截止日期：January 15, 2012
学科门类：N/A
申请资格：Master
申请学校：N/A
The Illinois MBA program is excited to announce the second annual Scholarship Case Competition on Friday, March 9, 2012, in Chicago, Illinois. Prospective MBA students choosing to participate will have the opportunity to analyze and present their findings and recommendations on a business case to a panel of Illinois MBA faculty and alumni. Prizes for the competition are as follows:
- First Place – Two-year scholarship to the Illinois MBA (tuition only)
- Second Place – One-year scholarship to the Illinois MBA (tuition only)
- Third Place - $10,000 scholarship to the Illinois MBA
The winners of the case competition will be announced at the Illinois MBA Alumni Banquet later that evening. During the competition and at the banquet, prospective students will have the opportunity to interact with current students, faculty, and alumni of the Illinois MBA program.
Details on the venue will be announced as we get closer to the event. There is no cost to prospective students to participate in the competition or to attend the banquet.
How it Works
Students interested in participating in the Case Competition must complete their application to the Illinois MBA program by the second round admissions deadline on January 15, 2012. As soon as students complete their application, they should email Brian Precious (
该E-mail地址已受到防止垃圾邮件机器人的保护，您必须启用浏览器的Java Script才能看到。
) to indicate interest in the Case Competition. Brian will email each student a pre-competition activity to be completed no later than 5pm on February 1, 2012.
On or around February 15, 2012 the students selected to participate in the case competition will be contacted and asked to confirm their attendance at both the Case Competition and MBA Alumni Banquet on March 9th.
On Friday, March 2nd, 2012, exactly one week before the Case Competition, students will receive their case. On March 5th and March 6th, 2012 students will have the opportunity to ask questions about the case via group chat.
During the first round of the case competition, students will present their findings and recommendations to a panel of faculty and alumni judges. The top presenters from each room in round one will advance to round two and repeat their presentation to the entire group after lunch. The competition winners will be announced later that evening at the MBA Alumni Banquet.
FAQ
What is a Case Competition?
A case competition is a contest where participants compete to identify the best solution to a real-world business problem. A case typically discusses a major decision that needs to be made by an organization and provides some background information on the industry and other factors. Participants then analyze the available information, formulate recommendations, and create a presentation to communicate and support their recommendations. Participants should also be prepared to answer questions about the case from judges.
Why is the Illinois MBA hosting a Case Competition?
At Illinois, we believe in experiential learning, or learning by doing. We want our students to have every opportunity to hone the skills, including critical thinking, effective communication, and structured problem solving, required to lead in today's business world. The scholarship case competition exposes students to the skills required for success at a top MBA program and beyond.
How can I prepare for the Case Competition?
Unlike a math or physics problem, there are no right or wrong answers in a case competition. Rather, case competitions are usually judged on:
- The participant's understanding of the company and industry
- The participant's ability to analyze the supporting exhibits and draw meaningful conclusions from the data
- The participant's ability to clearly articulate their conclusions and reasoning behind them
- The participant's ability to accurately and articulately answer questions from the judges
In addition, many resources are available on the internet to help students understand case analysis and prepare for case competitions. One particularly useful resource is McKinsey's tips for case interviews.
Is there any "fine print" to the scholarship offer?
No. The scholarships are valid for the academic year beginning in Fall 2011, and the award winners have to meet all other requirements for admission to the Illinois MBA program. The winner of the case competition will receive a full scholarship to the Illinois MBA program (full tuition). The first runner-up will receive a one-year scholarship (50% of full tuition). The second-runner up will receive a $10,000 scholarship to the Illinois MBA program.
Do I have to participate?
No. Participation in the case completion is completely optional.
If I'm qualified for another scholarship, will participating in the Case Competition hurt my chances of receiving the other scholarship?
No. Students will be evaluated for admissions scholarships independently of their participation in the case competition. It is entirely possible to place in the case competition and still earn an admissions scholarship. Conversely, students who have earned an admissions scholarship are welcome to participate in the case competition for a chance to earn more scholarship dollars.
Will the Illinois MBA program pay for travel expenses to participate in the Case Competition?
All participants will be reimbursed as follows:
- International students will receive a $2,000 credit to their University of Illinois student account for travel expenses and incidentals
- Domestic students will receive a $1,000 credit to their University of Illinois student account for travel expenses and incidentals
The credits will be posted at the beginning of the Fall 2012 semester and are only valid for enrolled students.
Who will be judging the Case Competition?
The competition will be judged by Illinois MBA faculty and alumni as well as other friends of the Illinois MBA program. Participants will have the opportunity to interact with faculty and alumni during the competition and at the alumni banquet.
What are the criteria on which I will be evaluated?
The official scoring matrix will be provided in your case packet, but, in general terms, participants will be evaluated based on their:
- Understanding of the main issue of the case
- Ability to draw meaningful conclusions from the case and supporting exhibits
- Ability to thoughtfully answer questions from the judges
- Presentation quality
Do I have to be present at the Illinois MBA Alumni Banquet in order to win the Case Competition?
Yes. We feel it is important for prospective students to interact with our current students and alumni throughout the recruiting season. These interactions are the first stages in what will hopefully become a lifetime network. In addition to networking opportunities, the banquet will be a great opportunity to hear from campus leaders about the vision for the University of Illinois, the College of Business, and the Illinois MBA program.
Is this a team or an individual project?
While most case competitions are team activities, the Illinois MBA Scholarship Case Competition is an individual project. Participants will be asked to sign the Illinois MBA honor code stating they did not receive help from any other individuals in preparing for the case competition.
What is the dress code for the Scholarship Case Competition and Alumni Banquet?
We recommend business formal dress for both events.
Interested? To Pre-Register:
- Complete your application to the Illinois MBA program on or before January 15, 2012.
- As soon as your application is submitted, email Brian Precious (
该E-mail地址已受到防止垃圾邮件机器人的保护，您必须启用浏览器的Java Script才能看到。
) indicating interest in participating in the competition. Brian will email you a pre-competition activity.
- Submit your pre-competition activity to Brian on or before 5pm on February 1, 2012.
LINK:
http://mba.illinois.edu/admissions/case-competition.aspx |
