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In this episode, listeners learn how to optimize the formatting of their resume, strategically handle issues with their transcript, and make their short-answer responses effective.

Host and mbaMission Founder Jeremy Shinewald talks with Executive Director Jessica Shklar and Managing Director Rachel Beck about how admissions committees evaluate applicants’ professionalism. Drawing on decades of evaluation experience, these experts discuss why following instructions, avoiding technical jargon, and setting feasible career goals are so crucial in the application process. Listeners gain deep insights into showcasing collaboration over individual achievement, managing post-submission anxiety, and navigating team-based interview formats.

00:00 Hidden Messages in Your Application and Why They Matter

01:26 Professionalism Basics: Typos, Formatting, and the Wrong School Name

03:51 Word Count Violations and Resume Overstuffing

07:06 Interview Rambling and the Wharton Team Based Discussion

11:30 Red Flags in Extracurricular Activities

15:17 Handling Test Score and GPA Shortcomings

20:49 Identity, Oversharing, and Knowing What Belongs in an Application

29:41 Optimizing Short-Answer Application Questions

31:57 Seeing Every Line as an Opportunity

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What is the case method, and how does it work at Harvard Business School (HBS)? Plus, what should MBA applicants know before they enroll?

In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, host Harold Simansky and mbaMission Executive Director Jessica Shklar sit down with HBS professor Joshua Margolis—a member of the program’s Organizational Behavior Unit and a faculty member in the Christensen Center for Teaching and Learning—for a candid, behind-the-scenes discussion of how the case method works at the world’s most case-driven business school.

Professor Margolis, who helps train the next generation of HBS case method teachers, walks listeners through what a “case” is, how the school’s three-step learning model works (individual prep, study group, full class discussion), and how HBS instructs its faculty to write and teach cases. In addition, he breaks down the infamous “cold call,” including how the classroom is laid out and how faculty keep track of which students have contributed (and which have not). He also explains that the goal of the cold call is to establish a foundation for a robust discussion, not to embarrass the student who is picked.

The conversation also gets practical for applicants: how much time a first-year student should expect to spend preparing for each case (two to four hours individually, plus more as part of their study group), the “learning to learn” curve of the first six weeks, and the “warm call”—when Professor Margolis gives a student five minutes’ notice at the end of class to summarize the discussion, identify three themes, and take a position. In his view, this exercise is the most direct thing HBS does to train future leaders.

00:00 What Is the Case Method (and Why Does HBS Use It)?

01:19 The Three Components of the HBS Learning Model: Case, Study Group, Classroom

03:27 How HBS Faculty Are Instructed to Write and Teach Cases

07:56 What Teaching Using the Case Method Is Like

12:53 How Cases Are Revised After Being Taught 

16:10 How the Cold Call Works and How Faculty Pick a Student to Open Class

19:47 Cold Calls in the Middle of Class and the Warm Call at the End

22:30 How HBS Professors Get to Know Their Students

24:42 How Much Time First-Year Students Should Spend Preparing a Case

28:57 Evaluating a Case Class as a Prospective Applicant

36:13 Understanding the First Six Weeks’ “Learning to Learn” Curve

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Is real estate a feasible career path for MBA students? And how can one break into the industry?

In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, host Harold Simansky and mbaMission Founder Jeremy Shinewald speak with Frank Cohen, a Boston-based real estate developer, co-founder of Sheridan Road Properties, former senior director at Tishman Speyer, and a Kellogg MBA, about how MBA students can effectively pursue careers in real estate, even if they arrive on campus with no industry background.

Frank also co-leads the JL Access Program at Georgetown University’s Steers Center for Global Real Assets, where he partners with the executive search firm Jackson Lucas to help students build the technical foundation and the relationships they need to succeed in real estate recruiting. He is profoundly familiar with what makes MBA candidates appealing to recruiters and what does not.

The podcast conversation addresses the gap between what business schools teach and what real estate firms hire for, what a real estate interview tests, whether a single “real estate type” exists, how regional the industry is, and the networking tactics that consistently produce results. Frank closes with his best advice for any MBA candidate considering the field and provides some candid insight into what still brings him joy in the work, decades into his career.

If you are weighing whether real estate might be a good career path for you or simply curious about how one of the world’s largest and most dynamic industries recruits business school students, this conversation is well worth your time.

Connect with Frank Cohen: https://jacksonlucas.com/frank-cohen/  

00:00 Why Real Estate Tends to Be Less Represented in MBA Programs

01:53 Frank Cohen’s Path from Northwestern Kellogg to Tishman Speyer and Rockefeller Center

04:51 What JL Access Does for Georgetown Students

07:21 The Gap Between What MBAs Learn and What Firms Hire For

10:40 What a Real Estate Interview Tests

14:20 Breaking into Real Estate with No Industry Background 

17:02 How Regional the Industry Is, and the Importance of School Choice

18:37 The Most Effective Networking Move 

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Are any MBA applicants truly “nontraditional” applicants?

In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, Harold Simansky is joined by Jeremy Shinewald, the founder of mbaMission, to examine a common notion in MBA admissions: that of the “nontraditional” applicant. Drawing on more than two decades of experience, Jeremy argues that applicants should not focus on whether or not their background is “traditional” but on identifying and showcasing the personal stories that only they can tell.

The conversation covers what overrepresented applicants such as consultants, bankers, and software engineers can do to stand out, and why Olympic athletes and other less-conventional candidates still have to prove classroom readiness. Harold and Jeremy also share practical advice for applicants who are still three to four years away from applying to business school: Figure out what genuinely interests you, invest yourself in it, and let the rest of the story build itself.

The episode highlights several mbaMission success stories, including a pharmaceutical sales rep who pivoted into healthcare private equity, a European hockey player, a small-town mayor, and a professional baker—all of whom illustrate the same point: What makes an applicant memorable is rarely their title but rather the impact they have had on the people and communities around them.

If you are thinking about applying to an MBA program or just curious about how admissions committees view differentiation, this conversation is well worth your time.

00:00 Why “Nontraditional” Is an Inaccurate Label for MBA Applicants

01:50 What Overrepresented Business School Applicants Should Do Differently

04:00 The Bakery Essay: Authentic Storytelling

06:18 Why a Unique Background Isn’t Enough

10:26 The Three- to Four-Year Applicant Playbook

15:09 What Impact in a Corporate Role Looks Like

17:30 Nontraditional Applicant Success Stories

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What role do informal letters of recommendation play in business school admissions decisions? 

Host Harold Simansky is joined by Melissa Blakeslee, an experienced MBA admissions consultant and former admissions director, to clarify what these endorsements are and why most programs discourage them. In this episode, Melissa shares firsthand insight into how admissions committees evaluate external outreach, helping candidates understand when an extra recommendation can add value and when it might instead cause harm.

Listeners will discover how to handle recommendation offers from well-connected executives, what makes a campus visitor endorsement credible, and how to use specific school initiatives such as Chicago Booth’s “Shape the Class.” The conversation also addresses the proper timing for submitting outside endorsements and how to employ the strategy effectively when waitlisted.

This episode is especially valuable for MBA candidates who are still determining their recommendation strategy or have been placed on a school’s waitlist. Listeners will learn how to identify appropriate individuals to provide an informal note, how admissions readers assess fit, and how an unsolicited letter can inadvertently signal a lack of judgment.

00:00 Introducing Informal Letters of Recommendation

02:14 Defining Informal Endorsements Versus Recommendations

05:51 Using Campus Visit Endorsements to Emphasize Fit

07:58 How Endorsements Vary Across Business Schools

09:56 A Strategy for Waitlist and Deferred MBA Applications

13:01 Examples of Helpful Versus Damaging Endorsements

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How can MBA applicants and business school students network effectively?

In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, host Harold Simansky and Jessica Shklar, mbaMission Executive Director, speak with Jeff Yolen, CEO and founder of Career Connector, about how to network effectively to advance your career. Jeff explains why cold applications so rarely lead to offers, how referrals can improve your odds of landing a job, and why informational interviews are one of the most valuable tools in the MBA recruiting process.

They discuss how to identify the most valuable contacts, how to write concise outreach messages, what to ask for during a networking conversation, and how MBA students can start building relationships that support both their immediate professional goals and their long-term career growth.

If you are thinking about MBA admissions, MBA recruiting, or your post-MBA career strategy, this episode offers practical advice you can apply right away.

Contact Jeff Yolen: [email protected]

00:00 Networking and Post-MBA Career Opportunities

05:58 Why Cold Applications Fail and Referrals Matter

09:16 Where to Start If You Do Not Already Have a Network

13:20 The Real Goal of an Informational Interview

21:14 How Career Connector Helps Students Network Strategically

25:23 Jeff’s Best Networking Advice for MBA Applicants and Students

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How do you figure out what your post-MBA career goals should be when you only know you want change but do not yet understand what that change entails?

In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, Harold Simansky speaks with Melissa Blakeslee, an mbaMission Senior Admissions Consultant, and Rachel Beck, an mbaMission Managing Director, about how business school applicants can clarify, research, and articulate MBA career goals that will resonate with an admissions committee.

The admissions experts explain why so many candidates get stuck on the career goals question, how to transition from a vague desire for “more” and a credible post-MBA plan, and why schools care that candidates have goals that are both ambitious and achievable. The conversation also covers practical research tools—such as LinkedIn, school employment reports, student club leaders, and job postings—that can help applicants build a stronger, more realistic story.

If you are struggling to connect your past experience to your future objectives, this episode will help you approach the problem with more structure and confidence.

00:00 Why MBA Career Goals Trip Up So Many Applicants
01:50 Your Story Only Needs to Make Sense—for Now
03:59 What “Ambitious but Achievable” Really Means
06:12 Reflecting on What You Want from Your MBA
08:16 Researching Roles Through LinkedIn and Business School Resources
09:23 Using Business School Employment Reports to Test Your Assumptions
15:30 Frameworks for Narrowing Your Options
24:23 Why Unclear Post-MBA Goals Can Lead to Rejection
26:14 Final Advice for MBA Applicants

Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold or another one of our experienced MBA admissions consultants by filling out this form.

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Many successful MBA applicants were not accepted the first time they applied.

In this episode of The mbaMission Podcast, host Harold Simansky is joined by mbaMission Executive Director Jessica Shklar and Senior Admissions Consultant Melissa Blakeslee to discuss what MBA reapplicants can do to strengthen their candidacy and improve their chances of admission.

The conversation explores why admissions committees do not view reapplicants in a negative light, how applicants can identify weaknesses in their original applications, and what kinds of growth schools want to see from candidates before a second attempt. Harold, Jessica, and Melissa also share advice on improving one’s essays, recommendations, career goals, extracurricular involvement, and school research.

Whether you are considering reapplying to Harvard Business School, the Stanford GSB, UPenn Wharton, Northwestern Kellogg, or another top MBA program, this episode offers practical advice for moving forward strategically and confidently.

0:00 Why MBA Reapplicants Can Still Be Successful
1:53 How Admissions Committees View Reapplicants
5:46 The Biggest Reasons Strong Applicants Get Rejected
7:25 Improving Essays, Goals, and School Fit
13:01 How to Show Growth Before Reapplying
17:08 Reapplying Strategically and Expanding Your School List
19:17 Why MBA Rejection Does Not Define Your Future

Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold or another one of our experienced MBA admissions consultants by filling out this form.

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What does it really take to make partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and stay with the firm for more than three decades without losing yourself? Debbie Lovich, BCG managing director and senior partner, joins host Harold Simansky and mbaMission Executive Director Jessica Shklar for a candid conversation about her path through consulting.

Debbie became BCG’s fastest-promoted partner, achieving the position in less than six years. She was also the first woman on the firm’s executive committee. She later stepped away from the partner role to find work-balance before returning and making senior partner on her own terms.

This episode covers the unglamorous truth about work-life balance in consulting, why Debbie got rejected by BCG twice before being hired, how the “up or out” culture actually functions, and what she tells every MBA applicant who thinks they want to do consulting.

This episode is must-listen for anyone considering an MBA with consulting as their career goal.

📖 Debbie’s new book, Make Work Work: The 5 Daily Practices of the Employee-Centric Leader, will be released in November 2026. Preorder now: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/831079/make-work-work-by-deborah-lovich/

00:00 Introducing Debbie Lovich, BCG Managing Director and Senior Partner

07:48 The Path to Partner — Speed, Serendipity, and Purpose

16:01 Work, Life, and Finding Balance

24:41 Advice for MBA Applicants

30:49 Retiring from Consulting and Writing a Book

Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold or another one of our experienced MBA admissions consultants by filling out this form.

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In this milestone 100th episode of The mbaMission Podcast, host Harold Simansky and mbaMission founder Jeremy Shinewald reflect on more than two years of MBA admissions insights. They share favorite moments, discuss what sets applicants apart, and explore how AI and evolving trends are shaping the application process.

They also highlight the long-term value of an MBA, from career outcomes to lifelong connections, and look ahead to what comes next for the podcast.

00:00 Celebrating 100 Episodes and Podcast Milestones

01:15 Growth, Reach, and Impact of the Podcast

02:18 The MBA “X Factor” and What Sets Applicants Apart

03:43 Favorite Guests and Most Memorable Episodes

06:38 AI in MBA Applications: Opportunities and Risks

10:47 MBA Experience Today: In-Person Learning and Global Exposure

15:49 Changing Applicant Profiles and Career Planning Advice

18:19 On-Track by mbaMission, Admissions Strategy, and School Research

21:33 Interviews, Emotional Intelligence, and Final Reflections

Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold or another one of our experienced MBA admissions consultants by filling out this form.

Learn more about onTrack by mbaMission, our innovative, on-demand MBA application platform, and take our two-minute questionnaire to receive your customized learning path.
 
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