Advice
Resume- vs. Application-Based MBA Admissions Interviews
Some business schools believe strongly in the notion of résumé-based interviews, which means that your interviewer will know nothing about you in advance of the MBA admissions interview other than what appears on the résumé you give them. Schools that fall firmly into this camp include Yale School of Management (SOM), Columbia... Read more »
Episode 274: Tips for the Wharton Team-Based Discussion (TBD)
In this special edition of the podcast, your hosts Alex Brown and Graham Richmond break down Wharton’s group interview – known as the Team Based Discussion (TBD) – and offer a wealth of tips and background to help applicants ace it. Alex and Graham, who both formerly worked in admissions at Wharton, set... Read more »
Wharton’s Team-Based Discussion Prompt 2022-2023
The prompt for the Wharton School’s Team-Based Discussion (TBD) for the 2022-2023 MBA admissions season is below. The exercise focuses on the Global Immersion Program: "Wharton’s commitment to global engagement prepares MBA students for any challenge in the international business environment. As of the 2022 school year, all global travel at Wharton... Read more »
The Seven Hardest MBA Admissions Interview Questions—and How to Answer Them
You have already read our analysis of the most commonly asked MBA admissions interview questions. In this article, we’ve decided to up the ante by deconstructing the toughest and trickiest MBA admissions interview questions. To accomplish this, our team of former admissions officers combed through our extensive MBA interview archive and hand picked... Read more »
5 MBA Interview Questions You Need to Ace (And How to Do So)
Interviews, interviews, interviews…they are the post-essay hurdle to gaining admission. Instead of driving yourself crazy with worry, why not buckle down and perfect your answers to the questions you are most likely to be asked? To help you prepare, we’ve scoured our Interview Guides and Interview Archive to compile our very own list... Read more »
MBA Essay Insight Webinar Series Fall 2022
We're sure you've already heard that the application essays are a crucial component of the MBA application. So how can you ace this part of the admissions process without the use of sample essays? Get essay tips straight from admissions representatives at leading business schools during our upcoming MBA Essay... Read more »
MBA Essay Insight Webinar Series Summer 2022
We're sure you've already heard that the application essays are a crucial component of the MBA application. So how can you ace this part of the admissions process without the use of sample essays? Get essay tips straight from admissions representatives at leading business schools during our upcoming MBA Essay... Read more »
Episode 196—Wharton Team-Based Discussion (TBD) Tips
In this special edition of the podcast, your hosts Alex Brown and Graham Richmond break down Wharton’s group interview – known as the Team Based Discussion (TBD) – and offer a wealth of tips and background to help applicants ace it. Alex and Graham, who both formerly worked in admissions... Read more »
Wharton’s Team-Based Discussion Prompt 2021-2022
The prompt for the Wharton School’s Team-Based Discussion (TBD) for the 2021-2022 MBA admissions season is below. The exercise focuses on Wharton Interactive, a new initiative in online, game-based learning. The prompt is: "A few weeks ago Wharton announced the official launch of Wharton Interactive, a venture dedicated to transforming teaching through... Read more »
Spooky Admissions Mistakes: Nightmares for AdCom Members
Let’s pumpkin spice things up! As Halloween approaches, we wanted to take a look at some of the most chilling nightmares that adcom members can face when evaluating MBA applicants. So, what are the scariest mistakes an MBA applicant can make? Clear Admit co-founder Graham Richmond shares his insights below... Read more »
MBA Essay Insight Event Series: Sept/Oct Dates!
As you most likely already know, essays are a critical component of the MBA admissions process. That's why we're bringing back our popular MBA Essay Insight Event Series for three more events this September into October. Join us on September 22nd, September 29th, and October 6th at 12 noon ET... Read more »
MBA Student Interview by Juno: John From Columbia Business School
MBA Student Interview: Columbia Business School Juno’s MBA Student Interview Series aims to bring transparency to the MBA application process. In these student interviews, we’ll talk with MBA students about their paths and decision-making process. The subject of this piece has asked to remain anonymous, so we'll refer to them... Read more »
Episode 136: Wire Taps—Duke Fuqua with Scholarship or Full Ride at Michigan Ross?
While many MBA applicants are currently strategizing for Round 2, other lucky ones already need help choosing a business school. Our admissions experts, Graham Richmond and Alex Brown, offer all-encompassing advice in this new podcast episode of Wire Taps. Preview the profiles from MBA DecisionWire and MBA ApplyWire below and... Read more »
Wharton’s Team Based Discussion Interview Prompt 2020-2021
The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania is now interviewing applicants for the Class of 2023. As many of our readers know, Wharton's interview process centers on a 'team-based discussion' (TBD), during which a small group of 5-6 prospective students are brought together to present their thoughts on an... Read more »
Top 6 Tips for Deferred Enrollment MBA Applicants
Undergraduate seniors and full-time graduate students without work experience can take advantage of the deferred enrollment MBA option offered by several MBA programs. Deferred enrollment means that you can apply to business school now, secure your acceptance and then matriculate in two to five years when the time is right... Read more »
Why Now is a Great Time to Apply to Business School
Through the toughest of times, business education can provide answers and solutions that not only heal economies, but uplift societies. The skills offered through an MBA—from finance and analytics, to leadership, management and more—can also empower you to be nimble in times of uncertainty, and prepare you for any business... Read more »
Episode 100: Wire Taps—How Can I Re-apply Successfully?
In our 100th podcast episode, Clear Admit’s admissions experts, Graham Richmond and Alex Brown, review profiles shared in MBA ApplyWire and MBA DecisionWire. Tune in for their feedback to MBA applicants and candidates below. One applicant needed feedback on their career goals: Another MBA is planning to re-apply: An accepted... Read more »
Episode 83: Application Strategies – Deferred Enrollment MBA Programs
The list of requirements for MBA admissions can be extensive—test scores, recommendations, essays and, of course, work experience. College seniors and graduate students may be well on their way to checking off all the boxes for an application to business school, but missing that final piece of full-time professional work... Read more »
MBA Admissions Tip: Five Tips for Making the Best of the Waitlist
For better or for worse, waitlisting is rather popular with top schools in the first round of admissions. As such, this admissions tip offers guidance for candidates who find themselves placed on a waitlist. Before we get to that, let’s look first at why schools use a waitlist. Why Schools Use... Read more »
Episode 25 Replay: 8 Tips You Need to Succeed in Round 2
The wave of Round 2 deadlines may look like it's on the horizon, but, based on what goes into applying to business school, those deadlines are closer than they appear. Whether you’re just kicking off your MBA applications or have some experience knowledge from Round 1, this podcast episode will... Read more »
Interviews
Resume- vs. Application-Based MBA Admissions Interviews
Some business schools believe strongly in the notion of résumé-based interviews, which means that your interviewer will know nothing about you in advance of the MBA admissions interview other than w
Vanderbilt Owen MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Second-Year Student / Virtual
The interview is blind - they only have access to your resume. As far as the questions go, there weren't any curveballs; I got ones regarding obstacles I've overcome, short/long-term goals, how I work
UCLA Anderson MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 2 / Second-Year Student / On Campus
Very conversational and enjoyable. Nothing difficult at all. The interviewer made sure to keep to 30mins.I flew in to do the interview because I know most aren't doing them IRL and I wanted to be
Careers and Financial Aid
M7 Business Schools Dominate in Venture Capital and Private Equity Fields
MBA graduates continue to be drawn to finance jobs due to the lucrative compensation packages, the chance to work on high-profile deals at investment banks, and the opportunity to invest in the next b
2019-2022 MBA Job Placement Trends: The Rise and Fall of Tech and the Return to Consulting and Finance
In our previous article, we highlighted the decline in tech industry jobs accepted and the increase in consulting jobs accepted from the Class of 2021 to the Class of 2022 among leading full-time MBA
Tech Jobs are in Decline at Top MBA Programs. Is This the Canary in the Coal Mine for MBA Hiring?
MBA Class of 2022 graduates were clearly impacted by the softening in the technology sector in 2022 after the pandemic-fueled growth in tech industry jobs in 2020 and 2021. Compared to the Class of 20
Essays
MBA Essay Insight Webinar Series Fall 2022
We're sure you've already heard that the application essays are a crucial component of the MBA application. So how can you ace this part of the admissions process without the use of sample essays?
MBA Essay Insight Webinar Series Summer 2022
We're sure you've already heard that the application essays are a crucial component of the MBA application. So how can you ace this part of the admissions process without the use of sample essays?
MBA Essay Insight Event Series: Sept/Oct Dates!
As you most likely already know, essays are a critical component of the MBA admissions process. That's why we're bringing back our popular MBA Essay Insight Event Series for three more events this Sep
