Hi Everyone,

I am planning to apply for INSEAD Jan'26 in March. I am a bit confused with the campus choice.

I am currently working in Dubai in E-commerce space with a global sports brand Under Armour and my background is also in E-com ( business + planning & supply chain).

Post MBA I want to come back to Dubai as my husband is located here. My target industries /functions are - Retail consulting or E-commerce.

Looking for a suggestion for the campus with focus on coming back to Dubai and securing a job from campus.

Profile - Indian Female engineer with 3+ years work experience in Dubai with a global brand (overall 8 years of experience).

Thanks in advance!

I recently applied to UCLA FEMBA - I chose to waive my gmat/gre because I met their requirements of a 3.2 cumulative gpa in a stem degree or a 3.4 in a non stem degree.

Is there any reason to think waiving will hurt my application?

Has anyone here waived their test and gotten in?

My main background is in engineering and I got an offer from a unicorn in Silicon Valley. I also got an offer for the Schwarzman Scholarship and neither has granted me a deferral so I'm wondering which I should pick. I'd like to do engineering for a few years then do an MBA and either go into management, VC or start my own startup.

I know Schwarzman would be a huge boost on my resume for BSchool apps but not sure if it's worth forgoing a year of work experience especially in such a tough market. I worry that being a year out of tech will make it extremely hard to break back in. Fwiw I have a masters from HYPSM and undergrad is from an Ivy.

I'm sorry for asking questions that some of you may consider very basic, but I'm from Asia and I'm unfamiliar with the culture in the US.

Recently, I booked a call with a school representative, but I haven't received any confirmation regarding the call schedule. How does this usually work? Do I just call the representative at the time I choose, or does not receiving confirmation mean my request has been rejected?

If anyone can provide some enlightenment, I would be most grateful.

I applied to a few schools in R2 and only have a single interview invite at Tuck (not a guaranteed interview, as I submitted past that deadline). Had a few questions:

1. Would an in-person interview improve my chances over a virtual one?
2. What is the typical post-interview acceptance rate at Tuck?
3. Given that I don't have a consultant, I'm a little lost as to how to prepare for it. Any advice?
4. I have just discovered that I have a friend who's a Tuck alumna. Should I ask her to drop in an alumni referral? Would it help at this stage?

Any help is appreciated! Feeling the pressure 🥵

I had applied for the above colleges in round 2 and yet to hear from them. Is it over for me or more invites are to be sent out ? It will be great if people who had gone through this process before let me know.

Has anyone here done MBA top up after getting Level 7 Post graduate diploma? how has your experience been. Any uni recommendations for distance learning?

Hello,

I'm currently in the finally year of my Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering at a Russel Group University in the UK. I have a graduate job offer for Civil Engineering at AtkinsRéalis in their nuclear power team. The role is very interesting to me but I have some concerns about long term career earning in the UK as an engineer and whether I will want to pivot out of the engineering field in the future.

In my mind, I could work as an engineer for 5-6 years until I obtain chartership and then maybe do an MBA in the hopes that this opens up an opportunity to move to a high paying management role.

I've always been interested in the energy industry and by this time I would have had experience working on big energy projects. I wanted to ask if someone from my background would be well placed to pivot into a high paying management role within the energy industry if I did an MBA and would it make sense for me to do so?

The other question I had, is if I did an MBA after having worked as an engineer. Would I also be in a good position to apply for more traditional IB/Finance/Consulting roles despite not having any experience in that industry?

Any other thoughts or advice on whether an MBA would be a good idea for me down the line would be greatly appreciated, as well as any advice on how I can best prep myself now to get into a top school in the future.

[M 31] Considering MBAi at Kellogg – Seeking Honest Advice

I’m considering applying next year to the MBAi program at Kellogg. By then, I’ll be 32 with 8 years of experience. I currently work as a Manager at Accenture, focusing on digital transformation projects for financial institutions (mainly banks and asset/wealth managers).

Over the past 3–4 years, I’ve been self-studying AI/ML and GenAI, developing personal projects along the way. My goal is to transition into a tech role—ideally as a Product Manager or Project Manager in Big Tech or FinTech.

I’m Italian and would like to work in the US for the foreseeable future. I recently took the GMAT and scored 740.

A few questions:

• Given the current job market, do you think the cost of an MBA is justified?
• How difficult is it to secure a work visa post-MBA?
• Any insights that could help me make an informed decision would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to be brutally honest.

Thanks in advance!

Hi I have scored 290 in CMAT slot 1 and I have a 2 year gap can I get through NIBM Pune? I have also applied for SRCC GBO Which one is better?

I applied to Darden's MBA program in Round 2, and the bulk of interview invites seemed to go out on January 31st. It seems like most, if not all, of the initial interview invites have been sent, and I haven't seen many (or any) reports of new invites popping up for R2 admits. So, my question is: Should I still hold out hope for an interview invite at this stage, or is it safe to assume I'll be hearing back with a different decision? Has anyone else been in a similar situation with Darden or other programs? Just trying to manage expectations here.

I’m in the revera process and they have sent me an email that they are unable to reach HR or anyone else from my previous organisation. It is a small company and I did not leave on good terms.

What can I do? Will this cause a problem to revera if no one is responding from the org?

I have sent them emails and contact info of 2 people, the rest have all left from when I was there. Can I give out a personal email ID and contact number?

Curious if anyone has started hearing back from schools regarding their R1 waitlist status?
(I mentioned Ross, Cornell and Duke cause that's where I am waitlisted)

Hi all,

I'm in a tough spot deciding whether to pursue my MBA or stay in my current role. Hoping for some solid perspectives from this community.

Background:

• Indian Male, 30 (Turning 31 soon)
• Admit: Kellogg MBAi (AI-focused MBA) – No scholarship, so full sticker price (~$200K+ in debt)
• Current Role: Senior Product Manager in India, earning ₹50 LPA ($60K)
• Promotion Due: Likely in the next few months
• Goal: Continue in AI Product Management in the US post-MBA

Concerns:

1. High Opportunity Cost: Leaving a well-paying job in India to not earn for 2 years and take on massive debt.
2. Uncertain Economy & AI Disruption: Job market volatility, layoffs, and automation trends in AI make future job prospects unpredictable.
3. No Strong Professional Network in India: Been working remotely for 4+ years, so if I lose my current job, I may struggle to find another one at the same salary level.
4. Lack of Strong Personal Support System: No close friend circle due to remote work lifestyle. First-gen professional, so if things don’t work out, I could end up with debt and no safety net.
5. Willingness to Hustle: I am not afraid to put in the work, but I want to be sure this is a smart investment rather than a financial risk I can't recover from.

The Dilemma:

• Is it worth taking on this debt and uncertainty for the long-term upside of an MBA from Kellogg, especially in the AI space?
• Or should I stay in India, capitalize on my promotion, save aggressively, and maybe reassess in a few years?

I’d love to hear from those who’ve faced similar decisions, especially in tech/AI product management, and those who can provide insight into the post-MBA job market in the US right now.

Would really appreciate any advice or perspectives—thanks in advance!

So I'm the significant other of a first year at an M7 MBA program. She is from China, I'm African American. We became exclusive about two months ago and I came to a few social events at the MBA program with her, where people were pretty nice to me. Later on, my girlfriend told me that a lot of her friends and classmates were making rude remarks to her to her face and behind her back. Some International Chinese students told her that people like me are violent and lazy. One girl said she could never imagine having sex with someone with dark skin. Others have said stuff like wow I've never seen a couple like you two before, are you with him cause you are adventurous ... stuff like that. 

Now you might say these people are awful, better that my GF just avoid them. The thing is, MBA programs are pretty segregated by international status and ethnicity, and the group of Chinese internationals are people with whom she has less of a language and cultural barrier (well, other than their ignorance). And there are non Chinese students who also give us weird looks and pass comments, and my GF is struggling a bit. (For additional context, her parents strongly disapprove of her dating me or anyone “of color” so she has that on her plate too).

Their blog said that they would be sending the invites by 3rd Feb, has it been sent out? Did anyone receive it?

Hi, I was evaluating INSEAD vs. Wharton. I have received admits from both with some financial aid- 20K euros for INSEAD and 70K dollars for Wharton.

Context: I’m currently based out of India, and plan on returning to India post MBA (due to personal reasons). I’ll be funding my education via savings + significant loans.

What seems to be the better option here? My conundrum is bcs Wharton has a better brand name however, INSEAD not only offers a great brand name, but also cost savings and the opportunity to join back the workforce within a year, which means a much lesser dent on my savings + ability to repay loans much faster post graduation.

First gen IndianF graduate planning to apply for mba in T20 bschools including M7 in 2026 with two years of work experience during the application time.

Background:- Bachelor in Chinese (India, top university); Master’s in international relations (Taiwan) No extra curricular activities except for the fact that I used to teach English in Taiwan to small kids because I really like teaching.

Currently working in operation project management (OPM) in a Fortune500 company. Thinking it will almost be 3 years at matriculation (in case of an admn offer), I'm planning to apply in 2026. With my background, is it possible to get into these top schools?

My reasons for an mba are location change, seeking for a decision making roles earlier at my career so why wait for more years and some personal reasons. There is no one around me who has done an mba from these schools so any insights or suggestions would be really helpful. TYI :)

Hello, I’ve been following this sub for a while and I would like your opinion about my profile (knowing that I’m probably still young, but already preparing myself for a future application)

• 23 years / male
• Latin America (born & raised at low income area)
• Scholarship on TOP University (3.7 GPA)
• 3 Years of work experience (Business Analyst working on IT/Marketing area at a F500)
• Fast promotions (From intern to senior in 3 years)
• 4 languages

Some extras:

• I was a mentor for 6 months
• I have a journal with +2,000 subscribers where I publish news about tech & all
• I’m working on a social project right now to help me build a stronger profile.

GMAT: I will focus on GMAT next year.

Honestly, I’m more inclined to Tech schools but realistically any T15 would already change my life for good.

Thanks for your time, I will gladly read your comments.

I’ve been thinking about an MBA, but to be fair I’ve just been thinking about higher education in general. I have an interest in securities law.

I graduated from undergrad in summer 2008 amidst the recession. It took me till 2010 to land a FT job in the financial services sector. I’ve continuously worked and gained more experience on the job over the last 14 years with 5 different companies. I now am 40 years old and married, with a 2 year old and have a house. I’m also the sole income-earner in this household.

Curious if others have pursued an MBA while in a similar life situation? How did you do it? My company will pay for a portion of a MBA program if I work concurrently, but I can’t imagine doing that with dad duties if I’m being honest. Also that would put a huge strain on my wife. I also don’t know if I’d really want an MBA anyway unless I plan to switch industries…? Is it even worth thinking about this or do you think I should stick on my keep-working course?

Hello,

I recently switched roles, and my company is covering most of the cost for my master’s program. I live in Northern Virginia and need guidance on which school to choose.

I’m 24 and currently work as a financial analyst at a government contracting firm. Since my workload isn’t too hectic right now, I want to complete the degree as soon as possible. So far, I’ve applied to:

• Kelley Direct (Accepted)
• William & Mary (Accepted)
• Georgetown (Waiting on a decision)

My employer requires me to stay for two years after completing the program, but my long-term goal is to transition into consulting (though that could change post-MBA).

I’d love insight into which of these schools would be the smartest choice for my career trajectory. Also, if anyone has recommendations for other strong online MBA programs, I’d appreciate the input!

I recently saw someone post about their admission to Rice in R2 (can’t find the post). Curious how long after your interview you can expect to hear back? If any R2 admits want to share their experiences!

Don't give up hope!

Feb 4 is 28 days from the deadline. In 2024 and 2023, at 27 days after the deadline, 72% and 77% of invites still remained to be sent out! (Rough estimate from clearadmit)

So don't give up hope, or alternatively stop being so dramatic!

Paid deposit but only received an email to make an account. Was originally expecting other types of email communication, invite to a new Slack, etc., so just wondering if anyone's had a different experience?

Looking for folks to study with in downtown Toronto - hoping to find someone to bounce ideas off of and be accountable to through the GMAT grind. 31M working professional. Hope to hear from y’all soon!

Hey everyone - I'm currently 29 years old and feeling kind of lost, looking for some advice. Hopefully this is ok here but if not let me know.

I have a B.S. in Computer Science and have about 6 years of experience as a Software Engineer at a large finance company. I was laid off last spring due to restructuring/outsourcing. I spent about 6 months looking for other SE roles, made it to multiple final round interviews but ultimately didn't end up with any offers. I decided maybe software engineering just isn't for me - if I'm being honest I'm just not ambitious/passionate enough for software engineering. I was content with the day to day work but I wasn't regularly studying or working on personal projects outside of work, which seems to be what's expected from what I've gathered (even after being hired). I'm ok with working more than 40 hours if it's needed but when I'm not working I don't spend much time thinking about coding/work like a lot of other SE's do.

Anyways, I took a couple months off over the holidays to try and see if I could find something else I'm interested in, and honestly I didn't really find anything that didn't require starting over from square one with a different bachelor's degree. I'm thinking I should just find some sort of managerial/finance/corporate job which is how I came to end up with the idea of getting an MBA. As you can see I'm still not 100% sure on the path I want to go but from what I've gathered an MBA is useful for switching careers without completely starting over.

I should note that I unfortunately didn't take school very seriously when I was getting my bachelors. I got good grades in high school (almost 4.0) but I had no plans of getting a Masters at the time and screwed around a lot in college, basically doing the bare minimum to get my degree. I ended up switching majors (from business to CS) my sophomore year which resulted in me taking 5 years to get my degree and I graduated with a 2.7 GPA (not good, I know...). So I definitely won't be getting into any top schools. I'm in the Seattle area so was looking at UW but not sure I'd even be able to pull that off.

I'm not even really sure what I'm looking for here but I guess I'm wondering if anyone else has been in a similar situation and what you did? Is an MBA even worth it from a lower-level university? Any careers that would be worth looking into? Or any other advice you may have, I'm all ears.

Thank you in advance :)

Seeing a bunch of interview invites for those who applied via consortium on clearadmit. Any non consortium folks receive an invite today?

I applied for some universities, all 2nd round, and I've received 2 responses from two T30 programs still on the end of january, but the enrollment deposit for both of them is expected to be made until the beginning of March, while the rest of the programs listed their responses to be sent on the end of March.

So I was wondering if those decisions are only sent at the listed date or if they may be sent before, as the first 2 programs, kind of on a rollling basis. Does anyone know that?