In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome Luke Bretscher, Assistant Dean and Director of Recruitment and Admissions at Washington University’s Olin Business School.
Luke spent over a decade working in admissions and enrollment across a range of institutions—public and private, large and small—and he’s passionate about helping students find the right fit for their goals. He holds a PhD in Educational Leadership, an MBA with specializations in Finance and International Business, and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Analytics at WashU. He lives in St. Louis with his wife, two children, and their dog, and they’ve truly come to love the city for its vibrant arts, food (and beer) scene, culture, and welcoming community. One of Luke’s favorite parts of being at Olin is the opportunity to engage with both the local St. Louis community and its incredibly global network of students and alumni.
Read on for our Q&A with Luke to learn more about the MBA program at WashU Olin and what to expect during the application process.
Clear Admit: What is the one aspect of your program that you wish applicants knew more about?
Luke Bretscher: This year WashU Olin launched a Strategic Plan to achieve unprecedented impact in its research, teaching, and partnerships by connecting and leveraging its talented faculty, staff, students, alumni, and business community.
Three key initiatives are at the heart of the plan: the business of health, individualized education, and regional partnerships. In addition to leveraging Olin’s strengths, the plan connects to WashU and the St. Louis community in a way that will amplify the school’s impact. Applicants will benefit from the increase of personalization and customization that this plan will encourage and support during their MBA experience.
WashU Olin also announced a new curriculum for next year that includes more flexibility, first-year students to take electives, and seven new concentrations, including Business Analytics, Health and FinTech for a new total of 12 specializations.
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?
LB: Once we receive a submitted or completed application, the student’s recruiter reviews the application to ensure that each piece has been completed in its entirety. Then our file review team assesses the candidate’s application and decides whether to invite them to interview. At that point, the applicant sets up a time to meet with a member of our team, and after the interview, the interviewer submits a report to the admissions committee. The applicant receives a second review, and the admissions committee then meets to decide on that candidate.
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?
LB: The essays are students’ first opportunity to share their stories with our team. When reviewing students’ essays, the admissions committee wants to understand who you are, where you’ve been, where you want to go, and how WashU Olin fits into that story. We want to understand what is motivating you to pursue graduate education, and if there is a bigger purpose moving you. Students should be able to talk about what they must contribute to the classroom environment. We also want students to be reflective and share some opportunities for growth that the MBA program might support. Often, students do not answer the prompt or just recall what is on their resume. Make sure to proofread and double-check that you have answered OUR essays instead of using the same essays for each school. (We can tell.) Students have even uploaded essays with another school name, believe it or not!
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?
LB: After going through the file review, selected students are invited to interview. This interview could be held by an admissions committee member, a recruitment team member, a career services member, an alum, or even a student ambassador. The interview is another opportunity for candidates to share their stories. We will seek to learn more about you, your values, experience, and motivations. We do not include behavioral questions or hold case interviews to evaluate candidates. There is no set number for interview invites. Interviews will be held virtually for the 2025-2026 admissions season. However, a student may request an in-person interview, and if our team is able to accommodate their requested date before notification for that round, we would be thrilled to welcome them to campus.
CA: Is there anything in particular international students should keep in mind during the admissions process?
LB: WashU Olin always encourages international students to apply in the early rounds of the application season. This will allow international admitted students the maximum time to secure visas, etc. in order to pursue their MBA education. Once accepted, WashU Olin has a strong, supportive onboarding process that helps international students first get the logistics set, but then partners with them on their journey to arriving and acclimating at school. We are very proud of the support system in place to help international students find their home here.
CA: What is your favorite spot on campus?
LB: My favorite spot on campus is the Olympic Rings. As a former college athlete and huge swimming junkie – I love being at the Olympic Rings, Francis Olympic Field and so close to where the 1904 Olympics took place. I find as I walk past these places on campus, I am reminded of the greatness that took place in the Olympics and am inspired daily.
CA: Is there anything else you’d like to highlight about your MBA program or admissions process?
LB: WashU Olin is announcing a new full-time MBA curriculum starting fall 2025 that allows students to begin to take electives in year one of their education, fewer required courses, and more flexibility and personalization throughout their education. In response to student demand, WashU Olin is reducing the required curriculum core credits, allowing each WashU Olin MBA student to have a unique experience and determine the courses to pursue based on their passion, interest, and post-MBA career goals. Students will now have the ability to take 40% more of their credits as electives during their MBA education.
By shifting the experience for students to craft their own course path, WashU Olin is also expanding the opportunity for students to pursue and complete industry or functional specializations that will be represented on transcripts. There are now seven new specializations for a total 12 that are open for students to explore, including new areas like the Business of Health.
