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Published: June 18, 2024
Episode 359: Your Post-MBA Consulting Career – Expert Advice from Bain & Co.’s Recruiting VP
Noble StaffordBain & Co. Vice President, RecruitingChicago In this special episode of the Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast, recorded live at the Clear Admit MBA Fair, we dive deep into the world of strategy consulting with Noble Stafford, Vice President of Recruiting for Bain & Company’s Chicago office. Stafford first joined Bain in 2013 as a consultant and returned in 2022 to spearhead Chicago’s recruiting initiatives. Between his tenures at Bain, Noble honed his expertise at Russell Reynolds Associates, a global executive search firm, where he excelled in both client-facing and internal team management roles. Read more
Published: June 18, 2024
MBA Admissions Tip: Addressing Unemployment or Gaps in Employment
Given the emphasis that MBA programs place on a candidate’s work experience, it is important to be proactive in addressing unemployment or gaps in employment. When applying to business school, many candidates worry about how the adcom might perceive gaps in employment. Gaps in Employment It’s not unheard of for an MBA candidate to have a gap in employment, and this will not necessarily make a negative impact on someone’s candidacy. Gaps might be due to anything from lay-offs to periods of travel. As a rule of thumb, MBA applicants should explain gaps in employment that are three months or Read more
Published: June 17, 2024
NYU Stern Announces Updates to Specialized MBA
NYU Stern’s one-year MBA in luxury is changing: after a five-year stint as the ‘Fashion and Luxury’ MBA, it has been refreshed and given the new name of NYU Stern Luxury & Retail MBA. Stern is rolling out updates for the one-year program – promising to put its wildly-popular experiential learning firmly at the front and center, to rebrand in order to better reflect program content, and to imbue its curriculum with ever more industry contact.  What Prompted These Changes? The industries with which Read more
Published: June 17, 2024
Admissions Director Q&A: Andrea McHale of Michigan Ross
We continue with our Admissions Director Q&A series with Andrea McHale, Director of Admissions for the Full-Time and Global MBA Programs at University of Michigan – Stephen M. Ross School of Business, for insights into the application process, curriculum and more at the leading business school.  Before transitioning to higher education, Andrea spent 10 years in marketing, sales, and supply chain management within the healthcare and automotive industries. In 2013, she moved into education administration and is currently the Director of Admissions for the Full-Time and Global MBA Programs at Read more
Published: June 16, 2024
MBA Wire Taps 358—Reapplicant, entrepreneur. Military, retaking GMAT. Navy to Renewable Energy
Weekly Roundup for Clear Admit’s MBA Podcast In this week’s MBA Admissions podcast we kicked things off with our usual rundown of the latest admissions news.  We are still seeing some activity around wait lists at few MBA programs. We then discussed the delayed roll-out of the Harvard MBA admissions essay for this upcoming season. It looks like HBS is planning to change their more traditional essay prompt, and there appears to be much anticipation about this change.  All will be unveiled later this month… Graham highlighted the upcoming summer application essay series that Clear Admit hosts, which begins on Wednesday, Read more
Published: June 13, 2024
Admissions Director Q&A: Rebecca Mallen-Churchill of ASU Carey
In our latest Admissions Director Q&A, we welcome back Rebecca Mallen-Churchill, Senior Director of Recruitment, Admission and Financial Services for graduate programs at Arizona State University (ASU) W.P. Carey School of Business. Mallen-Churchill graduated from ASU in 2005; while earning her degree in theatre and Italian, she also discovered her love for higher education while working for the Graduate Admissions office. After gaining work experience in the hospitality industry and traveling the world, Rebecca returned to Arizona and joined W. P. Carey in 2013. In her time working with the graduate program’s office, Rebecca has Read more
Published: June 13, 2024
Weekly Refresh: Latest MBA Essay Questions, Analyzed – Plus Deadlines
We are back with another Weekly Refresh, a roundup of admissions advice and updates on the Clear Admit site, as we prepare for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle. Essay Tips Drafting your application essays? See the latest of our experts’ advice in our Essay Topic Analysis. The following schools recently released their essays—click for our advice: Cambridge Judge Northwestern Kellogg NYU Stern Deadlines Released See the admissions deadlines that have Read more
Published: June 12, 2024
Coming to Grips with the New GMAT Scores
In late 2023, the GMAT got an overhaul. It got an overhaul that changed it completely – scrapping a section, ramping up flexibility and cutting completion times by nearly an hour. Along with the altered format and edited content came a new scoring system, meaning that both the number of marks available and the number of marks scored on the exam shifted.  What does this mean for you as an applicant? Well, anyone taking the GMAT is likely to be comparing their own performance with the average GMAT scores that students in their Read more
Published: June 12, 2024
Admissions Director Q&A: Kara Tripi of Michigan State Broad College of Business
Kara Tripi, Director of Admissions at the Michigan State Broad College Full-Time MBA, joins us for this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A series. Tripi brings over a decade of experience in higher education. With a strong passion for working with students, she has dedicated her career to helping individuals navigate the world of academia. In her current role, Tripi assists with program development by overseeing the recruitment and admissions process. As a strong advocate for women in business and the LGBTQIA+ community, she is committed to ensuring Read more
Published: June 11, 2024
MBA Admissions Tip: Considering the Campus
There are many factors that go into deciding whether to apply to a specific school, one of which is the physical place where you’ll be spending 1-2 years, which is why we’ve rounded up some campus visit tips. Whether speaking with current students or touring the campus for yourself, it’s helpful to approach these information-gathering experiences with as clear a sense of what matters to you as possible. Campus Visit Tips: Factors to Consider 1. Facilities Are state-of-the-art classrooms and impressive new architecture a priority for you? Would you prefer a school that is headquartered in a single building to Read more
Published: June 11, 2024
Episode 357: Insights from Top MBA Admissions Directors
Recorded live at the Clear Admit MBA Fair, admissions directors from top business schools share their insights on key questions prospective MBA students often need answering in this special episode of the Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast. The episode features Eddie Asbie from Cornell Johnson, Dana Fernandez from Harvard Business School, Matthew Ganderson from Michigan Ross, and Lindsay Lloyd from NYU Stern. Together, they answer questions such as: What are the different teaching methods employed in MBA programs, and can you describe experiential learning? Do you have any Read more
Published: June 10, 2024
Admissions Director Q&A: Hollie Hinton of The Ohio State Fisher College of Business
We are officially kicking off our Admissions Director Q&A series for the 2024-2o25 admissions season with Senior Director of Admissions Hollie Hinton for an insider’s view of MBA admissions at The Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business. Hollie Hinton leads global admissions strategy for the MBA and other graduate programs. Hinton brings private and public sector experience to her role at Ohio State, having formerly led a multi-state marketing and business development team for engineering and architecture firm DLZ, bringing critical infrastructure to communities and expanding the company into new markets. Read more
Published: June 9, 2024
MBA Wire Taps 356—INSEAD or bust. Liberal Arts to Product Management. Doctor to Solar Energy
Weekly Roundup for Clear Admit’s MBA Podcast In this week’s MBA Admissions podcast we began by running down all of the latest b-school admissions news. We are still seeing quite a lot of activity around waitlists at a number of MBA programs. Graham highlighted the upcoming summer application series that Clear Admit hosts, which begins on Wednesday, July 10, and will include the majority of the top MBA programs. Signups have recently opened and are here: https://www.bit.ly/summeressays Graham then highlighted a recently published Clear Admit admissions tip, which focuses on how to build your ideal list of target Read more
Published: June 9, 2024
The Week Ahead: Booth & Marshall MBA Admissions Decisions, June 10-14, 2024
Welcome back to the series, The Week Ahead, in which we provide a brief rundown of what is happening in MBA admissions this week! A Few Decisions Roll Out Thursday, June 13, Chicago / Booth is scheduled to release its decisions for its Chicago Booth Scholars program. Saturday, June 15, USC / Marshall is scheduled to release its Round 4 decisions. How “The Wires” Can Help Visit MBA LiveWire for the latest “buzz” about MBA admissions, including interview invitations and decision notifications.  There are 5 Ways MBA LiveWire Helps You Navigate Admissions. Access MBA ApplyWire to explore the application strategies of fellow Read more
Published: June 6, 2024
Weekly Refresh: Latest MBA Essay Questions, Analyzed – Plus Deadlines
We are back with another Weekly Refresh, a roundup of admissions advice and updates on the Clear Admit site, as we prepare for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle. Essay Tips Drafting your application essays? See the latest of our experts’ advice in our Essay Topic Analysis. The following schools recently released their essays—click for our advice: Columbia Business School UPenn / Wharton Yale SOM Deadlines Released See the admissions deadlines that have rolled out: UT Austin / McCombs Read more
Published: June 5, 2024
Real Humans of BCG: Shane Polzin, Chicago Booth MBA ’23, Consultant
Many veterans find that an MBA program is an effective way to transition from military service to a civilian career. For Naval Flight Officer Shane Polzin, Chicago Booth promised veteran support, a proven track record of job placement in the consulting industry, and the right location. In this edition of Real Humans: Alumni, Polzin tells us how the Chicago Booth MBA helped him reach outside his comfort zone, develop superior problem solving skills, and prepared him to join Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Shane Polzin, Chicago Booth MBA ’23, Consultant at BCG Read more
Published: June 4, 2024
MBA Admissions Tip: Making Your List of Business Schools
You’ve decided the MBA is the next stop on your career path. What now? The smartest applicants are those who take the time to create an informed MBA application strategy—a well thought-out game plan that can help you obtain your goals as effectively as possible. This includes making a list of your target business schools. One of the first tasks you’ll need to tackle is school selection: strategically choosing which schools to apply to, while considering how your experience and stats compare to those of current students (or, how “competitive” your application will be at each program). How many MBA Read more
Published: June 3, 2024
Real Humans of Bank of America: Olivia Farley, Emory Goizueta MBA ’20, Vice President Investment Banking
At a pivotal point in her career, Olivia Farley decided to transition into investment banking and she turned to an MBA program to boost her skill set. In this Real Humans: Alumni, Farley shares how the combination of a powerful program with a supportive community in a big city drew her to Emory Goizueta. Read her story to see how the leadership skills she gained in the program contributed to her rise through the ranks at Bank of America. Olivia Farley, Emory Goizueta MBA ’20, Vice President Investment Banking at Bank of America Read more
Published: June 2, 2024
Vanderbilt Owen MBA Interview Questions & Report: Round 3 / Second-Year Student / Skype
Tell me about yourself. Walk me through resume. Why an MBA / Why Owen / Post-MBA career goals? How would your supervisors/colleagues describe you? How would your friends describe you? What would you bring to Owen and what would you expect from your fellow students? Hobbies or interests outside of work? Read more
Published: June 2, 2024
The Week Ahead: MBA Admissions Decisions, June 3-7, 2024
Welcome back to the series, The Week Ahead, in which we provide a brief rundown of what is happening in MBA admissions this week! Rounds 3 and 4 Decisions Round 3 and 4 decisions continue to roll out. Wednesday, June 5, Carnegie Mellon / Tepper is scheduled to release its Round 4 decisions. Thursday, June 6, Texas / McCombs is scheduled to release its Round 4 decisions. Friday, June 7, London Business School is scheduled to release its Round 3 decisions. How “The Wires” Can Help Visit MBA LiveWire for the latest “buzz” about MBA admissions, including interview invitations and decision Read more
Published: June 2, 2024
MBA Wire Taps 355—10 years of experience. Online or Executive MBA. Back to India.
Weekly Roundup for Clear Admit’s MBA Podcast This week’s MBA Admissions podcast began with our usual rundown of the latest MBA application news for this season. This week, a few top MBA programs are releasing final decisions for Rounds 3 and 4, including London Business School, CMU / Tepper and Texas / McCombs; there is also still some waitlist activity being reported on LiveWire. Graham highlighted two recently published Clear Admit admissions tips; the first looked at the impact of volunteer activities in an MBA application, the second focused on choosing between MBA programs. Graham then noted two Read more
Published: May 30, 2024
Fridays from the Frontline: Building Community-Powered Entrepreneurship in India
Rutu Suthar of the NYU Stern MBA Class of 2024 provides a look into the kind of real-world experience MBA students can expect to gain during their studies. In this edition from Fridays from the Frontline, Suthar recounts her Stern Solutions experiential learning project that met her goals of social and international impact. Building Community-Powered Entrepreneurship in India By: Rutu Suthar, NYU Stern MBA ‘24 During the Spring 2024 semester, NYU Stern offered a new Stern Solutions experiential learning project, “Social Enterprise Incubation in India,” which challenged students to explore new ways to support Read more
Published: May 29, 2024
Real Humans of Amazon: Harshita Pal, UCI Merage MBA ’23, Senior Product Manager Tech
In this edition of our Real Humans: Alumni series, we meet Harshita Pal, whose fascination with the intersection of technology and business lured her from software engineering to product management. Read on to learn how the MBA program at UCI Merage and its focus on leadership for a digitally driven world guided her on the journey into a new career in the tech industry, and how an internship prepared her for an exciting opportunity at Amazon.   Harshita Pal, UCI Merage MBA ’23, Senior Product Manager Tech at Amazon Age: Read more
Published: May 28, 2024
Georgetown McDonough’s Flex MBA Online Students Find Community & More
Sponsored Content The Georgetown McDonough Flex MBA Online program offers a dynamic and flexible educational experience designed for working professionals seeking to advance their careers without compromising their current commitments. This program combines rigorous academic coursework with practical, real-world applications, providing students with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in today’s competitive business landscape. With access to Georgetown’s renowned faculty, comprehensive career resources, and a diverse network of peers, students are empowered to achieve their professional goals. The program’s flexible online format allows for a customizable learning experience, ensuring that students can balance their studies with their Read more
Published: May 28, 2024
Real Humans of the UCLA Anderson MBA Class of 2025
We dip back into our series, Real Humans: MBA Students, to take a trip to the UCLA Anderson School of Management to meet members of the MBA Class of 2025. 300 students joined the UCLA Anderson Class of 2025. Thirty-seven percent of the latest class are women. Forty-eight percent of students in the class are international. Twenty-eight percent identify as U.S. underrepresented minorities. With respect to students’ undergraduate degrees, a quarter of enrolled first-year Anderson students pursued the field of business. Nineteen percent of students arrived in LA with academic degrees in engineering. Fifteen percent Read more

MBA Applywire

7
November 26, 2024 6:16am ET
Applying: Berkeley / Haas, Dartmouth / Tuck, Harvard Business School, Michigan / Ross, MIT Sloan, Northwestern / Kellogg, UCLA Anderson
Pre-MBA Career: Software Engineer
Post-MBA Target Industry: Other
GRE: 331
GPA: 3.2
Years of Work Experience: 4.5
Location: United States
Notes:

I am aiming to pivot from Software Engineering to Product Management. My undergrad degree was in Computer Science from an Ivy League school where I was a D1 varsity athlete. EC's outside of that are pretty slim, although I am involved with charities and volunteer organizations sporadically. Have organized and led a small handful of hobby groups among friends and colleagues as well. Work experience includes solid brand recognition, and my previous 2.5 YoE are in the music/entertainment industry.
2
November 26, 2024 5:48am ET
Applying: Columbia, NYU Stern
Pre-MBA Career: product Manager in Entertainment
Post-MBA Target Industry: Undecided
GPA: 3.57
Years of Work Experience: 3
Location: New York
Notes:

I am a woman of color and a Product Manager at a major streaming service with three years of experience thus far. I hold a degree in Cinematography from a CUNY school and began my career as an NBCUniversal Page. Since then, I’ve worked for prominent media companies like NBCU, Peacock, A+E Networks, and Paramount+. While I didn’t initially plan on pursuing an MBA, my career trajectory has naturally led me in that direction due to my rapid career growth. I’m preparing for the GMAT (focus edition) with a target score of 655 or higher.

As a non-traditional candidate, are there any potential red flags in my profile? Additionally, are there other MBA programs I should consider? Thank you!
9
November 26, 2024 12:03am ET
Applying: Berkeley / Haas, Columbia, Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan, NYU Stern, Stanford GSB, U. Chicago Booth, UPenn / Wharton, Yale SOM
Pre-MBA Career: Government Affairs at technology startup
Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting, Technology Companies: Bain , BCG , McKinsey , Amazon , Apple , Facebook , Google , LinkedIn , Microsoft , Tesla , Uber
GMAT: 770
GPA: 3.4
Years of Work Experience: 3
6
November 25, 2024 11:01am ET
Applying: Arizona State / W.P. Carey, Georgetown / McDonough, Indiana / Kelley, U. Washington / Foster, UCLA Anderson, USC / Marshall
Intake Year: 2025
Pre-MBA Career: Military: Acquisition Program Manager
Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting, Technology Companies: Accenture , Bain , Deloitte , McKinsey , Amazon , Apple , Facebook , Google , IBM , Lenova , LinkedIn , Microsoft , Oracle
GRE: 317
GPA: 2.43
Years of Work Experience: 9
Location: Los Angeles
Post MBA Location: West Coast
Notes:

Undergrad was at a Service Academy. Also earned a Masters of Science with a GPA of 4.0, Project Management Professional certification holder, and volunteered for two years at service to schools helping veterans get into an undergraduate program.
2
November 25, 2024 7:58am ET
Applying: Harvard Business School, Stanford GSB
Pre-MBA Career: Equity Research at Goldman Sachs, and long only Asset Management (healthcare sector)
Post-MBA Target Industry: Asset Management, inc. HF Companies: Fidelity
GMAT: 735
GPA: 3.6
Years of Work Experience: 5
Location: San Francisco CA
Post MBA Location: San Francisco CA
Notes:

I took a gap year in college and switched majors taking longer to graduate so I’m 30, would matriculate at 32 and graduate at 34. Seems like I’m an outlier and worried I’m too old.
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MBA LiveWire

November 26, 2024 2:43pm ET
Interview Invite to NYU Stern
Round: Round 2
Received via email on November 24, 2024
GPA: 3.8
GRE: 324
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Consulting
Application Location: United States
November 26, 2024 2:22pm ET
Accepted to NYU Stern
Round: Round 1
Received via portal November 26, 2024
GPA: 9.48
GMAT: 705
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Finance
Application Location: India
Note:

Interview 11/12
November 26, 2024 2:21pm ET
Interview Invite to Duke / Fuqua
Round: Round 1
Received via email on November 13, 2024
GMAT: 735
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Finance
Application Location: India
Note:

Interviewed on 11/22.
November 26, 2024 2:19pm ET
Accepted to NYU Stern
Round: Round 1
Received via email November 26, 2024
GMAT: 735
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Finance
Application Location: India
Note:

Interviewed on 11/7.
November 26, 2024 2:18pm ET
Accepted to NYU Stern
Round: Round 1
Received via email November 26, 2024
GPA: 3.6
GMAT: 675
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
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