SMU Cox MBA News

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Published: May 29, 2025

Top In-Person MBA Events to Check Out in June 2025

An essential part of the process when you apply for an MBA is events. On or off campus, formal or informal, in-person MBA admission events offer applicants the opportunity to connect with current students and alumni, sit in on classes, meet the admissions team, and take campus tours. So, we’ve rounded up the top in-person MBA events for the month of June to help you plan on attending those that are going to help you most along your MBA journey. Get your calendars ready! Why Attend MBA Events? More than just another step in the process you want to check Read more

Published: May 25, 2025

The Week Ahead: Late Round Decisions, May 26-30, 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 Roll Out Top MBA programs continue to release their final decisions. Wednesday, May 28, UNC / Kenan-Flagler is scheduled to release its Round 4 decisions. Thursday, May 29, Stanford is scheduled to release its Round 3 decisions. Friday, May 30, Cornell / Johnson is scheduled to release its Round 3 decisions. Ohio State / Fisher, Arizona / Carey and SMU / Cox are scheduled to release their Round 4 decisions. Saturday, May 31, Read more

Published: May 20, 2025

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 Read more

Published: May 13, 2025

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 Read more

Published: May 6, 2025

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 Read more

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 Read more

Published: April 28, 2025

Mapping MBA Career Outcomes: Job Placements by U.S. Region for Top MBA Programs

For some MBA applicants, the geographic location of an MBA program is a key decision factor. For example, there are often industries concentrated in particular regions of the U.S., such as finance in the Northeast, manufacturing in the Midwest, energy in the Southwest or tech in the West. To help these applicants, in this article we review the job placement data by region for 30 U.S. MBA programs as reported in the 2024 employment reports. Key Trends in MBA Job Placement Data by Region A few key trends are apparent in the job placement Read more

Published: April 27, 2025

The Week Ahead: Late Round MBA Decisions & Deadlines, April 28-May 2, 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 Deadlines & Decisions Attention now turns to Round 3 and beyond. Monday, April 28, Rice Business has its Round 4 application deadline. Tuesday, April 29, Chicago / Booth has its Chicago Booth Scholars Round application deadline. UNC Kenan-Flagler and SMU / Cox have their Round 4 application deadlines. Texas / McCombs is scheduled to release its Round 3 decisions. Wednesday, April 30, UVA / Darden, Indiana / Kelley, and Johns Hopkins / Carey are Read more

Published: April 24, 2025

The SMU Cox MBA: Careers, Connections, and the Power of the Texas Economy

Sponsored Content This special episode of the Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast is about an innovative business school making waves in Texas – the SMU Cox School of Business. As corporations flock to the Lone Star State and big markets like Dallas experience serious growth, SMU has been on the frontlines capitalizing on these opportunities. To dig deeper into careers, connections and the power of the Texas economy, we welcome Shelly Heinrich, the Senior Assistant Dean of Career Management and Graduate Admissions at SMU Cox. Shelly Heinrich, Senior Assistant Dean of Career Management and Graduate Admissions, SMU Read more

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 Read more

Published: February 26, 2025

Real Numbers of MBA Admissions: Average GMAT Scores at Top U.S. MBA Programs

See where your GMAT score lands among the top U.S. MBA programs, as we report the average GMAT scores in the chart below. If you have yet to take the GMAT, you can also get a sense of what score you need to target. Business school admissions use the GMAT score as a sign of applicants’ academic abilities and a high score can help you stand out in admissions. Also, average GMAT scores play a role in schools’ rankings. If you completed the GMAT Focus edition, with a score ending in 5, please refer to Coming Read more

Published: February 24, 2025

Real Numbers of MBA Admissions: International Student Statistics

International students statistics can showcase an element of diversity at leading business schools. In the chart below, see the percentage of international students at U.S. business schools. U.S. School % International ASU W.P. Carey School of Business 48% Babson College Olin 85% Boston College Carroll School of Management 24% BYU Marriott School of Business 32%* Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business 39% Columbia Business School 46% Cornell University SC Johnson Graduate School of Management 35% Dartmouth College Tuck School of Business 30% Duke University Fuqua School of Business 41% Emory University Goizueta School of Business 45% Read more

Published: February 23, 2025

The Week Ahead: MBA Decisions & Merage Deadline, February 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! Late Round Deadlines & Decisions Interview invites continue to roll out for Rounds 2 and 3 candidates. Thursday, February 27, Washington / Olin is scheduled to release its Round 3 decisions. Friday, February 28, Oxford / Saïd is scheduled to release its Stage 4 decisions. Georgia Tech / Scheller and SMU / Cox are scheduled to release their Round 2 decisions. Saturday, March 1, UCI / Merage has its Round 3 application deadline. How “The Wires” Read more

Published: February 20, 2025

Clear Admit MBA Fair 2025 – May 14th, Boston

Join leading MBA programs at this exclusive event in Boston to learn more about management education. Connect with admissions officers, chat with MBA alumni, and pick up expert tips on the application process. Space is limited! Date: Wednesday, May 14th Time: 5:00-8:00 PM Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts | MIT Sloan School of Management | Building: E62 Registration Form: Registration for this event is closed – please join us in Atlanta for our 2026 event! Schools: Berkeley / Haas Carnegie Mellon / Tepper Chicago / Booth Columbia Read more

Published: February 10, 2025

Real Numbers of MBA Admissions: Percentage of Women MBA Students

Over the past decade, the percentage of women MBA students has been on the rise across leading business schools. USC Marshall was the first leading business school to achieve gender parity while others have achieved or continue to strive for that benchmark. The Forté Foundation has also consistently reported that women have been gaining or holding their ground on b-school campuses–and, in both 2023 and 2024, reported record highs. Look at the chart below to see the percentage of women MBA students at leading business schools Read more

Published: February 3, 2025

Real Numbers of MBA Admissions: Cost of MBA Programs in the U.S.

In this edition of Real Numbers of MBA Admissions, see the total cost of a full-time MBA per year at U.S. schools. Tuition comprises most of the cost of each program. Other factors, including room and board, program fees, books and supplies, health insurance, transportation and other expenses, have been added to provide the total cost of an MBA in the U.S. by year. Most business schools provide a breakdown of the expenses, which are posted under the financial aid or admissions section of their websites. Schools also typically take the total cost of attendance into account Read more

Published: January 29, 2025

Real Numbers of MBA Admissions: Class Size of Top U.S. MBA Programs

Business schools come in all shapes and sizes and the class size of top MBA programs can be a factor in considering fit. From networking to a tight-knit culture to campus opportunities, class size can reveal much about an MBA program. No matter which program you choose, the top MBA programs strive to ensure relationship building during full-time b-school life. Some larger programs, such as Harvard Business School and CBS, mainly break the student body down into cohorts/sections/clusters of dozens of students. Other U.S. business schools, like Wharton, also have Learning Teams, groups of 5-6 students who Read more

Published: January 5, 2025

The Week Ahead: MBA Deadlines & INSEAD Decisions, January 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! Busy Week for Round 2 Deadlines! Many Round 2 application deadlines for top MBA programs are scheduled for this week. Monday, January 6, Harvard Business School, Dartmouth / Tuck, Michigan / Ross, UCLA Anderson, Emory / Goizueta, Georgetown / McDonough, CMU / Tepper and Rice Business have their Round 2 application deadlines. Cambridge / Judge has its Round 3 application deadline. Oxford / Saïd has its Stage 4 application deadline. Tuesday, January 7, Chicago / Booth, Read more

Published: December 19, 2024

GMAC Common Letter of Recommendation Analysis for MBA Applicants and Recommenders

Applying to business school entails a great deal of work for prospective students – and almost as much effort for the people writing their letters of recommendation. An effective MBA recommendation provides rich information about the candidate’s strengths, key accomplishments, and leadership abilities. It’s also important that a recommendation fully address every question that is asked by the admissions committee. So, when an applicant is targeting six schools that ask different questions across their recommendation forms, this can translate to a great deal of time and effort for already-busy recommenders. To alleviate some of this pressure, Read more

Published: December 12, 2024

A Guide to Test Waivers: Should You Request a Waiver for Submitting a GMAT or GRE Score?

It is no secret that standardized tests are not the part of the MBA application process that applicants most cherish. Some applicants simply aren’t good at standardized testing; others feel they do not have the time to invest in studying properly. With competition for applicants continuing to rise among schools, test waivers became a more prevalent option in b-school admissions. Whether you’re hesitant or excited about the GMAT or GRE, what are valid reasons to request a test waiver? Even if you have a valid reason, does it make sense to request a test waiver? In this piece, we take Read more

Published: November 17, 2024

The Week Ahead: MBA Admissions Decisions, November 18-22, 2024

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 Decisions The 2024-2025 MBA admissions season is now underway. Interview invites continue to roll out, and a few final decisions are continuing to be released. Monday, November 18, IESE is scheduled to release its Round 1 decisions. Friday, November 22, SMU / Cox, Georgia Tech / Scheller and Imperial College are scheduled to release their Round 1 decisions. Have you had any MBA admissions interviews? Share your interview reports with fellow applicants Read more

Published: November 14, 2024

Real Humans of SMU Cox School of Business MBA Class of 2026

The SMU Cox School of Business stands out as a dynamic hub for aspiring professionals seeking to advance their careers through a well-rounded MBA experience. Located in Dallas, Texas, SMU Cox offers students an enriching educational journey, bolstered by a supportive community, a powerful alumni network, and a strong connection to the local business landscape. In this edition of Real Humans: MBA Students, we hear directly from new members of the SMU Cox community. But, first, let’s take a look at the class profile for the MBA Class of 2026. Eighty-five students matriculated to be part of Read more

Published: September 29, 2024

The Week Ahead: MBA Deadlines & Interview Invites, September 30-October 4, 2024

Welcome back to the series, The Week Ahead, in which we provide a brief rundown of what is happening in MBA admissions this week! Busy Week for Round 1 Deadlines, First Interview Invites of the Season The 2024-2025 MBA admissions season is now underway. Monday, September 30, MIT / Sloan has its Round 1 application deadline. HBS is set to release Round 1 interview invitations, waitlist and early release notifications at noon EST. Tuesday, October 1, Duke / Fuqua, UCLA / Anderson, CMU / Tepper, USC / Marshall, Washington / Foster, Maryland / Smith, SMU / Cox and Minnesota / Read more

Published: August 29, 2024

Weekly Refresh: Latest MBA Essay Questions, Analyzed – Plus Deadlines & Rec Forms

We’re back with another Weekly Refresh, in which we list this week’s admissions advice and updates on the Clear Admit site. 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: Boston College / Carroll Florida Warrington Georgia Tech Scheller Rochester Simon Toronto / Rotman USC Marshall Deadlines Released See the admissions deadlines that have rolled out: Georgia Tech Scheller Rochester Simon SMU Cox Read more

Published: August 27, 2024

MBA Programs Without GMAT or GRE Requirements in 2024

Pursuing an MBA without the GMAT or GRE has become more accessible in recent years as many business schools have lifted this requirement from their admissions process. For many prospective students, avoiding the stress and cost associated with standardized testing is a major advantage. Below is a list of reputable MBA programs that do not require GMAT or GRE scores, making them ideal for candidates who excel in other areas of their application, such as professional experience and academic achievements. Quick List of MBA Programs Without GMAT or GRE: Babson College – F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business Georgia Tech Read more

SMU Cox

CLASS SIZE: 85

FEMALE: 46%

MEAN GMAT: 712

MEAN GPA: 3.56

Livewire Decisionwire Interview Reports Essay Topic Analysis MBA Admissions Deadlines View Full Profile

MBA Applywire

May 5, 2026 11:37am ET

Applying: ESMT Berlin, IE Business School, Illinois / Gies, Imperial

Intake Year: 2027

Pre-MBA Career: sustainability consulting, planning, and design

Post MBA Career: Consulting, Undecided, Technology, Undecided

GRE: 322

GPA: 3.5

Years of Work Experience: 9

Location: Washington, DC

Post MBA Location: Washington, DC

Notes:

In addition to my undergraduate degrees in landscape architecture and geography, I also have an MA in geography 3.9 gpa, and a PhD in Architecture. I am currently a VP at my company and a likely candidate for CEO in the near future. I want to continue working while pursuing my MBA to increase my chances of moving into the CEO role. Also, my goal is to start my own ClimateTech firm in the next several years. An MBA will help achieve both of these goals. For each of the selected schools, I would pursue their online MBA program so I can continue working. While I, of course, want to attend a prestigious program, I'm not willing to sacrifice my money or too much of my company's money to spend six figures on an online MBA. That is a part of the driver for the programs I have selected to look at. In the US, it is rare that online programs provide funding; a bit seems to be available at European programs.

May 2, 2026 12:39am ET

Applying: Berkeley / Haas, MIT Sloan, Stanford GSB, Yale SOM

Intake Year: 2027

Pre-MBA Career: Startup/ Strategy Consulting

Post MBA Career: PWC Strategy&, Technology, Other, Oliver Wyman, McKinsey, Consulting

GMAT: 685

GPA: 3.6

Years of Work Experience: 6

Notes:

- International Male, 26, southeast Asian (non-Chinese/indian)
- BEng, top 15% of the class, the best local uni (but unknown outside of the country)
- (0.5Y) Global LDP program of a F500, left early to join consulting
- (2.5Y) at S&, strategy consulting in the field of fintech/ banking, top tier performance (5% of the cohort in the region, early promotion)
- (1Y) Left S&, started my own fintech for underserved teenagers, got pre-seed funding from a tier 2 Banking VC, closed after a year due to regulations change, small scale with multiple impact rewards (20k+ farmers

Goals: Join a fintech in the US (strategy div), or Financial services consulting (like OW, McK) incase i can't secure a fintech position (internationals), with a long term goal of starting another fintech

May 2, 2026 12:38am ET

Applying: Berkeley / Haas, MIT Sloan, Stanford GSB, Yale SOM

Intake Year: 2027

Pre-MBA Career: Startup/ Strategy Consulting

Post MBA Career: Consulting, Other, Technology, PWC Strategy&, Oliver Wyman, McKinsey

GMAT: 685

GPA: 3.6

Years of Work Experience: 6

Notes:

May 1, 2026 9:23pm ET

Applying: Chicago Booth, Columbia Business School, Harvard Business School, London Business School, MIT Sloan, Northwestern / Kellogg, Penn / Wharton, Stanford GSB

Intake Year: 2028

Pre-MBA Career: Finance Technology

Post MBA Career: Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, Investment Banking, Finance, McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Consulting

GMAT: 715

GPA: 9.16

Years of Work Experience: 5

Location: India

Post MBA Location: USA

Notes:

Education: B.Tech Information Technology (Tier-2 college)
GPA: 9.16/10 (Converted equivalent: 3.91).
Standardized Testing: 715 GMAT Focus (99th percentile equivalent).

Professional Achievements (Bulge bracket investment Bank)
Role: ML Engineer , ~3 YOE now (will have 5 at the time of matriculation).

High-Impact Innovation: Awarded "Most Innovative Project" for three consecutive years (2024 ,2025 and 2026).

Secured 1st Place in 2025 and 2nd Place in 2024 in the Technology Innovation Program

Revenue Generation: Designed and implemented a scalable recommendation system for wealth management that drove a 45% increase in revenue for the targeted segment.

Operational Efficiency: Engineered an Agentic AI system for automated customer support, significantly reducing overhead and optimizing resource allocation.

System Integrity: Spearheaded a performance audit that resolved critical failure rates in cloud-native microservices, ensuring zero-downtime for high-stakes financial data.

Leadership & Civic Engagement
Youth Parliament: Recognized for leadership in simulated legislative environments; developed high-level skills in policy advocacy, structured debate, and consensus-building. Winner of District level in 2025,2026

Strategic Collaboration: Partnered with senior stakeholders to align technical roadmaps with institutional wealth management goals.

Post-MBA Goal
Short-Term: Transition into Investment Banking (IB), specifically within Technology or FinTech coverage groups, leveraging technical depth to advise on M&A and capital markets activity.

Long-Term: Executive leadership within the global financial services ecosystem.

May 1, 2026 9:29am ET

Applying: Berkeley / Haas, Carnegie Mellon / Tepper, Chicago Booth, Columbia Business School, Cornell / Johnson, Dartmouth / Tuck, Harvard Business School, Michigan / Ross, MIT Sloan, Northwestern / Kellogg, Penn / Wharton, Yale SOM

Intake Year: 2027

Pre-MBA Career: Architect turned Management Consultant, working with EY Government Consulting for 1.5 y at time of applications

Post MBA Career: Consulting

GRE: 338

GPA: 3.4

Years of Work Experience: 3

Location: India

Post MBA Location: USA

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MBA LiveWire

May 6, 2026 11:39am ET

Interview Invite to Northwestern / Kellogg

Round: Rolling Admissions

Received via email May 6, 2026

Standardized Test: GRE

GPA: 3.9

GRE: 327

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Post MBA Career: Technology

Target Career: Consulting

Application Location: United States, Burlingame

Juno Member: Not yet

May 5, 2026 1:06pm ET

Interview Invite to MIT Sloan

Round: Early Decision

Received via email May 5, 2026

Standardized Test: GRE

GPA: 3.9

GRE: 326

Program Type: Deferred Enrollment

Post MBA Career: Finance, Private Equity

Application Location: United States

Juno Member: Not yet

May 5, 2026 12:52pm ET

Rejected at MIT Sloan

Round: Round 3

Received via email May 5, 2026

Standardized Test: GRE

GPA: 3.83

GRE: 313

Program Type: Deferred Enrollment

Post MBA Career: Healthcare

Juno Member: Not yet

May 5, 2026 12:45pm ET

Rejected at MIT Sloan

Round: Early Decision

Received via email May 5, 2026

Standardized Test: GRE

GPA: 3.93

GRE: 336

Program Type: Deferred Enrollment

Juno Member: Not yet

May 5, 2026 12:36pm ET

Rejected at MIT Sloan

Round: Early Decision

Received via portal May 5, 2026

Standardized Test: GMAT

GPA: First-Class (UK)

GMAT: 695

Program Type: Deferred Enrollment

Post MBA Career: Consulting

Application Location: UK

Note:

Rejected pre-interview for deferred. Applied a day before the deadline.

Juno Member: Not yet

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