Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding resource
Review: This year I got accepted to two well-known programs, and this book helped me a lot. every aspect of the admissions process is covered: essays, interviews (this was especially helpful), work experience, ratings,etc. Most importantly, this book gives you a very good idea of what your application should look like. This, of course, is only half the battle. You still have to accumulate some work experience, do your best on the GMAT, and so on. Nevertheless, this book will certainly help. Buy it as soon as you start thinking about applying, not 2 weeks before the application deadline. I would also ignore some of these one-star revews here. They really exaggerate the book's shortcomings and downplay its numerous strengths. Also, just a word of caution. The competition is so intense, it is absurd. The smartest people get rejected from top MBA programs, so unless you are Enstein, apply to at least 4-5 programs, if possible.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent, but you should be aware of brutal competition
Review: This guidebook on how to approach all aspects of the MBA application process is very helpful, and I strongly recommend it. However, one must be realistic when applying to the top MBA programs, and this aspect needs to be emphasized more. Interested in studying finance, I was fortunate enough to get into one of my top choices (Univ. of Chicago), but failed to get into a number of other programs that are equally or less competitive. This surprised me since I have substantial international work experience with excellent grades and a high GMAT score, and I devoted a great deal of time and effort to my essays. I know that my letters of recommendation were also very strong. Because of the sheer volume of highly qualified applicants, even if you follow all of the recommendations in this book, you may not get in. Unless you have a 3.7+ GPA and a 730+ GMAT and incredible work experience, I would recommend that you apply to more schools than Montauk suggests: go for at least 8 if you can manage it.Also, some of the overly detailed recommendations by Montauk are questionable. For example, when you dress for the evaluative interview, he says that your shirt should be professionally cleaned, pressed, and starched. That's a bit over-the-top. If I'm going to be evaluated negatively for wearing a self-ironed shirt, then the interviewer and the school can go to hell. Let's get real. Nevertheless, most of the recommendations are insightful and helpful. If you are applying to a top MBA program, good luck! It's an exhausting process, but hopefully you will be rewarded in the end with an acceptance letter. If so, I know you will agree that it's definitely worth the effort!
Rating:
Summary: Yet another glowing review - a good addition to your armoury
Review: I'll keep this simple. I liked the book - it gives general and specific advice about the whole MBA admissions process. I suggest you read it at least the year before you start the whole process (including taking the GMAT). And if, like me, you pick it up in the middle of the whole process, it can still help you. Basically - when you're sitting alone in that room while prepping for your GMAT, or staring at a computer screen while typing up yet another attempt at soul-baring in an essay, the book gives you some important guidelines and things to avoid. I especially like the parts where admissions people from colleges are quoted. In the end though - you write the answers and you smile during the interviews. Just make sure you know exactly "Why X College" and "Why an MBA". It's a good read with commonsense advice - a good weapon as you hack your way through the admissions process.
Rating:
Summary: Read it, but be realistic
Review: I am actually a professor at one of the top MBA programs in the country. My students tell me it is getting harder and harder to get into the best programs. That's especially true just now that the economy is bad - everyone decides to drop out of the economy for a couple of years, at the same time. Our applications are up 40-50%. So yes, you could use some advice, and some of Montauk's is OK. But you should remember that NO book can change some basic facts about you: your GPA. Your work experience. Your basic intelligence. If you do not score well on EVERY one of these, you will probably not end up in what the book calls a "top" program. Don't let that get you down - there are a lot of great programs out there. Instead of obsessing about whether you will get into Wharton (or whatever), obsess about learning more about LOTS of program, to find the one where you will FIT the best. This book does not really offer you any help in the way of describing the pluses and minuses of the various programs, so don't make this the first MBA admissions book you get. That said, I found some useful pointers in this book, particularly when it comes to recommendations. Pick your recommendation writers wisely (make sure they know how to write!), and PREP them. Remind them what makes you special, send them a resume, etc. I write a dozen or more letters a year. The students who give me more information about themselves make it easy for me to help them stand out. Give yourself enough time to take the GMATs more than once in case you are not happy the first set of results. And (this one is mine, not Montauks) don't be in a hurry to do it this year if you don't have to. If you will be able to tell a better story about your work experience 12 months from now, wait to apply. Stronger work experience = stronger chance of getting in. So to summarize - this book is OK but a book with detailed info about programs would be better. Concentrate on finding the right program for you instead of getting up high in the Business Week rankings. Pay attention to your recommendation letters. Maybe you won't have to read the book now that you've read the review ;-). Good luck!
Rating:
Summary: A very good book for getting your act together for MBA Apps
Review: "How to Get into the Top MBA Programs" is a very good resource on the business school application process. The book expounds upon three points very well: 1. Know yourself. Understand why you are considering a business school, determine what you expect to get out of it, and identify which programs are best for *your needs*. Be honest with yourself. Assuming you've determined an MBA program is the way you need to go, you have to determine which offering is most appropriate. Objectively evaluate schools, don't blindly go off of the numerous "rankings." These are purely quantitative and may not be the best fit. (For example, if you want to do marketing and not finance, Northwestern might be a better choice than Wharton.) Evaluate programs, interview alumni and current students, and VISIT campus. Pay attention to any "gut" feel. 2. Market your strengths and weaknesses. The ideal applicant will have a 4.0 undergraduate GPA, 800 GMAT, speak seventeen languages, served president of IBM, and have several gold medals in swimming. If this doesn't describe you, you're "just folks" (to borrow from Harry Bauld) and need to market yourself. Montauk has some interesting generalizations for backgrounds (e.g., engineer, sales) and their general strengths and weaknesses. One valuable suggestion is to choose and manage your recommenders. They should say what they want, and in their own words, but you can help guide the perspectives they emphasize on your candidacy so you come across as a multidimensional applicant. The essay writing suggestions are generally very good, especially the "angle" that some of the questions are taking. (This is very similar to the "Knock 'em Dead" by Martin Yate.) However, for actually writing your essay, I would strongly recommend reading "On Writing the College Application Essay" by Harry Bauld. 3. Stay on top of the admissions process. To a great extent, this is really "make sure everyone gets stuff when they should." Provide dossiers for your recommenders, make sure you have a completed application in on time, follow up with people. Because the application process is competitive, Montauk offers suggestions on reinforcing your candidacy be waitlisted or are called in for an interview. -- Throughout each chapter, Montauk includes comments from various directors of admissions. These basically reiterate what the text says and (especially for the US schools) are a regurgitation of things you'd read in the applications packet. For example, "The GMAT score is as important as any other single element in the admissions process." Duh, otherwise it wouldn't be required. Overall, this is a very good book, offering a lot of perspective on the self-evaluation and application processes.
Rating:
Summary: Numerous essays very useful.
Review: This book is the most useful b-school admissions book. You do not have to read the whole book if you are in a time crunch; you can read just the sections pertinent to your case. It also has direct quotations from deans of admissions and financial officers from numerous schools; explains the differentiating factors among the top b-schools. About the last 150 pages of the book is dedicated entirely to sample b-school application essays and their analyses.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELENTE
Review: This is a GREAT resource, and the tips work. All of my friends who have used this got accepted in to their 1st choice MBA program--and all of their first choices were in the Top 10. I am using it as a guide now to navigate through the hurdles to getting into my top choice school. I hope it proves be as useful for me!
Rating:
Summary: A great book (but I have one regret)
Review: Even if you are not planning to apply to business school for a year or more, consider buying this book or another like it NOW. I bought this book right before I began filling out the actual applications. It was tremendously helpful, with its sample essays and advice about packaging your application. And I was lucky and did end up getting into a top business program, even though I had only a couple of years of work experience. I do have one regret--I found myself wishing that I had bought the book significantly earlier. Why? For a number of reasons, which all boil down to the fact that a great deal of Montauk's advice concerns things you should be doing well in advance of the actual preparation of the application, such as (1) deciding whether to apply and when; and (2) what things to do to strengthen whatever weak points you may have. While other reader reviewers are correct in that you cannot change certain things about yourself and your candidacy (e.g., your intelligence and undergrad GPA), you CAN be savvy about building up a resume and a compelling story about why you should be admitted to the schools to which you are applying. Montauk has different sections of advice for different types of candidates (such as the candidate with a weak undergraduate record, the older candidate, and the inexperienced candidate), and much of his advice relates to things you can do in the years before you apply. (For instance, those with weak undergrad GPAs should build up alternate transcripts from certain types of post-college courses. But to make use of that advice, you have to get that advice in time to take such courses!) There is a reason why some kids start getting college counseling in 8th grade (a terrible phenomenon)--the successful applicant gets specific advice years ahead of time. Business school is no different. Montauk has an amazing amount of great advice, but a lot of it will be wasted if you wait until you are actually filling out the applications. Good luck!
Rating:
Summary: Very Helpful
Review: I bought this book to help me with my application and to prepare for the interviews. Since I have been out of academia for quite some time, I needed the help. If you are looking for a book that will give you the answers for your essays and interviews, this is not your book. If you are looking for a resource for advice on how to write the essays or what types of questions to expect, this is your book. Understand that the competition is fierce, you need an edge. This book will help you find yours.
Rating:
Summary: Without question, the BEST book on the subject...
Review: Just read the comments from actual Admission Committee members on the back cover. Some of the negative comments in other reviews are missing the point. It is correct that if you got a 600 on the GMAT, a 2.3 GPA, and have little work experience this book will not help you get into Harvard. No book will. The point is that countless "qualified" applicants fail to market themselves properly and don't get in. This book is for the qualified applicant who wants to know how to present his or her case. I read this book after I was almost completely done with my applications and went back and changed a TON. But it paid off; I got into, arguably, the best b-school in the country. If you think you have a shot at a top school, do yourself a favor and BUY THIS BOOK. Good luck!
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