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Published: July 16, 2026
Weekly Refresh: MBA Essay Questions, Analyzed – Plus Deadlines & Rec Questions
Welcome to Weekly Refresh, a roundup of admissions advice and updates on the Clear Admit site. We continue with updates for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle with some deadlines, essay advice, and recommendation questions. Essay Tips Drafting your application essays? See the latest of our experts’ advice in our Essay Topic Analysis. The following schools recently released their essays—click for our advice: Cornell / Johnson Duke / Fuqua IESE Business School MIT Sloan UVA / Darden Read more
Published: July 16, 2026
Admissions Director Q&A: Maria Pineda of the UMD Smith School of Business
We welcome back Maria Pineda, Executive Director of Admissions at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, in this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A. Pineda has been with UMD Smith for almost 20 years and manages the recruiting efforts for the MBA and Specialty Master’s Programs. Read on as Pineda shares what to expect from the admissions process at UMD Smith, the value of the MBA program, and how to prepare for your interview. Maria Pineda, Executive Director of Admissions at Maryland Smith Clear Admit: What is one aspect of Read more
Published: July 15, 2026
Real Humans of NYU Stern’s MS in Business Analytics and AI Class of 2027
The NYU Stern School of Business MS in Business Analytics and AI Class of 2027 brings together seasoned professionals from across industries who are returning to the classroom with a shared goal: to understand and apply the power of data and AI to real-world business challenges. In this special edition of our Real Humans stories, we get to meet some students behind the degree. To start, Alicia Younker shares her story of wanting to move into a more analytically driven career Read more
Published: July 15, 2026
Admissions Director Q&A: Becky Gallagher of the University of Bath School of Management
In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome back Becky Gallagher, Head of MBA Admissions and Recruitment at the University of Bath School of Management in the U.K. Becky has worked within the University for over 20 years, spending time in the Students’ Union where she oversaw student development and leadership programs. She has worked in the role of Head of MBA Recruitment and Admissions since January 2021 and has built an impressive network of connections globally. Becky loves nothing more than taking a student through the journey from pre-applicant stage right through Read more
Published: July 14, 2026
MBA Admissions Tip: Making the Most of Your Campus Visit
While traveling to visit MBA programs in person can be an expensive proposition, the campus trips are well worth it. Your b-school campus visit provides a chance to experience the MBA student culture, evaluate the facilities, and gather valuable information for your application process. To help you make the most of your MBA campus visit, keep these five tips in mind: 1. Make yourself known Putting forth the effort to travel to a school is a signal of interest in the program that the adcom loves to see; however, you need to let them know that you’ve made the trip. Read more
Published: July 14, 2026
Podcast: Why Your Career Plan Should Shape Your MBA Journey
In this episode of the Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast, host Graham Richmond welcomes special guest Camila de Wit, whose unique experience leading both admissions and career services, along with her work advising business schools around the world through GMAC, gives her a rare perspective on how thoughtful career planning can help applicants make smarter decisions long before they ever set foot on campus. Camila de Wit Camila is a higher education strategist, executive coach, and Founder of de Wit&, a boutique consulting firm advising business schools and organizations on talent strategy, enrollment management, and organizational transformation. Read more
Published: July 13, 2026
Admissions Director Q&A: David Simpson of LBS
In this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we are back with David Simpson, the Recruitment and Admissions Director for the MBA and Masters in Finance (MiF) programs at London Business School (LBS). David is one of London Business School’s most experienced professional staff. Starting in admissions, moving through various roles in marketing and business development, he jumped at the chance to return to admissions. His undergraduate degree is in business, majoring in international marketing. In his time at London Business School, he has enjoyed travelling the world to meet prospective Read more
Published: July 12, 2026
MBA Wire Taps 500: South American, 332 GRE Indian, 665 GMAT
Weekly Roundup for Clear Admit’s MBA Podcast In this week’s MBA Admissions podcast we kicked off the show by celebrating the 500th episode of this podcast series, which began in March 2018. Through the series we have profiled more than 1,000 MBA candidates, and the series has received over 400,000 listens. For upcoming events, Clear Admit is hosting a special webinar event for international students, scheduled for this Wednesday, July 16, at 10AM Central European time. This webinar explores the value of a U.S.-based MBA for international students, as well as the logistics of moving to the United States. Read more
Published: July 12, 2026
The Clear Admit Podcast Hits Episode 500!
Grab your headphones and join us to celebrate this milestone! The Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast reached its 500th episode today. Our first episode aired on March 6th, 2018. While we started with general strategy episodes and Admissions Director Q&As, we really kicked things into gear in July of 2019, with the very first episode (on July 15th, 2019 to be exact) of Wire Taps, in which Alex Brown and Graham Richmond break down entries from MBA hopefuls and offer advice to sharpen Read more
Published: July 9, 2026
Weekly Refresh: MBA Essay Questions, Analyzed – Plus Deadlines & Rec Questions
Welcome to Weekly Refresh, a roundup of admissions advice and updates on the Clear Admit site. We continue with updates for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle with some deadlines, essay advice, and recommendation questions. Essay Tips Drafting your application essays? See the latest of our experts’ advice in our Essay Topic Analysis. The following schools recently released their essays—click for our advice: Cambridge / Judge Columbia Business School Michigan State / Broad Yale SOM Deadlines Released See the admissions deadlines that have rolled out: Read more
Published: July 9, 2026
Digging Deep with Your MBA Program Research: Anecdotes & Advocates
Communicating with insiders (current students, alumni, and faculty members) can be beneficial to your MBA applications for a number of reasons. In addition to learning about a given school and your potential fit, you’ll also generate material for your essays, demonstrate your interest in the program, and perhaps even make an ally or two. As you aim to go beyond the schools’ websites and promotional materials, we specifically recommend reaching out to individuals in a few key groups: Current MBA Students People who are currently enrolled in a given program can obviously provide the clearest picture of the present state Read more
Published: July 9, 2026
Admissions Director Q&A: Dr. Naz Erenguc of Florida Warrington
In this edition of our ongoing Admissions Director Q&A series, we hear again from Director of Admissions for the University of Florida (UF) Warrington College of Business Dr. Naz Erenguc. Dr. Naz has nearly two decades of experience in higher education. Combining her passion for inclusive excellence with business, academic and global health expertise, Dr. Naz is one of the most versatile voices in graduate education today. During Naz’s tenure at UF, she has worked as an undergraduate academic advisor for both the College of Health and Human Performance and the College Read more
Published: July 8, 2026
Admissions Director Q&A: Chris Jones of Toronto Rotman
In this Admissions Director Q&A, we meet Chris Jones, the Assistant Director, Recruitment for all MBA Programs at the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management. With an extensive background in graduate recruitment and career education, Chris currently manages the entire professional MBA portfolio. Originally from the UK, he graduated from the University of Nottingham and has worked almost exclusively in the graduate recruitment and higher education field with multinational organizations like Deloitte, Sun Life Financial and currently with the University of Toronto. Chris is a keen runner, Read more
Published: July 7, 2026
MBA Admissions Tip: Applying to Business School as a Younger Applicant
It has become increasingly common for younger individuals to apply to MBA programs. Whereas the average age and years of work experience at the leading business schools has traditionally hovered at around 28 and five respectively, many programs are now carefully considering the more youthful end of the applicant pool. Of course, the fact that admissions officers are taking a closer look at younger applicants does not mean that getting accepted to a top program is easy for this group. In fact, it may be difficult for younger applicants to present themselves as fully prepared to Read more
Published: July 7, 2026
LBS Receives £25M Gift, for MBA Scholarships & More
London Business School (LBS) has announced a landmark £25 million gift from philanthropists David and Molly Pyott, marking one of the largest donations in the school’s history and advancing its ambitious fundraising efforts. David and Molly Pyott The contribution, made by the David and Molly Pyott Foundation alongside the couple personally, will leave a lasting imprint on the LBS campus. In recognition of the gift, the school’s North Building at Sussex Place, overlooking Regent’s Park, will be renamed the David and Molly Pyott Building. The funding will also support the creation of a major scholarship Read more
Published: July 7, 2026
What MBA Alumni at Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI Say the Degree Is Really Worth
Tech is one of the most competitive destinations for MBA graduates, and the alumni now working at some of the industry’s most recognizable names, from OpenAI to Amazon to Adobe, are unambiguous about the degree’s value. What they describe isn’t just a credential or a recruiting lever, but a two-year reset that changed how they think, who they know, and what they’re capable of. Across 13 voices and a wide range of schools and roles, several consistent themes emerge. Raising the Ceiling, Not Just the Resume For many tech-bound alumni, the decision Read more
Published: July 6, 2026
Ten Years of M7 MBA Salary Growth
Base pay for graduates of the M7 business schools has climbed 40% over the past decade. Contrary to some recent assertions that the MBA is declining in value, particularly in post-MBA starting salaries, we take a deeper dive into the historic data. Clear Admit’s Graham Richmond espoused the enduring value of the MBA–but what about the numbers? Below, we review the post-MBA median base salaries for recent graduates from top MBA programs and the salary figures have been increasing. The table below shows median base salary for MBA graduates of the M7 business schools — Read more
Published: July 6, 2026
Admissions Director Q&A: Allison Jamison of Duke Fuqua
In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A, we connect with Allison Jamison, Assistant Dean of Admissions at Duke University Fuqua School of Business, to learn about the ins and outs of admissions. Allison loves working closely with Fuqua’s prospective students each year. She collaborates with the Fuqua Admissions team to find the best ways to meet and engage with individuals considering a graduate business education, and she says it is truly a pleasure for her to get to know the applicants.  Allison began working at Fuqua in Read more
Published: July 5, 2026
MBA Wire Taps 499: Chemical engineer to Consulting. Founder, low numbers. 322 GRE, Software engineer
Weekly Roundup for Clear Admit’s MBA Podcast In this week’s MBA Admissions podcast we began by discussing the current state of the MBA admissions season. While activity for this season is winding down, we do still anticipate a little more waitlist movement in the weeks ahead. For upcoming events, Clear Admit is also hosting a special webinar event for international students, scheduled for July 16, at 10AM Central European time. This webinar will explore the value of a U.S.-based MBA for international students, as well as the logistics of moving to the United States, getting a student visa, and staying Read more
Published: July 2, 2026
Admissions Director Q&A: Patrik Wallén of IESE
In this Admissions Director Q&A, we visit Barcelona, Spain, to learn more about IESE Business School from Patrik Wallén, the school’s MBA Admissions Director. Prior to joining the Admissions team, Patrik spent several years leading IESE’s Career Development Center, where he supported MBA and MiM students in navigating their career paths and building relationships with global recruiters. Originally from Sweden, Patrik completed his MBA at IESE in 2007. He also holds executive coaching certifications (ORSCC, CPCC, ACC) and has been actively involved in IESE’s leadership and coaching programs. Read more
Published: July 2, 2026
Real Humans of Bain & Co.: Mariana Couttolenc, LBS MBA ’25, Consultant
Mariana Couttolenc was reflecting on what she was looking for in the long term when she decided that business school was the right step to gain exposure to different industries and expand her network. In this edition of our Real Humans: Alumni series, Mariana tells us how she was drawn to London Business School for a more international experience and how the MBA program strengthened her confidence, resilience, and ability to manage pressure. Read about her journey to an MBA and consulting at Bain below. Mariana Couttolenc, LBS MBA ’25, Consultant at Bain & Co. Read more
Published: July 2, 2026
Weekly Refresh: MBA Essay Questions, Analyzed – Plus Deadlines & Rec Questions
Welcome to Weekly Refresh, a roundup of admissions advice and updates on the Clear Admit site. We continue with updates for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle with some deadlines, essay advice, and recommendation questions. Essay Tips Drafting your application essays? See the latest of our experts’ advice in our Essay Topic Analysis. The following schools recently released their essays—click for our advice: Chicago / Booth Dartmouth / Tuck UCLA Anderson Deadlines Released See the admissions deadlines that have rolled out: Chicago / Read more
Published: July 1, 2026
The MBA Isn’t a Stock Price
Why prospective students should be careful about drawing sweeping conclusions from the latest headlines. Every few years, the MBA seems to find itself on trial. Perhaps that’s because we’ve fallen into the habit of treating the MBA like a stock price—judging its long-term value by short-term movements in applications, salaries, or employment data. Applications soften. Hiring slows. Then a new technology comes along, or a recession hits, and suddenly people start asking whether the MBA has finally run its course. Having spent more than two decades in graduate management education, I’ve watched this cycle play out several times. During the Read more
Published: July 1, 2026
Admissions Director Q&A: Kara Tripi of Michigan State Broad College of Business
We are back again with Kara Tripi, Managing Director of MBA Admissions at Michigan State University Broad College of Business for this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A. Kara oversees admissions for the Executive, Online, and Full-Time MBA programs. She holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Oakland University. Over the past 13 years, Kara has built her career in higher education, with a strong commitment to supporting and advocating for students. Outside of her work, she enjoys spending time with her wife and their Read more
Published: June 30, 2026
Top In-Person MBA Events to Check Out in July 2026
An essential part of the process when you apply for an MBA is events. On or off campus, formal or informal, in-person MBA admission events are opportunities for applicants to connect with current students and alumni, sit in on classes, meet the admissions team, and take campus tours. Final round deadlines have passed for fall 2026 intake, but some rolling deadlines continue. In anticipation of admits making decisions on where to go and future applicants taking time during the summer season to check out potential schools, in-person event opportunities are increasing for Read more

MBA Applywire

5
July 13, 2026 8:51am ET
Applying: Columbia Business School, IESE, INSEAD, London Business School, Northwestern / Kellogg
Intake Year: 2027
Pre-MBA Career: Consulting
Post MBA Career: Consulting, BCG
GMAT: 665
GPA: 7.84
Years of Work Experience: 5
Location: Brazil
Post MBA Location: Brazil
Notes:

Work Experience
• As of the time of application, five years in top-tier strategy consulting (client-face role), including 2 years at a Tier-2 global firm and 3 years at an MBB, consistently recognized as a top-performing consultant and awarded MBA sponsorship
• Broad exposure to international projects across diverse industries and strategic topics, with roles engaging mid- to senior-level client stakeholders

Social Impact & Volunteering
• Volunteer mentor at a non-profit dedicated to providing educational support and career guidance to low-income youth, contributing to social mobility initiatives

Academics
• B.Eng. in Civil Engineering from a top 3 Brazilian university with a GPA of 7.84/10.00
• GMAT Focus 665 (Q82, V85, DI82)
8
July 9, 2026 11:13am ET
Applying: Carnegie Mellon / Tepper, Cornell / Johnson, Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, Indiana / Kelley, Michigan / Ross, Notre Dame / Mendoza, UT Austin / McCombs
Intake Year: 2027
Pre-MBA Career: Innovation and Development Engineer
Post MBA Career: Management Consulting, Manufacturing, Consumer Goods, Retail
GRE: 154
GPA: 3.0
EA: 154
Years of Work Experience: 6
Location: Mexico
Post MBA Location: USA
Notes:

EA Score: Quant: 12 IR: 12 V: 10
I got a Master Degree in Finance with a 3.7 GPA.

CV:
Purchasing Manager (2025- Current) in a Mexican Leading plumbing company that manufactures 1,900 Skus with 1,200+ employees.
Innovation Engineer (2023 - 2025) in a Mexican Leading plumbing company that manufactures 1,900 Skus with 1,200+ employees.
Financial Analyst Sr. (2022 - 2023) in Strategic business services center.
Financial Analyst (2020 - 2022) in a Telecommunications infrastructure company, 150 employees

Short Term Goals: Right after my MBA, my goal is to work in the US, in a strategic corporate role, like a Global Procurement Manager, Operations Consultant, or a member of a Supply Chain Leadership Program in a global company. I want to manage large international supply chains, lead cross-border projects, and learn how top companies use new technologies to run their operations.

Long Term Goals: Ten years after my MBA, my goal is to be the Director of Development, Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the company where I work right now or Director of Product Development. In this position, I want to lead the company's high-level strategy, drive our global expansion, and make the executive decisions on where the company is heading. Additionally, depending on the company's timings and internal succession plans, my ultimate goal is to compete for the General Director (CEO) position to lead the entire enterprise.

Why MBA Now: Through my roles in innovation, finance, and procurement at a leading manufacturer, I’ve learned how operational decisions shape overall business performance. I’ve led the digital transformation integrating an AI-powered strategic sourcing platform in indirect purchases and building supply chain resilience against tariff changes. However, I want to increase my influence over high-level business direction and execution. Having optimized our foundational operations, this is the perfect window to pivot toward global leadership. I need to develop leadership experience in a world-class global organization to return and successfully lead the company as it reaches its mature, global scale.
20
July 9, 2026 6:50am ET
Applying: Berkeley / Haas, Carnegie Mellon / Tepper, Chicago Booth, Columbia Business School, Cornell / Johnson, Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, Emory / Goizueta, Georgia Tech / Scheller, Harvard Business School, HEC Paris, Indian School of Business, Michigan / Ross, MIT Sloan, NYU Stern, Penn / Wharton, UT Austin / McCombs, UVA / Darden, Washington U / Olin, Yale SOM
Intake Year: 2027
Pre-MBA Career: Research in Boston Consulting Group
Post MBA Career: Chevron Corp, Undecided, Real Estate, Undecided, Exxon Mobil, Constellation, Energy
GRE: 326
GPA: 9.37
Years of Work Experience: 3.5
Location: India
Post MBA Location: USA
19
July 9, 2026 6:11am ET
Applying: Berkeley / Haas, Carnegie Mellon / Tepper, Chicago Booth, Columbia Business School, Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, Harvard Business School, HEC Paris, Indian School of Business, London Business School, Michigan / Ross, MIT Sloan, Northwestern / Kellogg, NYU Stern, Oxford / Saïd, Penn / Wharton, Stanford GSB, UCLA Anderson, Yale SOM
Intake Year: 2027
Pre-MBA Career: Finance
Post MBA Career: Management Consulting, Finance, Consulting
GMAT: 645
GPA: 8.71
Years of Work Experience: 7
Location: Bangalore
Post MBA Location: New York
Notes:

Silver medallist/ 7 years finance experience in JP Morgan and American Express (US market) / Led $30B commercial portfolio, led multiple initiative leading to $100M profitability/ Running AI startup in Supply chain finance- backed by Entrepreneur First
13
July 8, 2026 4:16pm ET
Applying: American / Kogod, Boston / Questrom, Carnegie Mellon / Tepper, Chicago Booth, Cornell / Johnson, Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, Michigan / Ross, MIT Sloan, Northwestern / Kellogg, Penn / Wharton, UNC Kenan-Flagler, Yale SOM
Intake Year: 2027
Pre-MBA Career: Medical Device Engineering
Post MBA Career: Accenture, Consulting, Healthcare, Roland Berger, PWC Strategy&, Other, McKinsey, LEK Consulting, EY Parthenon, Deloitte, BCG, Bain, Alix Partners
GRE: 318
GPA: 3.66
Years of Work Experience: 6
Location: Boston
Post MBA Location: Boston
Notes:

I want to be on a COO track in the medical device industry. I want to focus my MBA on strategy within an operations framework, so I can be the best applicant for MBB consulting in the medical device industry.
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MBA LiveWire

July 17, 2026 3:19pm ET
Accepted to Columbia Business School
Round: Round 1
Received via email July 17, 2026
Standardized Test: GMAT
GPA: 3.2
GMAT: 685
Program Type: January Intake
Post MBA Career: Finance, Venture Capital
Application Location: India
Juno Member: Not yet
July 17, 2026 2:00pm ET
Accepted to Columbia Business School
Round: Round 1
Received via portal on July 15, 2026
Standardized Test: GRE
GPA: 3.03
GRE: 319
Program Type: January Intake
Post MBA Career: Consumer Goods, Apparel/Luxury Goods
Application Location: Atlanta, GA
Note:

Applied June 17, interview invite July 2, interview July 14, accepted July 16
Juno Member: Not yet
July 16, 2026 4:31am ET
Interview Invite to Columbia Business School
Round: Round 1
Received via email
Standardized Test: GRE
GPA: 3.6
GRE: 330
Program Type: January Intake
Post MBA Career: Healthcare
Application Location: Washington DC
Juno Member: Not yet
July 16, 2026 4:30am ET
Accepted to Northwestern / Kellogg
Round: Round 2
Received via email
Standardized Test: GRE
GPA: 3.6
GRE: 330
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career: Healthcare
Application Location: Washington DC
Juno Member: Not yet
July 15, 2026 9:44am ET
Accepted from Waitlist to Northwestern / Kellogg
Round: Round 1
Received via phone on July 12, 2026
Standardized Test: GRE
GPA: 3.9
GRE: 322
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career: Consulting
Application Location: United States, Boston
Juno Member: Not yet
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