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School Q&A

Published: August 3, 2023
Admissions Director Q&A: Melissa Rapp of Emory Goizueta
For this installment of our Admissions Director Q&A, we welcome back Melissa Rapp, Associate Dean of Graduate Admissions for the Goizueta Business School at Emory University. Melissa leads the teams responsible for the recruitment, evaluation, and matriculation of students across the portfolio of graduate business programs including a One-Year MBA, Two-Year MBA, Evening MBA, Executive MBA, Master of Science in Business Analytics, and Master of Analytical Finance, Master in Management, and the Master in Business for Veterans. A longtime higher education professional with more than 18 years of experience, Melissa Read more
Published: August 2, 2023
Admissions Director Q&A: Chris Healy of Manchester AMBS
In this edition of our ongoing Admissions Director Q&A series, we have Chris Healy, the Head of MBA Marketing & Recruitment at Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) at the University of Manchester, returning to bring us his insights into the culture at AMBS, what to expect during the MBA program, and more about their admissions. Chris has 15 years of experience in graduate management education and a passion for GME that has only grown over time. He’s implemented and developed marketing and recruitment strategies both domestically and internationally, to meet the academic and commercial Read more
Published: July 31, 2023
Admissions Director Q&A: Jana Kierstead of Harvard Business School
In this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome Jana Kierstead, Executive Director, MBA and Doctoral Programs at Harvard Business School. Jana brings over 25 years of experience to this role, with more than 20 years dedicated to leadership in business education. In her role as the Executive Director, Jana leads a team of over 120 full-time professionals who manage the student experience from admissions and financial aid, to student life and career services. In 2013, Jana was selected to lead the School’s online learning initiative, Harvard Business School Online (formerly Read more
Published: July 27, 2023
Admissions Director Q&A: Dawna Levenson of MIT Sloan
In the latest interview for our Admissions Director Q&A series, the Assistant Dean of Admissions at the MIT Sloan School of Management, Dawna Levenson, returns to delve into all things MBA admissions. As the leader of the admissions team, Dawna oversees all recruiting, evaluation, conversion, and marketing activities in support of the MBA, Sloan Fellows MBA, Master of Finance (MFin), Master of Business Analytics (MBAn), MBA Early Admission, and Master of Science in Management Studies (MSMS)  programs. Prior to this role, Dawna was the Director of Admissions for five years and the Associate Director for MFin Read more
Published: July 26, 2023
Admissions Director Q&A: Maria Pineda of the UMD Smith School of Business
In this Admissions Director Q&A, we get an update on MBA admissions at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. Senior Director of Admissions Maria Pineda has been with UMD Smith for over 15 years. Maria manages the recruiting efforts for Full-Time MBA and Specialty Master’s Programs. She joins us again this year to share her insights into the admissions process, what to expect during the interview, what makes a great essay, and more. Maria Pineda, Senior Director of Admissions at The University of Maryland Clear Admit: What is the one Read more
Published: July 24, 2023
Admissions Director Q&A: Paula Amorim of IESE
In the latest installment of our Admissions Director Q&A, we take a deep dive into MBA admissions with Paula Amorim, the Director of Admissions of the Full-Time MBA at IESE Business School. Paula joined the Admissions team after completing her MBA at IESE in 2016 and was previously responsible for the Latin American market, based in the Sao Paulo campus. She is an Industrial engineer from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, in her hometown, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Prior to the MBA, she dedicated her career to management consulting in local firms Read more
Published: July 19, 2023
Admissions Director Q&A: Debbie Macedonia & Jessica Lunce of SMU Cox
Get deeper insights into MBA admissions at the SMU Cox School of Business in this Admissions Director Q&A with two leaders from their full-time MBA admissions team, Debbie Macedonia and Jessica Lunce. Debbie is the Assistant Dean of Full-Time MBA and MS Admissions at SMU Cox. She started her career working in financial reporting with Cambridge Associates and quickly found parallel professional interests in recruiting, mentoring, and training. In her career in higher education, Debbie has held various roles across marketing, student services, and admissions with the College of Charleston, Carnegie Mellon Read more
Published: July 17, 2023
Admissions Director Q&A: Rebekah Lewin of the University of Rochester, Simon Business School
Let’s dig into MBA admissions at the University of Rochester, Simon Business School with Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions and Programs Rebekah Lewin in this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series. Rebekah has over 20 years of undergraduate and graduate admissions and program management experience. In her current role, she oversees strategy related to recruitment, admissions, financial aid, career management, and student experience aspects for full-time, part-time, and online MBA and MS programs. Rebekah is involved in board and advisory roles, including as a Board Trustee for the Consortium Read more
Published: July 12, 2023
Admissions Director Q&A: Shari Hubert of Duke Fuqua
Go behind the scenes of MBA admissions at the Duke University Fuqua School of Business with Associate Dean of Admissions Shari Hubert in this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series. Hubert oversees recruitment and admissions for the school’s portfolio of ten business degree programs. Prior to Fuqua, she was in charge of admissions for the Full-time and Evening MBA programs at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. Hubert has extensive experience in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, and entered higher education after working for the Peace Corps as director of recruitment within Read more
Published: July 10, 2023
Admissions Director Q&A: Donna Swinford of Chicago Booth
Get an inside look at admissions at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business with Donna Swinford, Associate Dean for Student Recruitment and Admissions for MBA Programs, in this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series. Donna has been at Booth since 1997 and joined the Office of Admissions in 2005. She’s seen the admissions process at Booth from pretty much every angle over the course of her tenure, having served in several roles, including head of Operations and Evaluation, before transitioning to her current position as Associate Dean Read more
Published: July 5, 2023
Admissions Director Q&A: Rebecca Mallen-Churchill of ASU Carey
Let’s dig into Admissions Director Q&A ASU Carey with Rebecca Mallen-Churchill, Director of Graduate Student Recruitment, in our latest Admissions Director Q&A. Mallen-Churchill graduated from ASU in 2005; while earning her degree in theatre and Italian, she also discovered her love for higher education while working for the Graduate Admissions office. After gaining work experience in the hospitality industry and traveling the world, Rebecca returned to Arizona and joined W. P. Carey in 2013. In her time working with the graduate program’s office, Rebecca has recruited students from every corner of the globe. She Read more
Published: July 4, 2023
Admissions Director Q&A: Lindsay Loyd of NYU Stern
Take a deep dive into MBA admissions at the NYU Stern School of Business with Lindsay Loyd, Executive Director of MBA Admissions, in this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series. Lindsay leads the recruiting and admissions efforts for Stern’s Full-time MBA Programs, including the two-year Full-time MBA, and focused one-year MBAs: the Andre Koo Technology & Entrepreneurship MBA and Fashion & Luxury MBA. She joined NYU Stern in January 2023 after a 20-year career in financial services. Lindsay is a seasoned business leader with extensive experience in acquisition, engagement, Read more
Published: June 29, 2023
Admissions Director Q&A: Charlotte Russell-Green of Cambridge Judge
Go behind the scenes of MBA admissions at Cambridge Judge Business School with Head of MBA Recruitment and Admissions Charlotte Russell-Green in this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series. After training in Drama and Theatre at Goldsmiths in London, Charlotte transitioned into marketing after graduation and has now worked in the MBA market for over 10 years. She started her MBA career at QS, managing the marketing for the World MBA Tour events in North America, and has worked in admissions and recruitment for the Cambridge MBA for 8 years, admitting Read more
Published: June 27, 2023
Admissions Director Q&A: Imran Kanga of Toronto Rotman
Get a closer look into MBA admissions at the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management with Director of Recruitment and Admissions Imran Kanga in this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series. Imran’s motivation to join Rotman stemmed its culture of community and collaboration inherent in the students, faculty and staff there. Rotman’s focus on students’ academic and career success as well as being a catalyst for positive change is what drew Imran to Rotman. With almost a decade of experience in higher education, Read more
Published: June 22, 2023
Admissions Director Q&A: Hollie Hinton of The Ohio State Fisher
Get an insider’s view of MBA admissions at The Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business with Senior Director of Admissions Hollie Hinton in this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series. Hollie is a versatile professional who, prior to becoming Senior Director of Admissions, forged multimillion-dollar partnerships between The Ohio State and various industries in the Office of Corporate Relations. In addition to her experience leading a multistate marketing team at DLZ Corporation, she spearheaded the Ohio Governor’s Office for Women’s Initiatives, advocating for policies benefiting Ohio’s 6 million Read more
Published: June 20, 2023
Admissions Director Q&A: Nathan Eisenberg of Michigan Ross
Dig into MBA admissions at the University of Michigan – Stephen M. Ross School of Business with Senior Associate Director of Admissions, Nathan Eisenberg, M.S., in this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series. Nathan was raised in the Ann Arbor area of Michigan and earned his undergraduate degree at Eastern Michigan University and graduate degree at Northwestern University. Prior to Michigan Ross, he spent 11 years in admissions at other universities in New York and Illinois ranging from undergraduate admissions, continuing education, and specialized Master’s degrees. He loves the Michigan Ross Read more
Published: May 24, 2023
Admissions Director Q&A: Coni Zingarelli of Rice Business
In this Admissions Director Q&A, we hear from Coni Zingarelli, the executive director of recruiting, admissions and student financial services at Rice Business. Previously, she served in roles with Temple Fox and UCI Merage. She is passionate about helping students find the right graduate program to further their personal and professional aspirations. Coni spent the first 12 years of her career in the hospitality industry working in San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles. She earned her MBA from UCI Merage and her B.A. from the Pennsylvania State University. Now that Coni has spent Read more
Published: March 30, 2023
Admissions Director Q&A: Narottam Kishore of BITSoM
Sponsored Content We return to our Admissions Director Q&A with Narottam Kishore, the Head of Admissions & Outreach and Student Affairs at BITS School of Management, Mumbai (BITSoM). BITSoM is a new business school under the aegis of BITS Pilani, identified as Institution of Eminence by the Government of India. Narottam has been at BITSoM for the past two years, leading admissions and outreach initiatives for the full-time MBA program. In his role as the head of the Student Affairs, he is responsible for overseeing student clubs, managing student activities, and promoting student learning and development outside Read more
Published: March 29, 2023
Admissions Director Q&A: Liz Hutchinson of IE Business School
In this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A series, we welcome Liz Hutchinson, the Head of Admissions, Graduate Programs at IE University in Madrid. In this role, Liz oversees the enrollment for over 30 master’s degrees within IE Business School, IE School of Architecture and Design, IE Law School, IE School of Science and Technology, and IE School of Politics, Economics, and Global Affairs. Liz has over 10 years of experience in university admissions both in the United States and abroad with leadership positions at Harvard Business School and Berklee College of Music. In this podcast interview with Graham Read more
Published: December 21, 2022
Admissions Director Q&A: Benoit Banchereau of HEC Paris
We are delighted to have Benoit Banchereau return for another Admissions Director Q&A on behalf of HEC Paris. Benoit has been leading the marketing and the recruitment for the full-time MBA, EMBA and Trium EMBA programs of HEC Paris for the last seven years. He started his career as a journalist in France and in the UK before joining the strategy consulting firm AT Kearney, where he oversaw marketing and communications for the French market for a decade. He then joined Freshfields, the UK law firm, in France as Director of business development for Read more
Published: October 25, 2022
Admissions Director Q&A: Melissa Rapp of Emory Goizueta
In this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A, Melissa Rapp, Associate Dean of Graduate Admissions for Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, digs into MBA admissions, how to approach the application essays and much more. Melissa leads the teams responsible for the recruitment, evaluation, and matriculation of students across the portfolio of Graduate Business programs including MBA programs, MS in Business Analytics program, and Master of Analytical Finance program. A longtime higher education professional with over 18 years of experience, Melissa has worked at both small and large institutions helping to form and implement successful admissions Read more
Published: October 18, 2022
Admissions Director Q&A: Shari Hubert of Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business
In this Admissions Director Q&A, get the inside scoop on MBA admissions at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Shari Hubert, Associate Dean of Admissions, is responsible for overseeing recruitment and admissions for the school’s portfolio of ten business degree programs. Prior to Fuqua, she was in charge of admissions for the Full-time and Evening MBA programs at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. Hubert has extensive experience in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, and entered higher education after working for the Peace Corps as director of recruitment within the Office Read more
Published: October 13, 2022
Admissions Director Q&A: Teresa Peiro-Camaro of INSEAD
We continue our Admissions Director Q&A series with Teresa Peiro-Camaro, the Associate Director, Global Admissions at INSEAD. Based in Fontainebleau, France, she leads the Admissions Office team, which oversees the admissions process for Degree Programmes and is responsible for the class composition for Executive Degrees and MBA. In this role, she is responsible for ensuring that each INSEAD cohort brings together people, cultures, and ideas to develop responsible leaders who transform business and society. Teresa and her team accompany candidates along the entire application journey, helping them to explore their driving motivation and to fulfill Read more
Published: October 11, 2022
Admission Director Q&A: J.R. McGrath of Carnegie Mellon Tepper
The new Executive Director of Masters Admissions at Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business joins us for this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A. J.R. has been at Tepper for the past 19 months as Director of Masters Recruiting and just accepted the role of Executive Director at the beginning of October. He has previously served in leadership roles at SMU Cox, TCU and Syracuse. In addition to his professional responsibilities, JR and his wife have a young daughter that keeps them busy. J.R. also enjoys running, golf and anything to do with Read more
Published: September 27, 2022
Admissions Director Q&A: Paula Amorim of IESE
We continue to deliver behind-the-scenes insights into MBA admissions in our Admissions Director Q&A with Paula Amorim, the Director of Admissions of the Full Time MBA at IESE Business School. She joined the Admissions team after completing her MBA at IESE in 2016 and was previously responsible for the Latin American market, based in the Sao Paulo campus. She is an Industrial engineer from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, in her hometown, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Prior to the MBA, she dedicated her career to management consulting in local firms in Brazil. Find out Read more

MBA Applywire

12
December 17, 2024 6:19am ET
Applying: Columbia, Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, Georgetown / McDonough, Harvard Business School, Michigan / Ross, MIT Sloan, Northwestern / Kellogg, NYU Stern, U. Chicago Booth, UPenn / Wharton, UT Austin / McCombs
Intake Year: 2025
Pre-MBA Career: Registered Nurse
Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting Companies: Bain , BCG , McKinsey
GRE: 326
GPA: 3.5
Years of Work Experience: 3
Location: Colorado
Post MBA Location: Chicago/NYC
Notes:

25F, lgbtq
Education: Bachelor's degree in Nursing (GPA: 3.5) from a top 2 nursing school
Work Experience: 3 years as a high-risk OB Registered Nurse at a major hospital, with leadership roles in various healthcare initiatives and patient care management.
Additional Experience: Currently working as a GP
Operations Specialist at an early-stage healthcare/tech-focused venture capital firm, where I optimize operational processes and support investment decisions in the healthcare sector.
I understand my background is somewhat non-traditional for an MBA program and that my stats are about average for these schools, but I believe my experience in healthcare and VC provides a unique perspective and skill set. Which M7 or T15 schools do you think I should realistically target, especially those known for strong consulting programs? With my stats and experience do I realistically have a shot at admission to a top program? I have a particular interest in Kellogg and Booth, as I'm planning on pursuing a career in healthcare consulting.
Additionally, I would love any guidance on how to present myself as a competitive candidate and effectively showcase my strengths and experiences in healthcart and venture capital. Thank you for your help!
7
December 17, 2024 12:03am ET
Applying: Columbia, Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, NYU Stern, UCLA Anderson, UVA / Darden, Yale SOM
Intake Year: 2025
Pre-MBA Career: Worked in Tech vertical at Barclays
Post-MBA Target Industry: Investment Banking Companies: Goldman Sachs , JP Morgan , Merrill Lynch , Morgan Stanley
GRE: 335
GPA: 3.2
Years of Work Experience: 2.5
Location: India
Notes:

With an experience of 2.5 years and a promotion to mid-managerial level as a data analyst, I look forward to MBA for a broader global exposure and be in the decision making position to see how my work brings a real time impact for the organisation.
6
December 16, 2024 6:24am ET
Applying: Columbia, Dartmouth / Tuck, Georgetown / McDonough, Northwestern / Kellogg, NYU Stern, Yale SOM
Intake Year: 2025
Pre-MBA Career: Risk management security services/operations
Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting
GRE: 320
GPA: 3.75
Years of Work Experience: 4
8
December 15, 2024 6:03pm ET
Applying: Berkeley / Haas, Columbia, Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan, NYU Stern, Stanford GSB, UCLA Anderson, Yale SOM
Intake Year: 2025
Pre-MBA Career: Finance
Post-MBA Target Industry: Venture Capital
GRE: 325
GPA: 3.2
Years of Work Experience: 4
6
December 13, 2024 7:23am ET
Applying: Columbia, Cornell / Johnson, Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, UPenn / Wharton, Yale SOM
Intake Year: 2025
Pre-MBA Career: Private Equity Tax Operations
Post-MBA Target Industry: Investment Banking, Venture Capital, Private Equity
GRE: 335
GPA: 3.30
Years of Work Experience: 3
Location: India
Post MBA Location: New York
Notes:

Undergraduate: US took 6 years to graduate due to health issues. Took 1 gap year, 6 months of co-op in college + covid.
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MBA LiveWire

December 17, 2024 9:13pm ET
Rejected at UT Austin / McCombs
Round: Round 1
Received via email December 17, 2024
GPA: 8.33/10
GRE: 331
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Entrepreneurship
Note:

To be honest, it came as a shocker because this was my safety school. But I got accepted to higher-ranked schools on my priority list, so it is okay. I will most likely enrol at Harvard if they are generous with FinAid. Wishing everyone the best for R2
December 17, 2024 7:29pm ET
Accepted to UT Austin / McCombs
Round: Round 1
Received via portal December 17, 2024
GRE: 325
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Note:

Missed the call from a 2Y student, and received 20K/year. Very grateful for the result.
December 17, 2024 6:54pm ET
Rejected at Berkeley / Haas
Round: Round 1
Received via email on December 11, 2024
GPA: 3.7
GRE: 326
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Technology
Application Location: Intl.
Note:

Will have 3.5 YoE by matriculation.
Applied days before the deadline.
The adcom left me to die and waited until the last day for R1 decisions to let me know of my rejection.
Anyways, I'm pleased about my rejection and knowing I'm not going to a woke school. I still got an acceptance at 2 higher ranked schools.
December 17, 2024 2:58pm ET
Accepted to UT Austin / McCombs
Round: Round 1
Received via phone December 17, 2024
GPA: 3.3
EA: 151
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Consulting
Application Location: Brazil
Note:

I got a call today from a student I connected with during the application process! 13y Background: operations, product management, and leadership positions.
December 17, 2024 2:53pm ET
Waitlisted at U. Washington / Foster
Round: Round 1
Received via email on December 12, 2024
GPA: 3.14
GRE: 324
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Target Career: Technology
Application Location: SEA
Note:

Still hoping, I don't wanna leave...
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