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Preparing for Your MBA Interview

A woman wondering how to answer MBA interview questions

You’ve submitted your application. You’ve waited, waited, and waited some more. And finally, you’ve been invited to interview! Great! But you might now be overwhelmed with questions about this next stage of the admissions process. How do you prepare for an MBA interview? Is it the same as a job interview? Will your interviewer have …

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2026-2027 AMCAS Work and Activities Section: What to Include (with Examples)

An ipad wit the AMCAS Work and Activities Section

The AMCAS Work and Activities section is where you will share all that you’ve done to prepare yourself for a career in medicine – your research, clinical experiences, paid employment, publications, leadership, extracurricular activities, awards, memberships, volunteer work, and advocacy and social justice efforts.  The types of activities that you include, the length of time …

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Preparing for Your Lauder Institute Interview: Eight Expert Tips for Success

Globe at sunset featuring Lauder Institute Interview logo

When I served as director of admissions, marketing, and financial aid at the Lauder Institute, one of the most common questions I received from applicants was “How should I prepare for my Lauder interview?” If you’ve applied to the Lauder Institute’s joint degree program with the Wharton MBA or Penn Law JD, you’ll be invited …

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What Nontraditional Applicants Should Know About Applying to Business School

nontraditional mba candidate registering for business school online

When one thinks of a “traditional” business school applicant, what usually comes to mind is someone who has work experience in a particular industry or functional area, such as accounting, banking, or marketing. This person might or might not have an undergraduate business education. For example, many consultants actually majored in history or political science.  …

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Stanford’s MCiM: Where Healthcare Meets Technology [Episode 610]

Admissions Straight Talk graphic with host Dr. Valerie Wherley and guest Dr. Kevin Schulman

In this episode of Admissions Straight Talk, host Dr. Valerie Wherley sits down with Dr. Kevin Schulman, professor of medicine at Stanford University and faculty director of the Master of Science in Clinical Informatics Management (MCiM) program. Together, they explore how Stanford’s innovative MCiM degree is preparing the next generation of healthcare leaders at the …

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How to Write a Statement of Purpose for Graduate School

woman sitting on floor with laptop thinking about her grad school statement of purpose

Your statement of purpose is one of the best ways to showcase yourself to the adcom as an original, well-qualified, and purposeful candidate. A strong statement of purpose will demonstrate your knowledge of and fit for your chosen field, as well as your intellectual growth, maturity, and ability to communicate clearly. Additionally, it will show …

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University of California System: Tips for 2025-2026 Personal Insight Questions

high school student writing personal insight questions on her laptop for the California University system

The University of California (UC) system consists of nine campuses that all use the same application. They are UC Berkeley (Cal), UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis, UC Merced, UC Santa Barbara, UC Los Angeles (UCLA), UC Irvine, UC Riverside, and UC San Diego. If you are applying to one or more of these campuses, you …

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Six Tips for Team Interviews

team based interview zoom call

Business school interviews aren’t just about showing your target program what you can do – they’re also about demonstrating how you work with others. Many top MBA programs, such as Wharton, use team-based or group interviews to highlight candidates’ collaboration, communication, and leadership skills. These interviews simulate what happens in the classroom and on group …

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From Med School Reapplicant to Current M1 [Episode 609]

What happens when your first med school application cycle doesn’t go as planned? In this inspiring episode of Admissions Straight Talk, host Dr. Valerie Wherley sits down with Mory Gould, now an M1 at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, to share his candid journey from reapplicant to successful medical student. Mory opens up …

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University of Pennsylvania Supplemental Essay Tips and Timeline [2025–2026], Class Profile

The University of Pennsylvania, or Penn, was established in 1790 and is one of the oldest universities in America. This prestigious Ivy League school is known for its top-notch research as well as its undergraduate programs that focus on practical applications grounded in a strong liberal arts foundation. It accepts the Common App or the …

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The Fastest Way to Medical School Is Slowly: Avoiding Early Premed Mistakes [Episode 608]

In this episode of Admissions Straight Talk, host Dr. Valerie Wherley sits down with Dr. Barry Rothman, Senior Admissions Consultant at Accepted, to explore the most common mistakes premeds make early in their journey to medical school. Drawing on his decades of experience as a researcher, professor, post-bac program founder, and advisor, Dr. Rothman emphasizes …

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