Admissions Tips

Browse our weekly admissions tips, or choose the category most relevant to you: researching, planning, applying, deciding.

Published: May 27, 2013

Admissions Tip: Feedback Session Etiquette

At the beginning of April, we discussed the importance of signing up for a feedback session when one is planning to reapply to a program that provides this opportunity. Today we’d like to follow up on that post by offering a few thoughts on feedback session etiquette. While on one hand a feedback session marks the close… Read more

Published: May 20, 2013

Admissions Tip: Going Beyond School Websites

In keeping with the recent Admissions Tips we have posted for the new crop of applicants to the Class of 2016, today we want to offer some tips on engaging the community of one’s target programs. Communicating with b-school insiders can be beneficial for a number of reasons: In addition to learning about a given… Read more

Published: May 13, 2013

Admissions Tip: Approaching the Career Goals Essay

With essay topics for the coming year already being released by some schools, there are applicants who are eager to get started on their written applications. Though essay questions tend to vary year to year, the two things that nearly every prospective student can count on being asked are “What are your short-term and long-term post-MBA goals?”… Read more

Published: May 6, 2013

Admissions Tip: Round 3 Results

With the MBA programs releasing their Round 3 notifications in the upcoming weeks, the 2012-2013 admissions season is coming to a close for the vast majority of MBA aspirants. We’d like to offer our congratulations to all those who have gained admission to one of more of their target schools and wish good luck to… Read more

Published: April 29, 2013

Admissions Tip: Considering the Campus

Continuing our series of admissions tips geared towards those individuals who are just beginning to think about their MBA applications, we wanted to offer some advice on factors to consider with respect to a school’s facilities and location. Whether speaking with current students or touring the campus for oneself, it’s helpful to approach these information-gathering… Read more

Published: April 22, 2013

Admissions Tip: Avoiding Red Flags

When applying to the top schools, it is important to avoid “red flags” in your application. For the uninitiated, red flags are negative items that stand out in your file and may result in rejection from business school. While most applicants understand the basic red flags, like a 2.4 GPA or a recommendation letter that… Read more

Published: April 15, 2013

Admissions Tip: Addressing Academic Strengths

While we devoted time last week to advice on addressing weaknesses in one’s academic record, today we wanted to explore the other side of the issue: the strengths that lie in your undergraduate record. Beyond issues of aptitude or previous achievement, there are a number of other things that your academic profile might say about you.… Read more

Published: April 9, 2013

Columbia Business School Admissions Committee Shares Waitlist Advice

Were you waitlisted at Columbia Business School (CBS) as part of a recent admission round? Stay positive! Members of the Admissions Committee assure applicants that CBS admits some waitlisted candidates every year, so there is definitely still a chance that you’ll be admitted. Matthew Moll, CBS associate director of MBA admissions, provided a range of… Read more

Published: April 8, 2013

Admissions Tip: Addressing Academic Weaknesses

To follow up on last month’s advice about GMAT preparation and timing, we wanted to offer some general comments about the role of academics in the admissions process. Many candidates considering business school focus on the credentials they will hold and the network that they will join upon graduation, but it is important to keep in… Read more

Published: April 3, 2013

Columbia Business School Admissions Officer Debunks Common Application Myths

A Columbia Business School (CBS) admissions officer devoted a recent post on Voices — a blog co-written by current CBS students and admissions officers to help provide a student perspective — to debunking some of the myths prospective applicants often seem to believe about the CBS admissions process. For starters, CBS Admissions Officer Matthew Moll… Read more

Published: April 1, 2013

Admissions Tip: Feedback Sessions for Denied Applicants

As many of our readers know, a small number of leading MBA programs offer admissions feedback sessions to applicants who did not make the admissions cut in a given season. Though we’ve touched upon this subject before, we’d like to use today’s blog entry to underline the importance of these feedback sessions for those of you who are… Read more

Published: March 27, 2013

Exclusive GMAT Insights and Advice for MBA Hopefuls From Top GMAT Community Leaders

Each year thousands of individuals begin journeys that they hope will ultimately lead to an acceptance offer from top-tier business schools around the world, and for the majority of these applicants one of the first steps on the b-school path is studying for and taking the GMAT exam. With the 2012-2013 application season wrapping up,… Read more

Published: March 19, 2013

Tips for Telling Your Boss You’re Headed to Business School

For those happy applicants who now hold acceptance letters from their target business schools, there still may be important work ahead: namely, breaking the news to your current employer. In a post to the Forté Foundation’s Virtual Campus website, a Forté Fellow at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business shares some tips for… Read more

Published: March 12, 2013

Clear Admit’s Kevin Chen Gives Advice to Asian MBA Applicants Targeting Top Business Schools

Navigating the MBA admissions process in the United States and Europe is a tricky task, even for applicants familiar with the expectations of the Western academic and corporate cultures. However, the process presents special challenges for East Asian applicants, who often possess cultural assumptions that can work to their disadvantage. Clear Admit admissions counselor Kevin… Read more

Published: March 4, 2013

Admissions Tip: Planning for the GMAT

For all you “early birds” who are planning to apply to business school this fall, we wanted to offer a few tips on managing your time as it relates to the GMAT exam. Because this is an important element for many applicants in determining at which schools they will be competitive, it’s best to prep… Read more

Published: December 10, 2012

Admissions Tip: Avoiding Common Pitfalls, Part II

Last week we offered some advice to help applicants avoid common pitfalls in writing their essays for the Round Two deadlines. This week we’d like to offer some more advice. Although these tips might not apply to everyone or to every school, these are some good basic strategies to employ. For personalized advice about your applications, contact Clear Admit directly.… Read more

Published: December 3, 2012

Admissions Tip: Avoiding Common Pitfalls, Part I

Today we would like to offer a handful of essay pointers in brief in order to help applicants avoid common pitfalls as they gear up for the Round Two deadlines. While we should caution that every applicant is unique and that some of these tips may not apply to everyone, we wanted our readers to have… Read more

Published: March 5, 2012

Admissions Tip: Planning for the GMAT

Published: April 11, 2011

Admissions Tip: Addressing Academic Weaknesses

To follow up on last month’s advice about GMAT preparation and timing, we wanted to offer some general comments about the role of academics in the admissions process. Many candidates considering business school focus on the credentials they will hold and the network which they will be a part of upon graduation, but it is… Read more

Published: March 7, 2011

Admissions Tip: Planning for the GMAT

MBA Applywire

November 28, 2023 1:19pm ET

Applying: Carnegie Mellon / Tepper, Cornell / Johnson, Georgetown / McDonough, Indiana / Kelley, Michigan / Ross, U. Washington / Foster, UCLA Anderson

Intake Year: 2025

Pre-MBA Career: Lead Engineer at OEM automotive company

Post-MBA Target Industry: Technology, Consumer Goods

GMAT: 690

GPA: 3.0

Years of Work Experience: 5

Location: Indiana

Notes:

-White, US and Middle Eastern dual citizenship.
-Why MBA: Automotive is transitioning in the next 10 years with EVs. I want to pivot from product engineering into product planning during this period. Having trouble breaking in without an mba or business background. Returning with MBA and an engineering background will make me a very strong candidate.
- 3.0 GPA in Mech Engr, struggling to get gmat past 690 (Q44,V40).
-Greenbelt certificate worth 96 hours towards PMI cert.
-Starting company Business Leadership certificate at state uni this upcoming year. Will receive an additional GPA for this.
- Lead engineer managing multiple multi million dollar projects at household name car company. Started on projects on production line equipment and transitioned to a lead product engineer managing prototype car deployment at factories. Exposure everywhere from production line to proposals to executives.
-Extracurriculars: Leading company diversity initiative to rewrite job postings for division and general volunteer work.

November 25, 2023 6:56pm ET

Applying: Berkeley / Haas, INSEAD, London Business School, Michigan / Ross, MIT Sloan, U. Chicago Booth, UVA / Darden

Intake Year: 2025

Pre-MBA Career: Project Management

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting, Technology

GRE: 335

GPA: 3.4

Years of Work Experience: 5

Location: United States

Post MBA Location: US

Notes:

Have a MS in Civil English (3.74/4)
Pursuing a professional MS in Software Engg (3.9/4) and will be finished by next year
Work ex: 2 promotions in 5 years - currently leading a satellite office for my company in Univeristy Research Park of an R1 university - responsible for managing 40 interns in AI/ML space and developing relationships with the university ecosystem
Ethnicity - Indian but living in US for 8 years

November 24, 2023 10:03am ET

Applying: Berkeley / Haas, Cambridge / Judge, Cornell / Johnson, Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, ESADE, Georgetown / McDonough, HEC Paris, IE Business School, IESE, Imperial, Indian School of Business, INSEAD, London Business School, Michigan / Ross, Northwestern / Kellogg, NYU Stern, Other, Oxford / Saïd, UCLA Anderson, UNC Kenan-Flagler, USC / Marshall, UT Austin / McCombs, UVA / Darden, Yale SOM

Intake Year: 2025

Pre-MBA Career: Consulting

Post-MBA Target Industry: Venture Capital, Private Equity, Asset Management, inc. HF Companies: Accell Partners , Andressen Horowitz , Battery Ventures , Charles River , Draper Fisher , First Round Capital , Kleiner Perkins , NEA , Sequoia Capital , Venrock , Other , Bain Capital , Blackstone , Carlyle Group , Goldman Sachs Principal Investment Group , TPG , KKR , Blackrock , Fidelity , Goldman Sachs , JP Morgan Asset Management , State Street , Vanguard

GMAT: 740

GPA: 8/10

Years of Work Experience: 3

Location: Mumbai, India

Post MBA Location: USA, India, Dubai, and Singapore

Notes:

I need to transition from an ESG role to a private equity/ Asset Management/ Venture Capital, especially in a deal making role (core finance and not ESG jobs). My job experience includes:- 1. Business Analyst Intern (Product)- ZiffyHealth; 2. ESG Research Analyst Intern (Corporate Governance)- SG Analytics; 3. ESG Research Associate II (Climate Solutions)- Morningstar (Sustainalytics); 4. ESG Associate Consultant (Strategic Business Transformation)- Ernst & Young ~ 2 years of experience (3 years will be done by next year December).

November 23, 2023 3:52am ET

Applying: Berkeley / Haas, INSEAD, MIT Sloan, Northwestern / Kellogg, NYU Stern, U. Chicago Booth

Intake Year: 2024

Pre-MBA Career: Fintech/Banking product management

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting, Technology Companies: AT Kearney , Bain , BCG , McKinsey , Amazon , Apple , Google , Tesla

GMAT: 750

GPA: 71.6

Years of Work Experience: 6

Location: Azerbaijan

Post MBA Location: United States

November 22, 2023 3:28pm ET

Applying: Duke / Fuqua, Emory / Goizueta, Indiana / Kelley, Michigan / Ross, Northwestern / Kellogg, UNC Kenan-Flagler, UVA / Darden

Intake Year: 2024

Pre-MBA Career: Epidemiologist/Data Analyst

Post-MBA Target Industry: Pharmaceutical Companies: Johnson & Johnson , Merck , Novartis , Pfizer

GRE: 315

GPA: 3.64

Years of Work Experience: 3

Post MBA Location: South USA

Notes:

I have a MPH with a GPA of 3.94. I understand that my GRE is bad but given this is EOY, I am so swamped at work that I’m half dying. I would love love to get scholarships though.
My why? I am an epidemiologist who pivoted into data analytics to be able to utilize my quant skills but DA is just not how I see myself and I’d like to move back into healthcare, albeit the pharmaceutical/business side of it hence MBA.
EC: I actually volunteer to help international student qualified under certain immigration categories petition for green cards. I volunteer with my local group and volunteer with Food for the Hungry in sponsoring a child in Bolivia. In the past, I’ve worked with children of immigrants to learn ESL.
I don’t want to rewrite GRE because there’s no time to improve my scores in time to submit for Round 2. Am I reaching?

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