Someone in our section suggested a "chill Saturday thing, nothing fancy" in the group chat yesterday.

It was a winery trip. $165 per person for the shuttle and tasting, not including food.

One of the responses was "that's actually pretty cheap."

I'm a first-year at a US full-time program, living mostly on savings and loans. I knew the social side would be expensive. I budgeted for dinners, drinks, club events, some travel. What I didn't anticipate was how quickly a random weekend plan could turn into a $200 decision.

Last month I skipped two group outings because I couldn't justify the cost. Nobody was mean about it, but the invitations have already started slowing down. I get it. People naturally keep inviting the ones who usually say yes.

The awkward part is explaining why. "Can't make it" sounds like I'm uninterested. "Can't afford it" feels like sharing my bank balance with people I've known for six weeks.

And I'm not judging anyone who wants to spend their money on trips. Some classmates worked in IB or consulting before school and have the savings to enjoy two years off. Good for them.

I just find it funny that we're surrounded by people who can build a three-statement model but somehow can't organize a Saturday afternoon that costs less than a utility bill.

I'd happily get tacos, play cards, watch a game, whatever. I actually like these people. I just can't spend $150 every time I want to see them outside class.

Anyone else dealing with this, or is my section particularly committed to expensive relaxation?

I expected recruiting to be hard. What I did not expect was how early it starts and how much it eats into the actual learning. By the time I settled into classes, the whole cohort was already deep into coffee chats and prep for one specific path, and it felt like choosing a lane before I understood the options. Sharing in case it helps incoming students plan. For those further along, did you wish you had locked your target earlier, or did keeping options open longer work out better for you?

200k+ post MBA base.
Thoughts ?

I'm 31 with a toddler, recruiting for IB associate roles, and I think my cohort quietly thinks I'm an idiot.

During a coffee chat yesterday, a 29 year old VP kept saying "at your stage" like I was his dad's age. Most of the alumni associates I'm sourcing off our school’s recruiterbase portal graduated college after I had my first real job. My wife is supportive, but her face when I explain IB hours says otherwise.

Anyone here go into banking post-MBA with a young kid and not regret it? Or is this something people politely avoid telling you is dumb?

Wharton MBA program interview decisions come out today between 10-11 AM EST! The post-submission email received indicates decisions should be released by 5 PM EST at the latest.

Feel free to comment below your stats as well as your admissions decision below! Good luck to everyone going through this process!

Wharton Round 1 interview invites come out today, so I wanted to share some tried and true tips again for this round. They come from 1,000+ Wharton admits we've worked with over the past several years. Hope it helps! We're rooting for you.

Most importantly, get a ton of reps on the TBD. Here's a WhatsApp group and a Google sheet to set up free mocks with others who landed interviews. We're also hosting a free live event tomorrow with a former Wharton Admissions Fellow who will walk through TBD strategy.

Interview Structure

Type: Team-Based Discussion (35 minutes) followed by a 10-minute individual interview

Interviewers: Admissions Committee members

Format: Virtual

Wharton's TBD is built to simulate the classroom. They're watching how you think and operate in a group, not just whether your idea "wins."

Tips for Success

1. Understand the Format: Get familiar with both the TBD and the individual interview. The TBD focuses on group collaboration, while the individual interview explores your reasons for choosing Wharton. Practice will make the format feel normal.
2. Contribute, Don't Dominate: Engage actively without overshadowing others. Share the floor. It's a tough balance between not overpowering and not being passive.
3. Showcase Innovation/Creativity: Show creative problem-solving during the TBD, and be ready to discuss examples of innovative approaches from your past experience.
4. Research and Prepare: Know the TBD topic well, without walking in with a pre-formed solution. We have several coaches running mocks on Leland if you're interested.
5. Leadership, Authenticity, and Influence: Show your leadership and personal strengths, and be genuine. You can shape the conversation in a really positive way without being "in charge."
6. Be Flexible: Adapt to new ideas and changes during the discussion. Build, don't tear down. Facilitating and building up other people will make you look good!
7. Virtual Interview Tips: Professional setup with good lighting and minimal distractions. Test your tech in advance and look at the camera. Arm's length from the camera, no headphones, natural light if possible.

For the 10-minute 1:1, be ready to reflect on the group dynamic and explain why Wharton specifically fits your goals. They'll often ask about your role in the discussion and what you'd do differently.

Again, join a few free mocks on the Google sheet and come to the free TBD strategy event tomorrow (we'll send the recording to everyone who RSVPs, so it's worth signing up even if you can't make it live). Reply here or DM me with questions, happy to help however I can.

Good luck and congrats on the interview invite!

Hi folks,

I've been debating whether pursuing an MBA is the right decision for me, and I'm hoping to get some perspectives from people who have been through this process.

I'm a 29-year-old Indian currently living in Bangalore. I had the misfortune of being trained for competitive exams from the age of 13, so I ended up doing reasonably well in national examinations, olympiads, college, etc. and graduated with an 8.9/10 from an old IIT with a degree in Mathematics and Computing. I've been coasting along in a relatively cushy big-tech-ish job for the last 6 years. I have got 2 promotions so far and due for the third in July 2027, of course if I don't get laid off before that.

I haven't been particularly interested in an MBA so far, largely because I've been quite clear about what I don't want to do. During my pre-final year, I interned with the quant team at a large American investment bank (GS/JPMC). This was pre-COVID, and a few months there were enough to make me realise that I didn't want to work in finance pulling in 70-hour weeks while becoming a bowl of diabetes. I've also seen the career trajectories of my brothers, who followed a fairly similar path (IIT engineering, MBA at LBS/INSEAD, MBB Partner), and realised that I don't want consulting life either.

When I look at the most common post-MBA employment tracks for international students at M7/T15 schools and LBS, they seem to revolve around three options: consulting, finance and technology product management. I'm not particularly interested in tech PM either.

So I'm trying to understand what are the options for international students at these schools beyond these three traditional tracks, which have reasonable level of success rate and not like super rare? I know I can come back to India and stay in tech while moving into tech management, but I can't come back to India. The larger reason behind this move is my realisation that I need to move to a country where I can start a family which is not possible in India in the absence of same-sex marriage and family laws. So returning back is not an option. My other option is standard MS + Job/MS + PhD + Academia route in Europe. I have figured that out and have several options to make it work in Europe, but before committing to it completely, I want to properly explore if MBA really is not the practical thing for me.

Also a practical question about admission process - I've recently taken the IELTS and GRE, scoring 8.5/9 in IELTS and 161V/170Q in the GRE. AWA results are not out yet, but I think I should get at least a 4.0 (I wrote 600+ words). If I do eventually decide to pursue an MBA in next round, now is the time I can do the tests. I know GMAT/GRE is just one part of the application but even in that context would my GRE score be sufficient across these schools, or would taking the GMAT be worthwhile?

Hypothetically, putting aside the fact that the kind of person who gets an 805 probably has high aptitude to excel in other aspects, how much more would a perfect GMAT score matter Compared to say, a already high score in the low 700s?

I’m an international applicant applying to US Full-Time MBA programs for Fall 2027 (Round 1).
Here’s my current status:

Interview invites received:
● UCLA Anderson
● Emory Goizueta
● Georgetown McDonough
● Boston University Questrom
● University of Florida Warrington

Optional interview:
● UT Austin McCombs

Still waiting:
● Duke Fuqua
● USC Marshall

I’m happy to have received several interview invitations, but I’m not sure how much weight I should put on them.
Do these results suggest that my application is competitive, or do most of these schools invite a large percentage of applicants to interview?
I’d really appreciate any insights, especially from people who have gone through the MBA admissions process. Thanks!

Applied on the last day of Round1 deadline for UCLA, and still got nothing. I've heard some people applied on the last day already got interview invites. Am I cooked?

I am sorry if someone already asked this. My wife just scored 695 in her GMAT and we were looking at schools to apply in

Would you categorize LBS Mba in the same pool as M7?

Thank you

Career fair season is under way at a lot of schools.
Long queues at the four or five names everyone knows, and some very good employers standing alone at quiet stands.
Job market's tight, so the instinct is to show up open to anything. I'd do the opposite.
First, look up the employer list your school publishes and actually research the ones that interest you. What they do, where they're growing, which MBA roles, which locations. Ping an alum or two. Almost nobody does this.
Then be honest with yourself about what you're willing to put up with (hours, travel, moving), what kind of place you'd actually like working at, and what you're naturally good at that someone should pay for.
Match the two, end up with maybe 5-6 stands, some of them the quiet ones. Then talk about the overlap. Way better than queuing 40 minutes to say you're "passionate about consulting."

Hello everyone,

I’m currently an MBA student preparing to take the Amazon Pathways Operations Manager Online Assessment soon.

I’ve read up on the basic structure (Situational Judgment/Working with the Team, Planning, Working with Metrics/Numerical Reasoning, and Work Style Assessment), but I’d love to hear from anyone who has taken it recently or cleared the Pathways process.

A few specific questions I have:

1. Working with Metrics: How intense is the math/data interpretation section? Is it mostly basic UPH/labor capacity calculations and chart reading under time pressure, or does it get more complex?

2. Situational Judgment / Work Style: Any pitfalls to avoid when answering the "Planning for the Team" or forced-choice personality questions? I know Amazon heavily weights the Leadership Principles (especially Bias for Action, Dive Deep, and Highest Standards/Safety), but any nuances regarding the Pathways/MBA level bar would be super helpful.

3. General Prep: Are there any specific practice tools, datasets, or frameworks you recommend reviewing before starting the test?

Appreciate any insights, prep strategies, or advice from current/former Pathways managers or recent applicants! Thanks in advance!

Do we know it comes at 5pm ET or trickles out throughout the day

Has anyone received the result for r1? 4 weeks already for those done the interview at the earliest time.

Hi everyone! I'm currently preparing my MBA applications and have around 4 years of experience at Accenture in a technical role.
I'm struggling to translate my technical accomplishments into business-oriented resume bullets that highlight impact, leadership, and problem-solving rather than just technical responsibilities.
Has anyone from a similar background faced this challenge? Would you recommend hiring an MBA admissions consultant for resume development, or are there better alternatives?
Also, if anyone is comfortable sharing an anonymised MBA resume for reference, I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks in advance!

If you (or someone you know) were admitted in the last few years to any of these full-time MBA programs with a test waiver, did you get merit money?

Emory Goizueta
Vanderbilt Owen
Cornell Johnson
UNC Kenan-Flagler
UCLA Anderson
USC Marshall
UVA Darden
NYU Stern

If you're willing to share scholarship amount (total or per year) and/or rough % of tuition covered, that would be super helpful.

Also curious whether anyone negotiated an increase without a score, or got a bigger offer after submitting one later.

If you attended/got accepted a different university than listed above, can you also share? Thanks!

I’m 30 middle eastern female, currently based in the GCC, and have around 8 years of experience in private equity at a sovereign-backed investment company. My work has mainly involved M&A, joint ventures, deal execution and portfolio management. I have a CFA qualification and the right to work in the UK.

I left my job 2 months ago as we decided as a family to relocate to London. I have a young child, so I’m planning to return to work in 2028- 2029 max. In the meantime, I’m considering doing an MBA or EMBA at a top business school in the UK.

Long term, I’d like to move into a top private equity firm in London, such as CVC, Bain Capital, Blackstone or KKR.

I’m struggling to decide between a full-time MBA and an EMBA. From what I’ve read, MBA students tend to have around 5–7 years of experience, while EMBA students are usually more senior, often with 12–15 years. With 8 years of experience, I’m not sure where I fit.

Given my background and career goals, would a full-time MBA or EMBA make more sense.. I am really lost..

Would really appreciate hearing from you guys

Thanks

Planning to apply to m7 in r2. Should I retake the gre again?

Pros
- Can aim to get 160 in verbal
Cons
- Risk of dropping 1-2 points in quant

My background is engineering and I work as software developer, Indian working overseas

Basically the title.

I have the opportunity to get a Canadian passport in 2 yrs but in that 2 yrs I would like to apply for MBA as well. But I do not plan to live in Canada long term. Is a Canadian MBA worth it just for the passport?

Hi all,

Hope you’re all well! I’m concerned about my downward GPA trend finishing with a 3.72 overall. Do I need to explain this? Most of my B’s are in my major classes (economics GPA: 3.34) at my 2nd school. I also blew off (3.24 gpa) my semester abroad senior year but the classes don’t count towards gpa. However, the grades are on my transcript.

For context, I transferred halfway thru undergrad and am applying for m7/T10 schools.

School 1 (top 50 school)
Overall gpa at school 1: 3.84
Year 1: 3.96
Year 2: 3.7

School 2 (top 15 school)
Overall gpa at school 2: 3.72
Year 3: 3.77
Year 4: 3.6

Did anyone get an offer from Samsung GSG for FT role after interviews? Did they give any timeline regarding when the results would be out?

I’m a 2nd Year MBA student in a T15 program. I will be going joining strategy consulting at a Big 4 after graduation. Long term, I see myself in corporate finance or a strategic finance role. Is it worth it for me to pursue a CPA to get a better understanding of technical accounting knowledge?

For my state’s CPA requirements, I will need an additional 20 accounting credits (I have a B.S. in economics) so I was thinking of enrolling in Texas A&M’s online, part-time MS in Accounting for the structured, quality education and assistance with CPA exams prep. I’m a veteran, so fortunately, cost of education is covered.

Is this thought process of mine crazy? Is a CPA worth my time and effort? Will it widen my potential career opportunities? I do genuinely love learning, and I volunteer with VITA so at least I have a bit of tax knowledge 🤷🏻‍♀️

I truly think I have a knowledge gap in accounting and finance, but while the MBA has been very helpful in filling the finance gaps, I have only taken the required accounting course and Managerial Accounting. There aren’t many accounting courses to choose from, in general. Please help, or tell me I’m crazy

every thread on here is about which consultant to pick n nobody talks about when u dont need one, my stats are at or above median for my targets n the friends who read my drafts say they're solid, do i need an MBA admissions consultant at all or am i fine on my own?

Considering an MBA in the United States but have questions about visas, immigration policies, or your ability to work after graduation?

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Get your questions answered about F-1 student visas, visa interviews, application delays and denials, OPT, H-1B visas, and the evolving immigration landscape affecting international MBA applicants.

Whether you’re preparing to apply, already admitted, or thinking about your post-MBA career in the U.S., this is your opportunity to hear directly from immigration experts and get clarity on the issues that matter most to you.

Travis from ZF Visa will be responding under the username u/Travis_ZF_Visa.
We will answer questions from 12-1pm Eastern, but feel free to start populating questions as early as you want!