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Clear Admit is the leading resource for top-tier MBA candidates.
Published: August 1, 2023
MBA Admissions Tip: Crafting the MBA Essay
For many applicants, the essays (or personal statements) are the most daunting aspect of the MBA application process. But really, MBA application essays present a true opportunity to tell your story and showcase your strengths. Below are a few key tips for presenting yourself and your experiences as advantageously as possible. Take time to reflect. Before diving in and beginning work on a draft of any one essay, it’s often fruitful to think carefully about all of the stories and accomplishments at one’s disposal. These can include experiences from the professional realm, formal outside activities, college clubs and even more Read more
Published: July 31, 2023
Webinar: Chart Your Path to a Tepper MBA – August 2023 – Video Recap
Watch the video recap of our latest event – Chart Your Path to a Carnegie Mellon Tepper MBA Webinar! Tepper MBA combines advanced analytics with personalized leadership coaching to give you a formidable advantage in a competitive market. Join us for this free webinar event where representatives from Carnegie Mellon’s MBA Programs will discuss the seven steps they recommend to help you prepare your MBA Application. At the conclusion of this ‘Chart Your Path’ event, you will leave feeling more prepared to research programs, gather your application materials, and hit that submit button. Here is the video recap from Read more
Published: July 23, 2023
Clear Admit Summer Survey – We Need Your Input!
Where do you get your news? Do you use a music streaming service? What 2-3 websites do you visit most frequently? If answering these kinds of questions sounds like fun, please give us a hand by taking the Clear Admit Summer Media Survey! The aim of this survey is to understand your media habits and preferences, including your favorite news outlets, television programming, podcasts, and more. Just as the MBA admissions process is holistic, Clear Admit aims to take a similar approach to the research we conduct with the MBA applicant and student communities. Read more
Published: July 17, 2023
Your Favorite MBA Community Just Got Upgraded
We’ve got some exciting news! At Clear Admit, we’re constantly aiming to improve your MBA admissions journey and provide you with the right tools to succeed. We’re thrilled to share that we’ve given Clear Admit a fresh, new look, boosted our performance, and improved our navigation to offer our MBA community a more seamless and efficient platform. But that’s not all! The cherry on top is our biggest upgrade: Clear Admit+ is now available and free for all registered members of our community! As our community grows, we’re committed to ensuring that you Read more
Published: July 3, 2023
MBA Admissions Tip: Addressing Unemployment or Gaps in Employment
Given the emphasis that schools place on a candidate’s work experience, it is important to be proactive in addressing unemployment or gaps in employment. When applying to business school, many candidates worry about how the adcom might perceive gaps in employment. Read our ‘MBA Admissions Tip: Addressing Unemployment Gaps in Employment’ to learn strategies for effectively managing unemployment and employment gaps during your MBA application process. Gaps in Employment It’s not unheard of for an MBA candidate to have a gap in employment, and this will not necessarily make a negative impact on someone’s candidacy. Gaps might be due to Read more
Published: June 19, 2023
Real Humans of J&J: Peter Zhang, Toronto Rotman PharmD/MBA ’22, Marketing Associate
In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, Marketing Associate Peter Zhang reflects on his time at Toronto Rotman, where he earned an MBA as well as a Doctor of Pharmacy. Read on for how the dynamic school and community supported his current work at Johnson & Johnson. Peter Zhang, Toronto Rotman PharmD/MBA ’22, Marketing Associate at Johnson & Johnson Age: 27 Hometown: Thornhill Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Toronto, Immunology & Human Biology Graduate Business School, Graduation Year and Concentration (if applicable): Rotman School of Management, 2022, Combined Read more
Published: June 13, 2023
Admissions Tip: Considering the Campus
There are many factors that go into deciding whether to apply to a specific school, one of which is the physical place where you’ll be spending 1-2 years. Whether speaking with current students or touring the campus for yourself, it’s helpful to approach these information-gathering experiences with as clear a sense of what matters to you as possible. Factors to consider about a business school’s campus: 1. Facilities Are state-of-the-art classrooms and impressive new architecture a priority for you? Would you prefer a school that is headquartered in a single building to one spread over a larger campus? What about Read more
Published: May 30, 2023
MBA Admissions Consulting: How to Choose an Advisor
An experienced MBA admissions consulting partner can: Markedly increase an applicant’s chances of MBA program acceptance and scholarship because admissions consulting firms know the applicant competition and have best practices extrapolated from volumes of past client results Give an applicant the clarity and focus around their values and career aspirations to optimize success in recruiting job offers as an MBA student How Can Prospective MBA Applicants Select the Right Advisor? Many applicants to top business school programs hire an MBA admissions consultant for their applications. Applying to business school requires a substantial amount of time and effort, and many candidates Read more
Published: May 17, 2023
Stanford MBA Students Host 3rd Annual Event to Demystify MBA Experience for Black Undergrads
Contributed by the DBLB leadership team. Stanford GSB students who are committed to increasing diversity in the MBA applicant pool and equity in the application process for business schools globally are leading the third annual Dream Big Lead Boldly workshop (DBLB). The DBLB initiative helps demystify the MBA experience for students and young professionals who identify as Black. This free, one-day virtual workshop will take place on Sunday, May 21. The workshop will feature keynote speaker Simone Hill Okafor and will cover the following themes: Designing your life/career Industry breakout conversations Deciding if an MBA is right for you Paying Read more
Published: May 3, 2023
Admissions Tip: Reapplying to Business School
Thinking about reapplying to business school? It hurts to get a “no” from all the MBA programs you applied to, but it happens to a lot of applicants – especially those who apply to the very best business schools in the world. The good news is that it’s quite common for unsuccessful applicants to apply a second time. While it’s important to take some time to deal with the disappointment, it’s never too early to begin thinking about the next admissions season. And the goods news is that there are a number of concrete steps you can take to improve Read more
Published: April 27, 2023
Upcoming Virtual Event Series: MBA Application Overview
You’ve got your grades and (maybe) your test scores. You’ve put in the time and effort at work, and have accomplishments and skills to show for it. You’re also active and involved in your community. You have the raw materials. So how do you put them together into a compelling MBA application? Join us for our MBA Application Overview Event Series to get answers to just that question! We’re hosting four events – on consecutive Wednesdays in May – May 3rd, May 10th, May 17th & May 24th, all @ 12pm ET – each with representatives from up to five Read more
Published: March 30, 2023
Admissions Director Q&A: Narottam Kishore of BITSoM
Sponsored Content We return to our Admissions Director Q&A with Narottam Kishore, the Head of Admissions & Outreach and Student Affairs at BITS School of Management, Mumbai (BITSoM). BITSoM is a new business school under the aegis of BITS Pilani, identified as Institution of Eminence by the Government of India. Narottam has been at BITSoM for the past two years, leading admissions and outreach initiatives for the full-time MBA program. In his role as the head of the Student Affairs, he is responsible for overseeing student clubs, managing student activities, and promoting student learning and development outside Read more
Published: March 30, 2023
Webinar: Carnegie Mellon Tepper – Join the Intelligent Future – April 2023 – Video Recap
Check out this video recap of our recent Carnegie Mellon Tepper MBA Webinar!  Join the Intelligent Future! Tepper MBA combines advanced analytics with personalized leadership coaching to give you a formidable advantage in a competitive market. Douglas Alford, Director of Admissions, Tepper MBA students and Masters Career Center professionals discuss why the science of management and art of leadership matter in your MBA and how those skills will prepare you for a future fueled by data, powered by technology, and unleashed by human intelligence. This event was on April 18, 2023 at 12pm Eastern time.  Please check out Read more
Published: March 30, 2023
Spring 2023 Survey – We Need Your Input!
At this point in the 2022-2023 admissions season, many of our community members are weighing their options for business school next fall semester. Meanwhile, others have made their school choice and are looking forward to matriculating in the coming months. Of course, another admissions season is just around the corner for those just beginning to think about graduate management education! We are interested in hearing from individuals who are considering an MBA in the future, as well as those who have committed to enrolling this fall. Clear Admit is conducting an online survey focused on the ways you Read more
Published: March 9, 2023
Waitlisted in Round 2? Here’s How You Should Proceed
As Round 2 decisions roll out and several candidates report being waitlisted on MBA LiveWire, we have some 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. First and foremost, while schools now know the quality of their Round 1 matriculants and Round 2 applicants, they do not know how many of the candidates admitted as part of Round 2 will ultimately enroll, nor the number of outstanding candidates in Round 3. Simply put, the waitlist helps schools manage these unknowns to arrive at Read more
Published: February 27, 2023
MBA Admissions Tip: Background Checks
Following decision notifications from business schools, we know that many of our readers will be asking about the background checks conducted by leading MBA programs. Here are some quick facts to help explain this part of the MBA admissions process: 1. What are background checks? Background checks involve the verification of information that a candidate has provided in his or her MBA applications. Although the process varies from school to school, it usually includes checking that an applicant attended the undergraduate (or graduate) school(s) that he or she claims to have attended, received the grades indicated and earned the GMAT Read more
Published: February 6, 2023
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 Business School and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. We should note that at UVA’s Darden School, the MBA admissions interview is truly context-free, meaning the interviewer will not have read or reviewed either your application or your résumé. “Your Read more
Published: January 26, 2023
Upcoming: Ask Us Anything! Live Chat with UC Irvine Merage Current MBA Students
Interested in the UC Irvine Merage MBA program? This UC Irvine Live Chat is for YOU! In this ‘Ask Me Anything’ style live chat, current Merage MBAs will answer your questions about the program. Learn how the UC Irvine Full-Time MBA program in partnership with the MBA Career Center prepares you for the internship process, landing a full-time offer and long-term career resiliency.  Bring all of your questions for this interactive chat session and, whether you are in the research phase or trying to make a final decision on which MBA program to join, we promise you Read more
Published: January 19, 2023
Dartmouth Tuck to offer GMAT Waiver for Round Three Applicants Affected by Layoffs
With all of the changes in the labor market – especially in the tech sector – many business schools have made adjustments to their late round application process to provide a pathway forward for individuals affected by the rounds of layoffs. The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College is the latest MBA program to introduce what they refer to as a “special admissions initiative” to meet the needs and potential of high-performing talent recently laid off. From now through March 1, 2023, those impacted will have the ability to request a GMAT/GRE test waiver when applying to Read more
Published: January 16, 2023
MBA Admissions Tip: Letters of Support
While business schools require candidates to submit anywhere from one to three recommendations as part of the regular MBA admissions process, we’re devoting this admissions tip to a lesser known relative of the formal recommendation: the letter of support. The letter of support is very different from a typical letter of recommendation, in ways that we will detail below. In fact, we’ll use this admissions tip to share the following information: What is a letter of support? Who can author and submit such letters? When should a letter of support be submitted? What should a letter of support cover in Read more
Published: January 15, 2023
The Week Ahead: MBA Deadlines, January 16-20, 2023
Welcome back to the series, The Week Ahead, in which we provide a brief rundown of what is happening in MBA admissions this week! Round 2 is underway. We are closing out the Round 2 deadlines this week. Wednesday, January 18, MIT / Sloan has its Round 2 application deadline. How Clear Admit+ and “The Wires” Can Help Subscribe to Clear Admit+ for comprehensive guidance on all aspects of the admissions process in an easily digestible series of video lessons, data tools, and digital publications. Visit MBA LiveWire for the latest “buzz” about MBA admissions, including interview invitations and decision notifications.  There Read more
Published: January 4, 2023
Admissions Tip: Essay Polishing
The deadline is looming and you’re making one final pass through your application before hitting submit. This isn’t the time for drastic changes – but there might still be an opportunity for small improvements. Read on for three big picture, “crunch time” tips! Keep It Professional It’s true that many schools ask “fun” questions and most urge applicants to be themselves rather than submitting “overly polished” material. But it’s important to remember that this is a graduate school application, and you should approach your essays with a degree of formality. You do want your unique narrative voice to come through, Read more
Published: January 2, 2023
MBA Admissions Tip: Five Questions to Ask Yourself Before Submitting an Optional Essay
We realize that the questions of whether or not to answer an optional essay—and, if so, what to say—are ones that loom large for many MBA applicants. In addition to our school-specific Essay Topic Analysis, we wanted to suggest a few questions that applicants might want to consider when making this call. Is my MBA optional essay relevant? Perhaps this goes without saying, but the only information worth sharing in an optional essay is that which will make a material difference in your candidacy. Whether you wish to comment on an exciting leadership role you’ve just Read more
Published: December 20, 2022
Real Humans for the Holidays: Winter Snow Edition
‘Tis the holiday season and we’re bringing you a festive short series inspired by Real Humans: MBA Students, called Real Humans for the Holidays! Read what students and alumni of top MBA programs like to do during the December holidays and their advice for our readers. Scroll down to see what five MBA students chose in a “This or That” game. You can also win a gift this season by participating in the Clear Admit Giveaway on LinkedIn! Jessica Berry, Wharton MBA Class of 2024 What do you like most about the December holidays? Read more
Published: October 27, 2022
Webinar: Why Experiential Learning is Essential to Your MBA Experience – Video Recap
“What is Experiential Learning?” Experiential learning is an engaged learning process whereby students “learn by doing” and by reflecting on the experience.  Within an MBA program, experiential learning can be a vital piece of the curriculum for both career switchers and career boosters alike, as both sets of students can bring more real-life experiences into the MBA curriculum while still in school. Clear Admit partnered with the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business to discuss this topic and more in a recent webinar event.  We spoke about different ways the Terry MBA program helps students apply academic theory Read more

MBA Livewire

June 14, 2025 11:26pm ET
Accepted to NYU Stern
Round: Round 4
Received via portal on June 12, 2025
Standardized Test: GMAT
GPA: 3.3
GMAT: 725
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Other
Application Location: United States, Los Angeles
June 14, 2025 8:21am ET
Accepted from Waitlist to UVA / Darden
Round: Round 3
Received via phone on May 29, 2025
Standardized Test: GRE
GPA: 3.1
GRE: 321
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Consulting
Application Location: West Coast
Note:

This was a very straightforward process for me and the school really just wanted to understand why I was applying in round three (I have a fellowship that UVA is in that has a final deadline of round two, so they knew I had applied to other schools earlier). It really felt like the school only waitlist you if they want to convert you, but they were incredibly generous with scholarship $$$
June 13, 2025 6:40pm ET
Accepted to UCLA Anderson
Round: Round 3
Received via phone June 13, 2025
Standardized Test: Granted Waiver
GPA: 3.37
Application Location: Los Angeles, CA
June 13, 2025 2:19pm ET
Applied to Other
Round: Round 1
Received via email
Standardized Test: Granted Waiver
GPA: 3.80
Program Type: One Year Program
Target Career: General Management
Application Location: USA
June 13, 2025 1:59pm ET
Accepted to NYU Stern
Round: Round 4
Received via email June 13, 2025
Standardized Test: Executive Assessment (EA)
EA: 161
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Consulting
Application Location: United States, New York
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