis.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

Thanks to my vigorous attention, during x years of work experience at xxx, I have been mainly involved in the business analysis for the sake of foreign investment company that would like to invest on the Korean venture businesses as well as Korean companies that would like to invest on the information and communication enterprises in Asia including China. Beyond that, I personally spent lots of time in developing the level of my knowledge on the information and communication business circle in about 80 countries in Asia including Korea. In this context, I am confident that I have more specific and analytical knowledge as to what is going on in Asian venture businesses than anybody else. In particular, I am eligible to transfer a great deal of knowledge on the technology, potential, and flaw of the main venture businesses in terms of Internet in Korea to the fellow students in Boston. I hope that my specific knowledge will serve as great help when my colleagues in Boston enter the business market in Asia after graduation.

3. Why is an MBA, MS/MIS, or MSIM the next natural step in your career advancement? Why is this the right time for you to pursue graduate management education? Please mention your career goals in your response.

After graduating from your university in 20xx, I intend to return to xxx,the company at which I am currently employed, and work for x years as a consultant to venture companies in Korea and Asia. By the year 20xx, I hope to have founded my own consulting firm and to operate a "venture incubator" company that nurtures startup ventures by providing support with capital investment and management consulting. To this end, if possible, I plan to pursue a CFA certification after graduating from your business school. Armed with the CFA certification along with a top business school's international exposure, strength in finance, and management training, I will concentrate my efforts on turning venture companies into world-class companies with my technical expertise and aspiration. Working at xxx for the last x years helped solidify my goals. After graduating from college in February of 19xx and joining xx- considered as the most experienced consulting company in Korea - I concentrated on analyzing investment results and securing foreign capital for Korean companies. The four projects which I handled in these two years were mainly market forecasting and return-on-investment analysis for companies looking to invest in the Internet and telecommunications.

During this period, I was able to discover the enormous market potential in Asia for Internet-related businesses. In particular, xxx to which I was a consultant for two months starting May 19xx, and the xxx Project, for which I am currently a consultant, are xxx projects with expected revenues of $xx billion and $xx billion respectively over the next 10 years; they are model cases that showed me the potential of venture telecommunications companies. In working on these projects, I discovered the possibility of unearthing venture companies operating in Asia and developing nations and turning them into global competitors. I decided that in order to realize this goal, I must gain a greater insight on the business international environment in addition to the management and accounting knowledge that I currently have. This is the first reason why I want to go to business school. I want to cultivate my management abilities by engaging in focused studies on areas such as Corporate Finance and Financial Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and International Marketing at a U.S. business school. The second reason why I want to go to business school is because I want to acquire a firm knowledge of the Asian market, a topic I have avidly pursued since college. During college I attained considerable knowledge on Japan and China through two separate 6-month language-training studies, and these experiences greatly aided my performance of investment consulting in Asia during my employment at xxx. These experiences also made me realize the need to further reinforce my knowledge in up-and-coming telecommunications markets of countries like China and Singapore; while studying at your university, I hope to concentrate my studies on Asia, its companies, and its growth potential and investment strategy. This is precisely why I would choose International Business as my area of concentration.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

One of the main reasons I have chosen Boston University is its environment. Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States. And it is located at the heart of Boston. I can say with confidence that I know about Boston University's advantages and status more than anyone else does, because I've stayed in the city for about two months. Indeed, I've been to the building of School of Management in Boston University several times. And I think that I could acquire more information and have various experiences there than in other business schools which are far away from cities.
The second reason why I apply for Boston University is its unique and excellent MBA program. Encouraging students to concentrate on process instead of function, the MBA program that Boston University offers put an emphasis on "Total Quality Management", which integrates a number of subjects. In this light, I believe that those who go through the MBA course in Boston University could exercise more outstanding capability even in the areas they don't major in than those who study in other business schools.The third is the fact that Boston University provides students with full support, especially through the Field Career Center. I know that Boston University is a school that is willing to give a practical help to its students through a vast range of programs, such as "the First Place", which is an interactive software-recruiting program. Thank you.

Optional question:
5. What will be the admissions committee's chief concern in evaluating your potential for success at Boston University? Please explain why this concern might be unfounded or not important.

After earning a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, I have been a permanent employee of xxx since February 19xx. Because my transcript indicates I also earned a degree in journalism in February 19xx, I believe this warrants an explanation of the circumstances surrounding this record. Since college, I have had a great interest since in the influence that the media has on the modern corporation. During my junior year, I received a prize in a college thesis-writing competition sponsored by the xxx for a paper entitled "xxx" In particular, my suspicions that the media's reporting had a crucial effect on the Korean stock market and the growth of companies were confirmed during sessions of the "xxx" at xxx University Business Administration Department, of which I was an ardent participant.

From this experience, I concluded that to become a management consultant, I needed more in depth study of the relationship between the media and the corporation.
For this reason, I decided to pursue both journalism and business administration degrees. While working as a consultant, I attended evening classes and earned the journalism degree in 1 year. Therefore, although I was enrolled in xxx University in 19xx, I was actually employed full time at xxx as a 19xx graduate. I would like to point out that my studies in journalism took place in the evenings, and thus this is consistent with my two or more years of full-time work experience.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

 

Emory U 2000
Hong, Kil Dong

1. List one of your most significant professional or organizational accomplishments. (Two pages)

After graduation in 19xx, I was granted job offers from big x enterprises including xxx Group. Nevertheless, I entered the xxx, one of the leading companies in Korea in the field of international marketing. I was stationed at the export department in charge of xxx. During that time, the trading companies in Korea were in the middle of making research on availability of the so-called ‘positioning’ technique. That is, it was related to the prediction of the market tendency of the cargo to sell and purchase in timely manner. Despite the mandatory period of time for about 3-4 years to become a person in charge of one item in the trade department, I have visited xxx, xxx in Japan in order to check the data after I had worked for three months. That’s because I was highly recognized for my outstanding ability to conduct the business for standardized price variable and controls over the exchange rate fluctuation in order to reach the rational conclusion in an objective manner when I made a decision on the international oil price fluctuation and announced the research on the case of position deal such as Rock Phosphate and Gypsum, which are the materials of xxx. After all, it became to be a source of research in the company.

Based on my outstanding job performance, I was officially appointed as a person in charge of exporting the cargo of xxx, xxx whose annual turnover came up to x million dollars on the average. As a result, we were placed at the top in terms of sales in Korea because the sales in xxx sector revealed the increase of xxx% in 19xx compared to that of last year. In addition, the net profit has been increased around xxx %, compared to that of last year after I took in charge of this sector. Therefore, I became the main source of jealousy from my seniors and fellow workers. These conclusions were derived from my positive efforts in the followings. In the first place, I increased the amount of cargo to operate with ‘Positioning’ more actively even though there was a chance of risk to some degree.

In addition, I set up a letter of credit to the seller with low interest rate in place of the headquarters under the name of overseas corp. in xx, xx and etc. for the sake of minimizing the financial expense occurred between the installation of USANCE L/C and the negotiation in case of trades in three countries. I positively introduced a kind of ‘Bridge loan’ that maximized the profit. If the credit level of buyer is in danger, we supplied additional banking expense, making every effort to disperse the danger through banking technique like forfeiting with the Seoul office of xxBank. Later on, all the team in the company greatly contributed to the increase in net profit of company as introducing powerfully the method to decrease banking expense like loan and others. In addition, on May in 19xx, we were awarded about x million dollars worth of Tender, which xxx Authority under xxx Government started in the process as World bank loan was made under my supervision, beating 17 companies such as xxx, xxx and Japanese companies.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

Therefore, I was selected as the employer of the year in the trade department by achieving net profit of about xxx$ by delivering pre-positioned cargo from domestic industries. In November 19xx, I had a chance to discuss the practical business of international trade with a vice-president of xxx when I visited to secure the stable suppliers at xxx in xxx. Through this experience, I realized from the bottom of my heart the necessity of field education. As a matter of fact, xxx transacted business with xxx from all over the world as well as the cargo from the U.S. in the form of Position. I was shocked by the fact that the charger of items had led the market by positioning cargo within the limit of his management, creating considerable amount of profit.

Comprehensive prediction for the future business, particularly xxx’ tip on rapid development of new Mechanism (E-Commerce) in Biz among each nation, his balanced judgment and decision-making ability, became an important source of guideline as well as the momentum to expedite the pursuit of my goal in MBA. I’m confident that my various international experiences will help me achieve not only my short-term goal of high-speed shift in domestic & international marketing through cutting-edge technique such as Internet, but also my long-term aspiration of establishing a professional trading firm.

2-D. The greatest challenge I have faced. (One page)

On December xth in 19xx, I had serious conflicts with a general manager in our department as hard as I should consider the resignation as a last option when our xxx heading for the xxx with x million dollar’s worth of xxx was caught on the rock. Through this experience, I realized the important fact that the role of leader is basically the coordination of the group rather than the implementation for the purpose of obedience. In this case, I also experienced the fact that leadership is derived from the fairest judgment by collecting and analyzing information after the accurate evaluation of the situation. At that time, I had conflicts with my general manager in terms of the benefit in the future and the cost at the present. The net profit in a xxx trading was about xxx$ worth, whereas it required xxx$ worth of expense to pay for the repair in place of missing ship owner after declaring general average. In the situation in which there was more possibility for ship owner to declare bankruptcy, I powerfully insisted on managing all business in the burden of our company because I judged that there was grand anxiety to lose long-term customers if we spent more time.

General manager, however, avoided making a decision for which could serve as major damage in his career. Therefore he was wasting lots of time by ignoring my opinion although I was in charge of the matter. As a consequence, we were able to deliver the xxx to the buyer in xxx after refilling the xxx under the instruction of the boss who recognized the seriousness of situation through the interview with me around x months later. Since then, however, Buyer in xxx got our firm to disqualify in the same bid in 19xx, which produced serious conflicts as to who was to blame inside the firm. No matter what is big or small problem, we are always in the situation where to find out the solution, and meet a great turning point in life by what decision we make. I found the important lesson from this case in the sense that the decision was not performed by the same fixed standard in every situation. In addition, it required accurate judgment of situation, the rational assessment of one’s own capability, and the bold determination for the purpose of more desirable decision-making procedure. #p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

3. What do you hope to be doing five years after completing your MBA? What experience and attributes do you possess that would make you a good fit for that position? (Two pages)

In 2007, I might be in the middle of wrestle with my brain in terms of purchasing conditions such as local buyer, price, and market in the xxx trading firm. I might have to decide how the change in the market will happen and also how the decision-making procedure should vary. My short-term goal is to conduct the business as a trading manager who can analyze current situation of market, grasp the tendency of future, and make accurate decision as well as to maintain and develop the flow of efficient business with all the partners in East Asia including Korea. My long-term goal is to establish a professional trading company, introducing new selling technique based on a cutting-edge mechanism such as Internet Web Site. Highly necessary is the professional knowledge in the sense that I will have to learn through the curriculums of EMORY such as marketing research, international marketing, integrated marketing communications. I am eager to hope for this sort of opportunity granted at your school.

To the best of my belief, I am confident that my experience for the past x years will serves as great help achieving my goal. During the xxx, I learned the technique such as bridge loan, project finance, and risk hedge in the field of international finance as well as international marketing utilizing positioning in the field of international trade. In addition, I have analyzed the market price and the factors of demand fluctuation such as exchange rate occurred in international deal and the oil price. In terms of international business, a variety of skills in reference to the management skill and negotiation skill as well as global way of thinking obtained in the xxx Seminar held in xxx in April 19xx will be great basis for the potential and quality in the upcoming future.

While working at xxx. for about x years, I have improved my capability to conduct business based on a rational decision through my main work of the collecting and analyzing the market data. I learned the role as a member of our team and a coordinator in the sense that we can create synergy effect that might go beyond each and every one’s ability based on the teamwork. Besides, I believe that these experiences will be great basis for me to run the international trading firm in the future.

4. What do you expect to accomplish in the Goizueta Business School MBA program? How will your participation fit in with your current responsibilities and your long-term career goals? (two pages)

It is clear that only those who possess the well-balanced capability both in academic and practical context along with accurate prospect for the future are likely to survive in the sharp whirlpool of future economy. Along with the necessity of lifelong education, the rapid change in the environmental factors in worldwide economy, as you might see in the IMF economic crisis in Korea at the end of 1997, expedites my desire for the pursuit of MBA program. Based on the decision, I chose Goizueta Business School for the following reasons: #p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#
First, small-scale classroom and small group interactions at your school are the primary reason to apply for Goizueta Business School. I will be able to learn the process of reaching the conclusion with reference to the specific theme based on the close interpersonal relationship with classmates and faculty at your school. In addition, the process that I will have learned at your class will serve as the basis for practical business in the future. My colleagues and I will be able to learn the importance of cooperation in supportive environment that GBS will provide. Moreover, a variety of ethnicity of my colleagues will enhance my global mindset.

Secondly, GBS will help me achieve a series of processes such as strategic pursuing, negotiation skill, finalizing business deals with the limited data in an efficient manner. In this context, I believe it will be great basis to establish and manage a trading company, which is my long-term aspiration. Besides, I am confident that case-base approach, team & field project, and computer simulations that GBS provides will serve up highly efficient standards in terms of the solution to the problem in actual business practice. In addition, both international area studies and concentration studies GBS focuses on provide great advantage in the light of my future goal, compared to other business schools.

Third, the program of GBS will serve as a decisive role in cultivating leadership in terms of the role not only as a manager on the spot in the short term, but also a leader in the establishment of a trading firm in the long term. I strongly believe that it is quite clear when it comes to every single achievement of graduates of the GBS in each company. I would like to share the idea with the classmates in terms of the limited data analysis, success and failure in the process of rational prospect for the future, prompt decision and the leadership in every single program at GBS. Moreover, I would like to receive some feedback on the part that I did not experience from the fellow students, and vice versa. In case of some dilemma where my classmates might fall, I will be willing to give my hand to work out the problem.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hong, Kil Dong
Applying for MBA
Carnegie Mellon University

A.What are your reasons for undertaking graduate study at the Graduate School of Industrial Administration?

Please describe how your experience, your education and your graduate training at this school and your future career plans relate to each other. Describe your short-term and long-term objectives and how you plan to achieve them.

In 2007, I might be in the middle of wrestle with my brain in terms of purchasing conditions such as local buyer, price, and market in the Bulk cargo-trading firm. I might have to decide how the change in the market will happen and also how the decision-making procedure should vary. My short-term goal is to conduct the business as a trading manager who can analyze current situation of market, grasp the tendency of future, and make accurate decision as well as to maintain and develop the flow of efficient business with all the partners in East Asia including Korea. My long-term goal is to establish a professional trading company, introducing new selling technique based on a cutting-edge mechanism such as Internet Web Site. After graduation in 19xx, I was granted job offers from big 4 enterprises including xxx.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

Nevertheless, I entered the xxx, one of the leading companies in Korea in the field of international marketing. I was stationed at the export department in charge of xxx. Despite the mandatory period of time for about 3-4 years to become a person in charge of one item in the trade department, I have visited xxx, xxx in Japan in order to check the data after I had worked for three months. That’s because I was highly recognized for my outstanding ability to conduct the business for standardized price variable and controls over the exchange rate fluctuation in order to reach the rational conclusion in an objective manner when I made a decision on the international oil price fluctuation and announced the research on the case of position deal such as xxx and xxx, which are the materials of xxx. After all, it became to be a source of research in the company. Based on my outstanding job performance, I was officially appointed as a person in charge of exporting the cargo of xxx, xxx whose annual turnover came up to x million dollars on the average. As a result, we were placed at the top in terms of sales in Korea because the sales in xxx sector revealed the increase of xxx% in 19xx compared to that of last year.

Therefore, I became the main source of jealousy from my seniors and fellow workers. In addition, on May in 19xx, we were awarded about x million dollars worth of Tender under my supervision, which xxx Authority under xxx Government started in the process as World bank loan was made, beating xx companies such as xxx, xxx and Japanese companies. Therefore, I was selected as the employer of the year in the trade department by achieving net profit of about xxx$ by delivering pre-positioned cargo from domestic industries. Since the January of 19xx, I have been in charge of collecting and analyzing the data on the Asian insurance market for the most part of x years, moving into the department of international marketing, which was newly built in xx Co. During that time, I was able to enhance the capability related to the decision- making procedure through data analysis and the establishment of follow-up measures.

Meanwhile, I helped the executives, who were stuck on the concept of traditional decision-making procedures, face the changes in business environment more positively by serving up continuous analysis on the business policy of advanced companies such as xx bank, xx Co., which were world leading companies. Due to high recognition of my vigorous efforts, I was able to develop the negotiation skill and the global way of thinking by participating in the ‘xxx Seminar’ held in xxx in April 19xx. In addition, I learned the role of a team member and a coordinator in the sense that we can create synergy effect that might go far beyond the ability of each member based on the teamwork. I strongly believe these experiences will be great basis for me to participate in the international trading company in the short term as well as manage one of the international trading firms in the long term. The primary reason why I apply for GSIA is the courses related to the establishment of the company that will serve as the most important basis for the build-up and management of specialized trading firm with a specific focus on the Asian market, which is my long-term aspiration. The courses that GSIA provides in the worldwide context are as follows:#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

the way of setting up the business plan, the way of collecting fund from investors, the detailed knowledge on the production of the commodity, the marketing skills, and so forth. Secondly, I think highly of the quantitative approach on which GSIA focuses. This methodology is considered a great strength compared to other schools in the sense that it can systemize a series of process in an objective manner to recognize and solve the problem. In particular, your school is one of the most prestigious universities in the field of computer science and information system. Now that I figure your school is the first school that introduced the information system into the Business Administration, I believe it will be great help to apply the information system to the E-commerce in the field of international trade in which I am greatly interested. Given the opportunity, I would like to explore the field of E-commerce in detail as one of independent studies at your graduate school.
B.Because GSIA students work closely together, we would like to understand what there is about your background and your experiences that would make a contribution to the diversity of the entering class and the educational experience of the other students.

My father used to address, “ Gain as many experience as possible. The knowledge based on experiences is highly useful to work out the problem.” According to my father’s lesson, I have tried to gain a wide variety of experiences since I was young. Even in the work, I have striven to obtain as many experience as possible in my field through a number of overseas business trips and workshops. I would like to hand over my peculiar experiences to my colleagues as follows.
First of all, it is the xxx marketing that I went through in the xxx (xxx) trading. It is not commonplace but essential in international marketing to figure out the demand of buyer, predict the supplier’s market of supplier and price fluctuation, utilize xxx at reasonable price, and minimize the financial cost. I would like to have my colleagues realize the idea and the means of comprehending the market in macroeconomic perspective, which I have learned from the past x years of working experiences. Secondly, it is oriental way of self-discipline that I want to hand over to my colleagues. I have trained my body and mind mainly through paduk and meditation for the past 20 years. In particular, paduk is the primary recipe that I am eager to deliver to fellow students in GSIA. The heart of paduk is to figure out the intention of counterpart, which is one of leading qualities that competent managers should have.

As a matter of fact, I was able to take a favorable position over several negotiations through ‘mind reading’ that I had learned from paduk. According to the Chinese literature, famous generals in China such as Jo Jo in ‘the story of the three powers’ trained themselves to grasp hidden intention of adversaries in advance through paduk, which led to numerous triumphs in many battles. I would like to hand over meditation to the fellow students in GISA in the sense that it makes people generous and serves as a efficient means of keeping one’s temper. I believe those who can keep control over their emotion will be part of competent managers. My favorite oriental meditation enables me to get indulged in the world of self-effacement and control every single emotion, resentment included. This kind of meditation encourages people to be more generous, not to involve trivial things. In effect, I escaped the danger from burglar with the help of lofty manners derived from the meditation during the business trip to the xxx in November 19xx. Kidnapped by armed cab robber for 2 hours, I was able to get out of the incident thanks to my wisdom. I firmly believe that this sort of loftiness is based on the self-discipline of both body and mind through oriental meditation, which will serve as great help for my colleagues, the potential managers. #p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#

C. Please describe an ethical issue that you have faced, how you dealt with the situation and what the outcome was

On December 1th in 19xx, I had serious conflicts with a general manager in our department as hard as I should consider the resignation as a last option when our xxx heading for the xxx with x million dollar’s worth of xxx was caught on the rock. Through this experience, I realized the important fact that the role of leader is basically the coordination of the group rather than the implementation for the purpose of obedience. In this case, I also experienced the fact that leadership is derived from the fairest judgment by collecting and analyzing information after the accurate evaluation of the situation. At that time, I had conflicts with my general manager in terms of the benefit in the future and the cost at the present. This experience put me into an ethical dilemma between the ethical responsibility of the company and the pursuit of interest.

During that time, the team head and I had conflicts in various aspects such as potential gain, present loss, the commitment to the integrity in terms of contracts The net profit in a xxx trading was about xxx$ worth, whereas it required xxx$ worth of expense to pay for the repair in place of missing ship owner after declaring general average. In the situation in which there was more possibility for ship owner to declare bankruptcy, I powerfully insisted on managing all business in the burden of our company because I judged that there was grand anxiety to lose long-term customers and moral commitment to conduct the contract with due integrity if we spent more time. General manager, however, avoided making a decision which could serve as major damage in his career.

Therefore he was wasting lots of time by ignoring my opinion although I was in charge of the matter. As a consequence, we were able to deliver the xxx to the buycer in xxx after refilling the xxx under the instruction of the boss who recognized the seriousness of situation through the interview with me around 5 months later. Since then, however, Buyer in xxx got our firm to disqualify in the same bid in 19xx, http://www.400190.com/Thesis_Writing/MBAliuxueshengzuoye/2012/0308/1078.html which produced serious conflicts as to who was to blame inside the firm. It is self-evident fact that the enterprise is in pursuit of its interest. Therefore, the team head has good reason to emphasize the aspect of Profit & Cost in decision-making process. Yet, it is much more important to enhance the credibility in the long term and secure the long-term contractors by accomplishing the commitment rather than pursue the short-term profit.

No matter what is big or small problem, we are always in the situation where to find out the solution, and meet a great turning point in life by what decision we make. I found the important lesson from this case in the sense that the decision was not performed by the same fixed standard in every situation. In addition, it required accurate judgment of situation, the rational assessment of one’s own capability, and the bold determination for the purpose of more desirable decision-making procedure.#p#分頁標(biāo)題#e#