School Q&A

Published: August 1, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Isabelle Perna of ESCP Business School

While ESCP Business School is comprised of six campuses in Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris, Turin and Warsaw, this Admissions Director Q&A takes us to Paris to meet Isabelle Perna, the Global & Paris Head of Admissions & Recruitment for the MBA in International Management. Isabelle Perna has over 35 years of experience in the world of recruitment, with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. Read on to learn her favorite aspects of the ESCP MBA program and how important it is to be your authentic self on your application. Isabelle Read more

Published: July 31, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Cara Sonnier of Georgia Terry

We welcome back Cara Sonnier, Director of Admissions for the Full-Time MBA and M.S. Business Analytics programs at the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business for the next installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series. Since joining the Full-Time MBA program in 2012, Cara has been instrumental in shaping the admissions process, making it more accessible and streamlined for prospective students. With a passion for graduate management education, Cara believes deeply in the transformative power and significant return on investment that the Terry College programs provide. Under her leadership, the admissions Read more

Published: July 30, 2024

Live Admissions Q&A: Eddie Asbie of Cornell Johnson

Executive Director of Admissions and Scholarship at the Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management, Eddie Asbie, sat down with Clear Admit Co-Founder Graham Richmond at the GMAC Conference this summer for a chat about MBA admissions. Eddie Asbie, Executive Director of Admissions & Scholarship Eddie covers a lot of ground in the special Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast episode below. To start, he digs into the Cornell Johnson MBA application “fill in the blank” career goals prompt. Eddie also talks about trends in the applicant pool, particularly regarding careers, as well as how Read more

Published: July 29, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Jennifer Zhao of CEIBS

In this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A we meet Jennifer Zhao, Deputy Director of MBA Marketing and Admissions at CEIBS, who joins us to talk about MBA admissions. Jennifer joined CEIBS in 2006. As Deputy Director, she has full responsibility for marketing, admissions and scholarships in the MBA. Jennifer’s career at CEIBS has also included years of service in the Career Development Center, providing general support and coordination to the team. Prior to CEIBS, she worked in Human Resources in various industries and locations and has extensive experience in talent Read more

Published: July 25, 2024

Live Admissions Q&A: Shari Hubert of Duke Fuqua

If you’re applying to Duke Fuqua for your MBA, this is a must-listen special episode of the Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast. Shari Hubert, the Associate Dean of Admissions, reviews the history of their “25 Random Things” essay and offers insider advice on what the admissions team is looking for in response to the creative prompt. Shari Hubert, Associate Dean of Admissions, Duke Fuqua Hubert oversees recruitment and admissions for Duke University’s portfolio of ten business degree programs. Prior to Fuqua, she was in charge of admissions for the Full-time and Read more

Published: July 25, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Justin Aier of Boston College’s Carroll School of Management

We are back in Boston again for this Admissions Director Q&A as we sit down with Justin Aier, Assistant Dean of Graduate Recruitment & Enrollment at the Boston College Carroll School of Management Justin has been a part of the Boston College Carroll School Graduate Admissions team for over six years, and has taken on roles from marketing and communications to recruitment and enrollment management. His favorite aspect of the admissions process is working directly with applicants to explore how the BC MBA can help them achieve their academic and professional goals. Read on for Justin’s Read more

Published: July 24, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Donna Swinford of Chicago Booth

In this Admissions Director Q&A, we welcome back 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 pretty much every angle over the course of her tenure by serving in several roles, including head of Operations and Evaluation before transitioning to her current position as Associate Dean for Student Recruitment Read more

Published: July 23, 2024

Live Admissions Q&A: Emily Brierley of Cambridge Judge

Tune into another special episode of the Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast, recorded live at the 2024 GMAC conference, to learn more about Cambridge University’s Judge Business School. Emily Brierley, Head of Cambridge MBA Recruitment and Admissions Emily Brierley, a Head of Cambridge MBA Recruitment and Admissions, joins us to talk about different aspects of admissions. Emily first worked at Cambridge Judge in 2016 in library support and then international student recruitment. In 2018, she joined the MBA Recruitment & Admissions team. Starting as a coordinator in operations and then candidate management, Emily moved Read more

Published: July 22, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Charlotte Russell-Green of Cambridge Judge

In this Admissions Director Q&A, we return to the UK’s Cambridge Judge Business School to check in with Head of MBA Recruitment and Admissions Charlotte Russell-Green. After training in Drama and Theatre at Goldsmiths in London, Charlotte transitioned into marketing after graduation and has now worked in the MBA market for over 10 years. She started her MBA career at QS, managing the marketing for the World MBA Tour events in North America, and has worked in marketing, recruitment, and admissions at Cambridge ever since. Her passions at work include building and Read more

Published: July 18, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Claire Fitzgibbon of Notre Dame Mendoza

In this Admissions Director Q&A, we meet Claire Fitzgibbon, Senior Director of Graduate Enrollment at the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business, for a deep dive into MBA admissions there. 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. Read on Read more

Published: July 17, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Blair Mannix of The Wharton School

In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we’re back with Blair Mannix, the Director of Admissions of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. Blair has over 17 years of experience in selective admissions at the University of Pennsylvania. She was made Director of MBA Admissions in 2018. In the fall of 2022, Blair took over leadership of the Wharton MBA for Executives Admissions Office and was named Executive Director of Graduate Admissions. Blair has a deep passion for the business of admissions. She has a masters degree from the University Read more

Published: July 17, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Mohammad Salhia of Toronto Rotman

We visit Canada in this Admissions Director Q&A to meet Mohammad Salhia, the Managing Director, Recruitment, Admissions and Business Development at the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management. Prior to joining Rotman, Mohammad spent his career working in healthcare, predominantly focusing on education strategy and operations in the health professions. He was previously a Director of Continuing Education. He holds an Honours Bachelor of Science and a Master of Education, both from the University of Toronto. Mohammad is currently a PhD student at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Read more

Published: July 16, 2024

Live Admissions Q&A: Amy Mitson of Dartmouth Tuck

Tune into this special episode of the Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast, recorded live at the 2024 GMAC conference, to learn more about the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Amy Mitson, Director of Admissions, Recruitment and Marketing, Dartmouth Tuck Our guest, Amy Mitson, has been at Tuck since 2000 and currently serves as Director of Admissions, Recruitment and Marketing. She also previously held the role of Sr. Associate Director of the MBA Program Office. Her combined student services and admissions experiences have helped her get acquainted with operations at Tuck, its history, Read more

Published: July 15, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Shari Hubert of Duke Fuqua

The Associate Dean of Admissions at Duke University Fuqua School of Business Shari Hubert is excited – about the entrepreneurial offerings at Fuqua facilitating some real growth in their MBA students, about getting to know Fuqua applicants, and how deftly the Career Management Center supports the students’ diverse career interests, among other things. There is plenty more to be excited about at Fuqua, and Hubert is here to share her insights in this Admissions Director Q&A. Hubert’s role is overseeing recruitment and admissions for the school’s portfolio of ten business degree programs. Prior to Read more

Published: July 11, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Lindsay Loyd of NYU Stern

In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome back Lindsay Loyd, Executive Director of MBA Admissions at the NYU Stern School of Business. 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. She holds a Bachelor Read more

Published: July 10, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Becky Gallagher, University of Bath School of Management

We head to the UK, just outside of London, for our Admissions Director Q&A with Becky Gallagher, Head of MBA Admissions and Recruitment at the University of Bath School of Management. 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 Read more

Published: July 8, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Tricia Baione of Columbia Business School

Meet Tricia Baione, Assistant Dean of Admissions for Columbia Business School (CBS), in this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series. Tricia was appointed in September 2023 as the Assistant Dean of Admissions to provide strategic leadership, vision, and coordination of a centralized recruitment program and admissions office for all CBS’s degree programs. She joined the School’s Career Management Center (CMC) in 2011 where she was previously the Executive Director of Career Education and Advising. She earned her MBA in 2009 from CBS, with a concentration in marketing Read more

Published: July 8, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Dr. Naz Erenguc of University of Florida Warrington College of Business

In this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A, we head to Gainesville, Florida, to meet Dr. Naz Erenguc, Director of Admissions for the University of Florida Warrington College of Business. Whether in her role as a professor of global health or as director of admissions for the University of Florida’s top-ranked MBA program, Dr. Erenguc helps make sure everyone has a seat at the table, and a pathway forward. Her work with the Association for Academic Women as an Executive Board member and as the Institutional Read more

Published: July 4, 2024

Admission Director Q&A: J.R. McGrath of Carnegie Mellon Tepper

For this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome back J.R. McGrath, Executive Director of Masters Admissions at the Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business. J.R. has been at Tepper for the past 3.5 years and accepted the role of Executive Director in October 2022. He has previously served in leadership roles at SMU Cox, TCU, and Syracuse. In addition to his professional responsibilities, J.R. and his wife have a young daughter that keeps them busy. J.R. also enjoys running, golf, and anything to do with Pittsburgh sports teams. Keep reading for his Read more

Published: July 3, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Brent Nagamine of University of Washington Foster School of Business

This installment of our Admissions Director Q&A takes us back to the University of Washington Foster School of Business with Director of Admissions Brent Nagamine. Brent oversees marketing, recruitment, selection, and scholarships for the Full-Time, Evening, and Global MBA programs. He has been working in the higher education sphere since 2013, when he graduated from the University of Washington. He started his career working in undergraduate admissions and eventually pursued his M.S.Ed from the University of Pennsylvania. After joining the Foster MBA admissions team in 2019, he was also drawn to pursue his own MBA, Read more

Published: July 1, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Melissa Rapp of Emory Goizueta

For this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A, we revisit Atlanta, Georgia, and welcome back Melissa Rapp, Associate Dean of Graduate Admissions for the Goizueta Business School at Emory University. Melissa she leads the teams responsible for recruiting, evaluating, and yielding students across the portfolio of Graduate Business programs, including the MBA and Specialized Master’s programs. A longtime higher education professional with 20 years of experience, Melissa has worked at a variety of institutions, helping to form and implement successful admissions strategies. She collaborates with program offices, registrars, career centers, and alumni offices Read more

Published: June 27, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Stephanie Kluth of ESMT Berlin

In this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome back Stephanie Kluth, the Director of Admissions at ESMT Berlin. Kluth has been working for ESMT since its founding in 2002 and has been heading the Admissions office since 2005. Prior to joining ESMT Berlin, Kluth worked at the Aspen Institute Berlin and the Jewish Museum Berlin. Berlin has been her home for many more years, so she knows the city inside and out. She knows every full-time MBA alumnus/a who has studied at ESMT, and she and her rescue pup would be Read more

Published: June 26, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Rupal Gadhia of Harvard Business School

Following the release of new application essays this year, Rupal Gadhia, managing director of MBA Admissions and Financial Aid at Harvard Business School, joins us for this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series. Gadhia graduated with an MBA from Harvard Business School in 2004. Her post-HBS career began in brand management with Sara Lee and Campbell Soup Company, followed by a move to Booz & Co as a management consultant. Leveraging her passion for brand and consulting, she joined the Brand Union, managing North American strategy and Read more

Published: June 24, 2024

Admissions Director Q&A: Rebekah Lewin of the University of Rochester Simon Business School

In this Admissions Director Q&A, we get an update on MBA admissions at the University of Rochester Simon Business School with Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions and Programs Rebekah Lewin. Rebekah has over 25 years of undergraduate and graduate admissions and program management experience. In her current role, she oversees strategy related to recruitment, admissions, financial aid, career management, student experience, EDI, and corporate engagement for full-time, part-time, and online MBA and MS programs. Rebekah is involved in board and advisory roles, including as a Board Trustee for the Consortium Read more

Published: June 24, 2024

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

We welcome back Senior Director of Admissions Maria Pineda of the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business for this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series. Pineda has been with UMD Smith for over 15 years, and manages the recruiting efforts for Full-Time MBA and Specialty Master’s Programs. She joins us again this year for an update on the MBA admissions process, what to expect during the interview, what makes a great essay, and more. Maria Pineda, Senior Director of Admissions at The University of Maryland Clear Admit: What is the one Read more

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MBA Applywire

April 25, 2025 9:29am ET

Applying: Carnegie Mellon / Tepper, Columbia, Cornell / Johnson, Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, INSEAD, London Business School, Michigan / Ross, MIT Sloan, Northwestern / Kellogg, NYU Stern, U. Chicago Booth, UT Austin / McCombs, UVA / Darden, Yale SOM

Intake Year: 2026

Pre-MBA Career: Nuclear Engineer

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting Companies: Accenture , Bain , BCG , McKinsey

GMAT: 740

GPA: 3.3

Years of Work Experience: 5

Location: Canada

Post MBA Location: USA or Middle East

Notes:

Work Experience: Worked 1 year as a process engineer for an Aerospace and Defense company and now work as a radioactive waste management engineer working in nuclear energy with 2.5 years of experience and would have 4.5 years of total work experience by the time I would matriculate.

Goals: Did a few co-ops in water treatment and now work in clean energy and have a passion for environmental solutions. But don't necessarily enjoy technical heavy work and want more towards management side of this. Looking to pivot to strategy consulting, specializing in sustainability.

EC: Community Outreach Executive for Nuclear chapter at my work where I give speeches at elementary schools to promote STEM careers; Communication representative for my Union; some volunteer work with my local food bank and some other small community involvements.

Target: UVA / Duke / Cornell / Yale / Dartmouth
Safety: McCombs / Tepper
Reach: Kelloggs / Booth / Columbia

Does my profile have a shot at this? I have applied to Round 2 for INSEAD but outside of that, will properly apply this fall. Would love any insights/opinions/recommendations!

April 25, 2025 9:04am ET

Applying: Berkeley / Haas, Carnegie Mellon / Tepper, Rice / Jones, UCLA Anderson, USC / Marshall, UT Austin / McCombs, Yale SOM

Intake Year: 2026

Pre-MBA Career: Sales Engineer

Post-MBA Target Industry: Entrepreneurship, Other

GMAT: 728

GPA: 6.1

Years of Work Experience: 4.5

Location: San Francisco Bay Area

Post MBA Location: San Francisco Bay Area

Notes:

I am looking to apply to MBA programs with focus on energy and sustainability. I want to stay in the west coast and I am currently based out of here. Please recommend admission consultants too. The biggest caveat: I am unemployed currently (left my job in Dec 2024 to focus on my passions and figure out long term plans) and currently doing part time unpaid work as a VC scout and in a climate startup.

Profile Snapshot

Demographics: US citizen by birth but grew up in India. Indian female, currently based in SF bay area

Academics: Undergrad from top Indian engineering school (Bachelors of Engineering in EEE) (low GPA) - 6.1

Two research papers in undergrad with 40+ citations currently. Low GPA due to death in family and other problems but have strong ECs and papers in undergrad.

GMAT: 730

Work Experience (4+ years, diverse)

1.5 years at strategic analytics consulting & AI research firm in India – front-office, European clients - Medical devices and FMCG (F500). Title was imagineer (role is mix of business, data and engineering)

0.4 years at another analytics consulting firm – data engineer, FMCG client (TC: 120K) in Austin Texas

2.4 years: Series D startup Agentic AI space. Title Sales engineer in SF, California (GTM role working with enterprise Fortune 50 clients). Two unofficial promotions - no title change but got salary increase of 10k each and unofficial lead sales engineer. (TC - 180K plus options)

Currently unemployed. The AI field left me very concerned, rapid job loss and I was part of the problem among other concerns. I left since I wanted to focus and transition to the energy sector. Currently working with a cleanTech venture firm as VC scout and a sustainability startup. No money. Might start looking for jobs soon

ECs:

Founded Non-profit during undergrad. Still running in my undergrad school

Chief Marketing Officer of my undergrad alma mater in the bay area: organize events with 100k plus is revenue. Lead team of 5 and have one VP under me.

Toastmasters: was ex-VP

Passionate about animals and children education. Donate and fund multiple programs in India.

My strongest value system is giving back to my community hence I want to go into energy and sustainability.

Goals

Short-term: Work in energy startups - Go to Market in CleanTech, P&L or Development roles in public utilities, strategy role in an energy firm

Long-term: PE targeting the energy sector or VC in renewables

Dilemma
Will I get any admits? concerned about low GPA and unemployment.

Would love your views on:

Do I have a realistic shot at (M7 / T10)?

April 24, 2025 7:07pm ET

Applying: Berkeley / Haas, Duke / Fuqua, Harvard Business School, Northwestern / Kellogg, Stanford GSB, UPenn / Wharton

Intake Year: 2026

Pre-MBA Career: LDP into Program Manager (global role)

Post-MBA Target Industry: Pharmaceutical, Entrepreneurship Companies: Amgen , Astra Zeneca , Merck , Roche

GMAT: 685

GPA: 3.2

Years of Work Experience: 3

Location: Bay Area

Post MBA Location: Bay Area or San Diego

Notes:

Haas is part-time. Rest are FT. Curious as what the best option is for both ROI and long-term value.

-Currently make $200k+ TC.
-BS in STEM (3.20) low rank state school
-MS in Management (3.9+) low rank private school
-Good ECs/Volunteering/Hobbies -- Founded an org that is still ongoing. On the private school's alumni relations board.
-Good story for personal statements and interviews. First-gen everything, low income.

Goals (in order of best to worst case):
1) co-founding a startup and running with it (e.g. vc funding, fellowships, etc.)
2) Chief of Staff at a start up --> Head of Dept or C-level
3) Back into another LDP in the area of interest

April 24, 2025 2:12pm ET

Applying: Berkeley / Haas, Columbia, NYU Stern, U. Washington / Foster, UCLA Anderson, UT Austin / McCombs, UVA / Darden

Intake Year: 2026

Pre-MBA Career: Boutique Consulting

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting Companies: Deloitte

GMAT: 700

GPA: 3.91

Years of Work Experience: 3

Location: San Francisco

Post MBA Location: New York

Notes:

Studying for GRE and estimated around 320 in mocks. Is a 320 GRE better than 700 GMAT (classic)?

April 24, 2025 2:08pm ET

Applying: Columbia, Cornell / Johnson, Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan, Northwestern / Kellogg, Stanford GSB, UPenn / Wharton, UVA / Darden

Pre-MBA Career: Pharmaceuticals (specifically in clinical operations)

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting, Pharmaceutical Companies: BCG , Deloitte , Ernst & Young , Other , Amgen , Johnson & Johnson , Merck , Roche , Other

GPA: 3.5

Location: Northeast

Notes:

3.5 GPA with a B.S. in Molecular Biology from a small, private, non-target school. Graduating in 2025 but I'm looking to apply to a top MBA program in the next 3-5 years. I currently have a role lined up with a top 5 pharmaceutical company in clinical operations but my end goal would be to pivot into strategy or business development at a pharma company or consulting for life sciences. I have already taken GMAT FE (605 score) but I don't count this as I plan to retake and study (ideal score would be 675+, this will hopefully be achievable). If you have any additional advice I can implement in the next 3-5 years it would be greatly appreciated.

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MBA LiveWire

April 28, 2025 7:05pm ET

Enrolled at Yale SOM

Round: Round 3

Received via email

Standardized Test: GRE

GPA: 4.0

GRE: 327

Program Type: Deferred Enrollment

Target Career: Entrepreneurship

Application Location: Providence

April 28, 2025 7:04pm ET

Enrolled at Yale SOM

Round: Round 3

Received via email

Standardized Test: GRE

GPA: 4.0

GRE: 327

Program Type: Deferred Enrollment

Target Career: Entrepreneurship

Application Location: Providence

April 28, 2025 7:04pm ET

Accepted from Waitlist to Dartmouth / Tuck

Round: Round 2

Received via phone April 28, 2025

Standardized Test: GRE

GPA: 3.3

GRE: 321

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Target Career: Consulting

Application Location: Philadelphia

April 28, 2025 11:23am ET

Interview Invite to Michigan State / Broad

Round: Round 4

Received via email on April 08, 2025

Standardized Test: GRE

GPA: 3.1

GRE: 319

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Target Career: Technology

April 28, 2025 9:38am ET

Waitlisted at U. Chicago Booth

Round: Round 2

Received via portal on March 26, 2025

Standardized Test: GRE

GPA: 2.7

GRE: 333

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Target Career: Marketing

Application Location: Accra, Ghana

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