We welcome back Katy Radoll, Director of Admissions for the Full-Time MBA Program at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, in this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A.
Katy was thrilled to join the UNC Kenan-Flagler team as the Director of Admissions for the Full-Time MBA Program in the summer of 2024. Prior to UNC Kenan-Flagler, she led Associate Recruiting at McKinsey in Atlanta and, before that, held several different roles at MIT Sloan, where she was part of the team that established The Asia School of Business in Collaboration with MIT Sloan (ASB) and their flagship MBA program while residing in Boston and Kuala Lumpur. Prior to that, Katy supported the launch of the MIT Executive MBA (EMBA), where she managed the EMBA Student Life and Learning team and later served as Senior Associate Director of Admissions.
With a BS in Recreation Management: Tourism from Arizona State University and an MA in Intercultural Relations from Lesley University, Katy’s passion for travel remains unabated. When not shaping future leaders, she enjoys globe-trotting in search of the tastiest local cuisine and cheering on the Boston Red Sox.
Read on for her insights into admissions at UNC Kenan-Flagler, what to expect during the interview and more.
Clear Admit: What is one aspect of your program that you wish applicants knew more about?
Katy Radoll: The Vetter Dean’s Fellows Program. It’s a selective leadership-development experience designed to accelerate personal and professional growth. We offer top students an enhanced suite of career support and exclusive access to UNC Kenan-Flagler’s influential network. Through immersive learning and high-impact opportunities, Vetter Fellows are challenged to expand their leadership skills to lead across cultures and borders. This is an exceptional opportunity for top students to deepen their personal leadership strengths while forging meaningful connections with a driven group of Full-Time MBA peers.
CA: Walk us through the life of an application in your office from an operational standpoint. What happens between the time an applicant clicks “submit” and the time the committee offers a final decision?
KR: First and foremost, our evaluation process is human-centric—we’re genuinely excited to get to know you through every part of your application. Once submitted, our operations team ensures that everything is complete. Then, the admissions committee begins reviewing each application in depth.
A subset of applicants is invited to interview, and this is a strong signal that you’re moving forward in the process. From there, multiple members of our team review your application comprehensively. Each data point helps us better understand who you are and how you would contribute to our community.
CA: How does your team approach the essay portion of the application specifically? What are you looking for as you read an essay? Are there common mistakes that applicants should try to avoid? What is one key thing they should keep in mind as they sit down to write?
KR: My biggest piece of advice—and it sounds simple—is to answer the question. Too often, we reach the end of an essay and still don’t have a clear sense of what happened or what the outcome was.
We craft our prompts intentionally to gather specific insights and context. We read thousands of essays each year, so it’s important to bring your authentic voice to each response. Be clear, be reflective and help us understand your story. We’re truly excited to get to know you!
CA: Could you tell us about your interview process? Approximately how many applicants do you interview? Who conducts the interview and what is the nature of the interview? Will your admissions interviews be in-person or virtual for the 2025–2026 admissions season?
KR: Interviews at UNC Kenan-Flagler are not blind—our interviewers, who include a small group from the admissions committee and long-standing professional partners, have reviewed parts of your application. This allows us to dive deeper from the very start.
Expect a mix of behavioral and situational questions. We’re looking to understand more about how you think, lead and grow. We offer both in-person and virtual interviews throughout the admissions cycle, and I promise that we have no preference for format.
CA: If your application features an impromptu video interview/video essay, how does it differ from the main interview? What should applicants know about this step in the process?
KR: Sneak Peek—we’re actively exploring the addition of short video responses as part of the application to supplement written answers. While this isn’t confirmed yet, the goal would be to get a better sense of your communication style, presence and personality in a more spontaneous and authentic format. Stay tuned!
CA: Is there anything in particular international students should keep in mind during the admissions process?
KR: Apply by Round 3! More broadly, I know that moving abroad is both exciting and complex. Having studied, lived and worked abroad myself, I always come back to this mindset: When something feels unfamiliar or uncertain, I remind myself that this is the adventure I chose. Embracing the unknown is part of the journey and we’re here to support you through it.
CA: What is your favorite spot on campus?
KR: I recently visited the Carolina Basketball Museum for the first time—it really brought home how special this university is. That said, I know my new favorite place will be Bell Hall, our beautiful new building opening this winter at UNC Kenan-Flagler!
CA: Is there anything else you’d like to highlight about your MBA program or admissions process?
KR: We’re proud of our community’s collaborative, inclusive culture—and we’re continually evolving to meet the needs of future business leaders, driven by insights from our faculty’s own cutting-edge research, and from industry and employer partnerships. From our data and tech curriculum enhancements to our strong focus on sustainability and global opportunities, the Full-Time MBA Program at UNC Kenan-Flagler prepares students to lead with purpose. We also remain deeply committed to supporting diversity in all forms through programs, partnerships and scholarships.
