We head to the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management to meet some new members of the MBA Class of 2026 in this Real Humans: MBA Students.
Of the 72 students in the class, women make up nearly 42 percent while 18 percent of students are international. Nearly 31 percent of U.S. students identify as minorities and 22 percent as underrepresented minorities. During their undergraduate years, Carlson MBAs earned an average GPA of 3.64. Thirty-two percent had earned degrees in business and economics majors. Social sciences followed closely at 31 percent. Seventeen percent had studied science and 10 percent earned degrees in engineering.
Carlson MBA students had an average age of 29 and 5.8 years of work experience at the time of matriculation. When it came time to take the GMAT, the class earned an average score of 649. Those who opted to take the GRE landed an average score of 308.
Beyond the stats, we meet a handful of new members of the Minnesota Carlson class. To start, Emily Johnson, a Minnesota native, brings her diverse analytical experience in non-profits, academia, and Fortune 500 companies to Carlson. Driven by a passion for data and sustainability, she aims to leverage her MBA to build sustainable operations that make a meaningful impact. Then, Gagandeep (Gagan) Choongh, a first-generation student, is tackling a dual-degree in Human Resources and an MBA. Her decision to join Carlson stemmed from the program’s unmatched support network and collaborative culture, which has already set her up for success. Additionally, Lantao Wu, hailing from Sichuan, China, brings his background as a tech product manager to the Carlson classroom. Eager to transition to a global stage, Lantao’s goals center on product management in the tech industry. Carlson’s small class size and strong connections to both the U.S. and Chinese markets stood out to him as he searched for the perfect MBA fit.
We then meet Sam Borja Truax, a Minnesota local, who comes to Carlson with experience running a family-owned talent acquisition firm. Realizing the need for more formal business education, Sam was drawn to Carlson’s proximity to family and its strong ties to the Twin Cities business community. Finally, Waleed Cheema, from Lahore, Pakistan, brings over eight years of experience in finance and strategic policymaking. Inspired by Carlson’s warm and responsive community, Waleed hopes to combine his international perspective with his MBA training to become a global business leader. With his background in impactful projects like streamlining payment systems for women, Waleed is eager to contribute to Carlson’s collaborative environment while building meaningful relationships with classmates and faculty.
From diverse professional paths to unique personal passions, the Carlson MBA Class of 2026 exemplifies what it means to be bold, driven, and community-focused. Learn more about their stories in the following pages.
