In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome back Eddie Asbie, Executive Director of Admissions and Scholarship for the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University.
Eddie leads admissions, recruitment and scholarship strategy. He has more than 20 years of experience in higher education and has spent the past 14 years at Cornell. He earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University at Buffalo and a master’s degree in student personnel administration from SUNY Buffalo State College. Throughout his career, he has focused on helping students navigate transformative educational opportunities and building admissions strategies that connect talented candidates with programs where they can achieve their goals.
In our Q&A below, Eddie touches on how AI is impacting industries and MBA programs, how to ensure your application reflects your authentic self, and what to expect from the admissions process at Cornell Johnson.
Clear Admit: What is one aspect of your MBA program that you wish applicants knew more about?
Eddie Asbie: One aspect of the Cornell MBA experience that I wish more applicants knew about is the breadth of resources and personal support available as students prepare for recruiting and pursue their career goals. Our Career Management Center provides personalized coaching, recruiting preparation and career development support, while professional clubs and student organizations create additional opportunities for industry engagement, peer learning and connections with alumni and employers.
More recently, Dean Gaur expanded our alumni mentorship program, connecting current students with Cornell MBA alumni who serve as trusted advisors throughout the MBA journey. Through these relationships, students receive guidance on career planning, leadership development and navigating the MBA experience. Many of these connections develop into lasting professional relationships that continue well beyond graduation. The mentorship program reflects one of the Cornell MBA’s greatest strengths: a highly engaged and collaborative community where students, faculty and alumni are genuinely invested in one another’s success. To learn more about this initiative, please see Dean Gaur’s recent blog on MBA student-alumni mentorship: https://blogs.cornell.edu/johnson-dean-gaur/mba-students-alumni/mentorship/.
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?
EA: We recognize the significant time and thought applicants invest in getting to know the Cornell MBA and preparing their applications. Once an application is submitted, it is assigned to an application coordinator who reviews all components to ensure the file is complete. That coordinator also serves as the applicant’s primary point of contact throughout the process and is available to answer questions along the way.
If materials are missing or clarification is needed, our team will reach out directly. Applicants who request a test waiver can expect a decision within five to seven business days of submission. If a waiver is not approved, the application will remain incomplete until a standardized test score is received.
Once all required materials have been submitted, our holistic review begins. We carefully consider academic preparedness, professional experience, leadership potential and overall fit with the Cornell MBA. Our goal is to understand not only what a candidate has accomplished, but also the experiences, motivations and potential they would bring to our community. Following this evaluation, the admissions committee will make one of three initial decisions: an invitation to interview, placement on the waitlist without an interview or denial. Candidates who interview receive an additional assessment, which becomes part of the holistic review used by the admissions committee to make final decisions.
Applicants can find notification timelines, application deadlines and additional information on the Cornell MBA application guide: https://business.cornell.edu/admissions/graduate/mba/application-guide/.
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?
EA: I think my team would agree that the essays are one of our favorite parts of the application process. They give applicants an opportunity to share something entirely within their control: their story. We want to understand who you are, what has shaped you and what you hope to contribute to the Cornell MBA community. It’s also an opportunity to be creative and let your personality shine through.
This year, we are continuing our Goals Statement essay, which helps us understand your short- and long-term career goals and the thought process behind them. We also want to know how you plan to use Cornell’s resources, community and opportunities to help achieve those goals. Applicants will also choose from two supplemental essays. We will continue to offer the Impact Essay, and we’re bringing back what I like to call a “fan favorite”: the Table of Contents Essay.
The Impact Essay asks candidates to consider how they hope to contribute to the Cornell MBA community. Strong responses demonstrate that applicants have taken the time to understand the program and think intentionally about how they might engage inside and outside the classroom.
The Table of Contents Essay offers something different. It gives applicants the freedom to highlight the experiences, values and moments that have shaped who they are. That might include your upbringing, family, community involvement, passions or other defining experiences. There is no single right answer, so have fun with it.
My biggest advice is simple: be yourself. We are deeply invested in getting to know applicants beyond résumés and test scores. Authentic stories help us understand your experiences, motivations and the perspective you could bring to our community.
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?
EA: Interviews are conducted by invitation only, with candidates selected based on the overall strength of their application. Interviews are conducted by either a member of the admissions team or a second-year MBA student who has completed extensive interview training. During each admissions round, all applicants receive a decision regarding their interview status by the initial notification deadline.
Candidates may choose to interview in person on campus or virtually via Zoom, and we have no preference between the two formats. We understand that every applicant’s circumstances are different, so we encourage candidates to select the option that works best for them. Interviewers have access to the candidate’s résumé and brief notes highlighting aspects of the application that may warrant further discussion. Questions may explore career goals, transitions between organizations or industries, academic and quantitative preparation or other elements of the application.
Most importantly, come prepared to have a conversation. The interview is an opportunity for us to get to know the person behind the written application. Bring your experiences to life, help us understand why the Cornell MBA is the right fit for you and be ready to discuss the perspective and contributions you hope to bring to the community.
CA: If your admissions process includes any video-based components, such as video essays or recorded interview responses, what advice would you offer applicants preparing for this part of the process?
EA: Our interview process does not require a video-based component. However, with the return of the Table of Contents Essay, candidates may choose from different formats for their submission, including video, PowerPoint or a traditional written response.
If you choose a creative format, my advice is not to overthink it. Select the format that best helps you tell your story authentically. This is an opportunity to show us another dimension of who you are, so be creative and have fun with it.
CA: Is there anything in particular international students should keep in mind during the admissions process?
EA: International students should begin by reviewing application requirements early, particularly transcript evaluations, degree equivalency requirements and English language proficiency standards, since these items may require additional time to complete. Applicants should also be mindful of deadlines because visa processing, travel and relocation planning can require significant lead time. Understanding the financial aspects of pursuing an MBA, including tuition, living expenses and visa-related documentation requirements, is equally important.
We also encourage international candidates to recognize the value of the perspective they bring. Your global experiences, cultural background and professional insights can enrich classroom discussions, teams and the broader Cornell MBA community.
Most importantly, don’t make assumptions about the admissions process. Every school has different policies and requirements. If you’re uncertain about something, reach out and ask us. Our admissions team is here to help candidates understand the process and navigate it with confidence.
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?
EA: Career outcomes are important, but some of the most valuable aspects of the MBA experience are much harder to measure. One is the network you build. At Cornell, you’ll learn alongside classmates with different professional, academic and cultural backgrounds. A common misconception is that MBA students all come from traditional business careers. In reality, our students bring experience from a wide range of industries and disciplines. Learning to work with people who approach problems differently can fundamentally change how you think and lead.
The MBA is also an opportunity to intentionally develop as a leader. Students learn from accomplished faculty, but they learn just as much from one another through team projects, clubs, recruiting, experiential learning and leadership opportunities.
And then there are the relationships. Your classmates become friends, professional resources, mentors, business partners and members of a global Cornell alumni network that stays with you throughout your career.
Those benefits may be difficult to put into an ROI calculation when you’re choosing an MBA program, but they can become some of the most valuable outcomes of the experience.
CA: Are there any trends in the applicant pool, admissions process, or MBA experience that you are particularly focused on right now?
EA: One of the trends I’m watching most closely is the growing influence of artificial intelligence on both the admissions process and the MBA experience. AI is changing how candidates prepare applications, how organizations work and ultimately how business schools prepare students for an evolving workplace.
From an applicant perspective, AI can be a useful tool. Candidates might use it to brainstorm essay topics, refine their writing, conduct school research or prepare for interviews. Used thoughtfully, it can help applicants organize their ideas and communicate their experiences and goals more effectively. The challenge is preserving authenticity. One of the most important parts of our admissions process is understanding an applicant’s voice, motivations and capacity for self-reflection. When application materials become overly dependent on AI, those qualities can disappear.
My advice is to think of AI as a tool, not a substitute for your own thinking. We want to hear your story, understand your goals and get to know the person who could become part of our Cornell MBA community. That ability to use emerging technology thoughtfully while bringing human judgment, creativity and leadership to the equation is increasingly important not only in admissions, but also in business.
CA: Is there anything else you’d like to highlight about your MBA program or admissions process?
EA: One of the things I would highlight about the Cornell MBA is the ability to build an experience around your individual interests and career goals while benefiting from the resources of the broader university. MBA students can take electives beyond the business school and engage with disciplines across Cornell, including engineering, law, technology, hospitality and other fields. That creates opportunities to learn alongside people who approach problems from very different perspectives.
Students can also expand their global perspective through international partnerships, study abroad experiences and global treks. And for those interested in the intersection of business, technology and entrepreneurship, Cornell Tech in New York City provides another connection to Cornell’s innovation ecosystem.
That combination is difficult to replicate: the close-knit experience of the Cornell MBA in Ithaca, access to opportunities in New York City and the academic breadth and global network of Cornell University. We want students to take advantage of that environment and create an MBA experience that prepares them not just for their first role after graduation, but for the many directions their careers may take over a lifetime.
