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MBA Admissions Blog

October Tips to Get You Ready for Round 2 MBA Application Deadlines

As many aspiring MBA students are wrapping up Round 1 applications or anxiously awaiting a coveted interview invite, perhaps you are wondering where to begin! Do not worry. If you use your time wisely, you can complete several applications to submit before Round 2 MBA deadlines this January. Here is what you need to be doing in…

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How to Leverage Your Military Experience in MBA Applications

How to Leverage Your Military Experience in MBA Applications

Perhaps you are leaving active military service and hoping an MBA can help provide a smooth transition to civilian life. Or maybe you are pausing your active service to get an MBA with the goal of gaining skills to boost your military career. Will schools view your military service in a positive light? YES! The…

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Women’s Programs and Admissions Events at Top MBA Programs

Women’s Groups and Events at Top MBA Programs

Business schools value the perspectives and experiences that diverse groups bring to their programs, and these institutions go to great lengths to attract and welcome the most qualified and representative set of candidates to enhance learning opportunities for all. The top 25 MBA programs in the United States all have clubs, groups, events, and programs…

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Top MBA Programs’ Fall 2022 Diversity Events for Prospective Students

Top MBA Programs’ Fall 2025 Diversity Events for Prospective Students

One of the best ways for prospective business school students to learn about how well they might fit with an MBA program is by engaging with enrolled students who come from a similar cultural background. To facilitate this research, top business schools are offering diversity events this year to provide aspiring MBAs an opportunity to…

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Attention International Applicants: Top US MBA Programs with STEM Designations

Attention International Applicants: Top US MBA Programs with STEM Designations

The top 25 MBA programs have all certified their programs or a specific major, pathway, or concentration as STEM (science, technology, engineering, math). A STEM designation for an MBA program allows international students with F1 visas the eligibility to extend the Optional Practical Training (OPT) period to work in the United States from 12 months…

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Applying to MBA Programs When You Have an Untraditional Background

Applying to MBA Programs When You Have an Untraditional Background

Over the past 10–15 years, top MBA programs have accepted more students from untraditional backgrounds, including education (e.g., Teach for America), the Peace Corps, PR/media/communications, and the government/public sector. Having students from a range of different backgrounds adds to the diversity of business school classes. In all types of programs, but especially those that use…

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Should I Write the Optional Essay

MBA Application Optional Essay: Strategic Tips for Applicants

When applying to top MBA programs, you’ll likely encounter an “optional essay” as part of the application process. It can be tempting to skip this section, especially if you feel your application is already strong. But should you? The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all; it depends on your circumstances and the specific guidance provided by each school….

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Six Tips for the Wharton Team Based Discussion Interview

Wharton MBA Interview: Tips for the Team Based Discussion

Unlike any other MBA interview, Wharton puts you in a room with strangers and asks you to build something together in 35 minutes. Today, I want to share some tips that will help you prepare for Wharton’s unique interview: the Team Based Discussion (TBD). Wharton’s TBD is conducted in a group environment, with only ten…

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Five Reasons to Pursue an MBA Along with the CFA Designation

Five Reasons to Pursue an MBA Along with the CFA Designation

Earning a CFA® (Chartered Financial Analyst) charter is indeed a time commitment: the average charterholder spends around 300 hours studying for each of three levels of the exam, and fewer than 20% of entering Level I candidates successfully complete the program. Many financial professionals might wonder whether pursuing an MBA in addition to the CFA…

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Is a tech MBA right for me

Is a Tech MBA the Right Path for Your Career?

Technology is everywhere these days—and careers revolving around technology are the focus of many MBA programs. Although a general-management MBA will help you build strong management and business skills, if you are looking to pivot specifically into technology, there are tech-focused programs designed to help you do so. In addition, all tech MBA programs are…

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Six Keys to Successful MBA Application Essays

Six Steps to Writing Strong MBA Application Essays

In today’s competitive admissions climate, a successful MBA application requires significant time, planning, and self-reflection. One of the most important elements of that application is the essay, which is where you set yourself apart. The right essay can have a positively transformative effect on your profile—and, with it, your admissions decisions. Given our decades of…

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Three Tips as You Consider the ROI on an MBA

Three Tips as You Consider the ROI on an MBA

In its most recent , the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) reported that MBA applications soared by nearly 12% after two years of decline. Furthermore, a 2024 GMAC survey reported that median total compensation increased by 33% following graduate business training. These trends highlight that the return on investment (ROI) for an MBA degree remains…

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