We are back in St. Louis, Missouri, with Luke Bretscher, Assistant Dean and Director of Recruitment and Admissions at Washington University’s Olin Business School in this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A.
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.
Here you can read Luke’s insight into the admissions process at Olin, how to put your best foot forward in your application, and his favorite aspects of the MBA program.
Clear Admit: What is one aspect of your MBA program that you wish applicants knew more about?
Luke Bretscher: One of the most valuable aspects of the Olin MBA experience is the long-term impact of its network. While this can be difficult to fully appreciate before arriving on campus, the strength of the relationships students build here, and how those connections continue to support them throughout their careers, is significant.
Olin’s close-knit community fosters meaningful engagement with classmates, faculty, alumni, and industry leaders. These relationships often evolve into mentorship, collaboration, and career opportunities that extend well beyond graduation, shaping how our alumni grow into leaders and make an outsized impact across industries and organizations.
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 an application is submitted, the admissions team first reviews it to ensure all required materials have been received. Applications are then evaluated by members of the admissions team using a holistic review process that considers academic preparation, professional experience, leadership potential, career goals, and an applicant’s ability to contribute to the Olin community.
In some cases, the admissions committee may invite a candidate to interview if additional context would be helpful during the review process. Interviews are conducted selectively and are not a standard requirement for all applicants.
Following review, the admissions committee discusses the application and makes a final admissions decision. Throughout the process, our goal is to understand the individual behind the application and evaluate how Olin can help them achieve their personal and professional goals.
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 applicants should try to avoid? What is one key thing candidates 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 essays, we want 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, what you hope to gain from the experience, and what you will contribute to the Olin community and classroom environment.
The strongest essays are authentic and reflective. Rather than simply repeating information from a resume, applicants should help us understand the experiences that have shaped them, what they have learned along the way, and how those experiences connect to their future goals.
One of the most common mistakes we see is applicants not fully answering the prompt or relying on generic responses. Make sure you’re responding to Olin’s essay questions specifically and not simply reusing an essay written for another program. We occasionally see another school’s name appear in an application, which is an easy mistake to avoid with a careful final review. My advice is to be genuine, be specific, and use the essay as an opportunity to help us understand who you are beyond your resume.
CA: Could you tell us about your interview process? Approximately what percentage of applicants are invited to interview, who typically conducts interviews, and what should candidates expect in terms of interview style and format?
LB: At Olin, interviews are conducted on a selective basis as part of our admissions process. While the majority of applicants are evaluated through their application materials, the admissions committee may invite candidates to interview when additional context would be helpful during the review process.
When interviews are conducted, they are typically led by members of the admissions team and are held virtually. The conversations focus on understanding a candidate’s experiences, goals, and fit with the Olin community, while also providing applicants the opportunity to learn more about the program and ask questions.
Our goal is to use each interaction with applicants intentionally and ensure we are gathering the information needed to make thoughtful admissions decisions while respecting candidates’ time throughout the process.
CA: Is there anything in particular international students should keep in mind during the admissions process?
LB: International students should start the application process early and pay close attention to deadlines, particularly if additional time may be needed for testing, document collection, or visa planning.
We also encourage applicants to think carefully about their professional goals and how an MBA fits into their long-term career plans. Strong applicants can clearly articulate why they are pursuing an MBA, what they hope to gain from the experience, and how they will contribute to the Olin community.
We are proud to have a strong international community at Olin. International students bring valuable perspectives to the classroom and play an important role in our collaborative learning environment. Combined with strong career support and a global alumni network, Olin provides an environment where international students can thrive both personally and professionally.
CA: Conversations about MBA value often center on jobs, salaries, and ROI. What are some of the other ways students benefit from the MBA experience that may be harder to quantify upfront?
LB: While career outcomes are an important measure of success, some of the most valuable aspects of the MBA experience are difficult to quantify. At Olin, one of those benefits is the strength of the community students become part of during their time in the program.
Our close-knit environment allows students to build meaningful relationships with classmates, faculty, alumni, and industry leaders. While some schools may focus on the size of their network, Olin students often describe the depth of those relationships as one of the most valuable aspects of their MBA experience. These connections become trusted sources of advice, mentorship, collaboration, and support throughout their careers.
Students also develop leadership skills, gain exposure to diverse perspectives, and build the confidence to navigate complex challenges. Those experiences continue to create value long after graduation and often shape careers in ways that cannot be fully captured by salary statistics alone.
CA: Are there any trends in the applicant pool, admissions process, or MBA experience that you are particularly focused on right now?
LB: One trend we continue to see is growing interest in interdisciplinary learning and opportunities to apply business skills across a variety of industries and sectors. Students increasingly want educational experiences that allow them to combine business expertise with interests in healthcare, technology, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and other specialized fields.
At Olin, we have responded by expanding opportunities for students to tailor their MBA experience through electives, specializations, and cross-school collaboration. Programs such as Business of Health reflect the growing demand for leaders who can navigate complex challenges that sit at the intersection of business and other disciplines.
We also continue to see students seeking greater flexibility and customization in their MBA experience. The ability to explore different disciplines, tailor coursework, and pursue opportunities that align with individual career goals has become increasingly important to today’s MBA candidates.
CA: Is there anything else you’d like to highlight about your MBA program or admissions process?
LB: One of the defining features of the WashU Olin MBA is the flexibility students have to shape their experience around their individual goals. Through electives, specializations, experiential learning opportunities, and collaboration across the university, students can create a path that aligns with their interests and career aspirations.
As the economy continues to transform, from the intersection of healthcare and business to the use of AI in driving better decision-making, we remain committed to providing students with opportunities to make an impact. That combination of flexibility, academic rigor, and real-world application is what makes the Olin MBA experience distinctive.
