The Leading Independent
Resource for Top-tier MBA
Candidates

School Q&A

Published: August 31, 2026
Admissions Director Q&A: Eddie Asbie of Cornell Johnson
In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome back Eddie Asbie, Executive Director of Admissions and Scholarship for the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. Eddie leads admissions, recruitment and scholarship strategy. He has more than 20 years of experience in higher education and has spent the past 14 years at Cornell. He earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University at Buffalo and a master’s degree in student personnel administration from SUNY Buffalo State College. Throughout his career, he Read more
Published: August 27, 2026
Podcast: Admissions Director Q&A with Donna Swinford of Chicago Booth
Donna Swinford, Associate Dean for Student Recruitment and Admissions for MBA Programs at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, is here to dig deeper into MBA admissions in this special edition of our podcast as part of our ongoing Admissions Director Q&A series. Donna Swinford, Associate Dean for Student Recruitment and Admissions, MBA Programs, Chicago Booth A longtime Chicago resident, Donna has been at Booth since 1997. In 2005, she joined the Office of Admissions, serving in several roles including head of Operations and Evaluation before transitioning to her Read more
Published: August 27, 2026
Admissions Director Q&A: Rodrigo Malta of Texas McCombs
We are back in Austin, Texas, at the University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business for another chat with Rodrigo Malta, Assistant Dean of MBA Marketing, Recruiting, and Admissions in today’s installment of our MBA Admissions Director Q&A series. Rodrigo has spent nearly two decades helping prospective students find their path into graduate business education. He leads a team overseeing recruitment, admissions, and marketing across five MBA programs, with a deep commitment to access, reducing bias in the admissions process, and building a community where people feel valued for Read more
Published: August 27, 2026
Podcast: Admissions Director Q&A with Shari Hubert of Duke Fuqua
In this special edition of our podcast as part of our ongoing Admissions Director Q&A series, Associate Dean of Admissions Shari Hubert shares more about the MBA program at Duke Fuqua. Shari Hubert, Associate Dean of Admissions, Duke Fuqua Hubert’s role is overseeing recruitment and admissions for the school’s portfolio of 10 business degree programs. Before Fuqua, she was in charge of admissions for the Full-time and Evening MBA programs at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. Hubert has extensive experience in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, and entered Read more
Published: August 26, 2026
Admissions Director Q&A: Alessandra Gazzola of SDA Bocconi School of Management
Welcome to Milan, Italy, where we meet Alessandra Gazzola, the Admissions Manager for Full-time MBA and International Masters Programs at SDA Bocconi School of Management for this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A. Alessandra Gazzola oversees the admissions strategy and selection process for the Full-Time MBA and International Master’s programs. With over 13 years of experience in graduate management education, she has dedicated her career to helping prospective students navigate the admissions process and building diverse, high-performing cohorts.  Before joining SDA Bocconi, Alessandra spent more than a decade at London Read more
Published: August 20, 2026
Podcast: Admissions Director Q&A with Rupal Gadhia of Harvard Business School
We welcome back the Managing Director of MBA Admissions and Financial Aid at Harvard Business School, Rupal Gadhia, for a deeper dive into MBA admissions in this special edition of our podcast as part of our ongoing Admissions Director Q&A series. Rupal Gadhia, Managing Director of MBA Admissions and Financial Aid, Harvard Business School After graduating with an MBA from Harvard Business School in 2004, Rupal began her post-MBA career in brand management with Sara Lee and Campbell Soup Company, followed by a move to Booz & Co as Read more
Published: August 19, 2026
Admissions Director Q&A: Isabelle Perna of ESCP Business School
In this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome back Isabelle Perna, Global & Paris Head of Admissions & Recruitment for the MBA in International Management at ESCP Business School. Isabelle has been working at ESCP for more than 30 years and has led Recruitment & Admissions for the MBA Programme for the past seven years. With over 30 years of experience in higher education, she has played a key role in attracting and selecting talented professionals from around the world. Passionate about helping candidates find the right fit, Isabelle Read more
Published: August 17, 2026
Admissions Director Q&A: Jelena Pejic of Boston College’s Carroll School of Management
We welcome back Jelena Pejic, Associate Director, Graduate Recruitment & Admissions at the Boston College Carroll School of Management to talk about MBA admissions in this Admissions Director Q&A. In her role, Jelena manages the MBA program portfolio. With over 13 years of experience recruiting and advising graduate applicants and students, she is an international higher education professional who is motivated to meaningfully influence students at a pivotal time in their lives. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Boston University. Jelena grew up in the former Yugoslavia and relocated to the United States in Read more
Published: August 13, 2026
Admissions Director Q&A: Kate Murphy of Columbia Business School
In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we learn more about Columbia Business School (CBS) MBA admissions from Kate Murphy, Director of Recruitment and Yield. Kate Murphy serves on the admissions committee and leads the strategic planning and execution of initiatives for prospective and admitted students across the portfolio of CBS degree programs. Kate has worked in higher education since 2015 and joined the CBS admissions team in 2019. She holds a BA in Psychology and an MS in Higher Education Administration. Read on for Read more
Published: August 13, 2026
Podcast: Admissions Director Q&A with Lindsay Loyd of NYU Stern
Lindsay Loyd, Executive Director, MBA Admissions, NYU Stern Lindsay Loyd, Executive Director of MBA Admissions at NYU Stern, is back for the Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast to dig deeper into the MBA program and more in this Admissions Director Q&A. Lindsay leads the recruiting and admissions efforts for Stern’s Full-time MBA Programs, including the two-year Full-time MBA and focused one-year MBAs: the Andre Koo Technology & Entrepreneurship MBA and Luxury & Retail MBA. She joined NYU Stern in 2023 after a 20-year career in financial services, serving Read more
Published: August 13, 2026
Podcast: Admissions Director Q&A with Steve Thompson of Northwestern Kellogg
Steve Thompson, Senior Director of Admissions at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, is back to talk more about MBA admissions and trends in the latest episode of the Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast. Steve Thompson, Senior Director of Admissions, Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management At Kellogg, Steve leads talent acquisition strategy to draw the best and brightest candidates to the school’s portfolio of eight Full-Time MBA programs. Prior to his current role, he gained broad experience across both student and academic experience at Kellogg, serving as Director of the Executive Read more
Published: August 12, 2026
Admissions Director Q&A: Betsy Ryan of Minnesota Carlson
We are back with Betsy Ryan, MS, Senior Associate Director of Admissions for MBA & MS Programs at University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, to talk about the MBA program in this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A. Betsy has been a member of the Carlson School of Management MBA & MS team since 2016. Before holding her current role, she worked closely with CSOM MBA students as an academic advisor. She holds an MS degree in Counseling and has 15 years of experience in higher education, with a particular focus Read more
Published: August 6, 2026
Admissions Director Q&A: Donna Swinford of Chicago Booth
We are back in the Windy City in this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A to chat with Donna Swinford, Associate Dean for Student Recruitment and Admissions for MBA Programs at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Donna is a longtime Chicago resident and has been at Booth since 1997. She joined the Office of Admissions in 2005 and has seen the admissions process at Booth from practically every angle over the course of her tenure, serving in several roles including head of Operations and Evaluation before transitioning to her current Read more
Published: August 6, 2026
Podcast: Admissions Director Q&A with Dawna Levenson of MIT Sloan
In the latest interview for our Admissions Director Q&A series, the Assistant Dean of Admissions at the MIT Sloan School of Management, Dawna Levenson, joins host Graham Richmond for a deeper dive into admissions in this special podcast episode. Dawna Levenson, Assistant Dean of Admissions, MIT Sloan School of Management As the leader of the admissions team at MIT Sloan, Dawna oversees all recruiting, evaluation, conversion, and marketing activities in support of the MBA, Sloan Fellows MBA, Master of Finance (MFin), Master of Business Analytics (MBAn), MBA Early Admission, and Master of Science in Read more
Published: August 5, 2026
Admissions Director Q&A: Ivone Foisy of Rochester Simon
In this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we hear from Ivone Foisy, Assistant Dean of Enrollment at the University of Rochester Simon Business School. Ivone is a seasoned enrollment management professional with over 20 years of experience. She began her career in Boston where she worked at several undergraduate offices of admission including Stonehill College and Boston College. Most recently, Ivone led a graduate admissions team at Emory University. Ivone is committed to ensuring that all students are prepared to make a transformational and meaningful impact in an Read more
Published: July 30, 2026
Admissions Director Q&A: Claire Fitzgibbon of Notre Dame Mendoza
We welcome back Claire Fitzgibbon, Senior Director of Graduate Enrollment at the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business, to delve into the MBA program in this Admissions Director Q&A. Claire is responsible for the strategy and oversight of all aspects of the graduate admission process. She began her career at Notre Dame in 2023 after many years leading undergraduate admission teams. Claire graduated from Mendoza while also a member of the Notre Dame Drumline. She also holds an M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Hofstra University. Keep reading for her insights into Read more
Published: July 28, 2026
Podcast: Admissions Director Q&A with Sabah Khan of Berkeley Haas
Hot off the heels of her Admissions Director Q&A, Sabah Khan, Assistant Dean of MBA Admissions and Enrollment Management at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, joins host Graham Richmond for a deeper dive into admissions in this special podcast episode. Sabah Khan, Assistant Dean of MBA Admissions and Enrollment Management, UC Berkeley Haas Sabah is chief enrollment strategist for the Full-time, Evening/Weekend, and Executive MBA programs. She has 20 years of multi-sector leadership experience, including five years leading high performance talent strategies in high growth tech at Stripe, and a decade of MBA Read more
Published: July 27, 2026
Admissions Director Q&A: Sabah Khan of Berkeley Haas School of Business
In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we meet Sabah Khan, the new Assistant Dean of MBA Admissions and Enrollment Management at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. In this role, Sabah is chief enrollment strategist for the Full-time, Evening/Weekend, and Executive MBA programs. She has 20 years of multi-sector leadership experience, including five years leading high performance talent strategies in high growth tech at Stripe, and a decade of MBA admissions experience at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. At Stanford she led a team that grew enrollment throughout the Read more
Published: July 23, 2026
Admissions Director Q&A: Louise-Marie Fischer-Dallée of Imperial
In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we are back in the UK to meet Louise-Marie Fischer-Dallée, Recruitment & Admissions Director at the Imperial Business School in London. Louise-Marie oversees recruitment strategy and admissions operations across the Full-Time, Global, Weekend and Executive MBA programmes. Her career has been shaped by a deep passion for higher education and, more specifically, for the transformative power of MBA programmes. Prior to joining Imperial, she held the role of Admissions Director at HEC Paris, and earlier gained entrepreneurial experience co-founding two startups, one Read more
Published: July 22, 2026
Admissions Director Q&A: Ali Elyassari of emlyon
In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we meet Ali Elyassari, Recruitment Manager for the International MBA at emlyon business school. While emlyon hosts six campuses, including Lyon, Saint-Étienne, Paris, Shanghai, Bhubaneswar and Mumbai, the business school is located in Lyon, France. Read on for Ali’s insight into the admissions process and highlights of the emlyon MBA program. Ali Elyassari, Recruitment Manager for the International MBA, emlyon business school Clear Admit: What is the one aspect of your program that you wish applicants knew more about? Ali Elyassari: What truly defines Read more
Published: July 21, 2026
Podcast: Admissions Director Q&A with Tricia Baione of CBS
As part of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome back Tricia Baione, Assistant Dean of Admissions for Columbia Business School (CBS), for a special podcast episode. Tricia Baione, Assistant Dean of Admissions, CBS As Assistant Dean of Admissions for CBS since 2023, Tricia provides strategic leadership, vision, and coordination of a centralized recruitment program and admissions office for the full-time MBA, Executive MBA, JD/MBA, Dual MBA/Executive MS: Engineering & Applied Science, specialized masters, PhD, and deferred-entry programs at CBS. Prior to Admissions, Tricia was the Executive Director of Career Education and Advising in Read more
Published: July 20, 2026
Admissions Director Q&A: Lindsay Loyd of NYU Stern
We welcome back Lindsay Loyd, Executive Director of MBA Admissions at NYU Stern, to share insights into the MBA program, application strategies and more in this Admissions Director Q&A. Lindsay leads the recruiting and admissions efforts for Stern’s Full-time MBA Programs, including the two-year Full-time MBA and focused one-year MBAs: the Andre Koo Technology & Entrepreneurship MBA and Luxury & Retail MBA. She joined NYU Stern in 2023 after a 20-year career in financial services, serving in roles of progressive responsibility in analytics, marketing, and strategy at Capital One and American Express. 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: July 15, 2026
Admissions Director Q&A: Becky Gallagher of the University of Bath School of Management
In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome back Becky Gallagher, Head of MBA Admissions and Recruitment at the University of Bath School of Management in the U.K. Becky has worked within the University for over 20 years, spending time in the Students’ Union where she oversaw student development and leadership programs. She has worked in the role of Head of MBA Recruitment and Admissions since January 2021 and has built an impressive network of connections globally. Becky loves nothing more than taking a student through the journey from pre-applicant stage right through Read more
Published: July 13, 2026
Admissions Director Q&A: David Simpson of LBS
In this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we are back with David Simpson, the Recruitment and Admissions Director for the MBA and Masters in Finance (MiF) programs at London Business School (LBS). David is one of London Business School’s most experienced professional staff. Starting in admissions, moving through various roles in marketing and business development, he jumped at the chance to return to admissions. His undergraduate degree is in business, majoring in international marketing. In his time at London Business School, he has enjoyed travelling the world to meet prospective Read more

MBA Applywire

10
September 1, 2026 9:10am ET
Applying: Cornell / Johnson, Duke / Fuqua, Emory / Goizueta, Georgetown / McDonough, Indiana / Kelley, Notre Dame / Mendoza, SMU Cox, UNC Kenan-Flagler, UT Austin / McCombs, Vanderbilt / Owen
Pre-MBA Career: Financial Reporting and Analytics at MUFG for PE Funds
Post MBA Career: Jefferies Group, JP Morgan, Lazard Freres, Lincoln International, Moelis & Company, Morgan Stanley, Nomura, Piper Jaffray & Co, PJT Partners, RBC Capital Markets, Rothschild & Co, Houlihan Lokey Inc, Guggenheim Partners, Greenhill & Co, Evercore Partners, Credit Suisse, Centerview Partners, BNP Paribas, Barclays, Bank of America Securities, Investment Banking, Finance
GMAT: 655
GPA: 3.16
Years of Work Experience: 3
Location: Charlotte, NC
Post MBA Location: Southeast US
4
August 31, 2026 12:35pm ET
Applying: Chicago Booth, Northwestern / Kellogg, Penn / Wharton, Stanford GSB
Intake Year: 2027
Pre-MBA Career: Analytics from Data to Product
Post MBA Career: Marketing, McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Management Consulting, Consulting
GPA: 3.0
Years of Work Experience: 3
Location: New York City
Post MBA Location: NYC, Chicago, West Coast
Notes:

I am thinking of doing Booth and Stanford Full time applications and Kellogg part time and also thinking of doing Booth part time as well since I have a low years of experience in a non consulting role. Knowing all this and my GPA what would an ideal GMAT score look like for me?
4
August 31, 2026 7:39am ET
Applying: Chicago Booth, Columbia Business School, INSEAD, London Business School
Intake Year: 2027
Pre-MBA Career: Consulting (MBB)
Post MBA Career: Consulting
GMAT: 695
GPA: 8.6
Years of Work Experience: 4
Notes:

I’m in knowledge consulting (a bit more specialised than generalist track with lower client exposure - but I’ve been fortunate to work directly with most of my clients)
Currently 4 yoe
I don’t have anything particularly distinct in my profile apart from this
Bachelors in economics
8
August 31, 2026 5:29am ET
Applying: Chicago Booth, Columbia Business School, Duke / Fuqua, Harvard Business School, Michigan / Ross, Northwestern / Kellogg, Penn / Wharton, Yale SOM
Intake Year: 2027
Pre-MBA Career: Consulting
Post MBA Career: McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Consulting
GMAT: 725
GPA: 3.04
Years of Work Experience: 3
19
August 27, 2026 6:23am ET
Applying: Berkeley / Haas, Chicago Booth, Columbia Business School, Cornell / Johnson, Dartmouth / Tuck, Georgetown / McDonough, Indiana / Kelley, Michigan / Ross, Northwestern / Kellogg, Notre Dame / Mendoza, NYU Stern, Penn / Wharton, Rice / Jones, UCLA Anderson, UNC Kenan-Flagler, USC / Marshall, UVA / Darden, Washington / Foster, Wisconsin
Intake Year: 2027
Pre-MBA Career: Lead Technical Consultant at Big 4
Post MBA Career: Technology, Consulting
GPA: 3.8
Years of Work Experience: 4
Location: New York City Metro
Post MBA Location: East Coast/ West Coast
Notes:

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science.
Have experience in big tech prior to moving to consulting.
Manage technical consulting at a large retail account (5 million dollar contract).
Active member/ organize events at a women’s leadership organization.
Want to pivot into Product Management in big tech.
View or Submit Entries

MBA LiveWire

September 1, 2026 12:20pm ET
Accepted to Columbia Business School
Round: Round 2
Received via email on August 30, 2026
Standardized Test: GMAT
GPA: 3.98
GMAT: 655
Program Type: January Intake
Post MBA Career: Manufacturing, Retail
Application Location: Thailand
Note:

Submission 6 Aug, Interview invite 17 Aug, Interview 28 Aug, Acceptance Letter 31 Aug
Juno Member: Yes
August 30, 2026 6:42pm ET
Applied to Dartmouth / Tuck
Round: Round 1
Received via n/a
Standardized Test: GRE
GPA: 3.7
GRE: 310
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career: Agribusiness
Application Location: Washington, DC
Juno Member: Not yet
August 30, 2026 4:41pm ET
Applied to NYU Stern
Round: Early Decision
Received via email
Standardized Test: Granted Waiver
GPA: 3.09
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career: Finance, Diversified, Investment Banking, JP Morgan
Application Location: Ghana
Juno Member: Not yet
August 30, 2026 3:08pm ET
Interview Invite to Columbia Business School
Round: Round 2
Received via portal on August 27, 2026
Standardized Test: Executive Assessment (EA)
GPA: 8.1
EA: 156
Program Type: January Intake
Post MBA Career: Consulting
Application Location: LatAm
Note:

Submitted 8/12
Juno Member: Not yet
August 30, 2026 3:59am ET
Applied to Dartmouth / Tuck
Round: Round 1
Received via portal
Standardized Test: GMAT
GPA: 3.91
GMAT: 725
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career: Consulting
Application Location: India
Note:

Application Submitted 29 August
Juno Member: Not yet
View or Submit Entries
Live
Wire