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MBA Admissions Blog

Business School Career Centers, Part 1: Thinking Beyond the Numbers

MBA Career Centers: How to Evaluate Career Services Beyond Placement Rates

Looking to earn an MBA to enhance your career or pivot to a different role or industry? If so, you aren’t alone; the majority of first-year MBAs want or need the degree to make a career change. So, if the bulk of a graduating class has a job within three months of graduation, you’d think…

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Finance to MBA: Five Considerations for Applicants

Finance to MBA: Five Considerations for Applicants

Finance is one of the largest industries that business schools draw from. Here, I use the term “finance” broadly, including corporate finance, investment banking, equity research, private equity, asset management, and other roles. MBA admissions committees like candidates with experience in finance, as they generally have the quant skills needed to succeed academically. The flip…

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How to Thank Your MBA Recommenders

Applying to MBA programs involves asking one, two, and sometimes even three people (perhaps if you’re applying to joint programs) who are typically very busy to spend time writing you a customized letter of recommendation. Although the Common Letter of Recommendation does save recommenders some time, they still need to tweak each letter for word…

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Should I Consider a Master’s Degree in Finance?

Are you aiming for a job in a competitive finance area such as risk management, corporate finance, or algorithmic trading but don’t want an MBA—at least for now? If so, consider applying for a Master of Finance (MFin/MSF) degree. There is high demand for skilled finance professionals, and this degree can prepare you for a…

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Five Tips for Business School Virtual and Campus Visits

There is no better way to get to know an MBA program—and for an MBA program to get to know you—than to make an on-campus visit. However, you can also learn quite a bit about a program by conducting online research. If, for whatever reason—distance, a busy work schedule, or cost constraints—you cannot visit a…

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Preparing for Your HBS Interview

Congratulations! You’re one of the roughly 20% of applicants to Harvard Business School (HBS) each year who have been invited to interview. Of those, about 50% are admitted to HBS. HBS interviews are different from those of other schools, so it’s important to prepare for those differences to increase your chances of acceptance. Here are…

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Tips and a Template for Prepping Your MBA Recommenders

Letters of recommendation understandably tend to give applicants more anxiety than the rest of the MBA application, since it’s the only element out of one’s control. Luckily, this can be one of the more straightforward parts of the application. I encourage applicants to get their recommendations out of the way as soon as they know…

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international mba applicants

Ten Tips for International Candidates Applying to Top US MBA Programs

International candidates submit more than half of MBA applications, yet the international student population across the top 20 US MBA programs is roughly 35%. Do the math: it is super competitive.  The tips we share in this blog post will help international applicants navigate the unique requirements of top US MBA programs—from testing and transcripts to timelines…

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List of to do items in January for MBA Applicants

January Tips to Prepare for Business School

As you flip the calendar to 2026, perhaps you are putting finishing touches on Round 2 MBA applications so you can attend your dream business school later this year. If that’s you, get back to work! But if one of your New Year’s resolutions is to take the next step in your career, read on….

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A college student applying to deferred MBA programs

Deferred MBA Programs for Undergrads: Eligibility and Deadlines at Top Schools

More and more top MBA programs are offering admission to exceptional students in their senior year of undergraduate studies and to students who began working toward a master’s degree directly after college. Although deferred admissions programs differ, the gist is that if undergraduate students know they will need an MBA degree to achieve their goals,…

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Marketing Role to MBA: Seven Easy Tips to Get Accepted

More and more candidates with a marketing background are applying to top MBA programs, and the competition to land a spot in a coveted program gets fiercer every year. How can you capitalize on your background in marketing to submit the strongest possible applications? Here are seven tips to consider: Not sure what to do?…

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how to get into ucla anderson

How to Get into UCLA Anderson School of Management

UCLA Anderson is all about teamwork and collaboration. The school has an excellent entrepreneurship center and that spirit is reflected in the student body. Anderson recruits creative leaders, ones that can think fearlessly and lead innovation, all while sharing their success.

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