Have questions about the MBA admissions process? Get answers directly from the people who review applications.
Join Clear Admit and admissions representatives from seven of the world’s leading MBA programs for a special live Ask Me Anything (AMA) event on Reddit’s r/mba community.
Whether you’re preparing an application, researching business schools, or planning your MBA journey, this is your opportunity to connect directly with admissions professionals and get their perspectives on what it takes to build a strong MBA application.
Friday, November 20, 2026
2:00 PM Eastern | 1:00 PM Central | 11:00 AM Pacific
Panel session will last 60 minutes and then school-specific breakouts will begin immediately after and run until close.
Add to My Calendar
Location: Reddit’s r/mba community (direct link will be available here or in your email on November 20)
Format: Live, interactive Q&A
Cost: Free (pre-registration is not required to participate)
Want to make sure you don’t miss the conversation? Register above to add the AMA to your calendar. Registration is optional, and everyone is welcome to participate directly on Reddit.
Meet the Participating Business Schools
Admissions representatives from seven top MBA programs will be joining the conversation:
- Chicago Booth School of Business
- Dartmouth Tuck School of Business
- Harvard Business School
- MIT Sloan School of Management
- Stanford Graduate School of Business
- UCLA Anderson School of Management
- UVA Darden School of Business
Meet the Panelists Behind the u/usernames
Donna Swinford
Associate Dean for Student Recruitment and Admissions, MBA Programs, Chicago Booth
u/BoothAdmissions
Donna is a longtime Chicago resident and has been at Booth since 1997. She joined the Office of Admissions in 2005 and has seen the admissions process at Booth from practically every angle over the course of her tenure, serving in several roles including head of Operations and Evaluation before transitioning to her current position as Associate Dean for Student Recruitment and Admissions. Donna oversees admissions for the Full-Time MBA, Evening MBA, Weekend MBA, Executive MBA North America, the Chicago Booth Scholars deferred MBA, and the Specialized Masters Programs at Chicago Booth.
Tim Neil
Associate Director, Recruiting and Engagement Admissions and Financial Aid, Dartmouth Tuck
u/TimfromTuck
Allie Desjardins
Senior Associate Director of MBA Admissions, Harvard Business School
u/hbsadmissions
Jen Barba
Director of Admissions, MIT Sloan
u/MITSloanAdmissions
Jen Barba is Director of Admissions at the MIT Sloan School of Management. Jen oversees the work of the Admissions office, which spans the full admissions funnel, from marketing, recruiting, evaluation and enrollment of applicants pursuing a degree at MIT Sloan. During her tenure at MIT Sloan, Jen has helped grow the Admissions team to manage a portfolio spanning seven programs (MBA, Evening MBA, SFMBA, LGO, MBAn, MFin, and MSMS). She was also part of the launch and market research efforts behind the Master of Business Analytics (MBAn) program, now celebrating its 10th anniversary, as well as the school’s newest offering, the Evening MBA program. Jen has been a member of the MIT Sloan Admissions team since 2002. She has also worked in admissions at Harvard Law School and as an analyst at The Boeing Company. Jen holds an undergraduate degree in business administration from Villanova University and a MA in higher education administration from Boston College. Outside of work, Jen enjoys spending time with her husband and two children.
Wil Torres
Global Admissions Director, Stanford GSB
u/AskStanfordGSBAdm
Dr. Wil Torres is a Global Admission Director at Stanford GSB and self-proclaimed admissions nerd. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology from UCLA and while he initially thought his career would unfold in research, he found himself waking up inspired and energized helping his students explore their passions through education. He started his admissions career with Stanford University’s Office of Undergraduate Admission and returned to graduate school not once, but twice – earning a master’s degree in Higher Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and an Ed.D. in Organizational Change and Leadership from USC’s Rossier School of Education – to continue developing what it means for him to be a better admission officer and champion in your admission journey.
Adrian Aguirre
Associate Admissions Director, Full-Time MBA Program, UCLA Anderson
u/UCLAAndersonAdm
Adrian Aguirre is a senior associate director of admissions for UCLA Anderson’s Full-Time MBA Program. A proud double Bruin, he earned his BA from UCLA and his MBA through Anderson’s Fully Employed MBA (FEMBA) program in 2001. Before returning to Anderson as an admissions officer, Adrian worked in corporate development, sales, and marketing. He draws on that experience and his international recruiting background to help prospective students see how an MBA can support their goals and to strengthen connections across Anderson’s global community. Outside of work, Adrian enjoys cycling, hiking, and occasional backpacking trips in California’s Eastern Sierra.
Katherine Roberts
Director of Admissions, UVA Darden
u/DardenAdmissions
Seventeen years into her work on Darden’s Admissions Committee, Katherine Roberts still considers getting to know applicants from around the world the best part of her job. She especially enjoys helping young adults imagine where a career in business might take them—and encouraging them to think big. A native of Lexington, Kentucky, Katherine earned both her B.A. in Economics and her Master’s in Higher Education from the University of Virginia, making her a Double Hoo with Kentucky roots.
Your Questions. Their Answers.
What do admissions committees really look for in an MBA applicant? How can you demonstrate fit with a particular program? What should you know before you apply?
This is your chance to go straight to the source.
Topics you might explore include:
- Application Strategy: What makes an application stand out? What are some common mistakes to avoid?
- Essays & Recommendations: How can applicants effectively communicate their experiences, goals, and potential?
- Admissions Interviews: What should candidates expect, and how can they prepare?
- Program Fit & School Culture: How can applicants evaluate different MBA programs and determine where they might thrive?
- Career Goals & Outcomes: How should applicants articulate their professional goals and explain why an MBA is the right next step?
- Evaluating the MBA Experience: What should applicants consider about a program’s academics, community, and opportunities when deciding where to apply?
No question is too basic, and you don’t need to be actively applying to benefit from the conversation.
How Does the Reddit AMA Work?
Participating is simple.
1. Visit r/mba on November 20.
Head to reddit.com/r/MBA when the event begins at 1:00 PM Central to find the live AMA discussion.
2. Ask your questions.
Post questions in the AMA thread for participating admissions representatives. You’ll need a Reddit account to submit questions or comments.
3. Hear directly from admissions representatives.
Representatives from the participating schools will respond to questions live for a period of time, offering insights into their respective MBA programs and admissions processes.
4. Dive deeper with each individual school.
Breakout spaces will be setup on Reddit for each individual school where you can ask them more specific questions about their school/program there.
You can participate by asking questions, following the discussion, or simply reading the responses to questions from other applicants.
Don’t Miss the Conversation!
With seven leading MBA programs participating in one live discussion, this is an opportunity to hear a range of admissions perspectives in a single event.
Complete the optional registration form here to add the event to your calendar.
[Add the AMA to My Calendar]
Registration is not required to participate. The AMA will take place publicly on r/mba, and all members of the community are welcome to join.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to register to participate?
No! The AMA is free and open to anyone. Registration through Clear Admit is entirely optional and is available for anyone who would like to add the event to their calendar.
Where will the AMA take place?
The event will be hosted on Reddit’s r/mba subreddit. You’ll be able to find the discussion there on November 20.
Can I ask questions to specific business schools?
Yes. You can direct questions to admissions representatives from individual participating schools in the school-specific breakout rooms on the same day or ask broader questions about MBA admissions that may be relevant to multiple programs in the main thread
Do I need a Reddit account?
You can generally read the AMA without an account, but you’ll need a Reddit account to submit questions or participate in the discussion.
Will every question be answered?
Admissions representatives will respond to questions during the live event, but depending on participation and the volume of questions, not every submission may receive a response.
Join the Conversation
Whether you’re targeting a top MBA program this year or just beginning to explore business school, don’t miss this opportunity to engage directly with admissions representatives from seven outstanding programs.
Friday, November 20, 2026
2:00 PM Eastern | 1:00 PM Central | 11:00 AM Pacific
Panel session will last 60 minutes and then breakouts will begin immediately after and run until close.
Hosted by Clear Admit in collaboration with participating business schools.
