B-Schooled: Get Your MBA Admit

In this two-part series we are going to talk about fear. In the first episode our host Chandler unpacked three of the most frequent MBA application fears clients and other applicants have shared with him over the years. This included fears around: Not applying to enough “stretch” or “safe” schools, Letting parents (or others) overly influence your school selections decisions, and the challenges of paying for business school In this episode we will continue the conversation by unpacking fears related to: not being real/authentic/vulnerable enough in your essays, being too vulnerable or personal in your essays, and doubts that an MBA might not be the right degree for you in the first place In addition to the points above, Chandler also points listeners to a number of other useful podcasts about related topics you might want to check out as well. Our hope is that—after closely examining and learning from your own fears—that you will be able to use these fears to dramatically improve your application.  This series is a must for anyone experiencing fears or doubts along their MBA application journey.

In this two-part series we are going to talk about fear. Fear--and admitting you are afraid--has gotten a bit of a bad rep in our world, especially in the world of MBA applications. However facing your fears fears can offer you a very real opportunity to learn about yourself and dramatically improve your MBA applications.  In this episode our host Chandler unpack three of the most frequent MBA application fears that clients and other applicants have shared with him over the years. We will unpack each of these and examine: What these fears might REALLY be telling you about yourself, How you can lean into these fears, and What you can learn about yourself – and, therefore, make your application stronger – from this process.  Chandler also shares a number of other useful podcasts about related topics that you might want to check out, including: Episode 125 – Where we share 5 things applicants are often scared to talk about (and why you really should), including: A low GMAT/GRE score A mistake you made or something you regret (such as a DUI or an honor code violation) The need to *stand out* from the crowd (especially if you come from an overrepresented demographic) Episode 126 – Where we continue the discussion and talk about: Failing grades or low GPA Being a candidate that is significantly “older” or “younger” than other applicants A sneaking suspicion that your school selection is way out of reach Episodes 137 – Where we talk about five specific ways to combat self-doubt during the MBA admissions process, including: Facing your doubts head on Developing a plan to address each of your doubts Role-playing “worse case” interview questions Clearing your mind Asking yourself, what can I learn from this doubt? Episode 138 – Where we talk about five more tips and suggestions for dealing with self-doubt, including: Don’t compare yourself to other people Develop a realistic post-MBA plan Identify a “career path exemplar” Find an MBA mentor Ignore your inner saboteur NOTE:  We apologize for the lesser audio quality of this episode related to a one-time recording complication.

If there’s one question nearly every school asks somewhere in the application process, it’s a version of “What are your short- and long-term career goals?” Not only is this question essential to nail, but tackling it in the right way can provide a “north star” for your entire application—linking together who you are, what you’ve done, where you want to go, and how an MBA will help you get there.  In this replay, host Chandler Arnold sits down with MBA admissions expert Christina Fu to dive into what works and what doesn’t when thinking about short- and long-term career goals. This episode is especially helpful for those who: Already have a clear idea of their post-MBA goals and want to articulate them in the most powerful way, Are still deciding between two possible career paths, or Have no idea what they want to do after B-school (this group is larger than you’d think, so if this is you, you’re not alone!)

This week our host sits down with Emma from the SBC team. Emma comes from the MBA Admissions Office at Columbia Business School (CBS), where she was Associate Director. She’s also worked with BCG, Teach For American and so many other amazing groups. Emma and Chandler sit down to talk about a critical—but often overlooked—element of the application process: how to have meaningful interactions with the Admissions Committee during your application and journey. Emma shares a number of incredible pieces of advice, including: Two important things to be sure to do or keep in mind when interacting with the admissions office, Two important things to be sure to AVOID during your interactions with the admissions team, A great suggestion about keeping a positive attitude during the admissions process, and A special behind-the-scenes advice for our listeners based on her time as an admissions officer.

You’ve all heard the expression all work and no play makes Jack (or Julia) a dull sport.  The same is true with MBA applications. Simply having an amazing set of  professional accomplishments is not enough to get you into a top MBA program. Setting aside scores and academic achievements for another podcast, this podcast will dive into five different aspects of your life you might explore applications, including a few you probably have not previously considered. Question: Why are we talking about this? And why do business schools even ask you to write essays in the first place?  Answer: These schools are interested in much MORE than your test scores, academic transcript, and professional accomplishments. More than almost anything else these schools are interested in learning what lessons you have learned about yourself and your leadership style, and—critically—how you will harness those learnings in order to drive impact in the world.  Listening to this podcast is a must for anyone who wants to: Present a full and complete picture of them to the admissions office, Stand out from the crowd by sharing unique and attention-grabbing stories and examples, and/or Identify memorable and authentic ways to share what makes YOU tick, how YOU think, how YOU have grown and changed over the years, and (very importantly) what lessons you have learned about yourself along the way.  This B-Schooled episode can be found here, or take a listen on any of the major podcast platforms below.

In this replay of a past episode, Erika talks with Anthony Penna, a fellow SBC admissions consultant who spent 10 years with the Wharton School in Career Management and as Associate Director of Admissions for the full-time MBA program. As Anthony served on the implementation and design team for Wharton's Team Based Discussion (TBD) interview format, this episode focuses on his insight advice for MBA candidates who will be interviewing with Wharton.

As many of our listeners already know, Kellogg recently updated its MBA application. For this episode, our host Chandler sits down with former Kellogg Admissions Officer—and longtime SBC Consultant—Caryn to talk about all the changes… and how to tackle them.  Caryn not only holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, she also worked as an Admissions Officer for Kellogg before joining SBC. In this role Caryn read and evaluated thousands of applications. For this podcast Caryn touches on a range of topics, including: SBC’s recent conversations with the Kellogg Admissions Team about a range of topics of interest to current and future students, The fact that Kellogg is much more than a marketing school (in fact you might be surprised what most students are focusing on), and A deep dive conversation about Kellogg’s wide range of MBA program options, including their—two year program, one year program, MBAi program, joint degree offerings, and other program options.   Caryn also shares specific advice on the updated Kellogg application, including specific suggestions regarding: Two new essay questions, what you should focus on (and what you shouldn’t),  Possible ways to approach each of these questions, Ways you might structure your essays, Potential pitfalls applicants should be aware of, and How to tackle all of these things within a very tight word count. Caryn then closes out the podcast with a few pieces of personal advice from her position as a former Kellogg MBA admissions officer that we promise you don’t want to miss.

Round 1 of the 2024-25 MBA application cycle is soon drawing to a close, and along with those deadlines comes a surge in self-sabotaging applicant behavior. This episode covers 3 things you should do before submitting, as well as 3 mistakes you should avoid making after your materials are in.

In May, B-Schooled co-host Chandler returned to the Bay Area for his 20-year Stanford GSB reunion.  During the weekend, Chandler kept a notebook at his side and wrote down a number of thought-provoking quotes and notes from classmates and friends. In the second part of this two-episode arc, Chandler shares 5 additional reflections related to his MBA experience and intervening 20 years.  These reflections--coming both from his own experience as well as those of his classmates--touch on a range of topics, including why: one big problem with perfection,  why changing your own narrative is not only ok but essential,   the double-edged sword of social media, and   several very specific dangers of the very successful. Whether you’re targeting Stanford or are just curious to hear how Stanford GSB grads reflect on their experience, this podcast provides a unique sneak peek into the reunion experience at one of the world’s top business schools.

In May, B-Schooled co-host Chandler returned to the Bay Area for his 20-year Stanford GSB reunion.  During the weekend, Chandler kept a notebook at his side and wrote down a number of thought-provoking quotes and notes from classmates and friends. In the first part of this two-episode arc, Chandler shares 5 reflections related to his MBA experience and intervening 20 years.  These reflections--coming both from his own experience as well as those of his classmates--touch on a range of topics, including why: focusing on what you are “supposed to do” is only valuable up to a point,  the power of being “joyfully irritated” shouldn’t be ignored,   the “write your own obituary” exercise isn't necessarily the way to look back on your life.   Not enough people are discussing a little secret about imposter syndrome, and  two specific criteria to look for in friends during business school (and beyond) Whether you’re targeting Stanford or are just curious to hear how Stanford GSB grads reflect on their experience, this podcast provides a unique sneak peek into the reunion experience at one of the world’s top business schools.