Blog:
Seven Things to Do in February to Prepare for Round 1 MBA Applications
February 3, 2025
If you are reading this thinking, “I’ve got lots of time before the Round 1 2025–2026 deadlines,” think again! Although September may seem far away, preparing now for Round 1 applications will enable you to develop a well-thought-out and comprehensive application by reflecting on your story and creating the strategy to pull out all of…
Part of a Family Business? An MBA Could Be Right for You!
January 31, 2025
An estimated 80% of all businesses are considered family businesses to some degree. Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of business schools offer one or more courses focused on the unique challenges of running a business that means a whole lot more to you than just making money. If you are already working in a family business,…
Finance to MBA: Five Considerations for Applicants
January 30, 2025
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 others. MBA admissions committees like candidates with experience in finance, as they generally have the quant skills needed to succeed academically. The flip side…
How to Thank Your MBA Recommenders
January 24, 2025
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…
Five Tips for Business School Virtual and Campus Visits
January 21, 2025
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 from online research. If, for whatever reason—distance, a busy work schedule, or cost restraints—you find that you…
Preparing for Your HBS Interview
January 17, 2025
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…
Tips and a Template for Prepping Your MBA Recommenders
January 14, 2025
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 decide…
Tips for International Candidates Applying to Top US MBA Programs
January 10, 2025
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. If you are an international candidate, here are ten things to consider as you prepare to submit your MBA applications: 1. Timing Most top MBA programs have…
January Tips to Prepare for Business School
January 2, 2025
As you flip the calendar to 2025, 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….
Tips for MBA Letters of Support
December 20, 2024
Anyone applying to business school knows that getting great recommendations will strengthen their candidacy. When selecting recommenders, you want to ask managers and mentors who will advocate for you and share specific examples of how you have contributed and made an impact in an organization. See our blog post, “Four Steps to a Five-Star MBA…
College Seniors: Is an MBA in Your Future? Consider Deferred Admissions!
December 18, 2024
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,…
Marketing Role to MBA: Seven Easy Tips to Get Accepted
December 11, 2024
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: 1. Remember, you’re marketing yourself….