This episode kicks off with a brief conversation about Alex and Graham's first webinar for Clear Admit+ subscribers. It was a fun and intimate event, allowing your hosts to provide direct feedback on specific subscriber questions. The second Clear Admit+ webinar is scheduled for Monday, August 29. More details on Clear Admit+ are here:  https://www.clearadmit.com/clearadmit-plus-members/

Beyond ClearAdmit+ news, Graham highlighted the recently published UPenn / Wharton class profile. Wharton is the first school to announce their class profile this season, and it certainly includes some impressive numbers. One element that your hosts neglected to mention is the drop in application volume (14%), which will likely be a feature of most class profiles for this season. Graham then noted how we are closing in on the start of next season’s early deadlines, which begin at the end of August. He also noted a Real Numbers piece on the percentage of women in MBA classes. Wharton leads the way at 52% (this has now dropped slightly to 50% with the new incoming class) with Northwestern / Kellogg close behind. USC / Marshall, which had been the first top program with more than 50% female students, has dropped back to 36%. Graham also highlighted an upcoming webinar, scheduled for August 17, which brings together alumni from top programs who now work at firms like Microsoft and Deloitte to talk about their MBA journey.

As usual, this episode features assessments of three real candidates, taken from ApplyWire entries on the site.

First up we have a candidate who is originally from India, and now works in the oil and gas industry with an interest in seeking out sustainable solutions for less developed communities (based on their own childhood experience). The dilemma they face is whether they should retake their GMAT and push their applications to Round 2, or apply in Round 1 with a 720 GMAT score. We discuss the pros and cons, and also highlight an alternative pathway. Our second candidate works in the sports and entertainment sector for a consulting firm, and is a sponsored MBA prospect. They are planning to retake the GMAT (currently at 680) and are weighing whether they should discuss their outside-of-work experiences in sports betting. Finally we have a military candidate who is going to apply with 10 years of experience, much of this with the special forces. They plan to retake the GRE and potentially take HBS CORe. Their main question revolves around the process of deferral, and whether they can apply this season with the aim to defer to the following season.

This episode was recorded in Paris, France and Cornwall, England. It was produced and engineered by Dennis Crowley in the City of Brotherly Love. Thanks for listening!