Application Tips
Strategic advice on executing your MBA application, including tips on your résumé, data forms, and essays.
MBA ApplyWire Spotlight: Trouble with Tests
As new MBA applicants look for admissions assessments, many are posting to Clear Admit’s ApplyWire, a platform for feedback from our community of top-tier applicants to help inform your final choice of schools and approach to admissions.
In this edition of MBA ApplyWire Spotlight, we take a closer look at two recent posts from new candidates for the Class of 2021. We start with a candidate who wants to retake the GRE:
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Tuck School of Business to Host Free Webinar on August 8th – “A Walk Through the Tuck Application”
The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth has made some exciting innovations to the application process. Join Clear Admit and Tuck for a free webinar taking you on an in depth, exclusive walk through the Tuck MBA Application. Whether you’re planning on applying or just beginning to consider an MBA and wonder if Tuck is a good fit for your aspirations, this is your opportunity to gain valuable insight into applying to Tuck. Bring your questions! Kristin Roth, Associate Director of Admissions with the Tuck MBA Admissions Team will host the event, following an introduction by
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Kellogg Admissions Director Shares Insights on 2019 MBA Application
Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management is one of several leading business schools to release its 2019-2020 MBA application online within the last week. At Kellogg, deadlines for the upcoming admission season are as follow: September 19, 2018 January 9, 2019 April 10, 2019 To help you get started, Director of Admissions Melissa Rapp provided insight into the 2019 MBA application along with some great advice on how to prepare. We’ve shared some of the most pertinent details below. Written Essay Questions Remain Unchanged The Kellogg written essay questions remain the same this year as last. Applicants will need to
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Leading Business School Admissions Directors Share Pro Tips for Applicants in Unique May Events
Admissions directors from seven leading business schools convened last month for MBA admissions events in San Francisco and Washington, DC, giving prospective applicants an unusual opportunity to learn more about how to navigate the admissions process directly from the people who know best. Clear Admit Editor-in-Chief Jeanette Brown peppered representatives from Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, Cornell’s Johnson Graduate School of Management, Duke’s Fuqua School, Michigan’s Ross School, NYU Stern School, UVA’s Darden School, and the Yale School of
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MBA ApplyWire Spotlight: Profile Feedback for Business School Admissions
As a new crop of applicants set their sights on the 2018-2019 admissions season, many are wisely turning to Clear Admit’s ApplyWire, a tool that supports MBA application strategy. As an applicant, by posting the business schools you are considering applying to, along with a little information about your credentials and goals, you can get feedback from our community of top-tier applicants to help inform your final choice of schools.
In this edition of MBA ApplyWire Spotlight, we take a closer look at two recent posts from new candidates for the Class of 2021. We start with a consultant who has a lengthy list of schools:
Clear Admit’s resident admissions expert (and newlywed!), Alex Brown, kicked off the feedback:
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Meet Leading Admissions Directors, Clear Admit Editor-in-Chief at May 16th Event in Washington, DC
Admissions directors from seven leading business schools will convene for a second multi-school MBA admissions event on Wednesday, May 16th, in Washington, DC. Moderated by Clear Admit Editor-in-Chief Jeanette Brown, the DC event will feature representatives from Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, Cornell’s S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management, Duke’s Fuqua School, Michigan’s Ross School, NYU Stern School, UVA’s Darden School, and Yale School of Management (SOM).
The first event, which took place in San Francisco on May 10th, filled up completely. Dozens of alumni from participating programs now working in the Bay Area were also on hand to share their first-hand experiences as students with participants.
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Published: April 24, 2018
Our Latest Podcast: Clear Admit’s 12-Step Program for Early Bird MBA Applicants
Looking to get an early start on your MBA applications for the 2018-2019 application season? Don’t miss our latest podcast episode, in which Clear Admit Co-Founder Graham Richmond outlines a 12-step program for early bird MBA applicants. By getting the ball rolling this far in advance, you’re already setting yourself up for success. Richmond’s suggested steps can help ensure that you stay on track and take full advantage of your great head start. Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast Episode 11: Clear Admit's 12-Step Program for Early Bird MBA Applicants Play Episode Pause Episode Mute/Unmute Episode
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Thanking Your MBA Recommenders—Our Guide to Gift Giving
The process of applying to business school is a complicated beast with numerous steps to consider along the path from application to acceptance. As Round 2 decisions roll in, many applicants may find themselves approaching one of the final steps in the process: Finding an appropriate gift for thanking your MBA recommenders. While this step might seem insignificant on the surface—or at the very least merely symbolic—make no mistake: Experts hold this one in especially high esteem. Clear Admit’s DecisionWeek is brought to you by HBX. HBX brings the dynamism of the Harvard Business School classroom to online
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Published: March 29, 2018
Fridays from the Frontline: HBS Student Shares Why Applying in Round 3 Made Sense
Fridays from the Frontline Better late than never? For b-school hopefuls who for one reason or another let the Round 1 and Round 2 deadlines pass them by, conventional wisdom has often been to wait until next year. But most schools do feature a Round 3, and for the right applicants, applying in this late round can work out just as well. To be sure, applying to MBA programs during Round 3 has its challenges—classes have largely been filled and scholarship aid is at its most scarce. That said, Round 3 can actually have more of a strategic function than
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Published: March 29, 2018
Our Lastest Podcast: Who Should Apply in Round 3?
If you’re wrestling with the question of whether or not to apply in Round 3, you won’t want to miss our latest podcast. Clear Admit Co-Founder Graham Richmond unpacks the challenges of this late round, but also the very real opportunities it presents to the right candidates. Fewer spots remain in classes already largely filled with accepted candidates from earlier rounds, and scholarship dollars have often dried up. But schools absolutely do still accept candidates in Round 3, and some indicators suggest that this might be an especially good year to apply. Find out why. Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast
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Published: March 19, 2018
Anticipating Round 2 Decisions via Clear Admit’s LiveWire and MBA Chats
Throughout the rest of March, leading business schools will be rolling out their decisions to Round 2 MBA applicants. While many are eager for the gift of admission via phone, email or portal, waiting for a decision can push anxiety levels to full tilt for the Class of 2020 hopefuls. But, fear not, anxious applicants! At Clear Admit, we have two resources that are designed to help you navigate the next couple weeks: Clear Admit LiveWire and Clear Admit MBA Chats. Reports from Real Candidates on MBA LiveWire Keep your finger on the pulse of MBA
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Published: March 11, 2018
Three Reasons to Apply to MBA Programs in Round 3
As we move through March, the Round 3 deadlines of leading MBA Programs are drawing near. Conventional wisdom in the MBA admissions world suggests it’s best to avoid the final rounds when applying to top business schools, but sometimes circumstances dictate otherwise. One thing to keep in mind is that all indications suggest that this year could actually be a good one in which to apply in R3. This is because a strong global economy and job market (particularly in the US and Europe) have led to declines in MBA application volume at many business schools. As such, several top programs will likely
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Applying in Round 3? Get a Profile Review and Check Out the Stats of Fellow MBA Candidates
With just about a month to go to Round 3 deadlines for the leading MBA programs, applicants for this round should be finalizing school selections and drafting essays. We know that acceptance rates during this round can make things tougher for applicants than in earlier rounds, so we’re using this post to highlight a tool that can provide you with a little extra help.
Clear Admit’s ApplyWire allows you to create a basic profile of your candidacy while sharing the schools to which you are considering applying. Once posted, your entry will allow admissions experts from both Clear Admit and Veritas Prep, as well as fellow candidates, to provide you feedback on your school selections and application strategy.
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Published: February 28, 2018
Four Reasons You Need to Visit Clear Admit’s Interview Archive
As interview invitations for Round 2 MBA candidates continue to roll out, we wanted to remind Class of 2020 hopefuls that Clear Admit can help with the final hurdle to acceptance: the interview. The Clear Admit Interview Archive is a repository of first-hand accounts shared directly by MBA applicants after they have interviewed with one or more of their target top-tier business schools. The details shared in these reports—from the questions asked to what the applicant would do differently if he or she had it to do over—provide invaluable information as you prepare for your interviews.
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Published: February 26, 2018
MBA ApplyWire Spotlight: Applying to Business School in Round 3
As prime deadlines for this season pass, many are sharing their stories and concerns on ApplyWire, Clear Admit’s latest tool to aid in your admissions process. This week, since ApplyWire is also a place to receive advice, we're setting the spotlight on a candidate considering applying in Round 3. We take a closer look at a post from an applicant with admission to Emory / Goizueta and waiting to hear from UVA / Darden and UT Austin / McCombs, but also potentially targeting Berkeley / Haas, Northwestern / Kellogg, and Stanford GSB in Round 3. Read on for more details about the candidate’s background.
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Published: February 22, 2018
Listening to LiveWire: Importance of the Interview
As MBA hopefuls endeavor to succeed in the admissions process, the pathway to an acceptance call or letter can be wrought with challenges. Clear Admit offers tools, such as MBA LiveWire, so community members can come together and ease each other’s way to business school. Today we’re taking a closer look at an entry in MBA LiveWire, dealing with angst over an interview at Chicago Booth.
The original poster sought feedback on their interview experience:
Some candidates in the same boat offered reassuring perspectives:
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Published: January 15, 2018
How to Get into a Top Business School: Admitted Students Share 10 Top Tips
Our ongoing Real Humans of the MBA Class of 2019 series has given us glimpses into tons of current MBA students who set their sights on leading business schools across the nation and the globe—and now call those campuses home. We’ve learned about some of their crazy accomplishments and the mind-blowingly diverse experiences they bring to share with classmates-turned-friends. They’ve also divulged when, why, and how they knew that x school was exactly where they belonged. Each installment in our series has focused in on a single school through the eyes of five or six amazing
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Published: December 28, 2017
Ring in the New Year with Last Minute R2 Admissions Advice – Free!
Start 2018 on the right path as you apply in Round 2! Join the Clear Admit community by creating your login and subscribing to our newsletter – and we’ll give you our critically acclaimed admissions strategy book for free! Benefits of registering and subscribing to our newsletter: Search and sort LiveWire, DecisionWire, and ApplyWire data by school, round, result and more! Comment on posts at will, and receive notifications of follow-up comments to your posts Keep track of all of your Clear Admit digital publications, and download them on the go Receive weekly news
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Published: December 11, 2017
MBA ApplyWire Spotlight: Applying to Business School for Technology
As candidates get ready for Round 2, several are seeking advice on ApplyWire, Clear Admit’s latest tool to aid in your admissions process. This week, we're shining the MBA ApplyWire spotlight on a candidate targeting technology post-MBA. The roster of schools they plan to apply to include Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan, Northwestern / Kellogg, and U. Chicago Booth.
Read on for more about the candidate and feedback from our resident admissions expert, Alex Brown.
Alex shared his initial feedback:
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Published: December 6, 2017
5 Ways MBA LiveWire Helps You Navigate Admissions
Whether you’re tackling another set of MBA applications or just starting your admissions journey, Clear Admit’s MBA LiveWire is a go-to destination for those navigating Round 2. Real MBA candidates populate MBA LiveWire with their admissions news—from interview invitations and waitlist notices, to acceptance decisions and dings—from the top business schools. All you have to do is tune in to take advantage of this useful admissions tool. When you register, you not only gain access to the full LiveWire database, but can also seek advice from the Clear Admit’s admissions experts and community members on your candidacy. Read on for more information about how Clear Admit’s MBA LiveWire will support you through Round 2!
Clear Admit's DecisionWeek is brought to you by Prodigy Finance. Visit prodigyfinance.com to learn more about funding your international MBA.
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Published: November 26, 2017
MBA ApplyWire Offers Forum for Feedback and Advice for Round 2 Applicants
Round two deadlines are a little over a month away for most top-tier MBA Programs. We wanted to alert those of you who are preparing Round 2 applications of the potential usefulness of our most recent admissions tool, MBA ApplyWire.
What is ApplyWire?
MBA ApplyWire allows users to post the target programs they are considering, as well as some information about their profile and MBA goals. The community can then respond by offering suggestions regarding application strategy. A member of Clear Admit’s team also offers up some advice on each entry.
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Published: November 21, 2017
Ross Admissions Director Provides Round 1, Round 2 Updates
In a post yesterday to her Admissions Director’s Blog, Soojin Kwon, who leads MBA admissions for the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, addressed two distinct groups: Round 1 candidates anxious for the approaching December 15th decision day and Round 2 candidates, who face their own deadline to submit applications a mere six weeks away. In her messages for Round 1 applicants, she shared that more and more are choosing to come to campus to interview, leaving alumni interviewers around the world wondering where all of their interviewees have gone. Candidates in Round 1
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Published: August 30, 2017
ICYMI: Adcom Director Shares Her Own Responses to New Ross Short Answer Essay Prompts
In a recent post to her Admissions Director Blog, Soojin Kwon, director of admissions at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, gave a glimpse into life at Ross before school had even started. She highlighted the Ross Impact Challenge that new students take part in during orientation and the MBA2-led MTreks that followed—taking members of the Class of 2019 everywhere from Iceland to Brazil, Croatia to South Africa. But then Kwon got down to the business that will most interest current applicants, namely, fulfilling a promise she’d made in
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Published: August 21, 2017
MBA ApplyWire Spotlight: Seeking Advice on “Reach” Business Schools
As MBA applicants craft their calendars for admissions, many conundrums have arisen on ApplyWire, Clear Admit’s latest tool to aid in your admissions process. This week, we're setting the spotlight on a candidate seeking advice on "reach" business schools. We take a closer look at a post from an applicant considering Berkeley / Haas, Duke / Fuqua, Michigan / Ross, MIT Sloan, Northwestern / Kellogg, U. Chicago Booth, UCLA Anderson, and Yale SOM. Read on for more details about the candidate’s background.
Initial advice targeted scheduling and the GMAT:
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Published: August 20, 2017
Should I Apply in Round 1 or Round 2 to My Top Choice School?
This is the second in a two-part series on MBA application strategy. In case you missed the first, check it out here. In terms of application strategy, one of the biggest questions prospective MBA applicants wrestle with is whether to apply in Round 1 or Round 2 to the school they most want to attend. As you might imagine, based on our years of advising applicants to top-tier business schools, Clear Admit has some thoughts on the matter. Overall, if you are an outstanding candidate and have had adequate time to prepare your candidacy, then you should apply as part of
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