IESE MBA News
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Published: November 23, 2025
The Week Ahead: IESE & LBS R1 Decisions, November 24-28, 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! IESE & LBS R1 Decisions Monday, November 24, IESE is scheduled to have released its Round 1 decisions. Thursday, November 27, London Business School is scheduled to release its Round 1 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 of fellow candidates. Add your plan
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Published: October 21, 2025
Round 2 MBA Application Deadlines 2025-2026
To help you stay organized, we’ve compiled all of the Round 2 MBA application deadlines (and other Rounds taking place between November 1st, 2025, and February 1st, 2026) in one place. You’ll find links to our corresponding Essay Topic Analysis in the “Essay Analysis” column. School Deadline Decision Essay Analysis Application Live? WashU Olin 11/1/2025 12/12/2025 Yes Yes Maryland Smith 11/1/2025 12/15/2025 Yes Yes Oxford / Saïd (R3) 11/3/2025 12/12/2025
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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
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Published: October 5, 2025
The Week Ahead: MBA Deadlines, LBS & IESE Interview Invites, October 6-10, 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! Deadlines & Interview Invites on the Way The new season of full-time MBA admissions is underway. Harvard Business School released their Round 1 interview invites last week. Monday, October 6, Cambridge / Judge has its Round 2 application deadline. Tuesday, October 7, UNC / Kenan-Flagler has its Round 1 application deadline. SMU / Cox has its Round 2 application deadline. Thursday, October 9, London Business School is scheduled to release its Round 1 interview invites. Friday,
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Published: September 21, 2025
The Week Ahead: MBA Deadlines & Duke EA Interview Invites, September 22-26, 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! Round 1 Continues Round 1 deadlines continue as the first interview invites of the season roll out. Tuesday, September 23, Imperial Business School has its Round 1 application deadline. Thursday, September 25, Dartmouth / Tuck and IESE have their Round 1 application deadlines. Duke / Fuqua is scheduled to release its Early Action Round interview invites. How “The Wires” Can Help Visit MBA LiveWire for the latest “buzz” about MBA admissions, including interview invitations and decision notifications.
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Published: September 16, 2025
Bloomberg Business School Rankings 2025-2026 Key Takeaways
Bloomberg Businessweek has released their 2025-2026 Best Business School rankings, assessing programs spanning the U.S., Europe, Asia-Pacific region, and Canada through a rigorous analysis of data and survey responses. U.S. Results: Stanford Steady, Others Shuffle While familiar names still populate the top tier, this year’s lists feature more reshuffling than usual. Stanford GSB holds firm at #1 in the U.S., leading in Networking and Entrepreneurship. Beyond that, however, many leading MBA programs, including Wharton, Chicago Booth, Berkeley Haas, Columbia, and Yale School of Management, saw major changes in their positions. Here is a quick glance at this
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Published: September 15, 2025
LinkedIn Ranks 100 Full-Time MBA Programs for Career Growth 2025
The LinkedIn ranking stays global this year, as their list of full-time MBA programs continues with a mix of 100 U.S. and international schools. Stanford GSB takes the top spot once again, with Harvard Business School jumping to #2 (bumping INSEAD out of that spot) to join its chief U.S. rival at the top of the heap. INSEAD, Wharton, and Northwestern Kellogg round out the top 5. Like last year, the ranking is based on job placement (hiring rate and labor market demand), career advancement,
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Published: August 28, 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 getting closer 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: ASU W.P. Carey Babson / Olin Boston College / Carroll CEIBS IESE Business School Florida Warrington Georgia
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Published: August 27, 2025
Admissions Director Q&A: Patrik Wallén of IESE
In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we meet Patrik Wallén, MBA Admissions Director at IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain. Patrik joined the Admissions team after 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
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Published: August 14, 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 getting closer with some deadlines, essay topics and several 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: Emory / Goizueta Georgetown / McDonough HEC Paris IE Business School Indiana / Kelley Michigan State / Broad
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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
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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
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Real Humans of PwC: Shoma Yasuda, IESE MBA ’24, Consultant
Shoma Yasuda, IESE MBA Class of 2024, went to business school with a mission: to advance decarbonization in the maritime and energy sectors by gaining strategic skills and building a global network. After eight years at NYK Line in Japan, he chose IESE for its strong leadership development and access to Europe’s renewable energy ecosystem. A summer internship at the Spanish National Hydrogen Center and a collaborative classroom experience prepared him well for his current role as a Manager at PwC, where he now advises clients on decarbonization strategies. Shoma reflects on the value of self-reflection during the job
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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
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Real Humans of American Express: Sumedha Kamra, IESE MBA ’24, Senior Manager
From corporate law to enterprise strategy, Sumedha Kamra, IESE MBA ’24, had a transformative journey. In this Real Humans: Alumni, Sumedha shares her insights from taking a huge leap, how the IESE MBA supported her growth, and more about her road to American Express. Sumedha Kamra, IESE MBA ’24, Senior Manager at American Express Age: 28 Hometown: Bangalore, India Undergraduate Institution and Major: Jindal Global Law School, Dual Degree in Arts and Law Graduate Business School, Graduation Year and Concentration: IESE Business School, Class
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Real Numbers of MBA Admissions: Students Placed in Consumer Product Goods
Consumer Product Goods (CPG) is an industry proving increasingly popular amongst MBA graduates. Household-name employers and complex business strategy combine to attract business school talent, and the sector frequently seeks MBA alumni for its management roles. In this edition of Real Numbers of MBA Admissions, see the percentages of MBA grads who joined the CPG industry. Business School % in CPG Boston College Carroll School of Management 12% Brigham Young University Marriott School of Business 15% Cambridge Judge Business School 6% Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business 5% CEIBS 8% Columbia Business School 5% Cornell University SC Johnson Graduate
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Real Numbers of MBA Admissions: Students Placed in Healthcare
Healthcare offers MBA graduates the chance to join a dynamic, rapidly-evolving industry. With its need for strategic thinking and strong leadership, this sector’s growing popularity amongst business school alumni is no surprise. In this edition of Real Numbers of MBA Admissions, see the percentages of MBA grads who joined the healthcare industry. Business School % in Healthcare Boston College Carroll School of Management 17% Brigham Young University Marriott School of Business 7% Cambridge Judge Business School 6% Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business 12% CEIBS 14% Columbia Business School 4% Cornell University SC Johnson
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The Week Ahead: Late Round Deadlines, Decisions & Interview Invites, May 12-16, 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 Rounds Continue More top MBA programs are now releasing their final decisions. Tuesday, May 13, UPenn / Wharton is scheduled to release its Round 3 decisions. Boston College / Carroll has its Round 5 application deadline. Wednesday, May 14, Northwestern / Kellogg, Georgetown / McDonough and IESE are scheduled to release their Round 3 decisions. Thursday, May 15, MIT / Sloan, Yale SOM, and Minnesota / Carlson are scheduled to release their Round 3 decisions.
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Real Numbers of MBA Admissions: Students Placed in Tech
Business and tech are intertwined, as people need tech to access services and products. As this symbiotic relationship grew during the 21st century, demand for the skill set of the MBA with a technology specialization has become pervasive. In this edition of Real Numbers of MBA Admissions, see what percentage of students of the MBA Classes of 2024 placed into the tech field. Business School % in Tech Boston College Carroll School of Management 6% Brigham Young University Marriott School of Business 27% Cambridge Judge Business School 23% Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business 29% CEIBS 19% Columbia Business
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The Week Ahead: Late Round Deadlines & Decisions, May 5-9, 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 Rounds Are Underway. Attention now turns to Round 3 and beyond. Monday, May 5, Carnegie Mellon / Tepper has its Round 4 application deadline. Tuesday, May 6, IESE has its Round 4 application deadline. Wednesday, May 7, Emory / Goizueta is scheduled to release its Round 3 decisions. Thursday, May 8, Berkeley / Haas is scheduled to release its Round 3 decisions. Duke / Fuqua is scheduled to release its Round 4 decisions. How “The
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Published: April 29, 2025
Real Numbers of MBA Admissions: Post-MBA Consulting Industry Placement
Consulting is one of the most popular post-MBA industry choices for business school candidates, alongside finance and tech. It’s a dynamic field with diverse clients, strategic challenges and more. In this edition of Real Numbers of MBA Admissions, see the percentages of MBA grads who joined the consulting industry. Business School % in Consulting Boston College Carroll School of Management 13% Brigham Young University Marriott School of Business 2% Cambridge Judge Business School 14% Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business 26% Columbia Business School 31% Cornell University SC Johnson Graduate School of Management 31% Dartmouth College
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Published: April 23, 2025
Real Humans of BCG: Vittorio Monferrino, IESE MBA ’24, Consultant
Vittorio Monferrino only applied to one MBA program: IESE. He wanted a two-year program, a supportive community, top-notch education, and strong consulting opportunities–all of which he found at the Barcelona-based business school. Vittorio’s attitude and drive, along with the community and MBA education he found at IESE, led to his current role as a consultant at BCG. Learn more from his journey in this Real Humans: Alumni. Vittorio Monferrino, IESE MBA ’24, Consultant at BCG Age: 29 Hometown: Genova, Italy Undergraduate Institution and Major:
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Published: April 22, 2025
Real Numbers of MBA Admissions: Finance Industry Placement
In this edition of Real Numbers of MBA Admissions, see the percentages for placement in the finance industry at top business schools. Finance has typically been in the top three of industry choices for full-time MBA graduates, alongside tech and consulting. The finance industry presents myriad options for MBA graduates to pursue dynamic and lucrative careers, and the quantitative rigor of leading MBA programs supports such paths. Business School % in Finance Boston College Carroll School of Management 29% Brigham Young University Marriott School of Business 19% Cambridge Judge Business School 26% Carnegie Mellon
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Exploring The Best MBA Programs in Europe
Europe has some of the best MBA programs in the world. With top-ranked business schools, diverse cohorts, strong global outlooks, and excellent career prospects, it’s no surprise that this region is growing in popularity for MBA programs. Why Choose an MBA in Europe? As well as offering top programs, business schools in Europe provide many benefits to candidates. Here are five of the top reasons for selecting an MBA in Europe. 1. MBAs in Europe Have Shorter Program Durations In European business schools, MBAs tend to take 12 months to
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Published: March 30, 2025
The Week Ahead: MBA Deadlines & Decisions, March 31-April 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! Decisions & Late Round Deadlines Final decisions for Round 2 continue to roll out, as more MBA programs have Round 3 application deadlines. Monday, March 31, Cambridge / Judge has its Round 4 application deadline. Tuesday, April 1, UPenn / Wharton is scheduled to release its Round 2 decisions. NYU / Stern has its Initial Notification deadline for Round 3. Columbia and Texas / McCombs have their Round 3 application deadlines. Wednesday, April 2, UPenn /
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