Alex and Graham kick this week's episode off with a discussion of the pending releases of admissions decisions for several programs in this upcoming week (Emory, UNC, Duke, Michigan, UVA, IESE), as well as last week's release of  CMU / Tepper decisions. Graham speculated that there will be significant movement off the Round 1 waitlists, forthcoming, due to the slump in application volume. We also discussed the release of additional articles in our new content series: Top MBA Career Placement Outcomes. We focused on the finance sector piece, which is very revealing in terms of the very top MBA programs providing the greater “buy-side” opportunities. Graham also mentioned the Real Humans piece on Stanford, as well as Alumni pieces focusing on NYU / Stern and McKinsey and Duke / Fuqua and Microsoft, respectively. Graham also highlighted two additional podcasts he recorded, focused on online MBAs and on Women in Business and the impact of the MBA (stay tuned!).

For our candidates this week, Alex selected two ApplyWire entries and a DecisionWire entry.

First up, is a candidate who has outstanding military experience and extracurricular activities, however, the numbers are on the weaker side, and the goals need refining. Steps need to be taken, but Alex and Graham still feel this candidate should be targeting top programs. This week's second candidate has great numbers, or at least an outsized GMAT, and appears to have good entrepreneurial/family business experience. Alex and Graham discuss the application strategy issues they pose (e.g. the fact that recommendation letters from a parent don't fly), and consider whether switching firms is a smart next step. Finally, from DecisionWire, Graham introduces a candidate who is weighing the options between MIT / Sloan and Columbia, for an Asset Management role. While our finance industry piece, cited above, may favor Columbia, the candidate loves the fit with Sloan, and that’s their choice. This episode was produced in snowy/sleety West Philadelphia by the tireless Dennis Crowley. It was recorded in Cornwall, England and Paris, France. Please remember to tell at least one person you know to tune in!