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Blog: Admissions Consulting

HBS Invited you for an interview, now what?

Sep, 29, 2026


HBS Invited you for an interview, now what?   Scheduling your interview is the most immediate consideration. 1. HBS uses an online scheduling system. I recommend that you schedule as soon as possible because slots will fill quickly. 2. If you want more time to prepare for an interview, schedule the session at a later […]


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Advice on the Three Types of Video Formats used in MBA Applications

Sep, 29, 2026


This blog post is based on advice I provide to my clients applying to MBA programs that use video essays, such as Booth, INSEAD, Kellogg, MIT Sloan, UC Berkeley Haas  and Yale. For random questions, I also provide my clients with school specific past question reports as well.   There are three types of Video […]


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How to Use AI as Bullshit Detector in MBA and Graduate School Applications

Aug, 11, 2026


While many focus on the negative impact of AI on MBA and other graduate school applications, it can be used for a very positive purpose: Bullshit detection.   Let’s assume you have inflated your resume bullet points, some of what you indicate in your essays, or elsewhere in your application. I’ve been a graduate admissions consultant […]


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Columbia Business School MBA Essays for January and August 2027 Entry

May, 19, 2026


The Columbia Business School MBA program is one that I have extensive experience experience helping clients get admitted to.  Most recently, I had 10 clients admitted for August 2026 entry and 1 client admitted for J-Term 2026.  And I already have 2 clients admitted in R1 for J-Term 2027, You can find testimonials from my […]


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US MBA Admissions Trends Analysis Utilizing ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity

Apr, 21, 2026


METHOD AND INITIAL PROMPT ADAM: I wanted to analyze US MBA admissions trends since 2010. Rather than try to do this myself, I initially asked ChatGPT and Perplexity the following: “Using the latest data on the number of MBA applications to schools in the US please create tables that show trends between 2010 and the […]


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Who are MBA Rankings for? Not Applicants!

Feb, 18, 2026


The FT Rankings recently came out. I will not comment on those rankings in full detail, but refer to them. If you want to know about them in detail, see John Byrne’s recent article in P&Q. He does a thorough job of analyzing those rankings and how they are formulated. Instead what I want to […]


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HBS MBA Admissions Interviews: Preparation

Sep, 29, 2025


In this third of three posts I provide advice for HBS MBA Admissions Interviews.  This third post focuses on preparation. The first post discusses logistics and content. The second post focuses on strategy.   At the time of the blog post, 101 of my clients (mostly comprehensive counseling plus those interview only clients I worked […]


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HBS MBA Admissions Interviews: Strategy

Sep, 29, 2025


This is the second of three posts I provide advice for HBS MBA Admissions Interviews.    This second post focuses on strategy. The first post discusses logistics and content. The third post focuses on preparation.   At the time of the blog post, 101 of my clients (mostly comprehensive counseling plus those interview only clients […]


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HBS MBA Admissions Interviews: Logistics and Content

Sep, 29, 2025


This is the first of three posts I provide advice for HBS MBA Admissions Interviews.    This post discusses logistics and content.  This post also includes analysis of the Post-Interview Reflection. The second post focuses on strategy. The third post focuses on preparation. These posts  reflect the reports I have received from clients over the […]


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Shitty Essays are Nothing New: AI Just Makes It Easier to Create Them

Sep, 04, 2025


There is a significant amount of concern expressed about AI generated essays. The main reason I would be concerned about it has nothing to do with the graduate admissions process: Becoming dependent on AI makes people stupid. MIT’s study on this issue is worth reviewing. See abstract (https://www.media.mit.edu/publications/your-brain-on-chatgpt/) and an interview with the primary researcher […]


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