I said a few months ago that I'd write up my MBA journey, so here it is.

I was born without ears and ear canals, and had a hole in my palate. I had multiple surgeries, but it didn't fix the issue completely. Because hearing was difficult I grew up relying on self-learning.

Until 12th grade, I studied in my mothertongue. When I started engineering the teaching was in English and classes were much larger. I couldn't hear properly even with hearing aids. My grades dropped and I wasn't eligible for core engineering roles during campus recruitment.

After graduation I did an MBA with zero experience. mainly because I needed a job where hearing won't be a complete dealbreaker. I spent 8 years at JP Morgan in proj management. But I always wanted to do a global MBA.

My first MBA application year went badly. I applied to 8–9 schools and was rejected everywhere. I had worked with a consultant that year. Looking back I was overconfident in my unique background and application. I thought my background + experience would speak for itself. It didn't lol.

My goals were generic. Each essay looked polished on its own. But I hadn't connected my personal experiences, professional journey and long term goals into a convincing story across the essays.

GMAT was another problem area. I wasted 5 attempts before realizing I was making the same mistake every time i.e. ignoring the structured prep and preparing haphazardly. In my 6th attempt, I finally followed the study plan properly and scored 695.

For the next application cycle, I worked with a different consultant and my approach to applications this time was very different. I spent a lot more time understanding what I actually wanted to do and why. The focus was on connecting my personal experiences, JPMorgan career, extracurriculars and future goals rather than treating them as separate parts of an application.

It was slow and repetitive. I would come home from work and spend 2–3 hours working on applications. I rewrote it until the story actually made sense.

As reapplicant I applied to 6 schools. Interviewed at Yale, Oxford, Cambridge, Tepper. Waitlisted at NYU. Got admits from Yale, Oxford and Cambridge.

I chose Yale because I wanted the 2-year format and the opportunity to explore what I want to do next, particularly around consulting and my longer-term interest in making hearing solutions more accessible.

I don't want to turn this into a Linkedin post with 10 lessons I picked up. But I'll share just a couple.

Having an unusual background doesn't automatically convert into a strong application. You still have to figure out what the different parts of your journey mean and communicate that clearly. I learnt this the hard way and lost a year.

For anyone going through a reapplicant cycle, don't assume that a rejection means your profile isn't good enough. Maybe the bigger issue is how you're putting the profile together.

By the way, I love SOMies. People are extremely kind and welcoming.

First-year at a T15. Since August I've been to more employer presentations and recruiting coffee chats than I can count, but until Tuesday I'd never gone to a professor's office hours.

I only went because I was confused about an operations case and couldn't figure out where my numbers were going wrong.

I thought the company had a capacity problem. The professor asked what would happen to the queue if we increased capacity at that particular stage. We spent maybe 20 minutes at the whiteboard, and I realized I'd been looking at the wrong bottleneck the entire time.

Then he asked about my previous job because I'd mentioned managing a customer support team. We ended up talking about staffing problems I'd actually dealt with at work and how they compared to the case. It was genuinely interesting. Not something I needed for a grade or an interview.

Afterward I noticed he still had several open appointments that afternoon.

Meanwhile, I've had to register days in advance for 15-minute coffee chats with alumni who basically repeat the same recruiting advice I've already heard six times.

And I'm not criticizing those events. I'm trying to switch careers, so obviously recruiting matters a lot. I've probably done 30 coffee chats myself.

But it occurred to me that I've spent more one-on-one time with people explaining how to get an interview than with the people I'm paying an enormous amount of money to learn from.

Which is a little ridiculous when I actually think about it.

For current second-years and graduates, did you end up getting much value out of interacting with professors outside class? Or does recruiting pretty much consume everyone's attention until it's too late?

I was a first year at an M7 and dropped out last week and wanted to share my experience. I moved cross country to attend my program in August. Unfortunately, decided to drop out due to several reasons.

1) The students at my program just did not have the incredible backgrounds that I thought they'd have. There were probably less than 30 students who were in IB, MBB, or Big Tech in the US before the program. For those who were, a few actually dropped out with me because they came to the same realization that I did - the program isn't really meant for us because most students wanted to end up in those roles. I would argue that at HSW a lot more students came from these backgrounds, though, and were using the MBA as a 2 year break.

2) The students honestly just were not that ambitious or smart. There was definitely a lot of diversity in backgrounds but in the classroom, I was surprised how many students did not understand basic math (percent change, expected value, etc).

3) The student body was pretty cliquey. The program was big enough that you'll likely find your people if you're willing to put yourself out there, but people definitely form their groups in the first few weeks and stick with them. There was a post about this yesterday on here from a CBS student and I definitely felt the same about my program. It just felt incredibly performative and did not feel like I was making "life-long" friends/network. It mostly felt like a popularity contest.

4) Recruiting was not very strong this year. A lot more students wanted to do IB this year for the same number of spots as as last year, and a lot more people were getting cut. Obviously, recruiting is still going on so I cannot speak to final numbers but I didn't feel the opportunities were there even outside of banking.

5) A big chunk of students are sponsored in some way. Whether by employer, GI bill, parents, a big percentage of students are having their MBA paid for. This is not something I realized going into the program and made it feel less "worth it" for me, since I was self-funded.

The point of this post is not to convince anyone not to go to an MBA program - I don't think someone's internet post should be able to do that. Additionally, I think there are plenty of reasons to go to an MBA program i.e. get a job in the US (obviously, much harder now for internationals), pivot careers, etc. but if you're already pretty successful in your career, the MBA might not be right for you (HSW could make more sense?).

Can anyone in one of these LDPs say what you like and don’t like about the programs? Heard about them in coffee chats.

These are the ones I know of in East Coast or East Asia.

I think consulting & banking suck and PE/VC are the antichrist.

Currently interviewed at H/W, CBS & Tuck. Going wherever gives me most scholarship.

Did my interview 2 weeks ago, got the offer. Documenting all the questions I got here for people needed. (And yes, I did ask AI to refine what I remembered)

Tell me about a time you…

1. Automated an existing process or created a new process to replace an old one.

2. Convinced a senior leader who had an opposing point of view.

3. Delivered a project with limited resources/tight deadline

4. Handled an unrealistic/unachieveable deadline from a senior person

5. Approached a new industry or unfamiliar problem.

6. Changed your approach after receiving new information or data.

7. Scaled an idea or project.

8. Led a project with many stakeholders.

9. Made a decision with limited data or information.

10. Delivered results beyond expectations.

11. Worked on something you initially lacked the knowledge or expertise to understand.

4 X Interviews within a day.

Each interview only ask 2-3 questions and tons of follow up. Prepare a list of good questions for QnA as they will leave 10-15' for QnA.

I'm headed to HBS next year in 2027 and I'd like to hear if anyone has experience going through the financial aid process. I made an average of $85k ish the past 3 years pre-tax, and maybe another $6kish a year in bonus. I prioritized saving my money and was able to save about 40-50% from each net paycheck and contributed 8% to my Roth 401k as well. I also started investing a little at a young age and have maybe $30k in retirement accounts and the rest in stocks. I'd say my net worth would be around $130k-$145k by the time I'd join. I know my salary is lower than most admits, but I'm worried that saving my money is gonna backfire now. My parents aren't helping me with paying for school but I heard they'd look into my parent's finances as well.

Would someone like me qualify for a decent need-based scholarship? The concept of taking out a $250k loan is pretty scary so hoping to get some assistance from the school, but I have no frame of reference for what typical admits go in with in terms of savings.

Beyond the admissions marketing, what does each M7 school seem to care about most in each candidate?

The stereotypes I’ve heard are

Kellogg = cultural fit/collaboration

Booth = quant/intellectual curiosity

HBS = leadership/personal story

MIT Sloan = “mind and hand,” or turning ideas into action.

How accurate are these? What would the equivalents be for Stanford, Wharton, and Columbia?

Obviously admissions are holistic, but are there qualities each school places noticeably more weight on? Curious to hear concrete examples beyond admissions marketing.

Hey all, I'm currently working in Canada at a T2 consulting firm making about $150K (although in 2 years can go up to $170K depending on promotion cycles). I don't want to stay in consulting much longer as I've spent 4 years at the firm since out of undergrad. I have a ~3.6 GPA but my biggest roadblock tbh is the GMAT. I spent 4 months studying but haven't been able to get past a 615 on any of my 5 practice tests. My verbal and DI is great honestly (V85, DI82) but my Quant is so cooked (Q76) even though these last 4 months I've literally only done quant practice online.

I'm also conflicted because as an international, factoring in total cost + lost wages the MBA can be $500K+ for me and I would only ever want to go for M7 anyway. But even in that situation, as someone who doesn't want to go into MBB / IB / PE, I don't know if there's true value in pursuing an MBA.

My career goals are to go into the strategy arm at big tech or a F500 and I know an MBA can't hurt my chances but I'm still not sure if it's worth attempting the GMAT some more and then going through the whole application process only to lose out on half a million.

Thank you!

10 seconds to prepare, 90 seconds to respond. So you barely have time to prepare.

Example of questions - a) a time you made an impact in an organisation b) factors you consider before making a decision c) something you once believed and now have changed your mind on d) something you once found boring that's now fascinating.

Make sure you read the instructions very well before you start

Good luck!

I’m currently a Software Engineering Manager, making a salary of nearly $300k in the Midwest. I’ve always had a chip on my shoulder of never graduating college, and now I’m doing coursework and will wrap up my online degree in the next year or so and I’m considering an MBA. I’m hesitant because I’m not sure how it will boost my career though.

Would I have to go to a top school to get any benefit? If I have to leave my job I’d probably lose out on more earnings than the advanced degree would get me. Are there any others who have been in a similar situation?

Hi everyone!

Has anyone interviewed for Duke Fuqua’s Daytime MBA through a one-on-one, in-person meeting with an alumnus in Delhi NCR?

I’d love to hear about your experience, what the interview was like, and any tips you might have.

Thanks

Saw a lot of mba interview invite reporting on ClearAdmit. Quite nervous.

Are most invites out already?

Hi everyone! I’m looking for advice from people working in healthcare administration or public health.

I have a bachelor’s degree in mass communication with a concentration in audio/video broadcasting and a minor in business marketing. I’ve spent the past couple of years applying for marketing roles without much success, which has led me to explore other career paths.

I’m considering an MBA with a concentration in healthcare administration or a Master of Public Health (MPH). I understand these degrees lead to different paths, but I’m leaning toward the MBA because I’m more interested in the business, operations, and administrative side of healthcare than clinical work.

My biggest concern is entering the field without healthcare experience. I’ve heard that getting a job can be difficult and that connections play a big role. I know a master’s degree won’t guarantee employment, so I want to understand the realistic opportunities before investing my time and money.

I’m willing to gain relevant experience, build connections during school, and explore administrative fellowships. For those familiar with these paths:

• How realistic is it to enter healthcare administration with my background?
• Would an MBA with a healthcare concentration be a good fit for someone interested in administration and operations?
• What entry-level roles should I pursue before or during the program?
• How accessible are administrative fellowships to career changers without prior healthcare experience?
• What do you wish you had known before entering the field?

I’d appreciate honest advice, especially from anyone who transitioned into healthcare from an unrelated background. Thank you!

Hi everyone!

Just wanted to see if anyone has completed the Chicago Booth video simulation for this application cycle.

Would love to hear how it’s setup, what questions were asked, and if the questions are the same for everyone.

Thanks in advance!

What kind of person, not on a resume/piece of paper, would score better on the Executive Assessment? I was never the solid standardized test taker but from what I’ve heard the format is much different?

Hi guys!

I'm applying via Consortium for Round 2, and I took my first GRE attempt this morning. I've always struggled with major test anxiety and today was no exception to that. Despite scoring above 320 on practice tests at home (both via ETS and Magoosh), this morning, largely due to a disastrous performance on Quant and anxiety that can only be described as a major detriment, I landed at 313, which was super disappointing. I've been doing really well on the verbal and written side.

A bit about me: I went to an "elite" conservatory for undergrad where I studied arts leadership and opera, 3.9 cumulative GPA. Keep in mind, conservatory curricula generally do not include any quantitative coursework. Anyhow... I quit performing as soon as I graduated (class of 2022) and have been working at a major talent agency for almost four years, after an internship in the Media department at a pretty important theater here in the states. My profile is a bit out of the ordinary, and I'm hoping to get an MBA because I want to leave the industry for now and hopefully find my way into the tech/media worlds. My job right now DOES involve a good bit of quant (lots of tour and project budgets, commission reporting things, and some union-related things...), and I have enrolled in MBA Math. My list is:

Columbia, Yale, Northwestern, NYU, UCLA, USC, U Michigan, and Rochester/Simon (I am a U of R alum).

Here's what I'm considering:

1) I could GRIND, go ham and try to get my GRE score up, but with the 26/7 season now demanding my full attention at work, I really worry about this, and I'm nervous about my test performance as a whole.

2) I could, alternatively, strike the top three schools from the list, only apply to the 5 bolded ones (which are either waiver-granting OR entirely test-optional), focus on getting high marks on MBA Math, write impenetrable essays, and apply with materials that somehow emphasize my quant duties at work, also including my MBA Math transcript. With this, I would worry about funding.

3) Orrrr..... I could try to do all of the above... pull myself together for the GRE, apply to the bolded schools with waivers/opt-out of test scores, and apply to the top three with less-than-favorable GRE scores plus MBA Math. That just sounds like a TON of work on top of my full time job, and I keep seeing that something like MBA Math is kind of a necessity for "poet" profiles like mine.

If you know enough to give me some advice, I'd appreciate it. I am feeling like option 2 is the way to go, but I know very little. I am honestly just a little lost. Sound off.

hey guys! i recently got a job as a Process Engineer at P&G. I start in november. I just got my BS in Chemical Engineering in May (I have experience in internships/research positions). I was thinking of applying to start my masters in the upcoming spring semester, doing it part-time alongside my full-time position.

The school that I am applying to is the Tippie MBA program, which i know isnt the best program, fits my budget and operation speciality needs. I want to stay in this company for the unforeseeable future, and I’m looking for a way to move up fast so that I have more freedom in terms of which plant I am located at. I also want to lean towards the more corporate side of operations rather than the technical aspect side.

Do you guys think that this is a good idea? I know that the recommendation is for 2-4 years of work experience, but technically by the time I end my masters, I will have at least 2 years. Also, I don’t know if I will ever have as much free-time as I do in the next 3 years. Please feel free to give me honest/brutal opinions! I am also not set on the specific school, so if you have an opinion on that, please let me know! Thank you :)

Has anyone received an email from Sloan for an interview yet?

Is it frowned up or recommend to use Claude to button up my resume on an MBA application?

Not very common, but I was exploring possibilities and mba was always something I’d like to do (maybe consulting) but like research. Some schools like Yale, Stanford maybe MIT has this but other schools definitely do.

Planning to take my MBA but unsure where to (Ph or abroad-based). Amap, I would like it to be full online and not too expensive. I'm currently working in the acctng dept (US-based, here in ph). I would appreciate any school recommendations, scholarship, or advice plspls.

Comment time and country when you start receiving calls from darden for Early Action Results. Include scholarship details if any.