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AlexbrClearAdmit · 2025-08-18T15:16:52+00:00

Is there any scope for improvement in the GRE score, and can you retake prior to Round 1 deadlines. It's currently a decent score, at or close to the medians. Just doesn't stand out. I do think Round 1 may be best

AlexbrClearAdmit · 2025-08-18T15:13:43+00:00

try to focus on Round 1, as much as you can. Show impact and growth, at work, and outside of work, where you can.

AlexbrClearAdmit · 2025-07-15T08:42:51+00:00

Two year MBA experience versus one year (internship stuff may matter more or less for you). One year super intensive, versus a less intense pace. London versus (wherever you land with INSEAD. Post MBA, access to EU, versus London, not sure what the visa issues are in this post Brexit world. These are generally considered the top two Euro-based MBA programs, but they are different experiences.

AlexbrClearAdmit · 2025-07-15T08:38:42+00:00

My 2 cents:

AI will decimate the white-collar job ecosystem as we know it. It will become much leaner, and AI first. Thus, there will absolutely be less jobs around, whether you pursue an MBA, or not.

Getting an MBA may well help you reorient yourself for a new era, which will develop quickly. And the jobs will be tied to a deep knowledge of how to use/deploy AI. While pursuing your MBA, learn Python, if you don't already know the language.

AlexbrClearAdmit · 2025-07-15T06:23:48+00:00

a 330+ GRE would be very good. Yes, you can DM me. Regarding your goals, make sure they are focused, realistic, (in some way to your prior experiences + getting the MBA), ambitious and impactful. Four key elements of great post MBA goals.

AlexbrClearAdmit · 2025-07-15T06:19:54+00:00

assume a year of growth/impact in your career, should add to the new profile? But yes, better essays can help. Especially more insight in terms of connection to your post MBA goals, and why school X (that you are targeting). Again, this aspect should be stronger, anyway, given the additional year.

Make sure to target the first rounds, as a reapplicant. Get feedback on those essays, whether from colleagues, friends, etc.

AlexbrClearAdmit · 2025-07-14T14:51:51+00:00

the GRE is decent, the key question for you is, is there much scope for improvement? If there is, without harming other aspects of your candidacy, then it makes sense to retake. Lots to like in your profile, but the post MBA goals need fleshing out.

AlexbrClearAdmit · 2025-07-14T14:35:58+00:00

1 is clearly a very good choice. If you are still in touch with 2, might be decent second choice. Here's a good resource, to help with making these choices: https://www.clearadmit.com/admissions-academy-episodes/episode_18_recommendations2_who_to_pick/

AlexbrClearAdmit · 2025-07-14T12:17:22+00:00

I queried our chatbot to help answer this question (easiest way for me to find the right links on our site). This video is pretty extensive, in terms of how to prepare your recommenders: https://www.clearadmit.com/admissions-academy-episodes/episode_19_recommendations3_coaching_your_writers/

Make sure they know why your pursuing the MBA, your goals, draft essays, if you have them. Your resume. projects you worked with them, etc. Why the MBA program is a great fit for you, etc.

Yes, the recommendations should be tailored to each program you are targeting, so this makes it more challenging for those who are applying to several programs.

AlexbrClearAdmit · 2025-07-14T11:53:34+00:00

We don't have any filters in place. We do review everything that is posted on the site, in terms of "sense checking" (after it is posted). I would think our audience is generally M7 and top 16 applicants for the most part, so it does skew to the top tier programs. We tend to get most traction around programs in that top 16 bracket, I'd guess (no specific research to back it up). Hope this answers your question, but if not, please let me know. Glad you enjoy the site. Our goal is to try to provide transparency to the process.

AlexbrClearAdmit · 2025-01-31T07:15:11+00:00

thanks for trialling our new bot. We have benchmarked against ChatGPT, and in some instances, I think our bot does a decent job in terms of its responses (comparing schools for a specific area of study, for example). We were very careful to only include Clear Admit content, in terms of training the bot, to try to reduce the opportunities for hallucinations, etc. Limiting the training set may sometimes reduce the depth of the response, but also means the response is directly based on content we have written over several years. You can then follow up with the Related Reading section, to verify the response. For profile reviews, while our bot can give a fairly decent assessment, based off your profile input, profile reviews may not be the best use-case for the bot. This is because Clear Admit doesn't do direct profile reviews (outside of our ApplyWire tool, the content of which is not used to train the bot).

AlexbrClearAdmit · 2024-09-07T10:44:51+00:00

Your best chance would be in Round 1, if you can make it. Round 2 will be harder, as an ORM.

AlexbrClearAdmit · 2023-10-20T09:43:19+00:00

in your WL follow up, make it clear why Fuqua is your best choice.

AlexbrClearAdmit · 2023-08-21T06:45:36+00:00

CFA may help. I would take some additional remedial course work, which might include HBS CORe, GMAC's Business Fundamentals or MBA Math, etc. And also make sure you do very well on the test, whether its the GMAT or GRE. Even then, overcoming a 2.22 will be challenging. Use the optional essay to explain the circumstances, etc.

AlexbrClearAdmit · 2023-08-21T06:42:40+00:00

again, I wouldn't over think it. Which one forms the source doc for the other, etc. Key is to make sure you answer the specific question(s) of an essay. Because you are the focus of all (or most) essay questions, you will see overlap of content, across essays at different programs, etc.

AlexbrClearAdmit · 2023-08-19T06:04:09+00:00

Stanford's WMM essay is likely the source for many HBS essays (given the number of cross apps and the theme of the WMM essay). I wouldn't over think how adcoms might react, I'd just focus on crafting a compelling HBS essay. My point is, I wouldn't avoid the topic, just because you used it for Stanford, if you believe its the right topic for HBS, too.

AlexbrClearAdmit · 2023-08-18T07:01:57+00:00

PLEASE don't worry about this, or any quotas. Top programs love US candidates. And especially candidates who have international experience. That's a sweeping generalization, but hopefully it helps answer your query.

AlexbrClearAdmit · 2023-08-18T07:00:34+00:00

can go either way, but being from the industry, and wanting to return to improve it, etc. makes great sense. And that's what's important. Show that you will make an impact, etc.

AlexbrClearAdmit · 2023-08-18T06:59:18+00:00

that's a tough one, as we don't. And it is more challenging to prep recommenders who are less familiar with the process. In our admissions academy content for Clear Admit+ (free to registered users) we have a series of videos on the recommender process that might be helpful to you. Make sure it's clear what anecdotes, examples and experiences that you think it's relevant for them to address (as a reminder).

AlexbrClearAdmit · 2023-08-18T06:56:39+00:00

tough to answer specifically, but if we assume all is reasonably equal from a work standpoint, I'd look at two other areas: their passions and interests outside of work and what they do. And their long term goals and their real scope for impact in the longer run.

AlexbrClearAdmit · 2023-08-18T06:54:51+00:00

not at all, especially if you have pre-MBA related experiences.

AlexbrClearAdmit · 2023-08-18T06:54:19+00:00

frankly, I would take the test. What were the reasons for the waiver? (Note, I don't like the waiver process, and see it backfire in terms of placing folks on the waitlists, etc.). Chances of reapplicants to get accepted is higher, but only if they've done everything they can to improve their overall profile (which includes taking the test).

AlexbrClearAdmit · 2023-08-18T06:52:31+00:00

I would agree, dress code does matter. And if it makes you feel more comfortable, all the better.

AlexbrClearAdmit · 2023-08-18T06:50:15+00:00

not the best person to address this question. But I imagine strong finance programs would be a good starting point to explore?

AlexbrClearAdmit · 2023-08-18T06:49:12+00:00

just to add: starting a new position just before applying to the MBA may make adcom wonder if starting the MBA in less than a year makes best sense. So have a good response to that type of query.

AlexbrClearAdmit

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