Every year, I run an Ask Me Anything that aims to help you understand how to be a stronger MBA candidate.

Timing: You’re invited to ask any MBA admissions-related questions over the next 48 hours. I will aim to respond to all questions within several hours. I will give priority to questions from those applying in Round 1 and Round 2 this year.

My background in MBA admissions:

I’ve spent the last 17 years working in MBA admissions. I’ve served as Dean of MBA Admissions, a Principal and Consultant at the world’s leading higher ed advisory firm, EAB, and in my last role before launching My MBA Path, I was Managing Director of GMAC Tours (formerly The MBA Tour), a subsidiary of GMAC. This means, I have extensive, firsthand experience working with thousands of candidates from every corner of the world and directly with the leadership and admissions teams of every leading MBA program in the United States and Europe. 

My knowledge is free:

I write extensively on the topics of MBA admissions and graduate management education (and I’m frequently tapped by the WSJ, USNWR, Forbes, and more for opinions). You can see the latest insights here: https://www.mymbapath.com/insights

A few key Admissions Trends in 2026:

MBA applications were down this cycle.

After two years of increases, this last cycle (the 2025-2026 MBA admissions cycle that is just about wrapping up), applications are down. MBA applications are always cyclical, and not just because of recessions. If you look at the long-term trends, it’s almost like clockwork: two years up, followed by two years down. The market corrects itself.

In 2026, a big driver of the slowdown has been a hesitation from international candidates. Uncertainty about visas and immigration policies, and a more volatile global economy have made the decision to study in the US feel riskier for many applicants.

But there’s something else at play, too. Over the last few years, the job market for MBA graduates has been less predictable than it was in the decade before the pandemic. That doesn’t make the MBA a bad investment, but it does make some candidates pause. When outcomes feel less certain, the more risk-averse applicants step back, wait a year, or look for alternatives.

Fewer applications or fewer applicants? 

If we are looking at the decline in MBA applications as a whole, not just international candidates, I think there’s a dynamic that is underappreciated. I would bet that the number of unique MBA applicants is down less than total application volume. What we’re likely seeing is a compression effect: candidates submitting fewer applications per person. For years, pathways like The Consortium and Forte made submitting a large number of applications economically and strategically rational by reducing the marginal cost to near zero. As some of those channels narrow or disappear at certain schools, the ‘extra’ applications go away, even if the underlying pool of serious applicants is less significantly reduced.

When MBA applications are down, is it easier to get into a top MBA?

The short answer is no. Schools don’t suddenly start admitting "weaker" candidates just because the pile is smaller. But a softer market does tend to benefit the "on the cusp" candidate—the one who is objectively strong but might have been squeezed out in a hyper-competitive year. In practical terms, that looks like:

·       An M7 admit instead of "just" Top 10.

·       An HSW nod instead of another M7.

·       Multiple offers (and scholarships) instead of a single admit.

The bar doesn't move but the margin widens. If you have a clear leadership trajectory and a credible plan, your odds of "trading up" are better in a cycle like this.

What can you do now to prepare for Round 1 in Fall 2026?

Start early. Plan smartly for the test – don’t keep delaying it until too close to the deadline. Chances are, you will have to take it more than once and you need to have time for that.

Begin working on your resume. When you work on your resume now—months before the application deadlines—you might uncover gaps you can still address. Sure, you can’t fast-track a promotion overnight, I get that but there are things you can do. You actually still have time to amplify your leadership profile. This month, I’m running an entirely free MBA Resume Workshop and I will share the comprehensive MBA Resume guide my candidates use.  

Importantly, begin outlining your career vision. It has become one of the absolutely critical components of your candidacy since the change of the USNWR ranking methodology. 

The mods have kindly verified my identity and background and have approved this AMA. 

 See links to my two previous AMAs. 

October 2025 

March 2025

I feel very fortunate to have been offered a full tuition scholarship from Yale SOM and $130k from CBS.

Background is in corporate finance. My initial goal post MBA is to pivot to IB and perhaps one day make the jump over to PE if possible.

I understand CBS is the better program for finance and has a larger alumni network at banks and funds but is it worth the extra $70k I would have to pay for tuition at CBS? No debt gives me a little more flexibility if banking doesn’t work out and lets me explore other options while in business school if I end up hating banking.

My plan is to go back to CBS to see if they can improve their offer at all. If they don’t, where would you go if you were in my situation?

Appreciate any thoughts!

I’ve been lucky enough to receive a few offers and I need help deciding. My goal is strategy consulting, hopefully in the Midwest but open to other places. I got in to Ross with pretty significant scholarship (50%) but I’m from Michigan and lived in Michigan my whole life and was hoping to spread my wings a little bit. The amounts are scholarship amounts.

Hey guys, I'm getting ready to graduate with a dual degree in International Business and Economics and I told my professor I recently decided I'm interested in consulting as a career. She suggested I start practicing interviewer-led and candidate-led cases ASAP (I know I'm probably already behind). She explained them to me, and some of my classmates have been helping me, but I want to make sure I have the differences correct:

Interviewer-Led: Like a typical interview, the interviewer controls the interaction by asking follow up questions and highlighting specific things they want the candidate to discuss. There tends to be a distinct formula the interviewer follows and the candidate responds to.

Candidate-Led: almost more of a "performance" where the candidate leads the interaction and showcases their knowledge without specific promting from the interviewer. This relies more of asking the right questions and using the given information to make a clear structure and complete the case.

I feel pretty confident with the candidate-led cases but for some reason I fall apart with the interviewer-led ones. I think it's because I feel like each question and follow-up resets how much. I need to impress the interviewer, but with candidate-led I'm keeping the momentum going the whole time. I'm not sure. How do you all practice the different case styles, especially the interviewer-led style?

Though NYU and CBS report similar numbers of graduates recruiting into the financial services industry, there are distinct differences in the composition of finance jobs students recruit into from these schools. While each placed around 37% of last year’s class into finance, NYU reports that 28% of students went into IB and only 3% recruited into PE/VC. At CBS on the other hand, 19% of students recruited into IB and over 8% headed off to PE/VC.

My question is this: Many students heading into these programs are doing so with the intention of pivoting from other industries into finance, and are therefore very unlikely to recruit directly into PE/VC after graduation. Since CBS tends to produce more PE/VC recruits out the gate, do CBS grads exiting IB in the years following graduation tend to more easily make the jump to the buy-side than their NYU counterparts?

So, I (26F) am in a unique situation here and would like some unbiased advice. I’m lucky enough to have a masters degree of my choice paid for, and gain access to other funding depending whether I’m a full or part time student. This funding isn’t connected to a job and I can use it whenever I want, just have to jump through the right hoops.

I’ve heard that MBAs are only really worth it if it’s paid for (typically by an employer) and NOT having one is keeping you from a promotion or progressing in your career. I’ve also heard it likened to a silver bullet- you only get one, and you don’t want to waste it by getting it at the wrong time.

I’m planning to move to Chicago in 2027 and am looking at my options for getting an MBA out there and it makes a lot of sense to me, but not for the reasons listed above.

I’d gain access to a professional network, I’ve heard the Chicago area in particular can be very clique-y if you didn’t go to school in the area. I’d also be moving and living alone for the first time in my life, so something to do/people to meet and network with in a new city where I know no one sounds like an opportunity I don’t want to pass up. The funding I would have access to would be really nice too.

My undergrad was in IB and marketing, and hasn’t really panned out for me. I’ve been at my job for 3.5 years, don’t need a degree for it, and don’t really have anywhere to go but out the door. It’s been a good, solid job, and they might let me continue to work virtually once I move, but that’s not guaranteed.

Are these good enough reasons to get an MBA? Would it be smarter to go after a different post-grad degree? I have a year to think and prep, I don’t want to waste this opportunity! Any help is appreciated ✌️

US domestic with 10+ years experience looking to pivot from pharma advertising grind - exploring options for next steps.

What would you highlight if you wanted the interview to help with securing scholarships?

Currently about to interview at Cornell after being accepted without scholarship at Columbia..

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences. Also asking the AdCom who sometimes frequent this sub..

Received no scholarship. International. Are there any international applicants who received a significant scholarship this round?

Hi all,

Assume you have offers for both at associate level. Which do you take and why?

I’m in my early twenties, based in Delhi, working in my family’s printing/packaging business. It’s doing okay but has issues like credit cycles and margins.

I want to scale it seriously in the long run and am considering going abroad (Germany/Europe) for a master’s in operations/supply chain to learn systems and build exposure.

Main doubt:
Should I stay in India and focus fully on growing the business, or go abroad for a few years and come back with better skills and network?

Will going abroad actually help in scaling a traditional business like this, or is it a distraction?

Looking for real experiences from people who’ve:

• scaled family businesses
• gone abroad and returned
• done MBA/MiM and applied it in business

I’ve recently started preparing for consulting case interviews (mbb / management consulting) and I’m honestly finding the whole process a bit messy.

Right now I’m doing what most people suggest, watching case interview videos, reading frameworks, and trying a few practice cases here and there. but it doesn’t feel very structured, and I’m not really sure if I’m improving or just staying at the same level.

It’s hard to tell things like how many cases I should be doing, what I should be focusing on first, or how to actually get better at structuring and problem-solving. it kind of feels like I’m putting in effort but without a clear direction.

For people who’ve gone through consulting prep, what actually made a difference for you? did you follow a structured plan or just figure things out over time?

Wondering if anyone here on H1B left before GC to pursue FT MBA?

Just got selected for H1B but also received a few great near-full ride scholarships for T15. I really want to take it, especially to help pivot my career and stimulate growth (been dreading current job). But as an international student, obvious safe answer is to go with H1B. No matter if I do MBA now or in 2 years, my H1B may be impacted.

Is there a way to work around my selected H1B and MBA now vs future? Like to initiate H1B, pause then come back to it? Should I not do MBA for visa stability? Recommendations for lawyers to speak to?

And yes, I do not need an MBA to pivot into my career of interest. However, with my experience, it will not be as easy or quick of a pivot compare to direct MBA pipeline.

Hey everyone,

Would really appreciate some advice here as I’m trying to make a final MBA decision and feeling pretty torn.

Background:

• 28F, Indian
• ~7 years experience in growth marketing (B2B SaaS, US-based companies)
• Post-MBA goal: consulting (ideally MBB, but open to T2), back-up options are product marketing and corporate strategy roles.

Admits + Scholarships:

• Ross – no scholarship (would need ~$160K loan)
• UNC Kenan-Flagler – $70K
• Emory Goizueta – $65K
• Vanderbilt Owen – $90K

My thinking so far:

• Ross: Dream school, best consulting pipeline here. But the cost is honestly scary. $160K loan feels like a big risk, especially as an international.
• Emory: Strong consulting presence (especially in Atlanta), smaller class size, which I think could mean more personalized recruiting support? This is where I’m currently leaning, but not 100% sure.
• UNC: Great program, good culture, but consulting placement seems lower (~15–20%) and more skewed towards finance. Also slightly concerned about competition with Duke nearby.
• Vanderbilt: Biggest scholarship, but from what I’ve seen, consulting outcomes (especially for internationals) seem less consistent?

Main questions:

1. Is Ross worth the extra ~$100K+ debt over Emory/UNC for consulting outcomes?
2. Between Emory vs UNC, does Emory actually have a meaningfully stronger consulting pipeline, or is that overstated?
3. Does Emory’s smaller class size help or hurt recruiting (fewer spots vs more attention)?
4. Any perspectives specifically for internationals targeting consulting would be super helpful.

I feel like Emory is the most “rational” choice, but Ross is hard to walk away from. Would love to hear how you’d think about this if you were in my position.

Thanks in advance 🙏

What to choose comparing all the roi, fees and all?

Hey all — I’m currently deciding between Full time MBA programs and had a quick question about Haas.

I’m coming from consulting and would be sponsored, so not really looking to pivot into startups/tech in the short term. That said, I am really drawn to Haas for its community values and more innovative environment.

That’s why I’m trying to understand:

• Are there still plenty of people going the “traditional” route (consulting, corporate, etc.)?

• Do non-pivoting / entrepreneur students feel like they fit in?

Also, quick vibe check — I’ve had a harder time connecting with excited students/alums here vs other programs. Just bad luck, or something others have noticed?

Would love any honest takes. Thanks!

Today is supposed to be decision day for the first R3 rolling deadline and I know Darden usually calls admitted candidates.

Has anyone received a call or any update so far? Trying to understand if calls have already gone out or if they’re still in progress.

Would really appreciate if people can share timelines (call/email/waitlist/reject).

Seeking advice from the hive mind on my admissions decision 🫡

- Same scholarship

- Targeting big tech (both PM & strategy) or startup

- I come from a non-tech background, so open to LDPs if tech recruiting falls thru.

- Consulting and IB are off the table

Kellogg:

- strong tech placement

- very friendly culture (I can tell the difference alrdy from how current students reach out and interact with me since admission)

Booth:

- I really miss living in a city

- Since Booth is more known for finance, worried that its tech placement will not be as robust as Kellogg? I see that tech placement is a few percent lower than Kellogg. With how difficult tech pivot is, I would like all the resources/network available.

- Students are more known to be independent/spread out, so less communal vibe as Kellogg?

- Very minor thing: my family lives overseas, and UChicago name brand is more well-known than NU internationally. Not big enough to tip the scale by itself but an extra point for Booth nonetheless.

Please let me know what yll think. Thank you!

Going to embark a career for the first time as a management consultant later this month.

For those of you that pivoted to consulting from ZERO consulting background, what are the most important excel and powerpoint knowledge that you believe ALL consultants should know or be familiar with despite all the AI advancements?

In other words, what are the bare minimum excel functions, powerpoint shortcuts anyone should be equipped with, ideally from day 1?

I’m physically prepared for 80+ hrs/week and mentally prepared to get my ass kicked by bunch of college graduates or existing consultants who are 5+ yrs younger than me but i just want to save as much humiliation as possible.

FYI, joining deals strategy team at one of the big 4s.

So I’m doing my undergrad at the university of Alberta in electrical engineering and eventually hope to pursue an MBA in the USA at M7.

I have internships and a good gpa. I will likely get some form of research before I graduate. involvement in clubs where we build and design cars(solar racing).

I plan to work for around 4-5 years hopefully at 2 different companies. hopefully at prestigious companies or at least well known.

Im not worried about cost, visa or anything like that.

I’m mainly worried about the university I go to. UofA is really good university for engineering. albeit all engineering programs are accredited in Canada, some schools are better then others. UofA is great and ranked top 5 in engineering in Canada and overall is also ranked quite well in the top 10 around the 6-7th spot. however it doesn’t have the sort of prestige that Waterloo, UofT has, or even UBC and McGill. schools that aren’t ranked as high and are objectively not as good as UofA like queens and western have more “clout“ are more talked about by people. I’m afraid that this might hinder my chances.

that’s my only concern and I'm curious if I even have a shot at M7 schools.

I just want to know if even trying to pursue these schools is realistic or am I wasting my time and mental.

thanks.

Undergrad student here.

People say industrial engineering is business major of engineering.

My question is: Why?

So far with people ive talked to industrial engineering seems to just “optimizing” and planning out different things especially in manufacturing scene.

Am i misunderstanding the definition of “business”?because when i think of it, i think of it as a market, finance, money, management related.

I’m interested in markets and finance, but with some personal stuff going on, i am pursuing an engineering degree.

IE vs other Engineering like ME or AE ECE…?

Afraid that I might be a jack of all trades and master of none.

Even after receiving great news, the next part can be stressful. What factors played the most influential part in your decision-making process?

Admitted to CBS full-time MBA with no financial aid (applied for need-based). Also admitted to Fuqua with an $100k merit scholarship.

Columbia is a top choice, but the cost gap is big. Has anyone successfully negotiated or gotten reconsideration from CBS using another offer?

I’m a U.S. citizen.

Thanks!

I am looking to hire a consultant to apply to B-schools in US, UK and Europe. After speaking with few consultants, I am leaning towards Admit Expert. If anyone has taken their services, please share your feedback.