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Posts by Lauren Wakal

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Lauren Wakal has been covering the MBA admissions space for more than a decade, from in-depth business school profiles to weekly breaking news and more.
Published: July 29, 2025
Early & Round 1 MBA Deadlines 2025-2026
To help you stay organized, we’ve compiled a chart of the earliest deadlines, including Early Action and Round 1, of the top business schools in one place. For schools that have announced their essay topic(s), you’ll find links to our corresponding Essay Topic Analysis in the “Essay(s) Released” column. We will continue to update this table as more Round 1 MBA deadlines and essay topics are announced. Deadlines are for Round 1 (unless otherwise noted). Last updated: August 27, 2025 School Deadline Decision Essay(s) Released? Application Live? Cambridge / Judge 8/26/2025 Yes Read more
Published: July 24, 2025
Address Real-Time Business Challenges Through the Andre Koo Tech 1-Year MBA
Sponsored Content A major differentiator of the Tech MBA at NYU Stern is Stern Solutions, hands-on projects with partner companies and faculty leadership. Students are embedded directly into the curriculum through three foundational experiential learning courses. During the one-year Tech MBA Program, real-world business challenges are central to the Stern experience through NYC Immersion, Tech Solutions, and the Read more
Published: July 24, 2025
Weekly Refresh: MBA Essay Questions, Analyzed – Plus Deadlines
Welcome to Weekly Refresh, a roundup of admissions updates and advice on the Clear Admit site. The 2025-2026 admissions cycle is nearing with more deadlines and essay topics rolling out. 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: U. Chicago / Booth Deadlines Released See the admissions deadlines that have rolled out: Carnegie Mellon /Tepper Georgia Terry IESE Business School Johns Hopkins Carey UNC Read more
Published: July 22, 2025
Podcast: Tips on Goals, Essays & Interviews
Welcome to another special episode of the Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast, recorded live at the Clear Admit MBA Fair at MIT Sloan School of Management in May 2025. In this panel session, “Admissions Tips: What You Say – Goals, Essays & Interviews,” we discussed some key components of the MBA admissions process, including career goals, application essays and the admissions interview. We also took a look at recommendations. Panelists from Berkeley Haas, Duke Fuqua, HBS, Indiana Kelley Our expert panel includes Eric Askins, Executive Director of Admission, University of California, Read more
Published: July 21, 2025
INSEAD Extends Deadline & Reopens Scholarships
INSEAD has extended its final Round 4 MBA application deadline for the January 2026 intake from August 5th to August 26th, 2025. To be considered for a given round, all application materials must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Central Europe Time / French Time. The school has reported making this change due to a growing number of eligible professionals whose MBA plans have been disrupted by such situations as administrative delays, relocation challenges, and shifting personal or professional circumstances. “At INSEAD, we remain deeply committed to our values of diversity and global access to Read more
Published: July 17, 2025
Fridays from the Frontline: Leading With Curiosity in the Age of AI at Duke Fuqua
In this Fridays from the Frontline, Duke Fuqua Daytime MBA candidate, Shriya Boppana, shares her enlightening conversation with Professor Aaron “Ronnie” Chatterji, who is the Mark Burgess & Lisa Benson-Burgess Distinguished Professor of Business and Public Policy at Duke University. The two dig into the power and influence of AI in the shared video and Shriya shares her related insights. Leading With Curiosity in the Age of AI: My Conversation With Professor Ronnie Chatterji  By Shriya Boppana, Duke Fuqua Daytime MBA ’26 Taking a class on quantum computing within the first Read more
Published: July 17, 2025
Weekly Refresh: MBA Essay Questions, Analyzed – Plus Deadlines & Rec Questions
Welcome to Weekly Refresh, a roundup of admissions updates and advice on the Clear Admit site. The 2025-2026 admissions cycle is nearing with some deadlines, essay topics and recommendation questions coming out. 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: Georgia Tech Scheller UPenn / Wharton UT Austin / McCombs Deadlines Released See the admissions deadlines that have rolled out: U. Chicago / Booth Read more
Published: July 15, 2025
Admissions Tip: Writing Your MBA Application Résumé
Your résumé is a key component of your MBA application – and a great place to start when crafting your overall positioning strategy. The exercise of condensing your entire work and educational history forces you to distill your candidacy into a concise document, focusing on key strengths and themes. This document, combined with a summary of your post-MBA career goals, are cornerstone elements of your application that you’ll want to share with your recommendation writers early in your application process. With that in mind, here are a few simple tips to get you started: MBA Résumé Formatting First Read more
Published: July 15, 2025
Podcast: Tips on Test Scores, GPAs, Work Experience & Extras
Welcome to a special episode of the Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast, recorded live at the Clear Admit MBA Fair at MIT Sloan School of Management in May 2025. In this panel session, “Admissions Tips: What You’ve Done – Tests, Work & Activities,” we dove into four core components of the MBA application: standardized tests, undergraduate grades, professional experience, and extracurricular involvement. Panelists from Columbia, Cornell Johnson, Dartmouth Tuck, Georgia Tech  Our expert panel includes Kate Murphy from Columbia Business School, Joe Korevec from Read more
Published: July 10, 2025
Fridays from the Frontline: Learning by Doing–Lessons from NYU’s Student-led Impact Fund
With a background in portfolio management and a growing interest in impact finance, Lawrence Luo viewed business school not just as a path to new opportunities, but as a way to gain the tools necessary to seize them effectively. Among the many experiential learning opportunities that drew him to NYU Stern, the NYU Impact Investment Fund (NIIF) stood out as a unique space to bridge theory and practice. What began as a vision shared in Luo’s application essay became a defining part of his MBA experience—allowing him to engage deeply with the impact investing process, collaborate across Read more
Published: July 10, 2025
Weekly Refresh: MBA Essay Questions, Analyzed – Plus Deadlines & Rec Questions
Welcome to Weekly Refresh, a roundup of admissions updates and advice on the Clear Admit site. The 2025-2026 admissions cycle is nearing with some deadlines, essay topics and recommendation questions coming out. 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: Washington / Foster Deadlines Released See the admissions deadlines that have rolled out: Georgetown / McDonough You can also bookmark our deadlines page for reference. Recommendation Questions Read more
Published: July 8, 2025
Podcast: MBA Decoded–Who Goes, What You Learn, and Why It’s Worth It
We are thrilled to be able to share audio from the 2025 Clear Admit MBA Fair. In this panel, admissions deans from Emory Goizueta, MIT Sloan, UCLA Anderson and Yale School of Management help decode the MBA experience by explaining who goes, what the core curriculum consists of, how schools deploy different teaching methods, and much more: Do you need a business background to be competitive? What will you study—and how will you learn it? From core curriculum and teaching methods to timing your application Read more
Published: July 8, 2025
MBA Admissions Tip: Volunteer Experience
While there are many elements to the MBA application, there is one that candidates often underestimate: volunteer experience. Why volunteer experience is important in your MBA application In order to understand why this category is important, candidates should keep in mind that the adcom is responsible for crafting a dynamic class each year. The aim is to admit individuals who will support a vibrant campus community and step into leadership positions. In other words, as admissions officers consider each applicant, they ask themselves, “What’s in it for our school?” An applicant who has previously demonstrated a talent Read more
Published: July 3, 2025
Weekly Refresh: MBA Essay Questions, Analyzed – Plus Deadlines & Rec Questions
Welcome to Weekly Refresh, a roundup of admissions updates and advice on the Clear Admit site. The 2025-2026 admissions cycle is on the horizon with some deadlines and essay topics coming out. Apps are going live as well, which means recommendation questions are available. 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 Dartmouth / Tuck Duke / Fuqua Deadlines Released See the Read more
Published: July 1, 2025
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: June 29, 2025
The Week Ahead: Chicago & Wharton Deferred Decisions, June 30-July 4, 2025
Welcome back to the series, The Week Ahead, in which we provide a brief rundown of what is happening in MBA admissions this week! Deferred Decisions A few leading MBA programs continue to release their final decisions. Tuesday, July 1, UPenn / Wharton and Chicago / Booth are scheduled to release their decisions for their deferred admissions programs. How “The Wires” Can Help Visit MBA LiveWire for the latest “buzz” about MBA admissions, including interview invitations and decision notifications. There are 5 Ways MBA LiveWire Helps You Navigate Admissions. Access MBA ApplyWire to explore the application strategies of fellow candidates. Add Read more
Published: June 26, 2025
Real Flexibility, Real Results: A Career Pivot Powered by the Georgetown McDonough Flex MBA
Sponsored Content For professionals ready to redefine their careers without pressing pause, Georgetown University McDonough School of Business Flex MBA offers the perfect launchpad. For Amy Tu, the Georgetown McDonough Flex MBA was more than a degree—it was a strategic springboard for professional reinvention. After nearly eight years in supply chain and procurement at Nestlé USA, Amy knew she needed a change. She sought an MBA program that would not only refresh her business fundamentals, but also broaden her perspective and open new career doors. Drawn to Georgetown McDonough by glowing recommendations from colleagues and the school’s strong community, Read more
Published: June 22, 2025
The Week Ahead: Imperial and HBS 2+2 Decisions, June 23-27, 2025
Welcome back to the series, The Week Ahead, in which we provide a brief rundown of what is happening in MBA admissions this week! A few leading MBA programs continue to release their final decisions. Thursday, June 26, Harvard is scheduled to release its decisions for its 2+2 deferred program. Friday, June 27, Imperial Business School is scheduled to release its Round 4 decisions. How “The Wires” Can Help Visit MBA LiveWire for the latest “buzz” about MBA admissions, including interview invitations and decision notifications. There are 5 Ways MBA LiveWire Helps You Navigate Admissions. Access MBA ApplyWire to explore the application strategies Read more
Published: June 19, 2025
Berkeley Haas Announces Professor Jennifer Chatman as New Dean
UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business has appointed Professor Jennifer Chatman as its 16th Dean, effective July 1, 2025. The announcement follows Chatman’s interim stewardship since July 2024. She is the third woman to lead Haas in the school’s 126-year history. Dean Jenny ChatmanUC Berkeley Haas School of BusinessPhoto Copyright Noah Berger / 2025 Chatman is deeply rooted in the Berkeley community, earning both her BA (Psychology, 1981) and PhD (1988) before joining the Haas faculty in 1993. She remarked, “As a proud ‘Double Bear’ … it is an incredible honor to Read more
Published: June 19, 2025
Weekly Refresh: MBA Essay Questions, Analyzed – Plus Deadlines
Welcome to Weekly Refresh, a roundup of admissions updates and advice on the Clear Admit site. The 2025-2026 admissions cycle is on the horizon with some deadlines and essay topics coming out. Apps are going live as well, which means recommendation questions are available. 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: MIT Sloan Yale SOM Deadlines Released See the admissions deadlines that have rolled out: Read more
Published: June 12, 2025
Weekly Refresh: MBA Essay Questions, Analyzed – Plus Deadlines & Rec Questions
Welcome to Weekly Refresh, a roundup of admissions updates and advice on the Clear Admit site. The 2025-2026 admissions cycle is on the horizon with some deadlines and essay topics coming out. Apps are going live as well, which means recommendation questions are available. 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: Berkeley Haas NYU / Stern Deadlines Released See the admissions deadlines that have rolled out: Duke / Fuqua Read more
Published: June 10, 2025
MBA 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, which is why we’ve rounded up some campus visit tips. 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. Campus Visit Tips: Factors to Consider 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 Read more
Published: June 8, 2025
The Week Ahead: IESE & Minnesota Carlson MBA Decisions, June 9-13, 2025
Welcome back to the series, The Week Ahead, in which we provide a brief rundown of what is happening in MBA admissions this week! Late Round Decisions A few leading MBA programs continue to release their final decisions. Friday, June 13, IESE is scheduled to release its Round 4 decisions. Sunday, June 15, Minnesota / Carlson is scheduled to release its Round 5 decisions. How “The Wires” Can Help Visit MBA LiveWire for the latest “buzz” about MBA admissions, including interview invitations and decision notifications. There are 5 Ways MBA LiveWire Helps You Navigate Admissions. Access MBA ApplyWire to explore Read more
Published: June 3, 2025
MBA Admissions Tip: Making Your List of Business Schools
You’ve decided the MBA is the next stop on your career path. What now? The smartest applicants are those who take the time to create an informed MBA application strategy—a well thought-out game plan that can help you obtain your goals as effectively as possible. This includes making a list of your target business schools. One of the first tasks you’ll need to tackle is school selection: strategically choosing which schools to apply to, while considering how your experience and stats compare to those of current students (or, how “competitive” your application will be at each program). How many MBA Read more
Published: June 1, 2025
The Week Ahead: Late Round Decisions & Imperial Interview Invites, June 2-6, 2025
Welcome back to the series, The Week Ahead, in which we provide a brief rundown of what is happening in MBA admissions this week! Rounds Three and Four continue. Top MBA programs continue to release their final decisions. Wednesday, June 4, Carnegie Mellon / Tepper is scheduled to release its Round 4 decisions. Thursday, June 5, London Business School is scheduled to release its Round 3 decisions. Friday, June 6, Georgia / Terry and Georgia Tech / Scheller are scheduled to release their Round 4 decisions. Imperial Business School is scheduled to release its Round 4 interview invites. How “The Read more

MBA Livewire

December 17, 2025 3:05am ET
Accepted to Columbia
Round: Round 1
Received via portal on December 14, 2025
Standardized Test: GMAT
GPA: 3.46
GMAT: 675
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Technology
December 17, 2025 3:04am ET
Accepted to Berkeley / Haas
Round: Round 1
Received via phone on December 10, 2025
Standardized Test: GMAT
GPA: 3.46
GMAT: 675
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Technology
December 16, 2025 10:34pm ET
Accepted to UCLA Anderson
Round: Round 1
Received via phone December 16, 2025
Standardized Test: Granted Waiver
GPA: 3.75
Target Career: Healthcare
Application Location: United States, Southern California
Note:

Notified at 6:30 PM PST via Phone, formal emails will go out the 17th with all information as well as more. The call was roughly 10 minutes, received a scholarship as well. (15,000$)
December 16, 2025 10:03pm ET
Rejected at UPenn / Wharton
Round: Round 1
Received via portal
Standardized Test: GRE
GPA: 3.34
GRE: 319
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Application Location: New York
December 16, 2025 10:02pm ET
Rejected at Stanford GSB
Round: Round 1
Received via portal on December 16, 2025
Standardized Test: GRE
GPA: 3.34
GRE: 319
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Application Location: New York
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