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Posts by Kelly Vo

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Kelly Vo is a writer who specializes in covering MBA programs, digital marketing, and topics related to personal development. She has been working in the MBA space for the past four years in research, interview, and writing roles.
Published: December 10, 2019
Forget Competition: Women Help Other Women at HEC Paris
Women’s MBA enrollment has reached its highest level ever, reaching 36 percent in Europe and Canada, according to the Forté Foundation. Over the last five years, there’s been a definitive increase in female students at top business schools around the world, and Forté CEO Elissa Sangster believes that “at this pace, we’re confident we’ll reach our goal of 40 percent women’s enrollment by 2020.” More women MBAs means more economic mobility for women around the world. Recent research reveals that female MBA graduates increase their salary by 63 percent or more. It Read more
Published: December 4, 2019
Silicon Valley Visits and More Out West Strengthen Dartmouth Tuck MBA Ties to Tech
Dartmouth Tuck might be tucked away on the East Coast, but that hasn’t stopped graduates from taking the West Coast by storm. In October, 40 students ventured West to network with tech and venture capital companies. It’s just one of the ways that Tuck is increasing its visibility in Silicon Valley and making connections with the burgeoning tech industry. Read more
Published: December 4, 2019
Duke Fuqua MBA Class of 2019 Beats Hiring Records
The Duke Fuqua MBA Class of 2019 had a record year for hiring. Within three months of graduation, 97 percent of the class had received job offers with 95 percent accepting, which, according to the associate dean of their Career Management Center, Sheryle Dirks, marks the highest percentages in at least twenty years. The median annual base salary also rose 8 percent from the previous year to $135,725. But that’s just scratching the surface of the Duke MBA Employment Report for 2018/2019. Let’s take a more in-depth look. Read more
Published: December 3, 2019
MBA News You Need: Northwestern Kellogg Offers New STEM Major, Dartmouth Tuck Gives Resume Advice, UCLA Anderson Talks Career Pathing, and More from MIT Sloan and Vanderbilt Owen
Each week we collect MBA news from around the world to give you a quick overview of the latest trending topics from leading business schools. In your MBA News You Need digest for the week of December 9th, Northwestern Kellogg announces its new STEM-designated Management Science major, the Dartmouth Tuck admissions and career team offer resume advice, UCLA Anderson unpacks career pathing during the MBA application, MIT Sloan highlights their five top business articles for 2019, and Vanderbilt Owen redesigns their Dean's Scholarship. Read more
Published: November 27, 2019
MBA Interview Advice Directly from Dartmouth Tuck
If you’re interested in applying to the Dartmouth Tuck MBA program, you need to highlight four critical characteristics throughout your application and interview: Smart, Accomplished, Aware, and Nice. In a recent Tuck Admissions Insight blog post, the admissions team offered concrete advice on how applicants can provide a complete picture of themselves during their admissions interview. Read more
Published: November 26, 2019
Chicago Booth Offers 5 Tips on the MBA Admissions Interview
MBA interview season is in full swing at Chicago Booth.  Even if you’ve attended your fair share of information sessions, you might still have questions about the interview process. To help you understand what’s expected during the interview and what can you do to ensure it goes off without a hitch, a current Chicago Booth MBA student, Kate Nimmo, shared a five-point list to help you put your best foot forward.  Read on for a wrap up of her key Chicago Booth MBA interview tips. Read more
Published: November 21, 2019
High Employment Rate and More Revealed in Northwestern Kellogg MBA Class of 2019 Employment Report
An impressive number of this year’s MBA graduates from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management received job offers within three months of graduation—98 percent, according to the Class of 2019 employment report. This is a noteworthy 3.4 percent increase over last year when 94.6 percent received job offers.  Read on for the latest MBA graduates’ industry and regional choices, as well as additional insights directly from the Managing Director of the Career Management Center at Kellogg. Kellogg MBA Students Still Love Consulting Once again, consulting was the top industry for MBA graduates. There was a slight Read more
Published: November 20, 2019
Annual Diversity Symposium at Cornell Johnson Marks 20th Anniversary and Celebrates Distinguished Alumni
More than 160 prospective students, alumni, faculty and staff attended Cornell /Johnson's annual Diversity Symposium earlier this month. Hosted by the Office for Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) and held in conjunction with Johnson Means Business, the theme of the weekend's events was “Belonging in Business,” which highlighted the personal and professional sense of belonging that everyone deserves. The event also delved into how to create an environment of belonging for a more welcoming and inclusive business world. Read more
Published: November 19, 2019
MBA News You Need: Georgetown McDonough Releases Glowing Employment Report, Berkeley Haas Seals STEM Approval for MBA Programs, Chicago Booth Shares Resources for Veterans, and More from Dartmouth Tuck and Michigan Ross
Each week we collect MBA news from around the world to give you a quick overview of the latest trending topics from leading business schools. In your MBA News You Need digest for the week of November 18th, we highlight the continued success of the Georgetown McDonough Class of 2019, the news that all three Berkeley Haas MBA programs received STEM designation, veterans' resources at Chicago Booth, a new search fund speaker series at Dartmouth Tuck, and when to visit the Michigan Ross campus. Read more
Published: November 14, 2019
Financial Times on the Rise of Asian Business Schools
Asia is emerging as an epicenter for quality business education, particularly in China, Singapore, and India, according to a recent Financial Times article. Read more
Published: November 13, 2019
Veterans Honored at Harvard Business School
The annual Harvard Business School Armed Forces Alumni Association (AFAA) Veterans Day event honored those who are serving and have served in the military. Veterans make up 4 percent of the MBA cohort and, according to Zeita Merchant, a US Coast Guard Commander and current National Security Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center, “It’s great to have a night like this where schools across Harvard come together to celebrate veterans. It honors those who are serving and those who have spent their entire careers on something bigger than themselves.” Photo: Susan Young The event began Read more
Published: November 12, 2019
MBA News You Need: Stanford GSB Launches Social Impact Lab, Wharton Announces Data and Analytics Fund, Tuck Answers MBA Questions, and More from McCombs and Anderson
Each week we collect MBA news from around the world to give you a quick overview of the latest trending topics from leading business schools. In your MBA News You Need digest for the week of November 11th we discuss the launch of Stanford GSB’s new Social Impact Lab, introduce the eight recipients of the Wharton Data Science and Analytics Fund, reveal common MBA applicant questions at Dartmouth Tuck, walk through diversity weekend at UT Austin McCombs, and delve into MBA academics at UCLA Anderson. Read more
Published: November 7, 2019
10 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Wharton Lauder
The Wharton School is synonymous with an elite business education. It’s known the world over as being home to one of the top MBA programs in the world—ranked #1 by the U.S. News & World Report, #2 by Bloomberg, #4 by The Financial Times and The Economist, and #5 by Forbes. However, when it comes to the University of Pennsylvania’s Lauder Institute, there’s much less known about it. Read more
Published: November 7, 2019
The Reinvention of the MBA from The Economist
Following the release of their 2019 ranking of full-time MBA programs, The Economist took a closer look at the management education and business landscape.  Overall, there are signs of a shift in the U.S. towards “new capitalism”—instead of just focusing on profits, young professionals are expected to look at the public good, and they desire workplaces that reflect their values and purpose.  This evolution in consciousness impacts the responsibility of business schools, particularly MBA programs. As William Boulding, dean of the Duke Fuqua School of Business, told The Economist, “We need our students to be thoughtful about the role of business in society, particularly at a moment in time when capitalism is coming under attack.” But social enterprise isn’t the only idea impacting business schools. In general, interest in U.S. MBA programs has decreased in recent years. According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), American MBA programs received 7 percent fewer applications this year. And there are a number of reasons for this: Read more
Published: November 5, 2019
Women’s MBA Enrollment is Up per Forté Foundation
The Forté Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing women in business, just released some good news: A greater percentage of women than ever before are enrolled in full-time MBA programs in the U.S. This year, female enrollment in full-time MBA programs neared 39 percent on average in the U.S., while international programs neared 36 percent. In both cases, it’s clear that we are heading toward gender parity at an impressive pace. Source: Forté Foundation According to the latest report from the Forté Foundation: Read more
Published: November 5, 2019
IU Kelley Shares How to Avoid 7 Common Mistakes MBA Career Switchers Make
MBA career switchers don't have it easy, whether you do it at the beginning or middle of your career. It’s incredibly challenging to reinvent yourself. However, we can confidently say that it’s worth the effort. Changing your career to something that’s more suited to your goals, values, needs, interests, and skills is not only empowering, but it can drastically improve the course of your life. And it’s doable. Read more
Published: November 5, 2019
MBA News You Need: New Stanford Experiential Learning Electives, Wharton Launches Daily Radio Show, Record-Setting MBA Employment at Dartmouth Tuck, and More from Texas McCombs and UCLA Anderson
Each week we collect MBA news from around the world to give you a quick overview of the latest trending topics from leading business schools. In your MBA News You Need digest for the week of November 4th, we discuss new elective courses for second-year MBA students at Stanford GSB, the new Wharton Business Daily radio show, record-setting employment at Dartmouth Tuck, military support at UT Austin McCombs, and resume tips from UCLA Anderson. Read more
Published: November 3, 2019
Wharton MBA Class of 2019 Earns Higher Salaries and Chooses More Diverse Careers
The Wharton School released its MBA Careers Report for the Class of 2019, revealing an increase in compensation as well as some changing job interests. A few highlights: A significant (11 percent) increase in median base salary— from $135,000 to $150,000 from 2018 to 2019. Increased interest in venture capital jobs with the most placements to date—4.2 percent of the Full-Time MBA class. Continued strong job placement—98.5 percent of students reported a job offer three most post-graduation. Diversified financial services interests—35.8 percent of the class chose the finance industry, but they were spread out among investment banking (11.8%), private equity (11%), investment management (4.6%), venture capital (4.2%), hedge funds (2.4%), and insurance (1.8%). To gain better insight into the latest Wharton employment report and what it means, we interviewed Michelle Hopping, Director of MBA Career Management for the Wharton School, to get her take. Here’s what she had to say.  Michelle Hopping, Director of MBA Career Management for the Wharton School. Clear Admit: What should current MBA students know about career services/support at Wharton? Michelle Hopping: When we talk about career support, we often use the word 'ecosystem.' We talk about students entering an ecosystem of resources and how we can help quarterback that with them. Our goal is to help our MBA students understand more about their potential career what tools they can use. Read more
Published: October 31, 2019
Consulting Industry Insights from Dartmouth Tuck Alumni
Around a third of each Dartmouth Tuck class of MBA graduates go into consulting, with about a fifth joining the big three: McKinsey, Bain, and Boston Consulting Group. Tuck’s executive director of Career Services, Stephen Pidgeon T '07, says “Tuck’s focus on the general management curriculum gives students a broad skillset...That, combined with our very hands-on approach to learning and practicing analytical tools and presentation skills, gives you what you need to hit the ground running.” This is all amidst an industry that is growing more complex, which can be seen in major issues such as Brexit and the Affordable Care Act arising. Tuck has taken a few steps to address the evolution. In direct response to alumni and consulting industry feedback, Tuck recently revamped its decision science and statistics programs to add a new data analytics course offering advanced software tools.  They also rounded up insights from graduates working in both large and small firms. Read on for on-the-ground perspectives and what you may consider as you pursue a career in consulting. Read more
Published: October 29, 2019
MBA News You Need: Visiting Chicago Booth, MBA Employment Reports from Vanderbilt Owen and Rochester Simon, and More from Rice Jones and UMD Smith
Each week we collect MBA news from around the world to give you a quick overview of the latest trending topics from leading business schools. In your MBA News You Need digest for the week of October 28th, we give three reasons for visiting Chicago Booth, unpack the Class of 2019 MBA employment reports from Vanderbilt Owen and Rochester Simon, introduce six outstanding MBA alumni from Rice Jones, and delve into the MicroMasters MBA Core Curriculum at UMD Smith. Read more
Published: October 23, 2019
Insights into Michigan Ross MBA Grads’ Record Employment Rate
Michigan Ross School of Business just released its 2019 MBA Employment Report. It revealed that Ross graduates were more employable than ever, with an all-time high of 96 percent of graduates accepting jobs within three months. Read more
Published: October 23, 2019
Wharton Directors Dig into New MBA Class of 2021 Profile
The Wharton School's Director of Admissions Blair Mannix and Director of Student Life Eddie Banks-Crosson recently shared deeper insights into the class profile of the new MBA Class of 2021.  To begin, the latest group of candidates is closer to gender parity than ever before. This year, 47 percent of students identify as women. Banks-Crosson said, “If we’re talking about diversity and inclusion, women matter, and I think that women are saying globally, that, 'We matter,' and so, we should be leading that charge, and I think that’s what that feels like within this class.” And gender parity is only one piece of the MBA Class of 2021 puzzle.  Read on for more details. Read more
Published: October 22, 2019
MBA News You Need: CEIBS Expands Campus, Social Impact at Top Schools, Yale SOM Real Estate Conference, and More from Berkeley Haas & UCLA Anderson
Each week we collect MBA news to give you a quick overview of the latest trending topics from leading business schools around the world. In your MBA News You Need digest for the week of October 22, 2019, we unpack the CEIBS campus expansion in Switzerland, top business schools for social impact research and teaching, the upcoming Yale SOM real estate conference, successful Berkeley Haas MBAs, and the qualities UCLA Anderson looks for in its MBA candidates. Read more
Published: October 17, 2019
Employment Report: NYU Stern MBA Class of 2019 Graduates Set Record for Earnings and More
This week, NYU Stern released its employment report for the full-time MBA Class of 2019. It was an excellent year for the graduating class, with some impressive increases. Specifically, median salaries increased 12 percent over last year, reaching an all-time high of $140,000. At the same time, the employment rate three months post-graduation reached 94.2 percent, the highest in more than a decade. Beth Briggs, the assistant dean of career services, said, “At NYU Stern, we equip our students with both the mindset and tools to excel in ambiguity and to embrace the change that characterizes today’s business landscape. This is reflected in our all-time high median salaries, steady signing bonuses, and record employment rates for the two-year Full-time MBA Class of 2019. Regardless of the sector, we’ve graduated a class of strategists who can solve problems and drive results.” Read more
Published: October 15, 2019
MBA News You Need: UCLA Anderson on MBA Re-applicants, Texas McCombs MBA Class of 2021, LBS’s EUROUT, and more from INSEAD and UVA Darden
Each week we collect all the MBA news that’s fit to print and provide a quick overview of the latest updates from top business schools around the world. This week, we cover UCLA Anderson’s advice to MBA re-applicants, the MBA profile for the Texas McCombs Class of 2021, the EUROUT LGBTQ+ conference by London Business School, INSEAD’s new Chair of Environmental Responsibility, and UVA Darden’s $400M fundraising campaign. Here’s your MBA News You Need digest for the week of October 14, 2019. Read more

MBA Livewire

November 15, 2024 4:36pm ET
Accepted to NYU Stern
Round: Round 1
Received via phone November 15, 2024
GPA: 3.5
GMAT: 760
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Finance
Application Location: United States
November 15, 2024 3:55pm ET
Interview Invite to UVA / Darden
Round: Round 1
Received via email on October 27, 2024
GPA: 3.01
GRE: 319
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Other
Application Location: New York City
November 15, 2024 3:38pm ET
Accepted to Toronto / Rotman
Round: Round 1
Received via email November 15, 2024
GPA: 3.6
GRE: 331
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Marketing
Application Location: Nigeria
November 15, 2024 2:27pm ET
Rejected at Columbia
Round: Round 1
Received via portal November 15, 2024
GPA: 7.6/10
GMAT: 695
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Non Profit / Social Impact
Application Location: India
Note:

Did anyone else also receive the following in their decision letter?

Thank you for your application to Columbia Business School. Unfortunately, the Admissions Committee is unable to offer you a place in the August-entering MBA Class of 2027.

Please know that we did not reach this decision easily as we were impressed by your professional accomplishments, academic success, and personal attributes. Indeed, your profile and stated career goals may be a good fit for our January-entering MBA program (J-Term).

The J-Term, which has the same core curriculum and elective offerings as the August-entry MBA, allows students who do not need a summer internship to achieve their career goals to earn their degree in only 16 months. It’s ideal for students who wish to remain in the same industry after graduation or pursue entrepreneurial interests.

Although there is no guarantee of admission, we encourage you to learn more about the J-Term. If interested, contact us at [email protected] and we will connect you with an admissions officer.
November 15, 2024 2:20pm ET
Waitlisted at Columbia
Round: Round 1
Received via email November 15, 2024
GPA: 8.5/10
GRE: 317
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Finance
Application Location: México
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