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MBA Podcast

Published: May 30, 2021
Episode 164: Wire Taps—Aim Higher for Your Target Schools!
This podcast episode of Wire Taps features feedback for three MBA applicants trying to hammer out their roadmap for the coming admissions season. Graham and Alex offer their keen advice to an applicant with goals in tech and consumer goods. Also, an innovation consultant with solid stats sought advice on a high GRE/low GPA issue. Finally, another MBA hopeful wants to elevate her career with an MBA—but should she go to school in Europe or the U.S.? We are excited to be hitting a major milestone next week: The 100th podcast episode of Wire Taps! And we want you to Read more
Published: May 24, 2021
Help Alex and Graham Celebrate 100 Episodes of WireTaps!
Are you a consistent WireTaps listener? Are our podcasts part of your routine? Have you ever been featured in an episode? If you answered “yes” to any of the questions above, we want to hear from you. To celebrate 100 episodes of WireTaps, Graham and Alex will be featuring audio clips from listeners and participants like you. Here’s how to secure a spot in the 100th episode: Record an audio clip that is less than 30 seconds in length. If you have been featured on WireTaps in the past, discuss your experience. Was our advice useful? Which school did you Read more
Published: May 23, 2021
Episode 163: Wire Taps—Government & Goals, Being All You Can Be, ‘Fostering’ the Right Environment
Tune into another informative podcast episode of Wire Taps with our resident experts, Graham and Alex!  After discussing the news of Rod Garcia’s retirement from MIT Sloan admissions, our hosts review an Indian applicant with a nontraditional government background who needs to hammer out some post-MBA details. Additionally, an Army Officer checks in about school choice and other application concerns. Finally, a candidate choosing between Indiana Kelley and Washington Foster hones in on the value of location. Preview the posts from MBA ApplyWire and MBA DecisionWire that Graham and Alex discuss below, then tune in! An MBA hopeful Read more
Published: May 16, 2021
Episode 162: Wire Taps—Reapplication Strategy, Casting too Wide a Net, and Decision Dilemmas
This week, Alex and Graham travel to Southeast Asia while touting a review from a listener in Thailand and evaluating a Malaysian applicant who needs a reapplication strategy (and who apparently likes cooking while tuning into WireTaps). They then turn their attention to a consultant in NYC who needs a bit of a confidence boost due to a below-average GPA (and who apparently listens to WireTaps in the shower). Our hosts also dig into a dilemma from a candidate with admissions offers from Vanderbilt ($92K), Georgetown ($20K), and Georgia Tech (~$20K). The dilemma? This candidate has an aversion to landing Read more
Published: May 9, 2021
Episode 161: Wire Taps—GMAT / GRE Recency, Back Office Blues, and a Texas vs. California Clash!
This week, Alex and Graham tackle a number of key admissions questions, ranging from the importance of GMAT/GRE ‘recency’ to potential hurdles candidates may face when coming from ‘back office’ roles. Along the way, our hosts also counsel an early bird applicant thinking of applying in 2024 and a recently admitted applicant weighing offers from UCLA Anderson (with $100K) vs. UT Austin McCombs (with $30K). Other topics in this jam-packed episode include R3 applications and the state of the waitlist at top schools this season. Preview the featured posts from MBA ApplyWire and MBA DecisionWire that Graham and Read more
Published: May 2, 2021
Episode 160: Wire Taps—ED or Not ED, That Is the Question
Graham and Alex deliver another podcast episode of Wire Taps, dishing out MBA application and admissions advice. This week, a military applicant who has made significant strides in maturity and time management wants to show the adcom he’s ready for business school life—even if his early undergraduate record suggests otherwise. Another MBA hopeful reached out for advice on timing of their applications—specifically, should they jump head-on into an early decision that would be binding or take their chances with more flexible acceptances? Finally, an accepted candidate planning on a tech career is weighing matriculating at CBS with a scholarship or Read more
Published: April 25, 2021
Episode 159: Wire Taps—The “That Was Then, This Is Now” Strategy
In this week’s podcast episode of Wire Taps, Graham and Alex offer keen admissions advice to two new applicants and one candidate torn about school choice. First up, a U.S. Army officer with a poor academic background sought advice about targeting MBA programs for their pending return to civilian life in 2022. Another MBA hopeful coming from commercial banking and hoping to transition into investment banking also needed help with school choice. Finally, as the 2020-21 admissions season winds down, some candidates are still facing tough decisions. This week, Graham and Alex weigh in on one candidate’s scholarship-laden choice between Read more
Published: April 18, 2021
Episode 158: Wire Taps—The Final Decision Is Making Me Crazy!
Since Round 2 decisions have been delivered, many lucky accepted candidates are facing some tough decisions. Two such candidates turned to the Clear Admit community on DecisionWire for advice about their school choices. On this week’s WireTaps podcast, Graham and Alex weigh in on their questions, as the candidates wonder: Cornell Johnson or Michigan Ross? Emory Goizueta or UNC Kenan-Flagler? Of course, there are many factors that go into these decisions, so be sure to tune in below for some expert admissions advice. Also this week, Graham and Alex advise an applicant with a background in cyber-defense for the Read more
Published: April 11, 2021
Episode 157: Wire Taps— Am I Crazy to Turn Down HBS for Love?
What would you do if you and your partner weren’t both accepted to all of the same MBA programs?  And what if one of those non-overlap programs was Harvard Business School?  Fasten your seat belts, as Alex and Graham put on their ‘relationship counselor’ hats this week…with potentially disastrous consequences. And that’s just one of the conundrums covered in this week’s podcast episode of Wire Taps. Beyond love and b-school, this week’s episode assesses the plans that one applicant has laid out for deferred enrollment, while also looking at the results of an accepted candidate who returns from a Read more
Published: April 7, 2021
Episode 156: Meet Podcaster Cassandra Pittman, CBS MBA & Former INSEAD/LBS Adcom
We are excited to welcome Cassandra Rae Pittman, host and executive producer of the Power Done Differently podcast, to share her rich perspective on MBA admissions, empowering women in business, entrepreneurial grit and more. Cassandra Rae Pittman, host and executive producer of the Power Done Differently podcast Cassandra spent nearly 20 years working across three continents with some of the world’s leading business schools. At INSEAD and London Business School, she held the roles of marketing and admissions officer. She also garnered work experience at a top 5 management consultancy firm, Capgemini, and has launched a Read more
Published: April 4, 2021
Episode 155: Wire Taps—Berkeley Haas or UCLA Anderson for Tech?
It’s time for another podcast episode of Wire Taps! As the dust settles on R2 decisions, Graham and Alex report in from the frontlines, sharing a couple of really challenging dilemmas faced by accepted students. The first dilemma involves a candidate with offers from Wharton (w/$50K) and Haas ($160K) and goals in PE/real estate. The second features an applicant with offers at Haas (w/$50K) and UCLA (w/$160K) and goals in tech. Beyond these tough decisions, Alex and Graham explore the profiles of two early bird applicants coming from non-traditional backgrounds (homebuilding, and fashion/acting) and outline the challenges typically faced by Read more
Published: March 28, 2021
Episode 154: Wire Taps—Can I Negotiate a Scholarship?
Drained from a crazy week of R2 admissions decisions at Wharton, Kellogg, UCLA, Berkeley, Yale, UT Austin, and more – not to mention a first appearance on the Clubhouse app – Graham nearly forgets to show up to record WireTaps! The resulting episode is a bit like the podcast equivalent of an HBS ‘cold call’. Thankfully, our hosts still manage to tackle some big issues including the influence of geography on GMAT/GRE testing, the curious case of an American solely targeting European b-schools, and the dilemma one candidate has of choosing between offers from USC or NYU for post-MBA goals Read more
Published: March 21, 2021
Episode 153: Wire Taps—March Madness, Clubhouse, and Tepper or UNC for Tech
Reporting from the eye of the R2 results storm, Alex and Graham share exciting news of Clear Admit’s presence on Clubhouse, discuss our March Madness bracket challenge (that pits post-MBA employers against each other), and carefully dissect a set of candidate profiles. Admissions tips abound, as always, including how to approach late round apps with low numbers, whether or not an Austrian in the automotive sector is aiming high enough, and where an admitted student to Carnegie Mellon and UNC should go given a goal of working in tech post-MBA. Preview which posts Graham and Alex dig into in Read more
Published: March 14, 2021
Episode 152: Wire Taps—UNC Kenan-Flagler or Indiana Kelley for Consulting?
We have another episode of WireTaps for you!  As the floodgates begin to open on R2 admissions decisions, Graham and Alex touch on some key admissions tips around navigating the waitlist (should a CBS waitlist-er retake the GRE?), the importance of logical, feasible career plans (does a Canadian applicant need to focus her goals to be more consistent with her experience to date?), and the inherent challenges in choosing a program when juggling geographic and career preferences (should an admitted student pick UNC or Kelley for strategy consulting in Chicago?). Our hosts also unveil an upcoming Clubhouse event, news of Read more
Published: March 7, 2021
Episode 151: Wire Taps—MIT Sloan or London Business School for MBB?
As Graham battles a case of near-laryngitis, Alex decides to put him on the spot about his ‘other life’.  Meanwhile, Graham marvels at the coincidental CPG-Canada-Tech connections across this week’s WireTaps candidates. As always, the duo work in some key MBA admissions lessons, such as how first generation Asian-Americans (and Asian-Canadians) are viewed in the applicant pool, whether or not there is grade inflation in Canada, and how a candidate who loves London (and London Business School) should weigh offers from Booth, MIT, and LBS…given the target of McKinsey/Bain/BCG (short-term) and a tech job (long-term). See which profiles from Read more
Published: February 28, 2021
Episode 150: Wire Taps—Which School for Product Strategy/Marketing?
Our podcast hosts Graham Richmond and Alex Brown present another episode of Wire Taps.  As always, the duo tackle a number of key admissions questions, with this episode focusing on the following: When and why should you contact the admissions office with updates about your candidacy? Are there instances where a specialized business master’s is a better fit than an MBA? Are European candidates truly coveted at top US MBA programs? How might one admitted student decide between Chicago Booth vs. Ross (w/$80K) or UCLA (w/$100k)? See which profiles from MBA ApplyWire and MBA DecisionWire they discuss below, Read more
Published: February 21, 2021
Episode 149: Wire Taps—Special Guest: Reddit r/MBA Moderator
We have a special podcast episode of Wire Taps this week! We are excited to welcome Reddit r/MBA moderator Highlyasian, who joins our hosts Graham Richmond and Alex Brown in dishing out MBA admissions advice. See which profiles from MBA ApplyWire and MBA DecisionWire they discuss below, then tune in. The first applicant needs to push for a high GMAT score: An accepted applicant is having trouble choosing between MIT and Wharton: Happy listening! Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast Episode 149: Wire Taps—Special Guest, Reddit r/MBA Moderator Play Read more
Published: February 14, 2021
Episode 148: Wire Taps—Chicago Booth or MIT Sloan for Tech?
Welcome to another podcast episode of Wire Taps, featuring keen admissions advice from Alex Brown and Graham Richmond. This week, two applicants are looking ahead – one at deferred admissions and the other at next year’s cycle – while an accepted candidate faces a tough choice of where to matriculate this fall. See which profiles from MBA ApplyWire and MBA DecisionWire the duo discuss below, then tune in! The first applicant has post-MBA plans in the non-profit sector: Another MBA hopeful is looking at deferred enrollment options: Finally, the third profiled candidate Read more
Published: February 7, 2021
Episode 147: Wire Taps—Is It Crazy to Turn Down HBS?
As applicants and candidates alike make their way through Round 2, our admissions experts, Graham Richmond and Alex Brown, continue to share MBA admissions advice in our latest podcast episode of Wire Taps. See which profiles from MBA ApplyWire and MBA DecisionWire they discuss below, then tune in. The first applicant is a veteran looking to progress in consulting: Another applicant likely faces some tough competition: Finally, the third profiled candidate wanted to check on his choices: Happy listening! Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast Episode 147: Wire Taps—Is It Read more
Published: January 31, 2021
Episode 146: Wire Taps—MIT Sloan or Wharton for Tech?
Our resident admissions experts, Alex Brown and Graham Richmond, weigh in on MBA application strategies and school choices in our latest podcast episode of Wire Taps. See which profiles from MBA ApplyWire and MBA DecisionWire they discuss below, then tune in. The first applicant is in private equity: Another applicant has a solid background and is looking ahead to next year: Finally, the third profiled candidate faces a tough choice: Happy listening! Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast Episode 146: Wire Taps—MIT Sloan or Wharton for Tech? Play Episode Read more
Published: January 24, 2021
Episode 145: Wire Taps—With Five Acceptances, Where Should I Go?
Tune into a new podcast episode of Wire Taps in which our resident experts offer advice to two MBA applicants and a candidate choosing among five acceptances and two other potential options. See which profiles from MBA ApplyWire and MBA DecisionWire they discuss below, then tune in. The first applicant is interested in breaking into private equity:Another applicant needs to bump up their GMAT score: Finally, the third profiled candidate needs help choosing among five acceptances and two other potential options for consumer goods: Happy listening! Clear Admit MBA Admissions Read more
Published: January 17, 2021
Episode 144: Wire Taps—CBS, Chicago Booth or Kellogg for Real Estate?
Join Alex Brown and Graham Richmond for another advice-filled podcast episode of Wire Taps. They share MBA admissions insights with a few atypical applicants and weigh in on school choice for real estate. See which profiles from MBA ApplyWire and MBA DecisionWire they discuss below, then tune in. A Navy SEAL inquired about the impact of his background: An architect also wondered how schools view atypical candidates: Finally, the third profiled candidate needs help choosing between CBS, Booth or Kellogg for real estate: Happy listening! Clear Admit MBA Admissions Read more
Published: January 10, 2021
Episode 143: Wire Taps—Northwestern Kellogg or NYU Stern for Social Impact?
As applicants and candidates alike weigh their b-school strategies, Alex Brown and Graham Richmond share related MBA admissions advice in our new podcast episode of Wire Taps. See which profiles from MBA ApplyWire and MBA DecisionWire they discuss below, then tune in. One military applicant already submitted some apps but hasn’t yet found success: Another MBA hopeful needed some advice about timing: Finally, the third profiled candidate needs help choosing between Northwestern Kellogg and NYU Stern for social impact: Happy listening! Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast Episode 143: Wire Read more
Published: January 5, 2021
Episode 142: Balancing B-School, Work & Family
Sponsored Content Admissions, B-school & Children – we cover the ABC’s of pursuing an MBA while raising a family in this special podcast feature. Graham Richmond welcomes someone who not only earned an MBA, but who did it while raising a family and working full time.  She is also the associate dean of admissions and marketing for a leading MBA program!  Our special guest today is Shelly Heinrich from the Georgetown McDonough School of Business. Shelly Heinrich, M.Ed., MBA, Assoc. Dean, MBA Admissions and Director of Marketing Heinrich leads the MBA Admissions team in both its marketing and Read more
Published: January 3, 2021
Episode 141: Wire Taps—Duke Fuqua, UCLA Anderson or Northwestern Kellogg for Tech?
Happy New Year! Alex Brown and Graham Richmond are here to help you kick off 2021 with some sound MBA admissions advice in our new podcast episode of Wire Taps. See which profiles from MBA ApplyWire and MBA DecisionWire they discuss below, then tune in. One applicant likely needs to retake the GMAT: Another MBA hopeful is looking to pivot in their career: Finally, the third profiled candidate needs help choosing between UCLA Anderson, Duke Fuqua and Northwestern Kellogg: Happy listening! Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast Episode 141: Wire Read more

MBA Applywire

6
December 25, 2024 2:16pm ET
Applying: Duke / Fuqua, Emory / Goizueta, Georgetown / McDonough, Indiana / Kelley, Michigan / Ross, UNC Kenan-Flagler
Intake Year: 2025
Pre-MBA Career: Strategy consulting
Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting, Commercial Banking Companies: Bain , BCG , Deloitte , Ernst & Young , KPMG , McKinsey , PWC , Bank of America , Capital One , Citibank , PNC Bank , Wells Fargo
GRE: 323
GPA: 3.48
Years of Work Experience: 6
12
December 25, 2024 10:52am ET
Applying: Berkeley / Haas, Carnegie Mellon / Tepper, Columbia, Cornell / Johnson, Duke / Fuqua, Indian School of Business, Indiana / Kelley, Michigan / Ross, Northwestern / Kellogg, UCLA Anderson, UT Austin / McCombs, UVA / Darden
Intake Year: 2025
Pre-MBA Career: Supply Chain Management
Post-MBA Target Industry: Other
GMAT: 655
GPA: 3.3
Years of Work Experience: 4.5
Location: India
Post MBA Location: USA
Notes:

Extensive Supply chain experience across Telecom and Aviation industries. Currently working with United Airlines in Supply Chain. Lots of international exposure and experience.
2
December 25, 2024 7:51am ET
Applying: Duke / Fuqua, UVA / Darden
Intake Year: 2025
Pre-MBA Career: Indian Chartered Accountant, Completed Undergrad and Grad in commernce (A and A+ grade)Fund Controlling - PE(Goldman Sachs) and IIF(JP Morgan)
Post-MBA Target Industry: Asset Management, inc. HF Companies: Blackrock , Goldman Sachs , JP Morgan Asset Management
GRE: 320
GPA: A+
Years of Work Experience: 5.5
Location: India
Post MBA Location: US, UK
Notes:

I got waiver from Darden and applying to fuqua with GRE score. Planning to apply to only two schools in current round 2.
Post MBA goal is to transition career from accounting based role to front end asset management roles.
5
December 23, 2024 7:48am ET
Applying: Duke / Fuqua, Emory / Goizueta, Georgia Tech / Scheller, UNC Kenan-Flagler, Vanderbilt / Owen
Intake Year: 2025
Pre-MBA Career: Sports
Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting, Family Business, Other Companies: Accenture , Deloitte
GMAT: 655
GPA: 3.89
Years of Work Experience: 3
Location: South
Notes:

NCAA DI Athlete
Selected for the industry's inaugural women's leadership academy
Variety of volunteer work in and out of my work industry
6
December 23, 2024 12:19am ET
Applying: Cornell / Johnson, Michigan / Ross, MIT Sloan, UCLA Anderson, UT Austin / McCombs, UVA / Darden
Intake Year: 2025
Pre-MBA Career: Construction & RE (2nd Gen Entrepreneur)
Post-MBA Target Industry: Investment Banking, Venture Capital, Private Equity, Asset Management, inc. HF, Family Business Companies: Citibank , Credit Suisse , Morgan Stanley
GRE: 326
GPA: 3.80
Years of Work Experience: 5
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MBA LiveWire

December 30, 2024 12:21pm ET
Interview Invite to Dartmouth / Tuck
Round: Round 2
Received via email on November 19, 2024
GPA: 3.6
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Finance
Application Location: Houston
Note:

Applied just after R1 (guaranteed interview window for R2)- my GMAT waiver was not approved in time for R1.
30M Indian national working in O&G trading. Mechanical Engineering undergrad in India(4.0 equivalent GPA) and Master of Science degree from Duke University (3.6 GPA).
Chose to do the in-person interview at Tuck. Tuck is the only school I applied to this year and excited/nervous on how things will go. Hoping the waiver won't significantly ding my candidacy as I am from an ORM group.
December 30, 2024 9:55am ET
Accepted to MIT Sloan
Round: Round 1
Received via phone on December 11, 2024
GPA: 3.6
GMAT: 760
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Healthcare
December 30, 2024 9:52am ET
Accepted to U. Chicago Booth
Round: Round 1
Received via portal on December 04, 2024
GPA: 3.6
GMAT: 760
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Healthcare
Application Location: Boston
December 29, 2024 11:08pm ET
Accepted to Cambridge / Judge
Round: Round 1
Received via email on October 16, 2024
GMAT: 708
Program Type: One Year Program
December 29, 2024 11:06pm ET
Accepted to Oxford / Saïd
Round: Round 2
Received via email on November 07, 2024
GMAT: 708
Program Type: One Year Program
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