Posts by Lauren Wakal

As applicants consider what business schools to shortlist, many are posting to Clear Admit’s MBA ApplyWire, an admissions tool for feedback on candidacy, school choice and more.  This week, we take a closer look at an MBA hopeful applying to Columbia, NYU Stern, U. Chicago Booth, UPenn / Wharton, and Yale SOM.  Read on for the details. Resident admissions expert Alex Brown kicked off the thread: Read more

Our new podcast series, Wire Taps, continues this week as more and more MBA hopefuls post their profiles and admissions questions to MBA ApplyWire.  Clear Admit’s admissions tools, ApplyWire, DecisionWire and LiveWire, are the foundation for this new podcast series, as Alex Brown and Graham Richmond review them and then offer advice on select entries in each episode. In this fourth installment of Wire Taps, Graham and Alex discuss four new entries in MBA ApplyWire.  One candidate needs to improve their GRE score Read more

With Columbia Business School and INSEAD rolling out interview invitations, it is prime time to practice for this key part of the MBA admissions process with the Clear Admit Interview Guides.  The Clear Admit Interview Guide to CBS will prepare you for the blind nature of their Q&A sessions.  With the Clear Admit Interview Guide to INSEAD, you will learn how to ace both of your alumni interviews. What's Inside? These digital guides include first-hand interview accounts submitted by real applicants through our Interview Archive.  In addition to lists of sample questions consistently asked of applicants, the Clear Admit team has combined its years of admissions counseling and expertise to analyze the most frequently asked ones, and offer insight into what specific schools are looking for in response.  Read more

As MBA hopefuls consider their chances at the leading business schools, many are posting to Clear Admit’s ApplyWire, an admissions tool for feedback on candidacy, school choice and more.  This week, we shine the spotlight on two candidates. The first has some room for improvement with their academic stats while applying to Berkeley / Haas, Columbia, Michigan / Ross, NYU Stern, UCLA Anderson, USC / Marshall, and Yale SOM.  Read on for the details. Resident expert, Alex Brown, took the stage, so to speak: Read more

MBA ApplyWire has been buzzing with entries from this year’s crop of applicants and we are excited to keep discussing them in our new podcast series, Wire Taps.  In each episode, Alex Brown and Graham Richmond offer advice to MBA applicants to improve their admissions strategies, increase their chances of acceptance, or determine where to matriculate, based on entries in Clear Admit’s admissions tools, ApplyWire, DecisionWire and LiveWire. For this episode of Wire Taps, Graham and Alex discuss four more posts to MBA ApplyWire.  One candidate is a young Asian female with blue chip experience and wondering about timing; another needs help fleshing out his long-term goals.  An MBA hopeful from the Singapore military and LGBTQ community is also featured, along with another applicant looking to transition to investment banking. MBA hopefuls can share details about their candidacy (GPA, GMAT/GRE, career goals and more) and also identify potential target schools in MBA ApplyWire—it’s a platform for applicants to use in the early stages of their business school application journey.  The Clear Admit community, alongside our staff, then provides input on the applicant’s chances of admission. Read more

As MBA hopefuls prepare for the 2019-2020 Round 1 and early admissions deadlines, many are posting to Clear Admit’s ApplyWire, a forum for feedback on your final choice of schools and approach to admissions.  This week, we shine the spotlight on a candidate with a non-profit background (and potential future) applying to Berkeley / Haas, Michigan / Ross, Penn State / Smeal, UCI Merage, UCLA Anderson, UT Austin / McCombs, and Vanderbilt / Owen.  Read on for his profile information and more from our admissions experts. Clear Admit’s resident expert, Alex Brown, kicked off the conversation about coursework, goals, school choice and more: Read more

We are moving right along in our new podcast series, Wire Taps, during which our resident admissions experts, Alex Brown and Graham Richmond, discuss entries in Clear Admit’s admissions tools, ApplyWire, DecisionWire and LiveWire. In each Wire Taps episode, Alex and Graham offer advice to MBA applicants to improve their admissions strategies, increase their chances of acceptance, or determine where to matriculate. For this episode of Wire Taps, Graham and Alex discuss four recent posts to MBA ApplyWire.  One candidate is a head of trading, and also a first-generation college grad and immigrant; another needs help deciding how to present their work experience.  An MBA hopeful from an engineering company in Africa is also featured, along with another applicant with a history of (and ideally future in) entrepreneurship. Read more

This edition of MBA Admissions Brief takes us to California, where Assistant Dean of the Full-time MBA Program and Admissions, Pete Johnson, walks us through opportunities and features of the MBA at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. Pete Johnson, Assistant Dean, Full-time MBA Program and Admissions, Berkeley Haas School of Business Johnson previously served in Berkeley MBA Admissions for 11 years, including as associate director, director of international admissions, and as executive director of MBA Admissions through 2010.  He then headed to Central European University in Budapest, Hungary, followed by acting as the vice president for enrollment & international programs at Dominican University.  He rejoined the Haas staff as assistant dean in 2016. The culture at Berkeley Haas centers around four defining principles: Question the Status Quo, Confidence without Attitude, Students Always and Beyond Yourself.  The MBA curriculum emphasizes experiential learning and problem-solving in order to help students become innovative leaders. Read on to learn more about the program and best strategies for admission from the assistant dean. What would you say to someone who’s applying next fall and just getting started in the MBA application process now? Signing up for boot camp is a good idea. It’s an eight-step process put together by the admissions committee to help make applying to business school, whether that’s Haas or elsewhere, a little less intimidating. The boot camp includes checklists, it includes questionnaires to help people think about their personal brand, and includes thought questions to do candidates’ own self-reflection. Allowing candidates to think about why they want an MBA and what are the criteria that are most important to them as they consider business school. We have a template that candidates can provide to their recommenders to help them talk through how they might reflect on some of those questions as well. Read more

For this installment in our ongoing series, MBA Admissions Brief, we turn to the admissions office of the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.  Luke Anthony Peña has been the Executive Director of Admissions and Financial Aid there for a few years now, but still vividly remembers the highs and lows of applying to business school 10 years ago. He cares deeply about reducing stress and anxiety for business school applicants, and regularly provides updates for applicants on the Tuck360 blog as part of his teams’ commitment to transparency and accessibility.  Read on for his insights into the Tuck admissions process and how you can best prepare to apply. Luke Peña, Executive Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, Tuck School of Business What would you say to someone who’s applying next fall and just getting started in the MBA application process now? First and foremost, congratulations!  You’ve taken the important first steps towards a life-changing experience that can accelerate your career and transform you as a leader.  Second, take a deep breath, envision your path ahead, and build a thoughtful application plan.  The application process can feel daunting and overwhelming—I vividly remember what it’s like to apply—and your physical, mental, and emotional self-care will be essential for success.  Finally, assemble your support squad.  While my colleagues and I want to significantly reduce your stress and anxiety, I acknowledge applying still requires real effort, and you’ll feel more empowered for success when you can rely on a team of advisors, accountability partners, and cheerleaders. What’s the one thing MBA candidates should know about selecting a recommender? Know that a good reference letter takes time to write!  The reference letters are immensely valuable, as they complement your application and essays with the insights of others.  With this in mind, select references who have the knowledge, desire, and time to advocate on your behalf.  The last of these is essential; even if your reference knows your work well and strongly supports your application, we see this only when your reference invests the necessary time and effort to highlight your qualifications.  Plan ahead, give your references advance notice, and check in with them along the way. Read more

We are excited to introduce you to a new series of podcast episodes, which we’re calling Wire Taps.  Wire Taps episodes will feature our resident admissions experts, Alex Brown and Graham Richmond, as they review recent posts to Clear Admit's admissions tools, ApplyWire, DecisionWire and LiveWire.  In each episode, you'll hear Alex and Graham break down entries from MBA hopefuls and offer advice to sharpen their admissions strategies, improve their chances of acceptance, or make key decisions about matriculation. In this premier installment of Wire Taps, Graham and Alex discuss four recent posts to MBA ApplyWire.  One candidate needs help finding schools strong in sustainability while another should consider their professional impact to stand out.  The duo also discuss an MBA hopeful, who wondered about their chances given a low GRE score, as well as another applicant with concerns about their undergraduate GPA. For the uninitiated, MBA ApplyWire is a platform for applicants to use in the early stages of their business school application journey.  Candidates share details about their candidacy (GPA, GMAT/GRE, career goals and more) and also identify potential target schools.  The Clear Admit community, alongside our staff, then provides input on the applicant’s chances of admission. Be sure to share your MBA admissions profile for the chance to be featured in an upcoming episode! And now, tune in for some truly eye-opening admissions advice: Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast Episode 40: Introducing "Wire Taps" Play Episode Pause Episode 1x 00:00 / 00:36:42 Subscribe Share Apple Podcasts Spotify RSS Feed Share Link Embed <blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="DkmqkNLOpH"><a href="https://www.clearadmit.com/podcast/episode-40-introducing-wire-taps/">Episode 40: Introducing &#8220;Wire Taps&#8221;</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.clearadmit.com/podcast/episode-40-introducing-wire-taps/embed/#?secret=DkmqkNLOpH" width="500" height="350" title="&#8220;Episode 40: Introducing &#8220;Wire Taps&#8221;&#8221; &#8212; Clear Admit" data-secret="DkmqkNLOpH" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script> /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=https://www.clearadmit.com/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js </script> Download file | Play in new window | Duration: 00:36:42 | Recorded on July 10, 2019Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Read more

With the 2019-2020 Round 1 and early admissions deadlines on the horizon, many MBA hopefuls are posting to Clear Admit’s ApplyWire, a platform for feedback from our community of top-tier applicants to help inform your final choice of schools and approach to admissions. This week, we take a closer look at an experienced entrepreneur interested in Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan, Stanford GSB, U. Chicago Booth, and UPenn / Wharton: Clear Admit’s resident expert, Alex Brown, kicked off the conversation: Read more

In our ongoing new series, MBA Admissions Brief, we bring you tips and insights from leading business schools about the MBA admissions process. We are going international with this installment, as we hear from the prestigious institution, INSEAD; namely, Virginie Fougea, who is the Global Director of Admissions and Financial Aid for INSEAD Degree Programmes Department. She has been with INSEAD for the last 20 years. Virginie Fougea, Global Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, INSEAD Degree Programmes Dept. Before that she had been studying in the US and working in Brazil. She is an admission professional with 15+ years of file evaluation and selection of MBA students from diverse multi-cultural and professional backgrounds. She enjoys promoting INSEAD and the various programmes during Information Sessions on and off campus and meeting prospects. INSEAD offers a 10-month MBA program beginning either in January or September.  Their main campuses span continents, with one based in Fontainebleau, France, and the other in Singapore. Read on for Fougea’s advice about applying to INSEAD and more. What would you say to someone who’s applying next fall and just getting started in the MBA application process now? I would recommend to anyone who is considering either applying to the January or the September intake to prepare some sort of retroactive planning. It is important to not rush and submit a clumsy application. Applicants may want to give themselves the time to prepare for the GMAT or the GRE. It also takes time to select who can submit insightful letters of recommendation as well as prepare genuine and honest essays. The essay part can be seen as cumbersome but this is where applicants can really describe who they are, their passions and their values and it gives the Admissions Committee a chance to “meet” the applicant. What’s the one thing MBA candidates should know about selecting a recommender? Candidates need to select recommenders who know them well. Our questions in the letter of recommendation are related to skills people demonstrate in a professional context: team collaboration, creativity, communication style, etc. Someone who does not know the applicant well may struggle to find examples of these skills. Read more

For our next installment of MBA Admissions Brief, which brings you application advice and program insights directly from leading business schools’ admissions, we hear from Bruce DelMonico, Assistant Dean of Admissions at the Yale School of Management in New Haven, CT. Bruce Delmonico, Assistant Dean of Admissions DelMonico has been at the school for close to 15 years, and has been running the Admissions Office for roughly 13 of those years. He explains, “During that time, I have seen the school grow both in size and in stature, and look forward to its continued momentum under the leadership of incoming Dean Charles. I was drawn to the school because of its mission to educate leaders for business and society and have stayed because the school is one where the mission really matters, which is an uplifting and inspiring place to be.” Read on for his insights into the MBA application process, the Yale MBA program and more. What would you say to someone who’s applying next fall and just getting started in the MBA application process now? First of all, I would start by acknowledging that the MBA application process can seem a bit daunting at first – there are multiple elements to the application that you need to manage at the same time that you are trying to learn about multiple schools and understand their various processes. This is an area where a little advance planning can go a long way. Take just a little time at the outset to think about when you want to apply, and then work backward to think about when you need to focus on the different elements of the application–e.g., speaking to your recommenders, studying for and taking a standardized test, working on your essays, etc. Now is also the time you’ll want to be doing research on various schools as you narrow down the list of schools to which you plan to apply. There are many resources to help you learn more about schools–seemingly too many at times, I’m sure–and every school has ways for you to connect with their communities. I would suggest taking advantage of these school resources–for example, we have a list of Student Ambassadors on our website who are available to talk about their experience here at Yale–to find out more about our culture and values. Ask each school the same questions as you do your research so that you can more easily compare them. The process of learning about schools and going through the application process can seem like a major investment–and it is–but it is one that is well worth it, and one where a little time spent up front mapping out a plan can make a big difference. Read more

Dr. Costis Maglaras will assume the role of dean of Columbia Business School, effective July 1st.  This appointment comes about a year after Glenn Hubbard, who served as dean for 15 years, announced he would be stepping down. High Praise from the President Dr. Costis Maglaras, 16th Dean of Columbia Business School Columbia University President Lee Bollinger said in his announcement: “Costis is a talented educator and a generous colleague, beloved by his students and peers. An expert on probability and operations management, he has taught in the Business School’s MBA, PhD, and Executive Education programs, and is known for his thoughtful and probing approach to business pedagogy, grounded in real-world examples, experience, and analysis.” A Bright History at CBS Maglaras kicks off his service as dean shortly, but has a long history with CBS.  Maglaras first joined the CBS faculty in 1998, and went on to fill several roles, including Director of the PhD Program (2011 to 2017); Chair of the Decision, Risk, and Operations Division (2015 to 2018); and member of the Executive Committee of Columbia University’s Data Science Institute (2016 to present). In 2018, he received the Dean’s Award for Innovation in the Curriculum for his design and launch of the School’s Technology and Analytics curriculum.  The new dean is also credited with the launch of Columbia’s Master of Science in Business Analytics, a joint program offered by Columbia Business School and Columbia Engineering. Read more

This edition of MBA Admissions Brief takes us to Durham, North Carolina, where Associate Dean of Admissions, Shari Hubert, walks us through opportunities and features of the MBA at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. Shari Hubert, Associate Dean of Admissions Hubert is responsible for overseeing recruitment and admissions for Fuqua's Daytime MBA, Weekend Executive MBA, Global Executive MBA, and four Specialty Masters’ Degree Programs. Prior to Fuqua, she was in charge of admissions for the Full-time and Evening MBA programs at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. Read on for her advice about the Duke MBA admissions process and exciting features of the program. What would you say to someone who’s applying next fall and just getting started in the MBA application process now? Think about what’s important to you in an MBA program, and tailor your questions accordingly, instead of only asking “what’s unique about your program” or “how does X program differ from Y program”  Every top MBA program will have similarities and things unique to their culture – the important question is what’s important to you and what are you hoping to get out of your MBA, that will allow you to better compare programs and have a good basis for conversations with the various representatives you meet across the different schools (Admissions, students, alumni etc…) throughout the process We look for applicants who really understand our culture, can see themselves thriving here and demonstrate that they have taken the genuine time to get to know us throughout the application process, and therefore really want to be part of our unique community. Give yourself plenty of time. There is often a lot of soul searching that can happen in the application process and you don’t want to feel rushed with your essays. You want to give yourself time to process and think through the best representation of who you are and why an MBA will help you accomplish your goals. I’d also advise making sure you build in time to visit the schools on your shortlist. This is especially important at Fuqua, if you can swing it.  You learn so much from being on campus and interacting with students and staff.  Our signature Campus Visit program will start again in the early Fall so lookout for information on our website to register.  If you feel as if you’re well prepared by the beginning of September or if you plan to apply in our Early Action Round, then take advantage of our Open interview season. We have started traveling this summer so check our calendar of events and meet us on the road. Reach out to our alumni, in your current work place or via your network Plan to join us for our various diversity weekends this Fall, 2019 – The Duke MBA Veteran’s Symposium (Oct 10-12) The Duke MBA Women’s Leadership Conference (Oct 31-Nov 2), The Duke MBA LGBTQ Weekend (Dec 5-7), The Duke MBA Workshop (Nov 21- 23) to test out the MBA, gain a first-hand experience of our culture and begin to build your network. What’s the one thing MBA candidates should know about selecting a recommender? I’m not sure there’s just one thing. Read more

As you may have heard, the Dean of the Wharton School, Geoff Garrett, is leaving for the USC Marshall School of Business next year.  After Penn announced the news, Garrett also reached out to bid farewell to alumni. Penn Announces Garrett’s Departure with High Praise Earlier this month, Penn President Amy Gutmann and Provost Wendell Pritchett released the following statement about Garrett’s departure: “We write to inform you that Dean Geoff Garrett will be leaving Penn at the end of the 2019-20 academic year to become Dean of the USC Marshall School of Business, starting July 1, 2020. Read more

In our ongoing new series, MBA Admissions Brief, we catch up with leading business schools to bring you their tips about the admissions process and insights into what to expect from their full-time MBA programs.  This week, we hear from Shelly Heinrich of Georgetown / McDonough, where she oversees the admissions team's operational strategy and marketing as Associate Dean of MBA Admissions and Director of Marketing. Shelly Heinrich, Associate Dean, MBA Admissions and Director of Marketing Georgetown University is located in Washington, D.C., which means students of the McDonough MBA program can enjoy studying at the intersection of business, government and international relations.  Jesuit values also run through the MBA program, which drives its mission to prepare "disciplined and discerning business professionals with a clear sense of purposeful leadership." Read on for more about the Georgetown MBA program at the McDonough School of Business and how you can best prepare to apply. What would you say to someone who’s applying next fall and just getting started in the MBA application process now? If you are looking to apply next fall and have already started to prepare, you are ahead and will set yourself apart from your peers. By starting this early, you can apply to round one of your preferred schools, which is a smart move. Typically, round one has a lower application volume than round two for many schools so you are able to introduce yourself to your preferred program and show them you’re interested before the large rush in round two. Additionally, applying early in round one gives you the most flexibility and time to improve your application in case you receive a place on the waitlist. At Georgetown, we offer coaching calls for candidates waitlisted in round one who were on the borderline of admission to provide feedback on how the application can be more competitive. If there are things like a standardized test or proof of quant ability that you can improve, then you have a few months to do so before we finalize our class. Read more

For our next installment of MBA Admissions Brief, which brings you application advice and program insights directly from leading business schools’ admissions, we visit Columbia Business School in Manhattan. Students can begin the full-time, two-year MBA program at CBS in either August or January, and enjoy the distinct advantages of New York City. Michael Robinson, a Director of MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School Shedding light on the CBS MBA application process and CBA MBA program is Michael Robinson, a Director of MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School. Much of his 16-year tenure has revolved around advancing diversity, equity and inclusion.  Michael’s responsibilities have included expanding strategic outreach in Africa and South East Asia and managing relationships with key non-profit partners. He is a graduate of Baruch College (BBA '87) and Columbia Business School (MBA '01). Prior to his transition to higher education, Michael had a seven-year stint running a profitable music publicity firm where Buju Banton and the platinum-selling Grammy winner Shaggy were clients. An avid reader with a preference for historical biography, he is a former freelance writer and has completed three New York City Marathons. Read on for more about the CBS MBA. What would you say to someone who’s applying next fall and just getting started in the MBA application process now? Someone just getting started in the MBA application process first has to engage in thoughtful and reflective introspection.  Spend some quality time looking inward before considering schools.  I’ve heard Sheena Iyengar, one of our superstar professors, provide great career advice to our students through a three question framework that I’ve reworked a bit to make it relevant and helpful to MBA applicants as well.  Ask yourself: Read more

While many business school hopefuls are just starting their maiden run of MBA applications, there is another group dusting themselves off from last year’s rejections and tackling the admissions process once again: re-applicants.  As we’ll see in this post to MBA DecisionWire, this MBA applicant is not the only one who had to re-apply to garner admission. After identifying target programs… …the candidate explained what happened with each program, including U. Chicago Booth, CMU / Tepper, Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, Michigan / Ross, Northwestern / Kellogg, UVA / Darden: Read more

What are your career goals, and how quickly do you want to achieve them?  Will you need time to engineer a career shift or are you just looking to move at a faster pace on your current course?  Are you hoping for employer support?  Your answers to these questions and more could lead you to a one-year MBA program or a two-year MBA program.  This podcast can help you decide. While time is the most obvious difference between one-year MBA and two-year MBA programs, each have many distinct advantages.  In this podcast episode, Clear Admit Co-founder Graham Richmond and resident Read more

Moving right along in our new series, MBA Admissions Brief, which brings you advice and insights directly from leading business schools’ admissions, we catch up with the MBA program at the MIT Sloan School of Management.  Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the MIT MBA stands out for its entrepreneurship training and technological focus.  They have also been keen to support the demand for business analytics. Read on for tips and advice from Jean Ann Schulte, the Director of Employer Relations & Recruiting Services Career Development Office, and Jen Burke Barba, the Senior Associate Director of MIT Sloan Admissions. What would you say to someone who’s applying next fall and just getting started in the MBA application process now? Get to know us! Explore our new website Join us at an event online or in-person our events.  Our events are open for registration. Read our MIT Sloan student blogs Read more

This edition of MBA Admissions Brief takes us to Austin, Texas, where Managing Director, Rodrigo Malta, walks us through opportunities and features of the MBA at the McCombs School of Business of the University of Texas at Austin. Rodrigo Malta, Managing Director for MBA Recruitment and Admissions Rodrigo Malta is the Managing Director for MBA Recruitment and Admissions at Texas McCombs. His job is to oversee admissions for our Full-Time, Working Professional and Executive MBA programs. Rodrigo was born and raised in Brazil, pursued his bachelor and graduate business degrees in the United States, and is an MBA alumnus himself. He’s a proud Texas Longhorn, husband to David and dog dad to Cooper and Oscar. He loves his job, soccer and all things taco-related. Read on for what he shared about the Texas MBA program. What would you say to someone who’s applying next fall and just getting started in the MBA application process now? Come to an MBA event! Our admissions team hosts events, in-person and online, year-round in cities around the world so you can get to know us. There’s no better way to learn about our culture and your fit with the program. Our website is also a great place to start to learn about the program and the admissions process: TexasMBA.com. Read more

For this installment in our ongoing series, MBA Admissions Brief, we turn to the admissions office of the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago. Located in the Hyde Park neighborhood on the university's main campus, Chicago Booth's full-time MBA program enjoys a class size of around 580 students, extensive finance program and faculty, flexibility in curriculum and course scheduling, and broader international and experiential learning opportunities.  The school also offers other MBA programs, including executive, international as well as part-time and weekend ones. Interim Executive Director of Student Recruitment, Financial Aid, and Admissions For insights into the Chicago MBA admissions, we hear from Donna Swinford, who has been at Chicago Booth since 1997. She joined the Office of Full-Time Admissions in 2005 and is currently the Interim Executive Director of Student Recruitment and Admissions. Prior to Admissions, Donna held various positions in Information Technology and MBA Career Services. What would you say to someone who’s applying next fall and just getting started in the MBA application process now? Now is the perfect time for potential applicants to explore and get to know the school community on a deeper level. We hold information sessions, participate in fairs, and have student-hosted events and alumni-hosted pop-ups in locations around the world. Talking directly with Booth alumni, students, and admissions staff offers an up close and personal perspective that can help connect the dots for your own MBA ambitions, as well as your understanding of Chicago Booth’s values and how the environment can propel you forward. Booth gives students unparalleled freedom to choose courses and dive into learning experiences that will build upon their educational and professional background to prepare for and achieve their specific goals. Want to know how students navigate our immensely choice-rich environment to maximize their two years in the program? We can help potential applicants connect directly with current students representing diverse backgrounds and interests to ask questions just like this. Investing time to uncover what makes Booth special will not only help you define your own unique path, but it will prepare you for talking about it in your application. Read more

As new MBA applicants reflect on their admissions chances and consider application strategies, many are posting to Clear Admit’s ApplyWire, a platform for feedback from our community of top-tier applicants to help inform your final choice of schools and approach to admissions. This week, we start with a closer look at an international applicant applying to Berkeley / Haas, Harvard Business School, INSEAD, MIT Sloan, Stanford GSB, and UCLA Anderson: Given the applicant’s concern about the GMAT, Clear Admit’s Alex Brown advised on that—but also had a suggestion regarding where to apply: Read more

Our new series, MBA Admissions Brief, continues with tips and advice about the Oxford MBA programme at Saïd Business School, which is located in the university town of Oxford in England.  In addition to their one-year, full-time MBA programme, they offer a two-year dual-degree option, the Oxford 1+1 MBA, and an Executive MBA programme.  Oxford Saïd is recognized for the opportunities it offers in the wider Oxford University, its international community of professors and students, and its emphasis on combining rigorous academic training with practical experience. Samantha Whyte, Marketing Manager, Oxford MBA Programme In this edition, we hear from Samantha Whyte, the Marketing Manager for the Oxford MBA programme at Saïd Business School. Samantha moved to Oxford from Australia two and a half years ago with her Kiwi fiancé, who is currently studying at Oxford University.  Read on for her advice in applying to the Oxford Saïd MBA programme. What would you say to someone who’s applying next fall and just getting started in the MBA application process now? Don’t underestimate the time it takes to apply. Have a really good read through the requirements and make sure you have a checklist of everything you need so that you’re not scrambling for a second reference or your University transcripts hours before the deadline. Take your time with the GMAT/GRE—do your research and study so that you receive a score you’re happy with, and leave yourself enough time to re-take if you don’t think your score is an accurate reflection of your capabilities. Make an effort to reach out to current and past students to get a feel for the school and the culture–if you can find people with similar backgrounds to yours who ended up on a similar career path as you’re hoping for, try to reach out to them—we’re always happy to help connect you with students to assist with this or you can reach out via LinkedIn. Join our webinars, come to an event if you can, and don’t be afraid to email us or call us—we’re always happy to answer any questions you have about our MBA programme and life at Oxford Saïd. Read more