UMD / Smith MBA News | Clear Admit

Published: September 30, 2026

Real Humans of the Maryland Smith MBA Class of 2028

New members of the MBA Class of 2028 at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business shed light on the application process, their admissions journeys and more in this Real Humans: MBA Students. Across the cohort, students point to Smith’s collaborative culture, experiential approach, location in the greater Washington, D.C., region and growing integration of AI into the curriculum as important elements of their MBA experience. To start, Mae Howlin is already well acquainted with Smith, having earned her undergraduate degree there in International Business and Supply Chain Management. After three years in Read more

Published: September 27, 2026

The Week Ahead: Round 1 MBA Deadlines, September 28-October 2, 2026

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 Deadlines Continue The application season of 2026-2027 is now underway. Tuesday, September 29, MIT / Sloan has its Round 1 application deadline. Wednesday, September 30, Duke / Fuqua, Carnegie Mellon / Tepper, Emory / Goizueta and UNC / Kenan-Flagler have their Round 1 application deadlines. Thursday, October 1, UCLA / Anderson, Georgetown / McDonough, Washington / Foster, Minnesota / Carlson, Vanderbilt Owen, and Maryland / Smith have their Round 1 application deadlines. Friday October Read more

Published: August 13, 2026

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

Welcome to Weekly Refresh, a roundup of admissions advice and updates on the Clear Admit site. We continue with updates for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle with some deadlines, essay advice, and recommendation questions. 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: Georgetown / McDonough IE Business School Indian School of Business Deadlines Released See the admissions deadlines that have rolled out: Babson Olin Read more

Published: July 23, 2026

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

Welcome to Weekly Refresh, a roundup of admissions advice and updates on the Clear Admit site. We continue with updates for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle with some deadlines, essay advice, and recommendation questions. 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 Johns Hopkins Carey Notre Dame / Mendoza UMD Smith UNC Kenan-Flagler UT Austin Read more

Published: July 16, 2026

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

Welcome to Weekly Refresh, a roundup of admissions advice and updates on the Clear Admit site. We continue with updates for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle with some deadlines, essay advice, and recommendation questions. Essay Tips Drafting your application essays? See the latest of our experts’ advice in our Essay Topic Analysis. The following schools recently released their essays—click for our advice: Cornell / Johnson Duke / Fuqua IESE Business School MIT Sloan UVA / Darden Read more

Published: July 16, 2026

Admissions Director Q&A: Maria Pineda of the UMD Smith School of Business

We welcome back Maria Pineda, Executive Director of Admissions at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, in this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A. Pineda has been with UMD Smith for almost 20 years and manages the recruiting efforts for the MBA and Specialty Master’s Programs. Read on as Pineda shares what to expect from the admissions process at UMD Smith, the value of the MBA program, and how to prepare for your interview. Maria Pineda, Executive Director of Admissions at Maryland Smith Clear Admit: What is one aspect of Read more

Published: April 12, 2026

The Week Ahead: MBA Deadlines, Interview Invites & Decisions, April 13-17, 2026

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, Interview Invites & Decisions Several leading MBA programs continue to have application deadlines, while a few are also continuing to release decisions. Monday, April 13, Michigan State / Broad has its Round 4 application deadline. Tuesday, April 14, Yale SOM has its Round 3 application deadline. Wednesday, April 15, USC / Marshall is scheduled to release its Round 2 decisions and has its Round 3 application deadline. NYU / Stern and Indiana / Read more

Published: March 8, 2026

The Week Ahead: Round 2 Decisions & Round 3 Deadlines, March 9-13, 2026

Welcome back to the series, The Week Ahead, in which we provide a brief rundown of what is happening in MBA admissions this week! Rounds 2 and 3 season now in full swing! Leading MBA programs are starting to release their Round 2 decisions, and have Round 3 application deadlines. Tuesday, March 10, Georgia / Terry has its Round 3 application deadline. Wednesday, March 11, UNC / Kenan-Flagler is scheduled to release their Round 2 decisions. Thursday, March 12, IESE has its Round 3 application deadline. Friday, March 13, Duke / Fuqua, Michigan / Ross, Notre Dame / Mendoza, SMU Read more

Published: January 26, 2026

U.S. News 2026 Online MBA Rankings: Indiana University Kelley School Continues to Reign.

The 2026 Best Online Programs rankings are out from U.S. News & World Report, including online MBA programs. Once again, Indiana University’s Kelley Direct Online MBA program tops the U.S. News online MBA ranking. The top five overall are familiar as well–Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper Online Hybrid MBA program and UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA@UNC Online MBA program traded places compared to last year, with Tepper moving back to second place and UNC taking third. The University of Washington Foster Hybrid MBA program laid claim to fourth while the Read more

Published: December 14, 2025

The Week Ahead: MBA Decisions & BC Carroll Deadline, December 15-19, 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 continue to roll out! Several more leading MBA programs are releasing their final Round 1 decisions this week. Monday, December 15, Columbia, USC / Marshall and Rice Business are scheduled to release their Round 1 decisions. Maryland / Smith has its Round 3 deadline. Tuesday, December 16, Texas / McCombs is scheduled to release its Round 1 decisions. Boston College / Carroll has its Round 2 application deadline. Wednesday, December 17, UNC / Kenan-Flagler and Read more

Published: September 28, 2025

The Week Ahead: MBA Deadlines & HBS Interview Invites, September 29-October 3, 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! Application deadlines in full swing! October 1 is the busiest day for application deadlines this week with ten in total. Monday, September 29, MIT / Sloan has its Round 1 application deadline. HBS is scheduled to release its Round 1 interview invitations. Tuesday, September 30, Duke / Fuqua and Carnegie Mellon / Tepper have their Round 1 application deadlines. Wednesday, October 1, UVA / Darden, UCLA / Anderson, Emory / Goizueta, Georgetown / McDonough, Washington / Read more

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 Read more

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 Read more

Published: July 23, 2025

Admissions Director Q&A: Maria Pineda of the UMD Smith School of Business

In this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we’re back in College Park, Maryland, with Maria Pineda, Executive Director of Admissions at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. Pineda has been with UMD Smith for almost 20 years and manages the recruiting efforts for the MBA and Specialty Master’s Programs. Keep reading for her advice on navigating the admissions process, what’s unique about the UMD Smith MBA, and her favorite aspects of the program. Maria Pineda, Executive Director of Admissions at The University of Maryland Clear Admit: What is the 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 10, 2025

Real Humans of JPMorgan Chase: Renard Brumfield, UMD Smith MBA ’22, Finance Business Manager

In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, we meet a recent graduate of the University of Maryland Smith School of Business (UMD Smith), Renard Brumfield. After several years working in the House of Representatives, Renard wanted to transition to the finance sector while staying close to D.C. The scale and opportunities he found at UMD Smith were the perfect fit for his plans. Read on for more about Renard’s journey to JPMorgan Chase, his advice on recruiting for the largest financial institution in the U.S. and more as a member of the UMD Smith Read more

Published: January 20, 2025

U.S. News 2025 Online MBA Rankings: Indiana University–Bloomington Keeps Top Spot

U.S. News & World Report has released its 2025 Best Online Programs rankings, including online MBA programs. Once again, Indiana University’s Kelley Direct Online MBA program leads the online MBA ranking. Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper Online Hybrid MBA program and UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA@UNC Online MBA program traded places compared to last year, with the former moving from second to third and the latter moving from third to second. There is then a tie for fourth between the University of Washington Foster Hybrid MBA program and the Read more

Published: January 12, 2025

The Week Ahead: MBA Deadlines, January 13-17, 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 Two Gets Underway! More Round 2 application deadlines for top MBA programs are scheduled for this week. Tuesday, January 14, MIT / Sloan has its Round 2 application deadline. INSEAD has its Round 3 application deadline. Wednesday, January 15, Texas / McCombs, Florida / Warrington, BYU / Marriott, UCI Merage and Toronto / Rotman have their Round 2 application deadlines. Maryland / Smith has its Round 4 application deadline. Thursday, January 16, NYU / Stern 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 7, 2024

Real Humans of the UMD Robert H. Smith School of Business MBA Class of 2026

In this edition of our Real Humans: MBA Students series, we meet some new members of the MBA Class of 2026 at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, a dynamic cohort with a shared commitment to impactful leadership. From military veterans transitioning into federal service to experienced analysts with a passion for data-driven decision-making, these students bring unique perspectives shaped by years of experience in fields ranging from technology and consulting to finance and the military. The newest class is comprised of 69 students. Thirty-five percent are women and 68 percent are international. Read more

Published: October 27, 2024

The Week Ahead: MBA Decisions, Deadlines & Interview Invites, October 28-November 1, 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 Continues The 2024-2025 MBA admissions season is underway. Interview invites are also rolling out, and final decisions continue for early action round candidates. Wednesday, October 30, Georgetown / McDonough is scheduled to release its Early Action round decisions. Friday, November 1, Cornell / Johnson is scheduled to release its Round 1 interview invites. UC Irvine / Merage has its Round 1 application deadline. Oxford / Saïd has its Stage 3 application deadline. Maryland / 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: September 10, 2024

U.S. Business Schools Join the MiM Trend

Just a few years ago, most of the world’s leading Master in Management (MiM) programs could be found in Europe. Now, they’re gaining popularity in the U.S., with programs springing up across a number of top business schools. Let’s take a look at how the MiM works, why it’s an appealing choice for so many, and which business schools offer these programs. What Is a Master in Management (MiM)? A Master in Management (MiM) program offers a graduate degree designed for recent college graduates seeking a management education to Read more

Published: August 15, 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: ASU Carey Babson Olin CEIBS CMU Tepper Esade Florida Warrington HEC Paris Maryland Smith Minnesota Carlson The Ohio State Fisher Deadlines Released See the admissions deadlines that have rolled out: ASU Carey Babson Olin CEIBS Read more

Published: August 14, 2024

MBA Degrees & Majors with a STEM Designation

The past few years have seen a surge in business schools that run MBA programs with a STEM designation. MBAs, that is, that are now classified as a science, technology, engineering or mathematics degree. The new STEM MBA designation is promising students a multitude of new opportunities – but what is it, really? Read on to find out what a STEM MBA is, which schools offer it, and what this all might mean for you. What Is a STEM MBA? The structure of a STEM MBA is relatively simple. The foundational knowledge and core concepts of Read more