Full Videos: MBA Essay Insight Event Series
Getting admitted into a leading MBA program requires more than getting high test scores and sending transcripts. To get accepted into the business school of your choice, you need to show the admissions committee who you really are. Therefore, schools typically include an essay portion in their MBA applications.
Essays give applicants the opportunity to tell admissions representatives why they want to attend business school and how this program would fit into their overall goals. Since this portion of the application process is where you have the chance to truly stand out, it’s crucial to know how to craft effective essays.
Clear Admit’s MBA Essay Insight Event Series was created to help applicants excel in the essay portion of their business school applications. During this series, representatives from leading business schools discuss what goes into successful MBA essays.
MBA Essay Insight Events
We cover the following topics throughout the series:
- When admissions committees read the essays in an application
- How much time they spend reading applications
- Essay prompts from each of the five programs
- The MBA student community at each of the five business schools
- Additional application tips
…and more advice to help applicants put their best foot forward during the MBA admissions process.
On July 14th, we welcomed five admissions representatives to offer advice about the essay portion of the MBA application process. Panelists included Eric Askins, Executive Director of Full-Time Admissions at Berkeley Haas School of Business; Jeb Butler, Director of Operations & MBA Admissions at The University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School; Jennifer Barba, Senior Associate Director of Admissions at MIT Sloan School of Management; Laurel Grodman, Managing Director of Admissions at Yale School of Management; and Anna Chalfin, Associate Director of Enrollment Strategy – Full-Time MBA Admissions at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Watch this video to catch up on the first part of the MBA Essay Insight Event Series!
On July 21st, we welcomed five more admissions representatives to offer insight. Panelists included Allison Jamison, Assistant Dean of Admissions at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business; Diana Economy, Director of Full-Time MBA Admissions at Stephen M. Ross School of Business; Rodrigo Malta, Managing Director of MBA Marketing, Recruiting, & Admissions at Texas McCombs School of Business; Felicia Swoope, Assistant Director of Admissions Recruiting at The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth; and Lisa Killingsworth, Director of Operations, Admissions, & Financial Aid at Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management.
Watch this video to catch up on the second part of the MBA Essay Insight Event Series!
Last but certainly not least, we welcomed our final group of admissions representatives to offer insight on July 28t. Panelists included Gina Cecchetti, Associate Director of Masters Admissions at Tepper School of Business; Kate Kryder, Associate Director of Full-Time MBA Admissions and Student Recruitment at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School; John Lee, Associate Director of MBA Admissions at UCLA Anderson School of Management; Virginie Fougea, Global Director of Admissions & Financial Aid at INSEAD; and David Simpson, Recruitment & Admissions Director of MBA & Masters in Finance at London Business School.
Watch this video to catch up on the third and final part of the MBA Essay Insight Event Series!
MBA Applywire
Former U.S. Marine Corps infantryman currently pursuing Economics and Psychology at the University of Arizona. Interested in investment banking and private equity with long-term goals in high finance leadership roles. Prior to military service, owned and operated a service-based business during high school, developing early experience in sales, client management, and operations. Previous leadership experience includes serving as Vice President of DECA. Current experience includes working within the university finance department on budgeting and financial projects, participating in the university’s venture capital and startup investment ecosystem through Tech Launch Arizona/Wildcat Seed Fund initiatives, and completing an investment banking internship in Summer 2027. Building a strong foundation in valuation, financial modeling, leadership, and strategic decision-making while leveraging military leadership experience and academic performance to pursue a top MBA program with strong investment banking placement.
I have a 3.6 GPA in 60 credits of math, computer science and physics.
I have a small online language businesses with international clients and employees.
Hi experts and community,
I am a prospective applicant for the 2027 intake and need a "brutal" evaluation. My biggest concern is my short work experience (I will have under 3 years by matriculation). I need advice on how to maximize my total overall profile in the next 4 months to compete with more seasoned candidates.
My Profile:
- GMAT Focus: 675 (I consider 675 is under my best performance a little).
- Education: GPA 3.51/4 in a major university in Vietnam, Passed CFA Level 2 (90th percentile)
- Work Experience (Under 3 years at matriculation):
+ 15 months - Buy-side Equity Investment: Sector analysis and valuation.
+ Current (approx. 16 months by matriculation) - Corporate Finance: Focus on Capital Raising and M&A Execution (preparing deal documentation and due diligence for subsidiary acquisitions).
- Extracurriculars & Leadership:
+ CFA Society Vietnam (Vietnam Community of Investment Professionals): 4 years volunteer in total, of which 1 year as a Volunteer Lead for community projects.
+ Entrepreneurship: Co-founder of a small language center (managing operations, sales and finance).
Post-MBA Goals: Transition to Investment Banking (IB) or stay in Corporate M&A.
My Questions for the Experts:
+ School Stretch: Given my limited YOE, which Top EU/UK MBA programs (LBS, INSEAD, HEC, Oxford, Cambridge, IESE,...) are my realistic targets?
+ Overall Profile Maximization: What specific areas should I sharpen in the next 120 days to strengthen my profile?
Thank you all in advance for your time and insights!
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.
- 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
MBA LiveWire
Rejected pre-interview for deferred.