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Published: April 2, 2015
USC’s Marshall School of Business Debuts Online MBA Program
Beginning this fall, the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California will roll out a new online MBA program, featuring a curriculum designed specifically for the online learning environment, the school announced today. The new program will take a close look at emerging business topics of particular relevance to online business, such as internet analytics, social media, virtual teams and entrepreneurial thinking. The cost of tuition is slated at $93,502. The curriculum for the new program was developed specifically for online delivery – this is not just a regurgitation of traditional in-classroom content slapped up online, the school notes. As such, it will incorporate live action cases, interactive exercises and virtual teams. Read more
Published: April 2, 2015
Fridays from the Frontline: Tasting the Fear
The following is a guest post from Naija MBA Gal that was originally published on her blog. Naija MBA Gal is a consultant specializing in risk assurance at one of the big consulting firms, and she is planning to attend the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago in Fall 2015. You can follow Naija MBA Gal’s application journey on her blog.  I’ve officially committed to the Booth class of 2017 and I know its a great decision. So why am I afraid? There is definitely no way I will be worse off come 2017 but I’m not all about being rational.  Read more
Published: April 1, 2015
MIT Sloan Gears Up for April Ambassadors Days
MIT Sloan School of Management features its interactive, customizable Ambassadors Program each fall and spring for prospective students, hosted by current students. The Ambassadors Program runs on Mondays and Thursdays throughout MIT Sloan’s spring semester, giving visiting prospective students the chance to choose from a range of options to design the visit that best fits their schedule and interests. A full Ambassadors day beings with registration, followed by coffee with current students, attendance in a class, an information session with an Admissions representative, a second opportunity to attend a class, and then two campus tour options. Those who register are invited to pick and choose from the available sessions as they like. (Note, visitors are asked to attend only one class, but are given two time slots for ease of scheduling. Classes available to visitors change each day, and visitors may select the time of their class visit, but not the specific class.)   Read more
Published: March 31, 2015
UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Joins Reaching Out LGBT MBA Fellowship Program, Names First Fellow
Yesterday, Reaching Out, a nonprofit devoted to empowering LGBT MBA students to champion equality in business school and beyond, announced that the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School has become the latest school to join its fellowship program. Kenan-Flagler becomes the 15th MBA program to join as a founding school of the Reaching Out LGBT MBA Fellowship, which provides scholarship funds and networking and other opportunities to LGBTQ MBA students and their allies. “Not only that, but Kenan-Flagler has already awarded its first Fellowship!” wrote Reaching Out excitedly on its blog. Read more
Published: March 30, 2015
One in Four HEC Paris Graduates Sets Out to Launch a Startup
Entrepreneurship is big and growing at HEC Paris, according to a recent survey of more than 8,500 graduates. The inaugural HEC Entrepreneurship Barometer, published last week, reveals that almost 25 percent of HEC graduates today are entrepreneurs, up from just 10 percent a decade ago. HEC Paris has been increasingly promoting entrepreneurship over the past 30 years, through teaching, research, mentoring and resources like the HEC Incubator. To measure the impact of these initiatives, HEC Paris devised its new Entrepreneurship Barometer, which surveyed a representative panel of 8,500 alumni from the past decade from across HEC’s various programs. Read more
Published: March 29, 2015
Columbia Business School Admissions Gears Up for J-Term Applications
While Columbia Business School (CBS) admissions is still busy reviewing applications for students hoping to secure a spot for fall 2015, it is also preparing for applicants to the January Accelerated (J-Term) program, which provides an innovative opportunity for candidates whose career goals don’t require a summer internship. Columbia’s J-Term condenses the entire academic program of the two-year MBA into 16 months. Beginning in January, candidates study straight through the summer, foregoing the summer internship that is part of the traditional two-year MBA. For those who can achieve their career goals without a summer internship—entrepreneurs or those who plan to return to a family business, for example—the J-Term’s condensed schedule presents a significantly lower opportunity cost than the two-year MBA. Read more
Published: March 29, 2015
Admissions Tip: Addressing Academic Strengths
While we devoted time last week to advice on addressing weaknesses in one’s academic record, today we wanted to explore the other side of the issue: the strengths that lie in your undergraduate record. Beyond issues of aptitude or previous achievement, there are a number of other things that your academic profile might say about you.  For instance, if you have a range of quant-focused classes in your record, this might create the impression that you are well prepared for the sort of coursework you would undertake in business school.  Meanwhile, if you have pursued extensive coursework in an area beyond the more traditional disciplines of economics, business administration or engineering, this could indicate some unique interest or perspective that you would bring to the classroom. Read more
Published: March 26, 2015
Leading Admissions Consultants Converge in France, England for AIGAC Annual Conference
Leading graduate management admissions consultants are gathering this week in Europe for the eighth annual Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants (AIGAC) members’ conference, where they will share best practices and speak directly with admissions officers from many of the world’s top business school. Almost 30 attendees representing admissions consultancies from 12 different countries are scheduled to attend the seven-day conference, which takes places at London Business School (LBS) and includes visits to INSEAD, HEC Paris and Cambridge Judge Business School.  Read more
Published: March 25, 2015
Economist, GMAT Tutor Launch $25,000 Scholarship Competition for MBA, EMBA Applicants
The Economist and test prep firm GMAT Tutor have once again partnered to offer a $25,000 scholarship to the prospective MBA or EMBA student who scores highest on a simulated GMAT exam. Called the Brightest Minds MBA Scholarship Contest, the competition is open to prospective MBA or EMBA students anywhere in the world. The first competition ran in 2014, drawing more than 4,500 entrants, The Economist reported. To take part in the contest, applicants simply complete The Economist GMAT Tutor simulation test, which uses adaptive technology similar to the real GMAT so that the difficulty level adjusts according to the test-taker’s ability. The simulation test requires the completion of a 75-minute Verbal section and a 75-minute Quant section. Participants should have the available time to complete the test in a single sitting and will not be able to pause once they begin. Read more
Published: March 25, 2015
Tracking R2 Acceptances at Stanford and Wharton on the MBA LiveWire
The past few days have been exciting for Round 2 MBA applicants, with many schools releasing decisions to anxious applicants! With all the news flowing out of admissions offices at top schools, our MBA LiveWire received more entries than ever before as applicants shared their admissions decisions with the community. Let’s hone in on two schools in particular that released decisions this week: Stanford GSB and the Wharton School of Business. A closer look at the LiveWire data reveals how accomplished both the accepted and rejected candidates at Stanford and Wharton are. Accepted students at Wharton who entered their results on LiveWire had an average GPA of 3.7 and an average GMAT of 730. Rejected students had an average GPA of 3.5 and an average GMAT of 710. Meanwhile accepted LiveWire users at Stanford had an average GPA of 3.6 and average GMAT of 720, while rejected students had an average GPA of 3.5 and also had an average GMAT of 720. Read more
Published: March 24, 2015
London Business School Announces Four £30,000 Scholarships for Female MBAs
London Business School has partnered with Lloyds Banking Group for a second year to offer four £30,000 scholarships to female MBA students, the school announced this month. The scholarships are part of the school's continuing effort to encourage women to pursue post-graduate management education. The Lloyds Scholarships for Women program launched in 2014. Through it, scholarships will be awarded to MBA candidates who have been accepted into LBS’s full-time program for its 2015 intake. They are available to female candidates who have lived in the United Kingdom for three years or more. Read more
Published: March 23, 2015
Berkeley Haas MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 2 / First-Year Student / On Campus
The following UC Berkeley Haas MBA admissions interview questions were provided by an applicant:   Blind interview with a first year Haas student on campus. It was a relaxed environment and overall felt very conversational.  Read more
Published: March 23, 2015
Round 2 Decision Day at UPenn’s Wharton School, Harvard, Stanford
The fate of many hopeful MBA applicants hangs in the balance, with the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School scheduled to release Round 2 decisions today and Harvard Business School (HBS) and Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) scheduled to release Round 2 decisions tomorrow. We know from the Clear Admit LiveWire that lots of applicants have already gotten the good word from Wharton and Stanford via phone today, so a hearty congrats to those of you who fall into this category! Don’t expect early calls from HBS, says Admissions Director Dee Leopold. “While we love to give happy news, we don't want to create an anxiety zone where you are watching your phone constantly,” she wrote in a post to her Director’s Blog today. All notifications from HBS will go out via email at 12 noon Boston time tomorrow. “We know you've been out-of-control throughout much of this process - we can give you the control of where you are and with whom when decisions go out,” Leopold added. Read more
Published: March 22, 2015
Dartmouth Tuck MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Early Action / Second Year Student / On Campus
The following is an interview description and list of Dartmouth Tuck MBA admissions interview questions provided by a recent applicant:  I went to Tuck to do an applicant-initiated interview, plus a campus tour and information session. Overall, the campus atmosphere was very pleasant, if a little isolated (3-hour drive from Boston). I was interviewed by a second-year student, and I hadn't sent in my application at that point yet, so the interview was blind. The student was very pleasant, introduced himself, and told me about his background before business school. The interview was very conversational, and included these questions: Read more
Published: March 22, 2015
UVA’s Darden School of Business Launches New Asia Initiative
The University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business earlier this month announced its strategic Asia Initiative at Darden, part of the school’s continuing investment in globalization. One of the initiative’s main objectives will be to advance the understanding of the dynamics of Asian markets as a critical component of business education. Through its expanded engagement in Asia, the school also hopes to enhance its expertise and resources in the region, facilitate greater collaboration and new partnerships and improve communication between faculty, students and alumni from Darden with business leaders and policymakers in Asia. Read more
Published: March 22, 2015
Admissions Tip: Addressing Academic Weaknesses
To follow up on last month’s advice about GMAT preparation and timing, we wanted to offer some general comments about the role of academics in the admissions process.  Many candidates considering business school focus on the credentials they will hold and the network that they will join upon graduation, but it is important to keep in mind the academic experience at the heart of any MBA program.  Because a business school is, after all, a school, it makes sense to begin your consideration of your profile by thinking about your academic aptitude and track record to date.  Your performance in your educational endeavors up to this point will be treated as a predictor of your success in business school. Read more
Published: March 19, 2015
Cornell Johnson MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 2 / Second Year Student / On Campus
The following Cornell Johnson MBA admissions interview questions were provided by a recent Johnson applicant. I was invited to do an interview on-campus, which was held with a second-year student. She was pleasant but very businesslike, which I chalk up to the early time (interview was done at 8:15 in the morning). It was a semi-blind interview, meaning she herself hadn't read my application, but she had questions from the admissions committee she asked me. Overall, she didn't steer off-course very much, and kept it to within a half-hour time limit (she said she had another person to interview right after me). Some of the questions asked were: Read more
Published: March 19, 2015
Berkeley Haas MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 1 / Alumnus / Off-campus
The following UC Berkeley Haas MBA admissions interview questions were provided by an applicant:   The interview was more laid-back than most (compared to Sloan and Booth). It was a blind interview, all the alum had was my resume, and as such, the interview was based mostly off of my resume. The interview lasted almost an hour but was mostly conversational. I left with a better idea about Haas's culture and I think the goal was to determine whether or not I would fit in with the culture (know Haas's principles well and try to apply those to your as many of your responses). While the interviewer did ask follow-up questions, I wouldn't call any of them probing. At the end of the interview, I was given a good description of the alumnus's experience at Haas and he definitely did his best to sell the program. Overall it was an enjoyable experience. I was accepted. Read more
Published: March 19, 2015
Duke Fuqua MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 2 / Adcom / Skype
The following is a summary of a Duke Fuqua MBA admissions interview provided by a recent applicant:  Due to weather restrictions, I did not want to gamble with traveling to Fuqua on the days they offered for my interview, so I elected to Skype instead. My interviewer was an AdCom member, and was one of the nicest and most authentic people I have had the pleasure of speaking with in any interview, ever, to be quite honest. I felt at ease immediately. I was offered admission and a significant scholarship a few weeks later. Read more
Published: March 19, 2015
Berkeley Haas MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 2 / Alumnus / On Campus
The following UC Berkeley Haas MBA admissions interview questions were provided by an applicant:   I received an invitation to Haas' February Super Saturday on-campus event back in January. The current students who facilitated the various sessions throughout the day were very outgoing, friendly and engaged. It felt like a very inclusive, collaborative campus filled with students who truly enjoyed and believed in the school and program. It was very intimate; Haas' small size is no secret, so that was no surprise. Read more
Published: March 19, 2015
Yale MBA Admissions Interview Report: Round 2/ Adcom / Off Campus
The following is a Yale SOM MBA Admissions Interview Report from a candidate who recently interviewed at Yale: The interview went really smoothly. It was a blind interview so that the adcom representative had only access to my resume. Read more
Published: March 19, 2015
Stanford MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 2 / Alumnus / Off-campus
The following is a list of Stanford MBA admissions interview questions provided by a recent applicant: General process- I met my interviewer at his office and walked to a closeby Starbucks for the interview- He explained that he had a certain set of questions to ask me and he had to identify certain behaviors, so not to be surprised if he needs to interrupt me while speaking- he did not have a copy of my CV (I brought one for him) nor did he take any notes. Throughout the interview though he referenced specific items on my cv- interview lasted 50 minutes- generally very informal and light atmosphere to the discussion Read more
Published: March 19, 2015
Harvard MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 2 / Off Campus
The following Harvard MBA Admissions Interview summary was provided by a recent applicant: The interview went by very quickly. There were no other candidates in the waiting area. I arrived a few minutes early and waited until my exact scheduled time. The questions I received were all discussed in blogs. We spent the first half of the time talking through my most recent work history and explaining my roles and accomplishments that I had discussed in my application. As others have mentioned, transitions and clarity in your explanation are key.  Read more
Published: March 19, 2015
Chicago Booth MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 2 / Second Year Student / On Campus
The following is a report from an applicant who was invited to interview at Chicago Booth. The applicant shares their Booth MBA admissions interview questions: This may have been my favorite interview out of the 4 that I have completed! Booth did a great job of having making interviewees feel very comfortable prior to the interview, by having 1st year students in the waiting area to casually chat with interviewees. I would highly recommend this to all prospective students because it really does put you at ease. The interview was blind, with the interviewer only having seen my resume in advance. Questions included the following: Read more
Published: March 19, 2015
Cornell’s Johnson Graduate School of Management Welcomes New Admissions Director
The S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management has named a new executive director of admissions and financial aid and further strengthened the admissions office with several other new hires, the school announced this week. The reinvigorated admissions team complements a recent re-launch of the school’s two-year MBA curriculum, Johnson reports. Judi Byers, formerly admissions director at American University’s Kogod School of Business in Washington, DC, brings more than 10 years of admissions experience to her new role at Johnson. She joined Kogod, where she received her undergraduate degree in business, in 2004 as a marketing admissions coordinator, advancing to lead the admissions team by 2013. Read more

MBA Applywire

5
January 10, 2025 4:34pm ET
Applying: Duke / Fuqua, Northwestern / Kellogg, U. Chicago Booth, UPenn / Wharton, UVA / Darden
Intake Year: 2025
Pre-MBA Career: Data Engineering
Post-MBA Target Industry: Other
GMAT: 655
GPA: 3.7
Years of Work Experience: 4
Location: Midwest, USA
Post MBA Location: Chicago
6
January 10, 2025 12:18pm ET
Applying: Berkeley / Haas, Duke / Fuqua, Northwestern / Kellogg, NYU Stern, Stanford GSB, UVA / Darden
Intake Year: 2025
Pre-MBA Career: Consulting
Post-MBA Target Industry: Pharmaceutical
GRE: 328
GPA: 3.56
Years of Work Experience: 5
1
January 10, 2025 3:48am ET
Applying: UT Austin / McCombs
Intake Year: 2025
Pre-MBA Career: Engineer
Post-MBA Target Industry: Undecided
GPA: 3.2
Years of Work Experience: 7
Location: Houston
3
January 9, 2025 2:53pm ET
Applying: Columbia, Harvard Business School, UPenn / Wharton
Pre-MBA Career: MBB Consultant -> PE Associate
Post-MBA Target Industry: Private Equity, Asset Management, inc. HF Companies: Bain Capital , Blackstone , Carlyle Group , TPG , KKR , Other , Blackrock , Fidelity , Goldman Sachs , Vanguard
GMAT: 774
GPA: 3.9
Years of Work Experience: 4
Location: New York
Post MBA Location: United States
Notes:

- Canadian citizen
- Completed STEM undergrad in Canada
- Worked for 2-years in biochemistry lab
- Director of major student tutoring program
- Completed masters at LSE in London
- Regular club involvement during masters
- Recruited for MBB in Middle East country post masters
- Top rating and fast-track promotion to post-MBA role
- Transferred to top US office within same MBB
- Recruited for top-quartile UMM fund with AUM of $5-10B

- Only applying to Harvard, Wharton, Columbia, Yale with top target Wharton
7
January 8, 2025 10:33pm ET
Applying: Berkeley / Haas, Dartmouth / Tuck, Harvard Business School, IESE, MIT Sloan, Northwestern / Kellogg, Stanford GSB
Intake Year: 2025
Pre-MBA Career: Consulting
Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting Companies: BCG
GMAT: 655
GPA: 3.53
Years of Work Experience: 7
Post MBA Location: Consulting
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MBA LiveWire

January 11, 2025 10:35am ET
Interview Invite to Yale SOM
Round: Round 2
Received via email January 11, 2025
GPA: 3.8
GMAT: 725
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
January 11, 2025 10:27am ET
Accepted to UT Austin / McCombs
Round: Round 1
Received via email
GRE: 319
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Technology
January 11, 2025 10:23am ET
Accepted to UT Austin / McCombs
Round: Round 1
Received via email
GRE: 319
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Technology
January 11, 2025 9:45am ET
Interview Invite to Northwestern / Kellogg
Round: Round 2
Received via email on January 09, 2025
GPA: 3.96
GMAT: 775
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Note:

Have yet to submit the video essays
January 11, 2025 9:24am ET
Applied to Carnegie Mellon / Tepper
Round: Round 2
Received via n/a
GPA: 8.38/10
GRE: 323
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Technology
Application Location: India
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