Real Humans of MBA Students

Published: September 23, 2019

Real Humans of Duke Fuqua’s MBA Class of 2021

We continue our exploration of MBA student life in our Real Humans series down in Durham, North Carolina. The Associate Dean of Admissions at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business has walked us through many appealing features of the city and the school culture. As you’ll see on the following pages, the Daytime MBA Class of 2021 agrees—Fuqua is the place to be. Tradition and community are a part of the school’s DNA. Fuqua students benefit from participating in traditions such as Fuqua Friday or the Duke Basketball Read more

Published: September 18, 2019

Real Humans of UNC Kenan-Flagler’s MBA Class of 2021

Home to 13.2 miles of bike lanes, over 95 restaurants and bars, 250 acres of parks, 12 theaters and live music venues all with a population of under 60,000, Chapel Hill is routinely ranked one of the nation’s top college towns. And within that landscape, the collaborative and supportive culture at UNC Kenan-Flagler left a strong impression on each of the MBA candidates featured in this edition of Real Humans. Whether during the application process or kicking off the new school year, students and staff dedicated their time to each other to Read more

Published: September 16, 2019

Real Humans of Northwestern Kellogg’s MBA Class of 2021

Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management students praise the diverse, friendly, and supportive on-campus atmosphere. The overall Class of 2021 demographics further support this culture. Of the 474 full-time MBA students in the most recent class, U.S. minorities account for 26 percent of the student body while international students represent 32 percent of the group. Twenty-nine percent of the Class of 2021 majored in STEM subjects for their undergraduate degrees, 49 percent in economics/business, and 24 percent in humanities subjects. GMAT scores ranged between 620 and 780, with the average landing at 730. While Kellogg has Read more

Published: September 9, 2019

Real Humans of NYU Stern’s MBA Class of 2021

As last season’s MBA applicants transition to students at their target programs, we are excited to begin introducing them in our Real Humans of the MBA Class of 2021 series! We start in New York City with New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business, and you should stay tuned as we make our way around the world to additional leading business schools. When asked, “Why the Stern School of Business?” students of the incoming NYU Stern Class of 2021 applauded the customizable curriculum and the school’s Read more

Published: April 28, 2019

Real Humans of Bain: Summer Associates

There’s no doubt that consulting consistently leads the pack for MBA graduates’ career choice, and Bain & Co. is widely considered one of the most elite consulting firms in the world. As such, we’re excited to kick off our Real Humans of Bain series. Just as we brought you the inside perspective from recruiting at Bain, we’re now on the ground with recent Summer Associates, who provide fresh firsthand perspectives on earning an MBA and landing at Bain. The recent MBA graduates profiled below walk us through their MBA and career experiences, Read more

Published: February 19, 2019

Real Humans of Indiana Kelley’s MBA Class of 2020

Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business has an exceptional MBA program consistently ranked in the top 25 of MBA programs by Forbes and US News & World Report. Kelley’s innovative curriculum emphasizes the school’s four core values: collaboration, professionalism, leadership, and excellence. The first experience that Kelley MBA students have is via Me, Inc., an intensive program in which students do some major self-reflection. The goal of the program is to help students develop a clear idea of what they want to do over the next two years. After completing this pre-MBA program, the Kelley MBA program Read more

Published: February 13, 2019

Real Humans of Carnegie Mellon Tepper’s MBA Class of 2020

Pittsburgh is a city of confluence, intersected by three rivers—the Ohio, Alleghany, and Monongahela. As the city’s hills rise away from these three mighty bodies of water, the various streams of Pittsburgh life merge—the artistic culture of Pittsburgh with its industrial past and its technological future. One of the places that best exemplifies the mixture that is Pittsburgh is Carnegie Mellon University. Sitting along the coast of the Monongahela, Carnegie Mellon is well known as one of the best technical schools in the U.S., producing generations of engineers and computer scientists. It also has one of the top drama schools, Read more

Published: February 10, 2019

Real Humans of Emory Goizueta’s MBA Class of 2020

Long the hub of the South, Atlanta has been rapidly gaining national prominence due to the rise of its homegrown rap scene and its booming media economy, anchored by firms such as Turner and Tyler Perry Studios. Long before Atlanta became a music and media hub, Atlanta was—and remains—a major international business hub. Currently, the city is home to massive companies such as Coca-Cola, Delta, UPS, and the Home Depot. Given the companies headquartered in the city, it is a no-brainer that Atlanta is a stellar place for MBA students to learn their craft. Emory University’s Goizueta Read more

Published: February 5, 2019

Real Humans of SMU Cox’s MBA Class of 2020

In the minds of many, Dallas is embodied by three cultural artifacts: the Cowboys, the JFK assassination, and the 80s soap opera. But on the ground, Dallas is a bustling city of business in the heart of the Lone Star State. Jobs are booming, and the future is looking bright. Southern Methodist University has consistently generated many of those future business leaders through the MBA program at its Cox School of Business. SMU Cox is one of the smaller schools profiled in this series, as its incoming class is only 109 students. Read more

Published: January 29, 2019

Real Humans of the HEC Paris MBA Class of 2020

According to Times Higher Education, HEC Paris has produced the most CEOs of Fortune Global 500 companies. This is appealing to students who both want to lead major businesses, as well as those who want to create their own legacies. Entrepreneurship is also at the forefront, as the school estimates about a quarter of graduates each year launch their own businesses. Moreover, there are hundreds of entrepreneurial projects created during the school year. HEC Paris limits each entering cohort to 250 students, which means that competition is intense. Only 16 percent of those who applied to Read more

Published: January 21, 2019

Real Humans of USC Marshall’s MBA Class of 2020

Women comprise the majority of students who earn graduate degrees—except when it comes to MBAs. While Forté Foundation reported that women’s enrollment at full-time MBA programs reached 38 percent on average in 2018, the figure hovered closer to 30 percent women on average just a few years ago. The absence of women in MBA programs ricochets out into the boardrooms, as women hold far fewer positions of power within the business world than men. MBA programs have recognized this problem and begun making efforts to change the narrative. Although some programs like Northwestern Kellogg (46 percent), Dartmouth Read more

Published: January 13, 2019

Real Humans of UNC Kenan-Flagler’s MBA Class of 2020

The Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill is celebrating its 100th birthday this week. Through the decades of development and evolution in business education, the school has grown in tandem with its core values of excellence, leadership, integrity, community and teamwork. Over 4,000 alumni enjoy careers with Fortune 500 companies, over 900 graduates have reached C-level positions and more than 250 work as CEOs. Kenan-Flagler also prides itself on graduates not just creating positive change in companies they lead, but also creating positive impact on the communities they serve. The Read more

Published: December 30, 2018

Real Humans of Rochester Simon’s MBA Class of 2020

The University of Rochester’s Simon Business School has risen to prominence recently as the first U.S. business school to receive STEM designation for its full-time MBA program. Alongside a STEM-designated option, Simon places emphasis on experiential learning. Students are required to take a project-based consulting course, during which they work in teams with a company on a business project, applying the tools they have learned in the classroom in real-life situations. Simon offers 10 specializations arranged in three tracks: Finance, Marketing and Consulting. Students also have the option to round off their education with a minor in six Read more

Published: December 18, 2018

Real Humans of Rice Jones’ MBA Class of 2020

At the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University, their motto is: “be attentive, responsive, and kind.” Jones offers a small program—and proudly. Just 118 students matriculated for their Class of 2020, and the school boasts class sizes at 40 students and a 9 to 1 student to faculty ratio. Just under a third—31 percent—of the class is comprised of women. Fifteen percent are U.S. underrepresented minorities and 36 percent are U.S. minorities. Approximately a quarter of the Class of 2020 are foreign nationals, and altogether the class represents 17 countries. In regards to academic Read more

Published: December 16, 2018

Real Humans of Cambridge Judge’s MBA Class of 2019

Cambridge University is an institution steeped in history. Stephen Hawking, Charles Darwin, Sylvia Plath, and Isaac Newton have walked across its quads and sat in its halls. So it's no wonder that the business school ad com looks for candidates who are "intelligent, curious, and energetic, and keen to contribute to our community, as well as achieve great things for themselves." Before we introduce five students who met the criteria, let's take a closer look at the school and its Class of 2019. Read more

Published: December 13, 2018

Real Humans of Oxford Saïd’s MBA Class of 2019

As HQ for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, Oxford has long held a place in the global imagination as the image of elite British education. While Oxford Saïd Business School is a relatively new addition to the Oxford ranks, it has quickly made a significant contribution to the legacy of the institution in its short 22-year existence. In fact, The Economist currently ranks Oxford Saïd as the UK’s top MBA program. Over the course of the yearlong program, Oxford Saïd MBA students will develop the skills they need to thrive as corporate executives through team projects, workshops, seminars, and lectures. Students acquire and Read more

Published: December 9, 2018

Real Humans of UCLA Anderson’s MBA Class of 2020

At the UCLA Anderson School of Management, the collaborative curriculum gives students the skills to achieve their goals while the Career Management Center provides one-on-one coaching and access to top-level executives and businesses to help students make a smooth, successful transition into the professional world. Of the 3,423 people who applied to be a part of the supportive program, 360 matriculated in the Class of 2020. Altogether, the new class averaged 719 on the GMAT and the 80 percent range fell between 680 and 750. Their middle-80 percent undergraduate GPA range landed at 3.2 to 3.8. A quarter Read more

Published: December 5, 2018

Real Humans of the Georgetown McDonough MBA Class of 2020

As a global hub for politics, business, tech, and nonprofit organizations alike, Washington, D.C., is one of the major selling points for prospective Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business students. Students also laud the close-knit community of the MBA program, and how second-year students are always at the ready for any and all questions from new candidates. In this edition of Real Humans, we’re going to meet five new students who chose McDonough for different reasons, but found the same sense of community. We start with a snapshot of the new class. The 271 students who enrolled Read more

Published: December 2, 2018

Real Humans of Dartmouth Tuck’s MBA Class of 2020

We are pleased to continue our Real Humans series with a snapshot of the Class of 2020 at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business. Situated in Hanover, New Hampshire, Tuck stands out from its peer schools for offering only a full-time MBA program, though students may pursue joint or dual degrees in conjunction with Dartmouth and other leading universities. Once again, the Tuck class matriculated with impressive and diverse experiences. Compared to the Class of 2019, the average GMAT score has stayed consistent at 722 and the average GPA has dropped only slightly to 3.49. Tuck also continues Read more

Published: November 26, 2018

Real Humans of NYU Stern’s Class of 2020

The Leonard N. Stern School of Business is located in the center of New York University’s main campus in Manhattan, New York. With a prime location in Greenwich Village and proximity to Wall Street, even applicants appreciate the “fantastic energy” of the program and its student body. Of the 3,781 applicants hoping to join the lively and diverse community, 375 enrolled in the Class of 2020. The group arrived on campus this fall with an average of 5.3 years of work experience, though Stern is also open to fresh graduates. William Berkley, the chairman of NYU’s Board of Overseers, Read more

Published: November 21, 2018

Real Humans of IESE’s MBA Class of 2020

Widely considered one of the top MBA programs in Europe, IESE provides a business school experience that gives students the skills necessary to truly become a leader who leaves a legacy. The international student population at IESE is large and varied. The IESE Class of 2020 comes from 64 different countries, an increase from the previous year’s 57 countries of origin. In addition to the various countries where students originate, the Class of 2020 consists of 81 percent international students. In terms of geographic origin, the largest percentage comes from Europe, making up 37 Read more

Published: November 18, 2018

Real Humans of Rotman’s MBA Class of 2020

“The need for change is real, and the blueprints are already in process. One of the most distinctive blueprints being developed is at the Rotman School.” – Lane Wallace, The New York Times The University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management has staked a claim as one of Canada’s top-tier business schools with a diverse student population that reflects Toronto’s mélange of global cultures. As a world-renowned institution that has cultivated business leaders since 1950, one might expect Rotman’s programs to have a rarefied air around them—keen to preserve the past at the expense of finding new Read more

Published: November 11, 2018

Real Humans of Chicago Booth’s MBA Class of 2020

Aspiring business leaders are no stranger to the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. In 2018, Booth tied with Harvard Business School for the No. 1 ranked full-time MBA program, according to U.S. News and World Report, and also claimed the top spot in The Economist‘s ranking. Known for its academic rigor, emphasis on analytics, and expertise in finance and economics, Booth consistently attracts the cream of the crop to shape the world of business. The Class of 2020 is no exception, with the Read more

Published: October 31, 2018

Real Humans of the Stanford GSB MBA Class of 2020

Nearly 8,000 MBA hopefuls sought a seat in the classrooms of the prestigious Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB), but only 419 secured their place in the Class of 2020. In this edition of our Real Humans of the MBA Class of 2020 series, we catch up with four GSB MBA first-year students who defied the odds and joined this exceptional class. First, let’s take a look at overall class profile statistics to better understand the latest set of students selected to pursue the school’s mission, “Change lives. Change organizations. Change the world.” Stanford keeps its classes Read more

Published: October 29, 2018

Real Humans of the Wharton MBA Class of 2020

Have you been anxiously awaiting an invitation to interview at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School? What better time to learn more about the school’s current first-year MBA class? You’re in luck, because the latest installment in our Real Humans series today features the Wharton MBA Class of 2020. But before we introduce you to individual members of that class, we’ll paint a picture of the class as a whole using these stats published as part of the class profile. “This class is an impressive collection of leaders from all walks of life, backgrounds, nationalities, industry experiences, Read more

MBA Applywire

December 21, 2024 12:13pm ET

Applying: Dartmouth / Tuck, Northwestern / Kellogg, UPenn / Wharton, UT Austin / McCombs, UVA / Darden

Intake Year: 2025

Pre-MBA Career: Military/Corporate Logistics

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

GRE: 302

GPA: 3.63

Years of Work Experience: 9

Notes:

Submitting for R2, but retaking GRE after application deadline. Military Vet with Corporate experience.

December 20, 2024 5:17pm ET

Applying: Columbia, Duke / Fuqua, Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan, Northwestern / Kellogg, Stanford GSB, U. Chicago Booth, UPenn / Wharton

Intake Year: 2025

Pre-MBA Career: Healthcare

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting Companies: Bain , BCG

GRE: 332

GPA: 3.5

Years of Work Experience: 3

Location: Florida

Post MBA Location: Consulting

Notes:

25F, lgbtq, 3 years as a registered nurse. also have started working for an early stage VC in the past several months.

December 19, 2024 4:44pm ET

Applying: Berkeley / Haas, Stanford GSB

Intake Year: 2025

Pre-MBA Career: Insurance

Post-MBA Target Industry: Entrepreneurship

GRE: 318

GPA: 3.59

Years of Work Experience: 3.5

Location: Georgia

Post MBA Location: Southeast

Notes:

Looking to launch a tech startup post MBA, without any background in tech. Come from a quant heavy background and undergraduate coursework. I regularly attended admissions events, in person and online at my schools. I hope that focusing energy on my few top schools and spending a lot of time on essays will help me overcome the less than average test score (164 quant 154 verbal) and GPA.

Serial entrepreneur with a history of profitable small businesses. Was promoted twice in 3.5 years. Involved in many extracurricular activities in and outside of work. My background is very centered around financial services/insurance, is this a red flag for a pivot to Tech Entrepreneurship?

Transferred between two state schools in the southeast. School I graduated from is a top 25 undergrad business program. Obtained a few professionals designations post grad.

December 18, 2024 11:38am ET

Applying: Michigan / Ross, UNC Kenan-Flagler, Vanderbilt / Owen

Intake Year: 2025

Pre-MBA Career: Held various positions in Finance and Accounting in a healthcare institution

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting, Other Companies: BCG , Deloitte , Other

GPA: 3.0

Years of Work Experience: 11

Location: International

Notes:

I am passionate about healthcare enhancing patient quality care. So exploring in that field is what I would love. Got a 72k scholarship from Vandy and named Forte Fellow. UNC 50k. I'm having a hard time deciding though my heart is leaning towards Owen

December 18, 2024 10:23am ET

Applying: Arizona State / W.P. Carey, Indiana / Kelley, Ohio State / Fisher

Intake Year: 2025

Pre-MBA Career: Facility management

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting

GRE: 309

GPA: 2.8

Years of Work Experience: 3

Notes:

Graduate GPA -3.869

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MBA LiveWire

December 21, 2024 8:37am ET

Accepted to Duke / Fuqua

Round: Round 1

Received via phone on December 11, 2024

GMAT: 675

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Target Career: Consulting

December 21, 2024 2:38am ET

Waitlisted at Duke / Fuqua

Round: Round 1

Received via phone on December 10, 2024

GPA: 3.27

GMAT: 760

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Target Career: Finance

Application Location: CA

December 20, 2024 11:16pm ET

Accepted to Babson / Olin

Round: Round 1

Received via email on December 17, 2024

GPA: 3.9

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Target Career: Consulting

Application Location: South Asia

December 20, 2024 7:50pm ET

Accepted to Columbia

Round: Round 1

Received via portal on December 10, 2024

GMAT: 750

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Application Location: India

Note:

$100k scholarship

December 20, 2024 3:21pm ET

Accepted to Yale SOM

Round: Round 1

Received via email December 20, 2024

GPA: 4.0

GMAT: 750

Program Type: Traditional Two-Year

Note:

100% scholarship

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