Posts by Peggy Hughes

About

Peggy Hughes is a writer based in Berlin, Germany. She has worked in the education sector for her whole career, and loves nothing more than to help make sense of it to students, teachers and applicants.

Published: November 27, 2025

Should You Apply for a Deferred MBA Right After Undergrad?

Deferred enrollment MBAs offer students a unique opportunity: to secure a spot in a prestigious MBA program with no work experience. If successful in their deferred applications, students will go on to gain two to five years of professional experience before matriculating alongside the traditional MBA cohort. These programs, which offer both the security of an MBA place and the freedom to explore meaningful, sometimes unconventional career paths, are highly competitive. Acceptance on the Harvard Business School deferred MBA, for example, was just under 9% in Read more

Published: November 26, 2025

What is a Deferred MBA? Full Explanation for College Students

Deferred admission, often referred to as deferred enrollment, offers ambitious and high-performing senior undergraduate and full-time graduate students the opportunity to secure a spot in an MBA program – before completing any work experience. Deferred enrollment works like this: candidates apply before graduating; receive news of their success; spend between two and five years in the workplace; and then matriculate alongside students admitted through the traditional application process. Why Opt for a Deferred Enrollment MBA? With a place in an MBA program secured, deferred enrollment candidates are Read more

Published: November 12, 2025

AI Offerings at Top Business Schools

In 2024, a study from the University of Pennsylvania predicted that 49% of workers may have half or more of their tasks exposed to LLMs. Columbia Business School, meanwhile, discovered that 76% of business owners are concerned about their own integration of AI. And, more recently, Microsoft researchers compiled a list of the 40 jobs most exposed to AI, sparking debate around the impact this will have on the workforce. AI rings in the ears of the workforce, and, since MBA students are preparing to lead Read more

Published: November 10, 2025

Supporting Veterans’ MBA Enrollment with Scholarships, Clubs, and Dedicated Programs

For military members seeking to transition back to civilian life or to hone their leadership skills and advance their careers, the MBA provides a sound pathway. While the gap between military service and graduate business management education may seem wide, there are actually several threads between the two. Leadership is the most obvious example of this. Valerie Rivera of Stanford GSB explained that, alongside faultless timekeeping, her military service taught her to “motivate people when big salaries, perks, and stock options aren’t available” – a golden Read more

Published: November 6, 2025

Dawna Clarke Steps into New Darden Role after 23 Years of Service

The University of Virginia Darden School of Business has announced that Dawna Clarke, longstanding Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions, has transitioned into a new role, one that “recognizes her extraordinary 23 years of service to Darden and her impact on generations of students and alumni.” That new role is Special Advisor to the Dean and Ambassador. Dawna Clarke, Special Advisor to the Dean and Ambassador The impact of Dawna Clarke’s career is significant. Her leadership – across both UVA Darden and Read more

Published: October 27, 2025

Who Will the $100K H-1B Fee Actually Apply to?

The H-1B visa connects the world’s top talent with the companies that need it, but recent changes have sent waves of worry through prospective employees and employers. With that in mind, we are following up on our initial coverage of the new $100K fee for the H-1B visa to take a closer look at who it affects. To recap, on September 19th, 2025, the Trump administration announced the addition of a $100,000 price tag to the H-1B visa. In 2020, the U.S. government estimated there to Read more

Published: October 13, 2025

Stanford GSB at 100: A Century of Innovation, Impact, and Leadership

The Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) marks its Centennial and celebrates 100 years of innovation, leadership, and business education. At the point of its founding in 1925, GSB was the second school in the U.S. to offer a masters degree in business administration. The idea that business could be academically pursued was a new one, and the new degree “an audacious vision;” now, 100 years later, its impact is clear. Over the last century, Stanford GSB has driven innovative research, produced generations of influential leaders, and been Read more

Published: October 8, 2025

Assessment Days Are Applicants’ “Chance to Shine”

Assessment Days, hosted by very few schools, simulate life during an MBA program as a part of the admissions process. IESE Business School and IMD introduce their Assessment Days to candidates as “your chance to shine.” By engaging applicants in discussions and analysis, admissions committees can get a real sense of how candidates will perform on their diverse and collaborative MBA programs. While some details may sound like typical campus visit programming, these days are a chance to work with future classmates, to present “aspects of your candidature Read more

Published: October 7, 2025

MBA Myth Busters: No Behavioral Questions, No Admit

In this article we’re busting the myth that a low number of behavioral questions in an MBA interview indicates a lack of success. The first thing to mention here is that not every school asks behavioral questions. Generally speaking, business school interviews can be divided into two camps: resume-based and application-based. The former revolves, as you might expect, around the applicant’s resume. Depending on the school, the interviewer will have seen either no part of the candidates application whatsoever, or only their resume. Questions in resume-based interviews tend to Read more

Published: September 30, 2025

Unpacking the $100,000 H-1B Fee

See updates about the H-1B visa here, “Who Will the $100K H-1B Fee Actually Apply to?“ On September 19th, 2025, the Trump administration announced the addition of a $100,000 price tag to the H-1B visa. The Proclamation, named “Restrictions on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers” came into effect on September 21st, 2025. Details around the decision were initially murky, and an atmosphere of confusion has reigned. This article will, therefore, outline who is affected, the impact of the Proclamation, and what is at stake here. Who Read more

Published: September 30, 2025

MBA Myth Busters: Memorize Your Answers to Ace Your Interview

As interview invitations begin to roll out, we’re dedicating this MBA Myth Busters to the myth that acing an admissions interview comes down to perfectly-memorized, extensively-rehearsed answers. Candidates who memorize each of their answers may in fact find that their efforts backfire. One immediate, obvious reason for this comes down to predictability: each interview is slightly different, and candidates cannot possibly know exactly what an adcom will ask them. Add to this chance that an interviewer may phrase a question slightly differently than expected, or a candidate might forget part of their Read more

Published: September 23, 2025

The Financial Times 2025 Global MiM Ranking: Top Three Schools Remain Unchanged

The Financial Times (FT) has released its rankings of the 100 best Global MiM programs for 2025. Rankings 1 to 3 remain unchanged from last year, echoing the years-long battle for top spot between the University of St. Gallen and HEC Paris and naming the former as best MiM program for the 14th time. INSEAD’s continued position in third place mirrors last year’s ranking and reflects the program’s remarkable success – its first MiM class Read more

Published: September 17, 2025

Wharton Offers First New Degree in 50 Years: Master of Science in Quantitative Finance

Long-time philanthropist and supporter of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Bruce I. Jacobs, has donated $60 million to support the launch of the Dr. Bruce I. Jacobs Master of Science in Quantitative Finance (MSQF). The donation is the largest single gift in Wharton’s history, and the program the first new degree to be offered in 50 years. The Dr. Bruce I. Jacobs Master of Science in Quantitative Finance (MSQF) program offers students a unique opportunity to combine a data-intensive curriculum Read more

Published: September 16, 2025

Georgetown McDonough Launches Full-Time M.S. in Business Analytics

Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business has announced that its top-ranked M.S. in Business Analytics (MSBA) program is now available for study in a full-time, on-campus format in Washington, D.C. The program has previously been available in an online, part-time format only; the full-time launch extends its reach and builds on its success. Expanding the program into a full-time format “ensures more students gain access to a cutting-edge analytics education and the opportunity to make an immediate impact in their careers,” said Nita Swinsick, Read more

Published: September 16, 2025

MBA Professor Profiles: Spotlighting Columbia Business School

Welcome back to our Professor Profiles! In this series, we spotlight two standout professors from each of the M7 business schools, exploring their research, careers, and the ideas that define their work. In this article, we’re taking a look at two professors from Columbia Business School: Sheena Lyengar and Bruce Greenwald. Sheena Iyengar Columbia’s Business School’s Sheena Iyengar holds the position of inaugural S.T. Lee Professor of Business in the Management Division. Iyengar is known for Read more

Published: September 9, 2025

MBA Professor Profiles: Northwestern Kellogg

Welcome to another edition of Professor Profiles in which we spotlight two standout professors from each of the M7 business schools, exploring their research, careers, and the ideas that define their work. In this article, we’re taking a look at two professors from Northwestern Kellogg: Linda Darragh and Sunil Chopra. Linda Darragh Linda Darragh is the Adjunct Professor in Entrepreneurship at Northwestern Kellogg. She teaches a course on global entrepreneurial ecosystems. She earned the ‘Entrepreneurial Champion Award’ in Read more

Published: September 2, 2025

Professor Profiles: Spotlighting Chicago Booth

In this edition of our Professor Profiles, we’re taking a look at two professors from Chicago Booth: Richard Thaler and Austan Goolsbee. Richard Thaler Richard H. Thaler is the Charles R. Walgreen Distinguished Service Professor at Chicago Booth, teaching Behavioral Science and Economics. He is also the 2017 recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to behavioral economics. Thaler has been part of Chicago’s faculty since 1995. Before that he taught at Read more

Published: August 26, 2025

MBA Professor Profiles: Spotlighting Stanford GSB

Welcome back to our Professor Profiles! In this series, we spotlight two standout professors from each of the M7 business schools, exploring their research, careers, and the ideas that define their work. In this article, we’re taking a look at two professors from Stanford GSB: Jennifer Aaker and Brian Lowery. Jennifer Aaker Jennifer Aaker is the General Atlantic Professor at Stanford GSB. She is a behavioral scientist, and a pioneering one at that, focusing on meaning, connection, perception, happiness, Read more

Published: August 24, 2025

Duke Announces New Joint Degree in Business, Climate, and Sustainability

Duke University launched a brand new joint degree: Master in Business, Climate, and Sustainability (MBCS). Lori Bennear, Stanback Dean of the Nicholas School and a professor of energy economics and policy, described the new program as addressing “a critical talent gap” in the intersection of business and climate science. Designed for early career students, with less than two years of post-undergraduate work experience, its curriculum will provide a pathway for the ambitious individuals who hope to act as leaders in the sustainability field or to help the Read more

Published: August 21, 2025

WashU Olin Receives $10M Gift for Innovation, Leadership

Washington University in St. Louis Olin Business School (WashU Olin) has announced the receipt of a $10 million gift from Jerry Kent, BSBA ’78, MBA ’79, and his wife, Judy Kent. Judy and Jerry Kent are longtime university benefactors. (Photo: Stephanie Marie Photography) The gift, which is the largest awarded to the school in the past decade, is the most recent in a long list of actions taken by Jerry and Judy Kent to support Olin Business School. Judy Kent spoke of the couple’s “duty to give back” Read more

Published: August 20, 2025

DEI: How Business Schools Are Adapting

MBA programs need diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). They need DEI because business schools play a vital role in shaping the world of business; the students in their programs go on to lead industry-shaping organizations, to drive change, and to influence the future of business. The way in which diversity is handled in the U.S. is, however, changing. The Trump administration’s stance on DEI initiatives is clearly oppositional, and the 2023 rollbacks on affirmative action by the Supreme Court turned out to be only the beginning. Read more

Published: August 19, 2025

Professor Profiles: Spotlighting Harvard Business School

In our ongoing Professor Profiles series, we spotlight two standout professors from each of the M7 business schools, exploring their research, careers, and the ideas that define their work. We’re back this week with two professors from Harvard Business School: Tom Nicholas and France Frei. Tom Nicholas Harvard’s Tom Nicholas, William J. Abernathy Professor of Business Administration and part of the Entrepreneurial Management Unit, is famed for two things: his excellent teaching and his venture capital expertise Read more

Published: August 17, 2025

Northwestern Kellogg’s Plans for New Hub of Innovation

Northwestern Kellogg School of Management has announced the upcoming construction of a “visionary new building,” just shy of a decade after their immense Global Hub. Estimated to be completed in the fall of 2027, the new building has been designed by architects Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF). It will be the source of a new Evanston-based campus, connect to Kellogg’s Global Hub via a tunnel, and act as a focal point of knowledge sharing for MBA students. The space between the Global Hub and new building is named Read more

Published: August 12, 2025

MBA Professor Profiles: Spotlighting MIT Sloan

Welcome back to our Professor Profiles! In this series, we spotlight two standout professors from each of the M7 business schools, exploring their research, careers, and the ideas that define their work. In this article, we’re taking a look at two professors from MIT Sloan: Andrew Lo and Deborah Ancona. Andrew Lo MIT Sloan’s Andrew Lo is the Charles E. and Susan T. Harris Professor, a Professor of Finance, and the Director of the Laboratory for Read more

Published: August 6, 2025

MBA Myth Busters: The Higher the Rank, the Better the Fit

Welcome to another MBA Myth Busters in which we review and disprove the popular myths surrounding graduate business education. Myth: The higher a business school ranks, the better that school is for an applicant. This is, of course, false. This is not to say that MBA rankings are not useful. They are a valuable tool when it comes to business school selection, offering an objective view of quality based on factors such as student caliber, faculty expertise, peer assessment and employment outcomes. What the rankings are unable to Read more

MBA Livewire

December 4, 2025 10:49pm ET

Accepted to Michigan / Ross

Round: Round 1

Received via phone December 4, 2025

Standardized Test: Granted Waiver

GPA: 3.81

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Target Career: Technology

Application Location: United States, Texas

Note:

Admitted with 40k scholarship

December 4, 2025 10:47pm ET

Accepted to Carnegie Mellon / Tepper

Round: Round 1

Received via phone

Standardized Test: Granted Waiver

GPA: 3.81

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Target Career: Technology

Application Location: United States, Texas

Note:

Admitted with 90k scholarship

December 4, 2025 10:26pm ET

Waitlisted at U. Chicago Booth

Round: Round 1

Received via portal on December 03, 2025

Standardized Test: GRE

GPA: 3.61

GRE: 333

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Target Career: Consulting

Application Location: India, New Delhi

December 4, 2025 10:12pm ET

Accepted to U. Chicago Booth

Round: Round 1

Received via portal December 4, 2025

Standardized Test: GMAT

GMAT: 710

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Application Location: Canada

December 4, 2025 9:27pm ET

Rejected at Yale SOM

Round: Round 1

Received via email December 4, 2025

Standardized Test: GRE

GPA: 4.0/4.0

GRE: 327

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Target Career: Finance

Application Location: Michigan, St. Clair

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