How Did You Get In?
Application stories from current students and recent alumni. No adcoms, no theory, just how it actually went.
Conversations that tell the whole story
The doubts, the deadlines, the dream come true – and the MBA experience that followed.
Season 4 is here. Watch the latest episode below.
All episodes
Every conversation, newest first. Season 4 is Stanford GSB.
S3 E1 | Building a Career in PE with Brian Willis (Wharton)
Brian Willis on building a private equity career from Deutsche Bank to GTCR and Wharton, why he chose an MBA, and finding balance at business school.
S3 E2 | From Air Force to Founder with Alex Choi (Wharton)
Alex Choi on his path from the US Air Force to Wharton and HKS, building a veteran applicant narrative, and founding a salary negotiation company.
S3 E3 | Global Opportunities through the Lauder Institute with Simo Rhazi (Wharton)
Simo Rhazi on his path from Morocco to Wharton and the Lauder Institute, life as an international student, and his joint MBA and MA degree program.
S3 E5 | Making Student Loans More Affordable with Nico Echegaray (Wharton)
Nico Echegaray on his path from Lima to Wharton, scoring 750 on the GMAT, and helping MBA students refinance loans as COO of a fintech startup.
S3 E4 | Exploration, Entrepreneurship, and Impact with Christopher Ghadban (Wharton)
Chris Ghadban on going from a 2.7 GPA and MBA rejections to a 740 GMAT and Wharton, plus his work in biotech entrepreneurship and venture capital.
S3 E6 | Building a Personal Brand After Business School with Hannah Zhang (Wharton)
Hannah Zhang on going from investment banking to Wharton, choosing Wharton over Booth, and building Career Hannah into a brand with 100k followers.
S3 E7 | Forbes 30 Under 30: Building a Media Company at Wharton with Simi Shah (Wharton)
Simi Shah on building South Asian Trailblazers while at Wharton, crafting an application across three careers, and her Forbes 30 Under 30 recognition.
S2 E1 | From India to Biotech Entrepreneurship with Ananya Zutshi (HBS)
Ananya Zutshi on her path from India to HBS and biotech entrepreneurship, the application hurdles she faced, and lessons on resilient leadership.
S2 E2 | Building a Career in Corporate Finance with Lesley Kim (HBS)
Lesley Kim on her path from Korea to HBS, her blockchain background, and how the MBA shaped her corporate finance career as an international student.
S2 E4 | From Zambia to Big Tech: Radhika Lokur’s Career Pivot (HBS)
Radhika Lokur on moving from international development in Zambia to HBS and a big tech role in London, plus GMAT challenges and building community.
S2 E3 | Skipping Corporate for CEO: Bob Boniface’s ETA Journey (HBS)
Bob Boniface on leaving General Motors for HBS and buying a business through ETA, the value of an MBA, and running a company as a first time CEO.
S2 E5 | Applying 2+2 and Creating Economic Opportunity with Kelsey Roberts (HBS)
Kelsey Roberts on applying to HBS 2+2 from Georgia Tech and using her deferral to explore manufacturing, entrepreneurship, and workforce development.
S2 E7 | MBA Sponsorship and Application Strategy with Bethany Rolan (HBS)
Bethany Rolan on getting McKinsey to sponsor her HBS MBA, taking the GMAT during finals, and building an application around data and leadership.
S1 E2 | Negotiating $50K Off MBA Tuition with Kate van Keulen (USC Marshall)
Kate van Keulen explains how she doubled her USC Marshall scholarship to $50K, her essay approach, and advice for applicants from tech backgrounds.
S1 E3 | Redefining Success with Michael Mancinelli (HBS 2+2)
Michael Mancinelli breaks down the HBS 2+2 deferred admission path, his business case essay style, and how athletes can stand out to admissions.
S1 E1 | Pivoting Careers with MBA Internships with Jungduk Seo (Kellogg)
How Jungduk Seo used MBA internships at Kellogg to pivot from healthcare consulting into product management, plus her school selection strategy.
S1 E4 | Why You Don’t Need an MBA but Might Want One with Behram O’Habib (HBS)
Behram O'Habib on his path from a failed startup in China to HBS, his immigration essay, and how to decide whether an MBA is worth it for you.
S1 E5 | Engineering the Perfect MBA Application with Tyrel Sulzer (HBS)
Tyrel Sulzer shares how he stood out as an engineer and indigenous Canadian applicant, his three school strategy, and his summer long HBS essay.
S1 E7 | “Book the Test!” Admissions & Entrepreneurship with Co-Host Alex Neuber (HBS)
Co-hosts Alex Neuber and Julia talk GMAT timing, MBA admissions strategy, and building an authentic application narrative for business school.
S1 E6 | “Why Not Me?” Taking Chances on an Elite MBA with Linda Li (HBS)
Linda Li on overcoming self-doubt to apply to HBS, rewriting her essay a week before the deadline, and choosing Harvard over Yale for her MBA.
S1 E9 | Bringing Kindness to Investment Banking with Matt Ochalski (Chicago Booth)
Matt Ochalski on applying to Chicago Booth from banking, writing his application around kindness, and managing essays during 90 hour work weeks.
S1 E10 | “The Answer Is...Maybe?”: Waitlists, Rounds, and GMAT vs GRE
Co-hosts Julia and Alex break down handling MBA waitlists, choosing Round 1 or Round 2, and deciding between the GMAT and GRE for your application.
S1 E8 | How to Pursue What You Want (Not What You “Should”) with Jeff Simnick (Berkeley Haas)
Jeff Simnick on the Berkeley Haas MBA and MPH program, his six word story essay, and choosing what you want over what you think you should do.
