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Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast
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In this week's MBA Admissions podcast we began by discussing the current state of the MBA admissions season, with interview invites continuing to roll out. This week, Georgetown / McDonough is scheduled to release its Early Action decisions and Cornell / Johnson is scheduled to release its Round 1 interview invites. We also anticipate that MIT / Sloan will release its Round 1 interview invites.
We then had a discussion on the H1-B visa situation, concluding that US MBA graduates residing in the USA may now be at an advantage, over those who apply for the visa from their home country. This is an ongoing and impactful situation for top MBA candidates.
Graham highlighted next week’s events being hosted by Clear Admit, concluding a series focused on MBA programs in different regions of the United States. Signups for all these events are here, https://www.clearadmit.com/events Graham also highlighted our next livestream AMA, which is scheduled for today, Monday, October 27; here’s the link to Clear Admit’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/cayoutubelive.
Graham noted two recently published admissions tips. The first focuses on Wharton’s Team-Based Interview; Wharton released its interview invites for Round 1 last week. The second focuses on developing a target program list, helpful for those applying in Round 2. He also shared a peek at some comments from a first year MBA student at Duke / Fuqua, as part of our ongoing Real Humans series.
We then reviewed the Berkeley / Haas Class of 2026 profile, and the NYU / Stern Class of 2026 profile. Both declared slightly smaller class sizes, and a higher proportion of international students in the class.
For this week, for the candidate profile review portion of the show, Alex selected three ApplyWire entries:
This week’s first MBA admissions candidate applied in Round 1 to a few programs and is now considering their Round 2 strategy. They have progressed from an analyst role to a product management role.
This week’s second MBA applicant is an investment banking analyst in the digital infrastructure domain. They have a 320 GRE, and we really hope they retake the test.
The final MBA candidate is from Mexico and has a 685 GMAT score. Their overall profile does look strong, and they want to do investment banking in the short term, post MBA.
This episode was recorded in Saratoga Springs, New York and Cornwall, England. It was produced and engineered by the fabulous Dennis Crowley in Philadelphia, USA. Thanks to all of you who’ve been joining us and please remember to rate and review this show wherever you listen!
In this week's MBA Admissions podcast we began by discussing the current state of the MBA admissions season, with interview invites continuing to roll out. This week, John’s Hopkins / Carey has its Round 1 deadline, UPenn / Wharton is scheduled to release its Round 1 interview invites and UVA / Darden and Johns Hopkins / Carey are scheduled to release their Early Action Round decisions.
Graham highlighted several upcoming events being hosted by Clear Admit that begin this week, including a Real Humans series and a series focused on MBA programs in different regions of the United States. Signups for all these events are here, https://www.clearadmit.com/events Graham also highlighted our next livestream AMA, which is now scheduled for Monday, October 27; here’s the link to Clear Admit’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/cayoutubelive.
Graham recognized Stanford’s 100-year anniversary by quizzing Alex on some of the history of the MBA Program degree and business schools in general. Graham then noted several recently published admissions tips which focus interview preparation, as well as an admissions tip that focuses on assessment days that are offered by a few top MBA programs.
Graham highlighted a Real Humans piece that focuses on MBA students at Columbia Business School, and also reviewed Yale SOM’s Class of 2027 profile, which appears to be very impressive.
For this week, for the candidate profile review portion of the show, Alex selected three ApplyWire entries.
This week’s first MBA admissions candidate has a remarkably high salary, as a software engineer at a FANG company. We hope they will consider retaking the GRE.
This week’s second MBA applicant has a very high GMAT score of 705. They want to be in Austin Texas, post MBA. They are also very concerned with gaining scholarship to help defray costs.
The final MBA candidate is a data scientist and is debating their post MBA goals. They want to do investment banking but worry how that would appear for adcom.
This episode was recorded in Paris, France and Cornwall, England. It was produced and engineered by the fabulous Dennis Crowley in Philadelphia, USA. Thanks to all of you who’ve been joining us and please remember to rate and review this show wherever you listen!
In this week's MBA Admissions podcast we began by discussing the current state of the MBA admissions season, with interview invites continuing to roll out. This week, Ohio State / Fisher, Notre Dame / Mendonza, Boston College / Carroll, Texas / McCombs, USC / Marshall, Indiana / Kelley, Arizona / Carey, UCI / Merage, Florida / Warrington, Rice / Jones and The Consortium all have their Round 1 deadlines. NYU / Stern has its Round 2 deadline. Duke / Fuqua, Oxford / Said and Notre Dame / Mendoza are all scheduled to release final decisions from early rounds. INSEAD and Imperial Business School are scheduled to release interview invites.
Graham highlighted several upcoming events being hosted by Clear Admit this month, including a Real Humans series and a series focused on MBA programs in different regions of the United States. Signups for all these events are here, https://www.clearadmit.com/events Graham also highlighted our next livestream AMA, scheduled for Tuesday, October 28; here’s the link to Clear Admit’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/cayoutubelive.
Graham noted a recently published admissions tip which focuses on which types of questions a candidate can ask their MBA admissions interviewer, at the end of the interview.
Finally, Graham highlighted a Real Humans piece that focuses on Class of 2027 MBA students at ESADE in Barcelona.
For this week, for the candidate profile review portion of the show, Alex selected three ApplyWire entries:
This week’s first MBA admissions candidate has applied in Round 1 with a GRE score of 315. They do plan to retake it and submit the new score to the schools to which they have already applied.
This week’s second MBA applicant is based in Canada and has a 2.9 GPA. This is due to their first two years of study, where they really struggled. They also have a 317 GRE score. We recommend they retake the test, one more time.
The final MBA candidate is from Africa and is targeting European MBA programs. They need to refine their goal focus and perform well in either the GMAT or GRE.
This episode was recorded in Paris, France and Cornwall, England. It was produced and engineered by the fabulous Dennis Crowley in Philadelphia, USA. Thanks to all of you who’ve been joining us and please remember to rate and review this show wherever you listen!
In this week's MBA Admissions podcast we began by discussing the current state of the MBA admissions season. Last week, Harvard released all its Round 1 interview invites. This week, UNC / Kenan Flagler and Georgia / Terry have Round 1 application deadlines. Cambridge / Judge and SMU / Cox have Round 2 application deadlines, and London Business School and IESE are scheduled to release their Round 1 interview invites.
Graham highlighted several upcoming events being hosted by Clear Admit in October, including a Real Humans series and a series focused on MBA programs in different regions of the United States. Signups for all these events are here, https://www.clearadmit.com/events Graham also highlighted our next livestream AMA, scheduled for Tuesday, October 28; here’s the link to Clear Admit’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/cayoutubelive.
Graham noted two recently published MBA admissions articles. The first focuses on the ongoing topic of H-1B visas, and the second summarizes all the top MBA programs' in-person events for October. Graham also highlighted two admissions tips that focus on the key interview questions all MBA candidates should be ready for, and a best practice for preparing (hint: don't script your responses!).
Finally, Graham highlighted a Real Humans piece that focuses on MBA students in Wharton's Class of 2027.
For this week, for the candidate profile review portion of the show, Alex selected three ApplyWire entries:
This week’s first MBA admissions candidate is trying to use the MBA to transition from a transportation-related role to a career in consumer-packaged goods. They also want to switch geographies within the U.S.
This week’s second MBA applicant is a chemical engineering graduate who now works in Wealth Management. We worry their 655 GMAT does not fully represent their aptitude.
The final MBA candidate has a very strong profile, overall, but their post MBA goals need more development.
This episode was recorded in Paris, France and Cornwall, England. It was produced and engineered by the fabulous Dennis Crowley in Philadelphia, USA. Thanks to all of you who’ve been joining us and please remember to rate and review this show wherever you listen!
In this week's MBA Admissions podcast we began by discussing the current state of the MBA admissions season. This week, MIT / Sloan, Duke / Fuqua, CMU / Tepper, UVA / Darden, UCLA / Anderson, Emory / Goizueta, Georgetown / McDonough, Washington / Foster, Vanderbilt / Owen, Georgia Tech / Scheller, Maryland / Smith and Minnesota / Carlson have Round 1 application deadlines. Oxford / Said has its Stage 2 application deadline.
Graham highlighted several upcoming events being hosted by Clear Admit in the upcoming months, including a Real Humans series, a deferred admissions series and a series focused on MBA programs in different regions of the United States. Graham also highlighted our next livestream AMA, scheduled for Tuesday, October 28; here’s the link to Clear Admit’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/cayoutubelive.
Graham noted that two new business-related academic programs were announced last week: Wharton’s MS in Quantitative Finance and Georgetown’s MS in Business Analytics. Graham then noted two recently published admissions tips, focused on MBA interview etiquette and the role of letters of support.
Graham discussed the recently published Real Humans series focused on NYU / Stern. This led to a brief discussion on GMAT preparation. We then discussed the Class of 2027 admissions profile from Wharton, within the context of class profiles from Anderson and Johnson.
For this week, for the candidate profile review portion of the show, Alex selected three ApplyWire entries.
This week’s first MBA admissions candidate has a strong international focus and can speak several languages. They have a super GRE score of 331.
This week’s second MBA candidate is a West Point graduate with a 2.76 GPA. We discussed potentials for mitigation, which might include retaking the GRE. They currently have a 321 GRE score.
The final MBA candidate is from Pakistan and has a terrific GRE score of 335. They are working in energy sector consulting and looking to switch to a more health-care focused career.
This episode was recorded in Paris, France and Cornwall, England. It was produced and engineered by the fabulous Dennis Crowley in Philadelphia, USA. Thanks to all of you who’ve been joining us and please remember to rate and review this show wherever you listen!
In this week's MBA Admissions podcast we began by discussing the upcoming MBA admissions season. This week, Dartmouth / Tuck, IESE and Imperial Business School have their Round 1 application deadlines; Duke / Fuqua is scheduled to release its interview invites for its Early Action Round.
Graham noted that our second livestream AMA is scheduled for this Tuesday on YouTube; here’s the link to Clear Admit’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/cayoutubelive. Graham then highlighted the ongoing September series of admissions events. The third session is on Wednesday, and includes Berkeley / Haas, INSEAD, London Business School, Michigan / Ross and UNC / Kenan / Flagler. Signups for this series are here: https://bit.ly/cainsidemba
We then had a detailed discussion on the recently released 2025-26 MBA rankings from LinkedIn and Bloomberg / Business Week.
Graham noted two recently published MBA admissions-related tips that focus on completing the business school application data forms, and whether it is advisable to skip the GMAT or GRE and seek a test waiver. We continued our series of profiling star MBA professors. This week we feature two professors from Columbia Business School and Northwestern / Kellogg. We then discussed our first student-focused Real Humans for this season, from UNC / Kenan Flagler.
Finally, we had our first class profile to review, from the Duke / Fuqua Class of 2027.
For this week, for the candidate profile review portion of the show, Alex selected three ApplyWire entries:
This week’s first MBA admissions candidate graduated from the Naval Academy and was a division 1 athlete. They appear to have a very decent career in the navy. Unfortunately, they have a low GPA and a modest GRE score.
This week’s second MBA candidate is from Mexico and targeting Dartmouth / Tuck and several Canada-based programs. They are a chemical engineer graduate with several years of business experience.
The final MBA candidate has recently had a fourteen-month break from work. They also want to waive the GMAT. They do appear to have strong prior experience and academics, but we caution against the waiver.
This episode was recorded in Paris, France and Cornwall, England. It was produced and engineered by the fabulous Dennis Crowley in Philadelphia, USA. Thanks to all of you who’ve been joining us and please remember to rate and review this show wherever you listen!
In this week's MBA Admissions podcast we began by discussing the upcoming new MBA admissions season. This week, NYU / Stern, Chicago / Booth, INSEAD and Cornell / Johnson have their Round 1 application deadlines.
Graham highlighted the ongoing September series of admissions events, where Clear Admit hosts the majority of the top MBA programs to discuss Round 2 application strategy. The second session is on Wednesday, and includes Chicago / Booth, Columbia, Texas / McCombs, Toronto / Rotman and Yale SOM. Signups for this series are here: https://bit.ly/cainsidemba Our second livestream AMA is scheduled for Tuesday, September 23rd on YouTube; here’s the link to Clear Admit’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/cayoutubelive.
Graham then noted a recently published MBA admissions-related tip that focuses on polishing your business school application essays. He also reminded listeners about the 25 videos in our free Admissions Academy video series, of which five videos are exclusively about the essay writing process. We also continue our series of Adcom Q&As this week we hear from IMD's Francesco Farné.
For this week, for the candidate profile review portion of the show, Alex selected three ApplyWire entries:
This week’s first MBA admissions candidate works for Microsoft as a software engineer. They want to switch into product management.
This week’s second MBA candidate has already completed one major career pivot from engineering and sales to real estate investing. They want to use the MBA to explore the latter, further.
The final MBA candidate is from India, has a 755 GMAT score and works for the space agency. They also have quite significant activities outside of work.
This episode was recorded in Paris, France and Cornwall, England. It was produced and engineered by the fabulous Dennis Crowley in Philadelphia, USA. Thanks to all of you who’ve been joining us and please remember to rate and review this show wherever you listen!
In this week's MBA Admissions podcast we began by discussing the upcoming new MBA admissions season. This week, Michigan / Ross, Stanford, Northwestern / Kellogg, Yale SOM, Toronto / Rotman and Berkeley / Haas have their round 1 deadlines. Georgetown / McDonough and John’s Hopkins / Carey have their Early Action round deadlines.
Graham highlighted the upcoming September series of admissions events, where Clear Admit will host the majority of the top MBA programs to discuss Round 2 application strategy. The first session is on Wednesday, and includes Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, Georgia Tech / Scheller, UPenn / Wharton and UVA / Darden. Signups for this series are here: https://bit.ly/cainsidemba Our second livestream AMA is scheduled for Tuesday, September 23rd on YouTube; here’s the link to Clear Admit’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/cayoutubelive.
Graham then noted two admissions-related tips. The first focuses on all the in-person events that the top MBA programs are conducting in the month of September, the second focuses on the increasingly popular video essays.
We continue our new series profiling some of the leading MBA faculty at the top MBA programs. For this week, we have profiles on two faculty from Chicago / Booth.
We also continue our series of Adcom Q&As this week we hear from Vanderbilt / Owen and Indiana / Kelley.
For this week, for the candidate profile review portion of the show, Alex selected three ApplyWire entries:
This week’s first MBA admissions candidate is from India with a 655 GMAT score. While the remainder of their profile looks very decent, we wonder if they can increase their GMAT score.
This week’s second MBA candidate is targeting Round 2 and has not yet completed the GRE test. They also have an International Relations masters degree.
The final MBA candidate has a 337 GRE score. They began their career in the private sector then enlisted in the military.
This episode was recorded in Paris, France and Cornwall, England. It was produced and engineered by the fabulous Dennis Crowley in Philadelphia, USA. Thanks to all of you who’ve been joining us and please remember to rate and review this show wherever you listen!
In this week's MBA Admissions podcast we began by discussing the upcoming new MBA admissions season. This week, Duke / Fuqua, UVA / Darden and Notre Dame / Mendoza have their Early Action deadlines. Harvard, UPenn / Wharton, Columbia and London Business School have their round 1 deadlines, and Oxford / Said has its Stage 1 deadline.
Graham highlighted the upcoming September series of admissions events, where Clear Admit will host the majority of the top MBA programs to discuss Round 2 application strategy. The first session is on Wednesday, and includes Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, Georgia Tech / Scheller, UPenn / Wharton and UVA / Darden. Signups for this series are here: https://bit.ly/cainsidemba Our second livestream AMA is scheduled for Tuesday, September 23rd on YouTube; here’s the link to Clear Admit’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/cayoutubelive
Graham then noted two stories covered on Clear Admit this week. The first looks at the ever-evolving picture of DEI in MBA admissions. The second focuses on a new climate-related program from Duke / Fuqua. Graham also highlighted three MBA admissions tips. The first focuses on the constraints of word and character counts, the second focuses on the optional essay, and the third tip focuses on the importance of avoiding the “comparison trap”.
We continue our new series that Clear Admit is publishing this season, which focuses on profiling some of the leading MBA faculty at the top MBA programs. For this week, we have profiles on two faculty from Stanford GSB.
We continue our series of Adcom Q&As this week we hear from Berkeley / Haas and IESE.
For this week, for the candidate profile review portion of the show, Alex selected three ApplyWire entries:
This week’s first MBA admissions candidate is from South Korea, with an undergraduate degree from the London School of Economics. They have a 685 GMAT score and several years of work experience.
This week’s second MBA candidate is debating on whether to take the GMAT or try to waive the GMAT.
The final MBA candidate is a tech product manager, based in New York. They have a 330 GRE.
This episode was recorded in Philadelphia, USA and Cornwall, England. It was produced and engineered by the fabulous Dennis Crowley in Philadelphia, USA. Thanks to all of you who’ve been joining us and please remember to rate and review this show wherever you listen!
In this week's MBA Admissions podcast we began by discussing the upcoming new MBA admissions season. Cambridge / Judge leads the way with its first-round deadline next week! Graham and Alex plan to host monthly AMA-style webinars, as this new admissions season gets underway. The first is scheduled for this Tuesday, on YouTube; here’s the link to Clear Admit’s YouTube channel so you can subscribe and not miss any of the streaming: https://bit.ly/cayoutubelive.
Graham also highlighted the upcoming September series of admissions events, where Clear Admit will host the majority of the top MBA programs to discuss Round 2 application strategy. Signups for this series are here: https://bit.ly/cainsidemba
Graham then noted four admissions tips, which focus on areas of key importance for those targeting the first rounds. These include how to engage with representatives of the top MBA programs, the students, alumni and faculty, and how to show that you have done the research for each of your target programs. We also cover the differences in applying in Round 1 and 2, as well as the importance of understanding who reads your business school applications. We also covered a common myth - the higher the rank of the program, the better the fit for all candidates.
Graham also highlighted the new series that Clear Admit is publishing this season, which focuses on profiling some of the leading MBA faculty at the top MBA programs. For this week, we have profiles on two faculty from Harvard Business School and from MIT / Sloan.
We continue our series of Adcom Q&As this week we hear from Dartmouth / Tuck, Cornell / Johnson and Northwestern / Kellogg.
For this week, for the candidate profile review portion of the show, Alex selected three ApplyWire entries:
This week’s first MBA admissions candidate is from India and has a modest undergraduate GPA, with a positive trend. They have not yet taken the GMAT.
This week’s second MBA candidate has a 740 GMAT, and is from rural India. Scholarships are a key concern from them.
The final MBA candidate is from Nigeria and has a GRE score of 332. They have some NGO experience and now work as a chartered accountant. They are targeting a nice spread of MBA programs.
This episode was recorded in Anse Saint-Jean, Quebec and Cornwall, England. It was produced and engineered by the fabulous Dennis Crowley in Philadelphia, USA. Thanks to all of you who’ve been joining us and please remember to rate and review this show wherever you listen!
In this week's MBA Admissions podcast we began by discussing upcoming webinars that Clear Admit is hosting. Graham and Alex will be hosting an AMA-style webinar on August 26th via YouTube, as the new admissions season gets underway! Here’s the link to follow us on YouTube and join the livestream: https://bit.ly/cayoutubelive. Graham also highlighted the upcoming September series of admissions events, where Clear Admit will host the majority of the top MBA programs to discuss Round 2 application strategy. Signups for this series are here: https://bit.ly/cainsidemba
Graham then noted an admissions tip which provides general guidance for MBA application essay writing. This also includes a section on how to use AI in helping to craft those essays. Graham also highlighted a new series that Clear Admit is publishing this season, which focuses on profiling some of the leading MBA faculty at the top business schools. For this week, we have profiles on two Wharton faculty.
We continue our series of Adcom Q&As this week we hear from Texas / McCombs and Michigan / Ross.
For this week, for the candidate profile review portion of the show, Alex selected three ApplyWire entries:
This week’s first MBA admissions candidate has an interesting European background and now works in Wealth Management in Switzerland. They want to move into venture capital, in the United States.
This week’s second MBA candidate is a mechanical engineer from India. They have a 740 GMAT and 8.35 GPA.
The final MBA candidate works in London, and while they have a very good undergraduate record, their GMAT is currently 625. They do plan to retake the test before applying.
This episode was recorded in Paris, France and Cornwall, England. It was produced and engineered by the fabulous Dennis Crowley in Philadelphia, USA. Thanks to all of you who’ve been joining us and please remember to rate and review this show wherever you listen!
In this week's MBA Admissions podcast we began by discussing a couple of webinars that are in the works. Graham and Alex will host an AMA-style webinar, as the new admissions season gets underway on August 26. More details to follow, but it will be livestreamed on YouTube! Graham also highlighted the September series of admissions events, where Clear Admit will host the majority of the top MBA programs to discuss Round 2 application strategy. Sign ups for this series are here: https://bit.ly/cainsidemba
Graham then noted a few new publications on the Clear Admit site. We have a post that covers all the top MBA programs’ in-person admissions event activities for the month of August. We also cover all the early and Round 1 application deadlines for the top MBA programs in a useful guide, and have a timely admissions tip on how to best prepare recommenders.
We continue our series of Adcom Q&As this week we hear from CMU / Tepper.
For this week, for the candidate profile review portion of the show, Alex selected three ApplyWire entries:
This week’s first MBA admissions candidate has a career in undergraduate admissions, and a side-career in comedy. They want to use the MBA to pivot into the entertainment industry.
This week’s second MBA candidate is a data scientist who also plays a rock guitar. They have a 695 GMAT.
The final MBA candidate is a reapplicant. They have a low GPA of 2.75 but have now completed MBA Math. They do have a super GRE score of 331.
This episode was recorded in Philadelphia, USA and Cornwall, England. It was produced and engineered by the fabulous Dennis Crowley in Philadelphia, USA. Thanks to all of you who’ve been joining us and please remember to rate and review this show wherever you listen!
In this week's MBA Admissions podcast we began by highlighting the upcoming webinar on Thursday, hosted by Alex, which will cover the application process for those targeting the M7 MBA programs and feature admissions coaches from our friends at Leland. Signups are here: https://bit.ly/m7clearadmit
Graham then noted the weekly refresh series that Clear Admit publishes during this time of year, which is designed to keep MBA applicants updated with admissions-related updates at the leading MBA programs. Graham also discussed a new admissions tip which focuses on all the standardized tests that non-English language MBA candidates might use to demonstrate English proficiency in the admissions process.
We continue our series of Adcom Q&As, and this week we have two Q&As, from Harvard Business School's Rupal Gadhia and Maryland / Smith's Maria Pineda.
Finally, Graham highlighted a recently published podcast that focuses on the strategy consulting industry and its importance for MBA candidates. This is a recording from a panel discussion from our spring event in Boston and includes a representative from Bain Consulting.
For this week, for the candidate profile review portion of the show, Alex selected three ApplyWire entries:
This week’s first MBA admissions candidate has a superb 795 on the GMAT, but a very modest GPA. We discussed the impact of this GPA on their overall profile.
This week’s second MBA candidate is from India and has not yet taken the GRE. They are targeting top MBA programs outside the United States.
The final MBA candidate has a 745 GMAT and 3.95 GPA in chemical engineering. They work at a small firm, with no title change. We do think this is a very strong candidate.
This episode was recorded in Paris, France and Cornwall, England. It was produced and engineered by the fabulous Dennis Crowley in Philadelphia, USA. Thanks to all of you who’ve been joining us and please remember to rate and review this show wherever you listen!
In this week's MBA Admissions podcast we began with a wonderful review of the podcast, from an industry professional!
Graham highlighted Clear Admit’s ongoing summer series of webinars, which focuses on top MBA programs’ admissions essays, and is attended by more than 20 of the top MBA programs. The final event is on Wednesday of this week, and includes CMU / Tepper, Chicago / Booth, MIT / Sloan, Texas / McCombs and UVA / Darden. Signups are here: https://bit.ly/mbaessay0725
Graham then discussed a new webinar focused on M7 MBA admissions, scheduled for August 7 and hosted by Alex. This event will also feature admissions coaches from Leland.
Graham then noted two news events from this week. INSEAD is extending their final deadline for their January intake; we assume this might be related to uncertainty for some international students who were targeting the United States. Our Fridays from the Frontlines series features a Duke / Fuqua student with an interview on quantum computing. Graham also highlighted an admissions tip, as part of our MBA Myth Busters series: Adcoms are impressed by jargon and other fancy language in essays and interviews.
We continue our series of Adcom Q&As, this week we have a Q&A from Shelly Heinrich at SMU / Cox.
Finally, Graham highlighted a recently published podcast that focuses on the contents of essays and interviews and candidates’ goals. This is a recording from a panel discussion from our summer event in Boston, and includes representatives from Berkeley / Haas, Duke / Fuqua, Harvard Business School and Indiana / Kelley.
For this week, for the candidate profile review portion of the show, Alex selected three ApplyWire entries:
This week’s first MBA admissions candidate has a 655 GMAT, and a 9.1 GPA (on a scale of 10). They are a Bain consultant from India.
This week’s second MBA candidate has a 332 GRE score and is also a consultant. They are a first-generation immigrant from South America.
The final MBA candidate also has a 655 GMAT, which they are planning to retake. They are targeting Harvard, Stanford and Wharton. We think they should consider a few more top MBA programs.
This episode was recorded in Paris, France and Cornwall, England. It was produced and engineered by the fabulous Dennis Crowley in Philadelphia, USA. Thanks to all of you who’ve been joining us and please remember to rate and review this show wherever you listen!
Welcome to another special episode of the Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast, recorded live at the Clear Admit MBA Fair at MIT Sloan School of Management in May 2025. In this panel session, "Admissions Tips: What You Say – Goals, Essays & Interviews," we dove into four core components of the MBA application: career goals, application essays, professional recommendations, and the admissions interview. Our expert panel includes Eric Askins, Executive Director of Admission, University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business; Allison Jamison, Assistant Dean of Admissions, Duke University, Fuqua School of Business; Katya Gonzalez-Willette, Marketing Manager, MBA Admissions, Harvard Business School; and Jim Holmen, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, Indiana University, Kelley School of Business.
In this week's MBA Admissions podcast we began by discussing some of the recent activity on LiveWire, recognizing that we are now moving into the new application cycle.
Graham highlighted Clear Admit’s ongoing summer series of webinars, which focuses on top MBA programs’ admissions essays, which will be attended by more than 20 of the top MBA programs. The third event is on Wednesday of this week, and includes Columbia, Georgia Tech / Scheller, Insead, London Business School and Washington / Foster. Signups are here: https://bit.ly/mbaessay0725
Graham then noted two admissions tips. The first focuses on how to create a resume for MBA admissions. The second, part of Clear Admit’s “Mythbusters” series, discusses whether top MBA programs only provide you access to careers in Strategy consulting, Investment banking and Technology.
We continue our series of Adcom Q&As, this week we have Q&As from Toronto / Rotman and Ohio State / Fisher.
Finally, Graham highlighted a recently published podcast that focuses on the core elements of an MBA applicant’s profile: test scores, grades, work experience and outside activities. This is a recording from a panel discussion from our summer event in Boston, and includes representatives from Columbia, Cornell / Johnson, Dartmouth / Tuck, and Georgia Tech / Scheller.
For this week, for the candidate profile review portion of the show, Alex selected three ApplyWire entries:
This week’s first MBA admissions candidate enlisted in the military. They had a GMAT of 655, then retook the test to score a 695.
This week’s second MBA candidate has a 330 GRE score and is looking to do a dual degree in sustainability.
The final MBA candidate is a startup founder. They have also worked as a product manager. They are a first-generation immigrant and have a 331 GRE score.
This episode was recorded in Paris, France and Cornwall, England. It was produced and engineered by the fabulous Dennis Crowley in Philadelphia, USA. Thanks to all of you who’ve been joining us and please remember to rate and review this show wherever you listen!
Live from the Clear Admit MBA Fair at MIT Sloan School of Management, we welcome Kate Murphy from Columbia Business School, Joe Korevec from the Cornell Johnson Tech MBA, Amy Mitson from Dartmouth Tuck, and Emily Sharkey from Georgia Tech Scheller. In this panel session, "Admissions Tips: What You’ve Done – Tests, Work & Activities," they dove into three core components of the MBA application: standardized tests, professional experience, and extracurricular involvement. Tune in and get ready for your MBA applications with expert advice!
In this week's MBA Admissions podcast we began by discussing some of the recent activity on LiveWire; we followed this by highlighting a new article published by Clear Admit that summarizes the current situation for international students seeking visas to study in the United States.
Graham noted Clear Admit’s summer series of webinars, which focuses on top MBA programs’ admissions essays, which will be attended by more than 20 of the top MBA programs. The second event is on Wednesday of this week, and includes Georgetown / McDonough, Michigan / Ross, UNC / Kenan Flagler, Vanderbilt / Owen and Yale SOM. Signups are here: https://bit.ly/mbaessay0725
Graham then noted four admissions tips; the first focuses on the importance and value of volunteering; the next three, part of Clear Admit’s “Myth Busters” series, discuss whether only the very top MBA programs (M7) will help you succeed, whether being honest means you need to share all your weaknesses, and the desire for applicants to seek out what admissions officers want to hear.
We continue our series of Adcom Q&As, which is a yearly series where we interview the admissions leaders at all the top MBA programs; this week we have Q&As from Emory / Goizueta, Chicago / Booth and Duke / Fuqua.
Finally, Graham highlighted a recently published podcast, the MBA Decoded. This is a recording from a panel discussion from our MBA Fair event in Boston.
For this week, for the candidate profile review portion of the show, Alex selected three ApplyWire entries:
This week’s first MBA admissions candidate is from Georgia and works in Private Equity. They also have a 705 GMAT score.
This week’s second MBA candidate is an architect in London and wants to transition into real estate private equity. They still need to take the GMAT or GRE.
The final MBA candidate was enlisted in the military and now works in banking. Their short-term goal, post MBA, is investment banking. They have a 332 GRE score.
This episode was recorded in Paris, France and Cornwall, England. It was produced and engineered by the fabulous Dennis Crowley in Philadelphia, USA. Thanks to all of you who’ve been joining us and please remember to rate and review this show wherever you listen!
Whether you're just beginning to explore the MBA path or are deep into your application journey, this panel from the 2025 Clear Admit MBA Fair is designed to break down the essentials of business school and answer the questions every prospective student has—but might be too afraid to ask. Representatives on this panel include Melissa Rapp, Associate Dean, Graduate Admissions, at Emory Goizueta; Dawna Levenson, Assistant Dean, Admissions at MIT Sloan; Alex Lawrence, Assistant Dean of MBA Admissions and Financial Aid at UCLA Anderson; and Amber Walsh, Senior Associate Director of Yale School of Management.
Who actually goes to business school? Do you need a business background to be competitive? What will you study—and how will you learn it? From core curriculum and teaching methods to timing your application and choosing the right program, we’ll demystify every step of the process.



