The mbaMission Podcast

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The Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia is known for it's top-ranked faculty,dedication to the case method, and stunning facilities. In this week's episode of the mbaMission podcast, Harold Simansky and Jeremy Shinewald welcome back Dawna Clarke, Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions at UVA Darden. Dawna shares the qualities and features that differentiate Darden among top MBA programs, from its transformational dean, to its entrepreneurship and AI institutes, to its scholarship opportunities. Whether you are planning to apply to Darden or just beginning your business school research, you won't want to miss this conversation!

00:00 Welcome to the mbaMission podcast
01:47 Welcome to our guest, Dawna Clarke
01:57 Momentum at UVA Darden
02:43 Dean Scott Beardsley 
05:39 Darden capital campaign
07:28 LaCross AI Institute 
09:39 Darden campus and facilities
17:06 Top-ranked faculty and instructional excellence
18:53 Skill development and the case method
24:43 Mandatory ethics class
26:36 The Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship, Technology, and Innovation
30:24 Darden Worldwide Course
34:14 Darden Rosslyn campus (EMBA and Part-time programs)
35:25 Recruitment and job placement 
38:27 Who succeeds at Darden

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Send us your admissions questions!

In this week's episode of the mbaMission podcast, Harold Simansky and Jessica Shklar welcome back Aman Singh, a former mbaMission client and current student at the MIT Sloan School of Management. Today Aman is sharing his an experience as an international student attending business school in the United States. He discusses the ways in which he connected with other admits before arriving at school, the support he received from the International Students Office, and whether he feels -- now halfway through the program -- that coming to the U.S. to attend MIT Sloan was the right choice. If you are an international applicant considering MBA programs in the U.S., this episode is a must-watch!

00:00 Welcome to the mbaMission podcast
01:10 Welcome to our guest, Aman Singh
02:30 Arriving on campus 
05:45 Housing assistance 
06:07 Connecting with students before orientation
07:39 The impact of school size and structure
10:38 Academic intensity and time management
15:19 Planning for Year 2
16:46 Business clubs and certificate programs
19:39 Was it worth it?

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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Send us your admissions questions!

In this week's episode of the mbaMission podcast, Harold Simansky and Jeremy Shinewald welcome Liz Ramos. Liz has spent decades recruiting and hiring MBA students at firms such Bain & Company, Fidelity Private Equity, and Cambridge Associates. Today Liz shares her unique perspective on how top firms recruit and develop talent. She discusses how the MBA recruitment process has changed, what elite consulting and investment firms are looking for, and what MBA admits need to do BEFORE they arrive on campus. If you are aiming to begin business school in the next 1-2 years, this episode is a must-watch!

00:00 Welcome to the mbaMission podcast
00:50 Welcome to our guest Liz Ramos
01:37 How the MBA recruitment process has changed
04:04 Preparing for case interviews BEFORE arriving on campus
07:21 How much does "fit" matter to recruiters?
08:50 Evaluating soft skills
09:57 Who gets hired?
13:10 Recruitment coffee chats
14:58 How to network if recruiters don't come to your campus
17:07 Undergraduate recruiting vs. MBA recruiting 
18:33 Advice for those who struggle with recruitment
20:13 How many MBAs make it to partner?
21:53 The X factor for consulting recruits 
25:53 How focused do consulting applicants need to be?
28:06 Comparing the MBB firms

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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Send us your admissions questions!

The Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia offers one of the most rigorous and transformational MBA programs in the country. In this week's episode of the mbaMission podcast, Harold Simansky and Jeremy Shinewald sit down with Dawna Clarke, Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions at UVA Darden. Dawna discusses the kind of applicant the Darden admissions committee is looking for, how applicants should think about application rounds, the factors that predict success in the MBA program, and much more. Whether you are planning to apply to Darden this year or just beginning your school research, you won't want to miss this conversation!

00:00 Welcome to the mbaMission podcast
00:50 Guide to the UVA Darden Application
01:30 Dawna Clarke, Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions
02:29 The Darden admissions team
05:09 What kind of applicant does Darden look for
07:54 Test options and test waivers at Darden
10:08 Predictors of success in the MBA program
13:16 Darden application rounds (Early Action, R1, R2, R3)
16:05 Engaging with the school 
18:19 Charlottesville, VA and the Darden campus
22:14 Darden Worldwide Course
25:50 Using ChatGPT/AI 
28:59 Darden interviews
32:00 Final thoughts and advice

Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold, Susan, 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.
 
‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️

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.
 
‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️

Contact Us:
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Send us your admissions questions!

This week on the mbaMission podcast, Harold Simansky and Jessica Shklar welcome Aman Singh, former mbaMission client and current student at the MIT Sloan School of Management. Aman shares his journey to business school and the ways in which Jessica helped him to craft a powerful MBA application. He discusses his background in data science, engineering, and product management, what drove him to pursue pursue an MBA, and why -- before Jessica's guidance -- he thought M7 MBA programs were out of reach.

00:00 Welcome to the mbaMission podcast
01:00 Aman's journey to MIT Sloan
05:11 School research and narrowing down a target list
07:09 The application process and working with Jessica
10:17 The MBA application timeline
17:16 The value of brainstorming and reflection
18:56 Choosing your admissions consultant
19:56 How to write an MBA resume
20:51 GMAT and GRE
23:03 MBA Interviews

Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold, Susan, 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.
 
‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️

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.
 
‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️

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Send us your admissions questions!

When working on business school applications, MBA applicants tend to focus on their essays, resumes, and recommendations. But inside the applications are a myriad of additional questions that require equal attention. This week on the mbaMission podcast Harold Simansky is joined by mbaMission Managing Director Rachel Beck and Executive Director Jessica Shklar. Harold, Rachel, and Jessica break down the MBA application short answers, share the most common last-minute questions they hear from clients, and discuss the importance of tackling the questions inside the application EARLY.

00:00 Welcome to the mbaMission podcast
01:26 MBA application short answer questions
06:29 Read each school's directions carefully!
08:24 The application activities section
12:59 How to report compensation
14:49 Optional essays
20:34 Treat your application as a mosaic
22:18 Company descriptions
23:45 Recommendations
24:47 Using AI on your applications
27:07 The risk of oversharing 

Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold, Susan, 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.
 
‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️

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.
 
‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️

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Send us your admissions questions!

Round 1 business school application deadlines are here, which means interview season is just around the corner. In this week's episode of the mbaMission podcast we're discussing all things interviews, and sharing our top tips for succeeding on interview day. This week Harold Simansky and Jeremy Shinewald are joined by mbaMission Senior Consultant Susan McInerny. Harold, Jeremy, and Susan discuss interview anxiety (and how to manage it), how to prepare for your interviews, what to ask your interviewer, and what NOT to do on interview day. Today's episode is a must-listen for anyone preparing for MBA interviews, whether those interviews are just around the corner or a few months away.

00:00 Welcome to the mbaMission podcast
00:42 Managing interview anxiety 
05:15 HBS interviews
05:51 Don't script your answers!
08:26 Human-centered conversations
09:25 When you don't have an answer
10:59 How to prepare for interviews 
14:54 Questions to ask your interviewer
18:06 Funny interview stories
20:32 Video interviews
21:39 The Wharton Team Based Discussion (TBD)

Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold, Susan, 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.
 
‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️

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.
 
‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️

Contact Us:
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Send us your admissions questions!

In this week's episode of the mbaMission podcast we're discussing common MBA interview pitfalls. Where do MBA interviews tend to go wrong, and why? And -- just as importantly -- what are the hallmarks of great business school interviews? This week Harold Simansky and Jeremy Shinewald are joined by mbaMission Executive Director Devi Vallabhaneni. Devi is an alum of Harvard Business School and spent years interviewing HBS applicants as a member of the admissions board. As mbaMission's Interviewer in Residence, she conducts hundreds of interview simulations for HBS applicants every year. Devi discusses the importance of nailing your goals, how to prepare for MBA interviews, why an applicant's attitude is critical, and the risk of virtue signaling. Today's episode is a must-listen for anyone preparing for MBA interviews, whether those interviews are just around the corner or a few months away.

00:00 Welcome to the mbaMission podcast
02:09 Problems with your post-MBA goals
04:58 Virtue signaling 
10:21 When goals lack ambition 
16:51 The importance of a strong sense of self
25:14 Do not memorize answers! 
27:35 Open-mindedness about the MBA application journey
36:54 How to discuss your experiences
40:31 Negativity vs. healthy skepticism 

Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold, Susan, 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.
 
‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️

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.
 
‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️

Contact Us:
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Send us your admissions questions!

In this week's episode of the mbaMission podcast, Harold Simansky and Jeremey Shinewald welcome back mbaMission Executive Director Devi Vallabhaneni. Devi is an alum of Harvard Business School and spent years interviewing HBS applicants as a member of the admissions board. As mbaMission's Interviewer in Residence, she conducts hundreds of interview simulations for HBS applicants every year. Today Devi shares her insights on the HBS interview process, from who gets invited to interview to the ways in which you should (and shouldn't) prepare for your interview. If you are applying to Harvard Business School, this episode is a must watch!

00:00 Welcome to the mbaMission podcast
 00:40 The Harvard Business School interview
02:55 What does HBS want to learn through the interview
04:18 What have you done vs. how you present your experience
07:50 What does the HBS class look like
09:25 Who gets an interview?
10:30 How to prepare for your HBS interview
13:40 How to discuss your work experience
17:54 The perspective of the interviewer 
24:06 Should you time your answers?
26:28 Don't underestimate your HBS interviewer
28:17 What non-work questions will you be asked
29:54 Who doesn't make it past the interview
31:40 Improving as a reapplicant 
34:09 Closing thoughts

Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold, Susan, 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.
 
‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️

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.
 
‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️

Contact Us:
[email protected]

Follow Us:
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Send us your admissions questions!

In today's episode of the mbaMission podcast, Harold Simansky and Jeremey Shinewald are joined by Devi Vallabhaneni, HBS alum and mbaMission's Interviewer in Residence. Harold, Jeremy, and Devi discuss some of the most challenging interview experiences they and their clients have had. They talk about the human element of interviews, how to tackle some of the hard questions, and why it's so important to practice before your MBA interviews.
 
 00:00 Welcome to the mbaMission podcast
 00:43 Questions about your other applications
 02:47 Critiques of your goals
 03:45 Questions about religion 
 04:20 The human element of MBA interviews
 04:43 HBS Post-Interview Reflection
 06:29 "What other schools did you apply to?"
 08:03 When to interview (are you ready?)
 10:25 Not knowing your story
 11:20 The importance of practicing interviews 
 12:47 The stamina needed for interviews

Book your FREE 30-minute MBA admissions consultation with Harold, Susan, 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.
 
‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️

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.
 
‼️Use code MBAMPOD for 30% off any onTrack subscription‼️

Contact Us:
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