Admissions Tips

Browse our weekly admissions tips, or choose the category most relevant to you: researching, planning, applying, deciding.

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 Read more

Published: March 8, 2018

Four Things to Consider When Visiting Full-Time MBA Programs

Fridays from the Frontline The process of picking a business school is both an art and a science. Broadly speaking, prospective students must decide which industry they ultimately want to infiltrate and then figure out which MBA program will give them the necessary tools to get where they need to go. This all sounds simple and straightforward enough, but there are a host of other variables prospective b-schoolers must weigh in order to make an informed choice—geographic location, small, tight-knit community vs. huge class with expansive network, the prevailing on-campus cultural attitude, and the reputation of the school within one’s Read more

Published: March 7, 2018

How MBA Rankings Can Provide Value To MBA Candidates

U.S. News will release their MBA Rankings for 2019 on Tuesday, March 20, 2018. For those of you currently navigating the admissions process, we thought it would be timely to look at rankings and the value they provide for MBA candidates. So how can b-school applicants use rankings to discover the “best” schools—for them? Read on for 5 key tips… U.S. News is one of many organizations that rank top MBA Programs, the list also includes BusinessWeek, the Financial Times and the Economist. However, because business schools receive different rankings depending on the sources’ criteria, it can be difficult to understand Read more

Published: March 4, 2018

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. Read more

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. Read more

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. Read more

Published: February 25, 2018

Top Wharton School MBA Team-Based Interview Tips from Actual Interviewees

As LiveWire lights up with interview invitations from the Wharton Admissions Committee, we wanted to help the latest crop of candidates by sharing tips and tidbits from those who have experienced the Wharton Team-Based Discussion (TBD) and personal interviews firsthand. Wharton introduced the TBD a few years ago and considers it to “model the highly collaborative nature of the Wharton MBA environment.” Five to six candidates are grouped together and asked to develop a presentation around a specific prompt, which invited applicants are sent in advance of the interview. Afterward the group exercise, candidates have about 10 minutes one on one with an interviewer—usually a trained second-year student but sometimes a member of the adcom. Many candidates report that the TBD gives them insight into Wharton’s atmosphere but can feel difficult to prepare for. In the Clear Admit Interview Guide for Wharton, several interviewees elaborated on their personal experiences. We’ve also scoured the Clear Admit Interview Archive and pulled out some of the best insights from last year’s Wharton candidates. Read more

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: Read more

Published: January 29, 2018

HBS Admissions Director on Round 2 Next Steps

Chad Losee, managing director of MBA admissions and financial aid at Harvard Business School, again shared news about Round 2 interview invitations on his Direct from the Director blog yesterday. He alerted those Round 2 candidates who hadn’t received word in the first wave of notifications last week that a final wave would go out today at noon. True to his word, that wave has just gone out—and unfortunately for many, MBA LiveWire is reflecting a “sea of red” with most candidates reporting they’ve been “released” from consideration. “Unfortunately, we can’t move everyone forward to the next Read more

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 Read more

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 Read more

Published: December 19, 2017

Add Your Story to MBA DecisionWire

Over the last two weeks, many of the leading MBA programs have released their Round 1 decisions. For a number of you, this means you now know which b-school campus you will be heading to in 2018. Before you start packing for your new adventure, head on over to MBA DecisionWire and complete an entry. It’s anonymous and only takes a minute to post. Sharing your profile, listing your choice of schools and declaring your decision proves useful for candidates who are just starting to explore their MBA application journey—or are in a conundrum of acceptances themselves. Since its inception three seasons ago, MBA DecisionWire has received thousands of entries from candidates sharing their stories with their fellow applicants. Read more

Published: December 18, 2017

FREE Webinar – CEIBS MBA: Ready for the China Challenge?

Join CEIBS Admissions Director Christina Mou – along with several CEIBS students – for an interactive webinar. In the webinar, we’ll talk through the following topics: Why the Financial Times and Forbes both rank CEIBS the #1 MBA in Asia How more than 80% of CEIBS MBA graduates in 2017 achieved a career switch to their desired industry, with many successfully pivoting their careers to Asia The impact that international alums have had in China as the country continues to transform from the world’s factory to the world’s innovator The Immediate and longer-term implications of developing your career backed by an Read more

Published: December 18, 2017

MBA DecisionWire Spotlight: Undecided about Cambridge / Judge, Stanford GSB and Wharton

After receiving multiple Round 1 notifications (and reporting them on LiveWire), MBA candidates are now turning to DecisionWire, to post—and often seek advice on—where they are attending. This week, we're shining the MBA DecisionWire spotlight on a candidate with acceptances to Cambridge / Judge, Stanford GSB, and UPenn / Wharton. Judge and Stanford also offered scholarship funds. Read on for more about the candidate and feedback from community members and our resident admissions experts, Alex Brown and Graham Richmond. Alex led off with what everyone was thinking: Read more

Published: December 11, 2017

Harvard Business School to Release Round 1 Decisions Today

Today’s the day! Harvard Business School will release Round 1 decisions at midday. According to a blog post two weeks ago from HBS Managing Director of MBA Admissions and Financial Aid Chad Losee, applicants will be able to access decision notifications via the Application Status page beginning at 12 p.m. ET. We anticipate plenty of activity on Clear Admit’s MBA LiveWire as those decisions begin to roll in. It’s a great place to share your good news—or, conversely, to commiserate. We’re rooting for the former and hope to see lots Read more

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: Read more

Published: December 10, 2017

Admissions Tip: Round 2 Deadlines

Anyone who’s familiar with the MBA application process knows that December moves forward at an accelerated pace, mixing work, with holidays and application preparation. Come the New Year, Round 2 application deadlines come swiftly. To help this year’s Round Two applicants avoid the classic time crunch, today’s blog post offers some basic advice on how to approach the Round Two MBA deadlines at a reasonable pace. Let’s start by taking a quick look at a handful of the earliest deadlines for the top MBA programs: January 2, Michigan Ross January 3, Harvard, UPenn Wharton, Chicago Booth, Read more

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. Read more

Published: November 28, 2017

GMAT Tip: Analyzing Sentence Correction

If you hit the road over the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S., you joined millions of other Americans who traveled more than 50 miles to get to their feast of turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce. And more likely than not, you probably sat in traffic for some portion of that journey and enlisted the help of at least one travel app to try and find another less-congested route. The moment of truth comes when you have to decide whether or not to pull the trigger on the seemingly longer and more circuitous route or stick with your original plan of Read more

Published: November 28, 2017

Admissions Director Q&A: Shelly Heinrich of Georgetown McDonough

We recently had the opportunity to speak with Shelly Heinrich, the interim associate dean of MBA admissions at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. She has capably stepped in to lead the team since Shari Hubert left to lead admissions at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business earlier this fall. With more than 13 years of experience in the higher education, corporate, and nonprofit sectors, Heinrich is currently responsible for leading Georgetown’s MBA admissions team in marketing and operational strategy while also building awareness of and recruiting for the full-time and evening MBA programs. Read more

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. Read more

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 Read more

Published: October 31, 2017

Social Media in MBA Admissions: Can Your Twitter Feed Derail Your B-School Dreams?

Do leading business schools use social media to screen applicants? According to the latest Kaplan Test Prep survey of 150 business schools, it’s increasingly common. Thirty-five percent of admissions officers reported that they have visited an applicant’s social media feed to learn more about them—a significant jump from 22 percent back in 2011. And of those who said that they use social media, one third indicated that they check social media often. Read more

Published: October 24, 2017

GMAT Tip: Relieving Test Anxiety in the Last Week

Everyone gets nervous and anxious in the weeks and months leading up to test day, but what about the last week or two leading up to test day? If you’ve been sticking to a study plan and schedule, you may still be looking for ways to up your test day game. • Inventory what you know. Don’t worry about trying to learn new material. You’ve already put in the time, so organize and review what you already know. Do shorter drills that focus on specific question types, topics and levels of difficulty. Think through your plan of attack Read more

Published: October 17, 2017

GMAT Test Week Advice: 3 Things to Avoid

You’ve prepped for months, sacrificed happy hours and quality time with your friends and stayed up late and risen early just to get in an extra few drills. Much like an endurance athlete, you’ve put in the time, and the only thing left to do is execute. Often the hardest part of the days leading up to test day is doing nothing and clearing your mind. In this week’s GMAT Tip, we take a look at three things you shouldn’t be wasting your time on during that week (and on test day). 1. No Excuses. We’ve all had Read more

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MBA Applywire

November 20, 2024 9:42pm ET

Applying: Babson / Olin, , Carnegie Mellon / Tepper, Emory / Goizueta, Rice / Jones, Rochester / Simon, SMU Cox, UCI Merage, Washington U. / Olin

Intake Year: 2025

Pre-MBA Career: Technology - Entrepreneurship

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting, Technology, Entrepreneurship

GRE: 333

GPA: 2.56

Years of Work Experience: 5

Location: Lagos

Notes:

I just got rejected for WashU Olin and I have an interview invitation with Questrom. GPA continues to bother me but I addressed it in my supporting essays.

November 19, 2024 12:51pm ET

Applying: Berkeley / Haas, Cornell / Johnson, Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, INSEAD, Michigan / Ross, MIT Sloan, Northwestern / Kellogg, U. Chicago Booth, UPenn / Wharton, Yale SOM

Intake Year: 2025

Pre-MBA Career: Tech in government

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting, Entrepreneurship Companies: Bain , McKinsey

GRE: 319

GPA: 2.9

Years of Work Experience: 7

Notes:

I got cancer when I was undergrad that's why my undergrad GPA is low. After MBA I want to work in consulting then make a social impact in Africa through entrepreneurship

November 19, 2024 12:06pm ET

Applying: Duke / Fuqua, Harvard Business School, Michigan / Ross, Northwestern / Kellogg, Stanford GSB, U. Chicago Booth, U. Washington / Foster, UNC Kenan-Flagler, UT Austin / McCombs, UVA / Darden

Pre-MBA Career: Wealth Management and Military

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting, Asset Management, inc. HF, Other Companies: Bain , BCG , Deloitte , McKinsey , Goldman Sachs , JP Morgan Asset Management , State Street , Vanguard

GPA: 3.80

Years of Work Experience: 7

Location: San Diego

Post MBA Location: Chicago, Seattle, Minneapolis, Charlotte

Notes:

UG Degree: BBA Financial Markets at an Accredited Institution.

Civilian Work History: 3 years as Wealth Advisor under an RIA in Minneapolis and Denver. Total AUM of ~$350-400M, served as a salaried advisor in a primary and secondary capacity. Holistic services to include investment management, estate planning, retirement planning, insurance planning, tax planning, etc.

Military History: 4 years as a supply/logistics officer heading efforts for air/ground mobility, defense contracting, supply and procurement, and fiscal budget management while located at various bases within CONUS and multiple forward deployed locations.

Professional Certifications: Obtained Certified Financial Planner designation (2022) and Series 65 (2019).

November 18, 2024 12:50am ET

Applying: Columbia, Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, Emory / Goizueta, NYU Stern, UNC Kenan-Flagler, Yale SOM

Intake Year: 2025

Pre-MBA Career: Consulting

Post-MBA Target Industry: Investment Banking Companies: Bank of America , Barclays , Citibank , Credit Suisse , Goldman Sachs , JP Morgan Chase

GRE: 323

GPA: 3.32

Years of Work Experience: 7

Notes:

Education:
- Combined Major in Economics and Statistics
- CFA Charterholder (passed all three levels on the first attempt)

Professional Experience:
- Manager at a Big 4 firm Specializing in capital projects and infrastructure, with a role similar to investment banking
- Seven years of experience, mainly in financial services in Ghana

Extracurricular Activities:
- Pro bono capital-raising services for SMEs
- Aspiring to run a full advisory firm for SMEs in the future
- CFA exam coaching and tutorial classes for candidates
- Founder of a travel and tour club offering affordable trips to explore beautiful and historic scenes in Ghana

Will being 32 years old affect the attractiveness of my candidacy?

November 17, 2024 9:24am ET

Applying: Columbia, , Georgetown / McDonough, Harvard Business School, INSEAD, NYU Stern, Oxford / Saïd, Stanford GSB, UCLA Anderson, Yale SOM

Pre-MBA Career: Higher Education

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting, Technology, Investment Banking, Venture Capital, Private Equity, Media, Undecided Companies: Bain , BCG , McKinsey , JP Morgan , Morgan Stanley , JP Morgan Chase , Apple , Google , Microsoft , Andressen Horowitz , Charles River , Sequoia Capital , Blackstone , KKR , 21st Century Fox , Comcast , Walt Disney

GPA: 3.97

Years of Work Experience: 5

Location: Denver, Colorado

Post MBA Location: New York City

View or Submit Entries

MBA LiveWire

November 21, 2024 1:35pm ET

Rejected at NYU Stern

Round: Round 1

Received via email November 21, 2024

GPA: 3.2

GMAT: 645

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Target Career: Marketing

Application Location: India

November 21, 2024 1:26pm ET

Accepted to NYU Stern

Round: Round 1

Received via phone November 21, 2024

GMAT: 750

Program Type: One Year Program

Target Career: Technology

Application Location: India

Note:

Just got a call an hour back. Final letter of admission will be uploaded on the portal tomm. I have my interview on 31st Oct.

November 21, 2024 12:58pm ET

Accepted to Cornell / Johnson

Round: Round 1

Received via phone November 21, 2024

GPA: 3.92

GRE: 327

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Target Career: Finance

Application Location: Austin

November 21, 2024 12:41pm ET

Interview Invite to NYU Stern

Round: Round 1

Received via email November 21, 2024

GPA: 3.46

GRE: 328

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Target Career: Consulting

Application Location: Washington D.C.

Note:

Round 1 Consortium Applicant

November 21, 2024 10:36am ET

Accepted to Cornell / Johnson

Round: Round 1

Received via phone November 21, 2024

GPA: 3.5

GMAT: 760

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Target Career: Finance

Application Location: United States

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