Trenton Hatch’s Post

As the deferred MBA application season approaches and with my plans to matriculate at Stanford GSB next fall, I've received many questions about my decision to apply and tips on the application process. If you’re considering applying for a Deferred MBA, I highly recommend signing up for Leland’s Deferred MBA Week from November 12-14. This event features over nine sessions designed to guide you through the process and set you up for success. Did you know all top MBA programs offer a "deferred" option? This unique route allows you to apply in your senior year of undergrad (or final year of your master's program) and secure admission ahead of time. After acceptance, you gain 2-5 years of work experience before choosing when to start your MBA. Here are a few reasons why I decided to apply to a Deferred MBA: 1. Secure your place at a prestigious MBA program years in advance. 2. Gain the freedom to explore new career opportunities without the risk during your deferral period. 3. If you don’t get in, you can reapply without re-applicant status—this time with established connections. 4. Enjoy waived application fees. 5. Complete the GMAT/GRE while you’re still a student, avoiding the challenge of studying while working full-time (and your score lasts 5 years). Reach out if you have any questions or want to learn more! Sign up for Deferred MBA Week here: https://lnkd.in/g4AR3iPd

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐁𝐀? 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰!! As a deferred admit to Stanford University Graduate School of Business, I can attest to the powerful benefits that come with pursuing a Deferred MBA (DMBA). For those of you still in undergrad and considering this path, here are a few major advantages: 🚀 Secure Your Spot Early Locking in a spot at a top MBA program years in advance allows you to focus on career growth without the pressure of later applications. There will be no need to study for your GMAT/GRE while you're working at your full-time job. 🌐 Flexibility for Non-Traditional Paths The DMBA is ideal if you want to work in non-traditional careers like entrepreneurship, pursue international experiences, or explore different industries. With your seat secured, you can take on high-risk, high-reward roles without worrying about an MBA admissions cycle down the line. 🤝 Increased Access to Mentorship Deferred admits gain early access to an invaluable network of peers, alumni, and faculty. These connections help you hone in on your goals, and you’ll have that network in place when you start the MBA journey. 📈 Plan Financially A deferred MBA can give you time to strategically manage finances—whether that means paying off undergrad debt or saving up for business school. With a few years to plan, you can reduce financial stress and focus on your growth. Next week, Leland is hosting a free Deferred MBA Week to help applicants navigate this process! This is an incredible opportunity to gain insights, strategies, and practical tips from experts and former admits. If you're thinking about a DMBA, check it out! Feel free to register through the link below: https://lnkd.in/gcCNi-7k I'm also happy to answer any questions you have—reach out anytime!

Glad to announce our upcoming online live webinar with Rodrigo Malta, Managing Director, MBA Marketing & Admissions at Texas McCombs School of Business. Join us on June 14th (Friday) at 9pm IST / 11:30am ET as we explore key aspects of the Texas McCombs MBA, including: 1. The Application Process: Differentiating factors for international applicants, Tips for Essays, Video assessment and Interviews 2. Curriculum: Experiential learning opportunities at McCombs MBA 3. Post-MBA Careers: Top sectors, functions and geographies for McCombs graduates, especially international candidates 4. Scholarships: The process, and how to increase your chances 5. Live Q&A: We'll be taking live questions, but please pre-submit your questions (through the registration link below) to be prioritized Rodrigo will be sharing his valuable insights and tips for MBA applicants. If you're aiming for a Top-25 MBA program, this is a session you shouldn't miss. Registrations here (limited spots): https://lnkd.in/gRr3-jaa admitStreet #mba #bschools #admissions

Thinking about a Deferred MBA? Don’t miss Leland's Deferred MBA Week—it’s FREE! Two years ago, I didn’t even know that there was a pathway to applying to deferred MBAs at all. Leland’s free week of sessions showed me the possibility, and I was instantly hooked on the impact it could make on the next few years of my life. I can honestly say it was the single best decision I made in my last year of undergrad. I’ve had multiple conversations with colleagues who now wish they had taken the leap and applied deferred rather than the traditional admission pathway. If you’re even considering it, now’s the time to dive in! Leland is hosting a Deferred MBA Week next week, and it’s packed with valuable insights, tips, and resources—absolutely free! Whether you’re just starting to think about deferred MBAs or are already in the process, this event is the perfect touchpoint with loads of rockstar coaches. If you’d like to sign up and attend even a few sessions, go ahead and register at the following link for next week's event: https://lnkd.in/eEZbwDcB Feel free to reach out to me if you want more info or have any questions about my own deferred MBA journey.

Yesterday, my lovely colleague and AIGAC peer Krithika Srinivasan and I were discussing the purpose of MBA admissions rounds: https://lnkd.in/e2QAQPss So there are two things that deserve to be mentioned when it comes to the admissions rounds: 1) 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭? 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬? 𝐘𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨.... The rounds exist so the MBA AdComs can evaluate a sizable pool of applicants simultaneously. This helps them *select* the most qualified candidates and shape the composition of their MBA class in terms of academic qualifications, professional backgrounds, and diversity. Back in the day, Round 1 used to have a certain "signaling power". It indicated the candidate is very committed and that program is a top choice for them. This is no longer the case, people have all sorts of strategies about how they split their schools across rounds. And they often plan on multiple deposits before they make a choice. So the guiding light should always be - when can you submit the strongest application possible. 2) 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 2: 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭. While pushing things from Round 1 to Round 2 is a relatively risk-free option, what happens if you can't pull things off for Round 2? In Round 3, if it even exists (Harvard Business School no longer has one), your odds do go down significantly. That often leaves you with the only viable option being to apply next year... 𝐒𝐨 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 2, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐢𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖. And to make sure your efforts are smart and efficient, next month I will open MBA ABC one last time this year for Round 2 candidates. 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰: https://lnkd.in/ekcd2QVm #mba #mbaadmissions #mbaaplication

I speak to a lot of MBA candidates, many of whom worry that they're starting too late. When is the ideal time to start the MBA application process? 🤔 Let's first review the typical deadlines... Round 1️⃣ (early to mid-September) - the classes and scholarship budgets are fully open! This is the ideal round, especially if you have an overrepresented background. Round 2️⃣ (early January) - the largest round! It makes sense to wait for this round to increase your test score, secure a promotion, research your schools or goals, or improve your profile in some other meaningful way. Round 3️⃣ (March/April) - the hardest round! It is usually best for domestic applicants (who won't have visas to sort out) and those with less typical profiles or underrepresented backgrounds (who can help round out the mostly full classes). Some exceptions: a few schools (like the University of Virginia Darden School of Business and Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business) have Early Action rounds before Round 1. These early rounds make sense IF one of these schools is your top choice. 🎯So...when to start?? At a minimum, set aside 6 months before your target deadline. That assumes a relatively short test prep phase, so many need 12 months from start to finish! 🌟 #mbaadmissions #businessschool #mba

Meet the Class of UC-Riverside Anderson Graduate School of Management through in-depth profiles on their experiences and aspirations. https://bit.ly/4fPjr8t #mba #mbadegree #mbastudent #mbaprogram #mbaadmissions #businessschool #businesseducation

As MBA admission consultants to the top business schools, how do we stay relevant in a dynamically changing environment? One of the ways is to regularly connect with the admissions teams of the top ranking b-schools around the world and ask questions that matter to our clients and MBA applicants in general. Based on our interactions, we often share quotes and insights from business school insiders in our articles to help the larger applicant community. One of the big mysteries for MBA applicants is - what happens to MBA applications once the candidate hits the submit button? In today's article, a senior Admissions Director from Carnegie Mellon University - Tepper School of Business explains how MBA applications are reviewed - right from the initial screening to communicating the results. Don't miss this one! Read it here: https://lnkd.in/gHefuGsq

How do you get the best bang for your buck when pursuing a business education? LinkedIn just released its annual list of Top MBA Programs, a data-backed ranking of the 100 best full-time B-school programs — but you don’t have to put your career on hold and break the bank to get the value of an MBA degree. Alternatives on the rise, such as online MBAs and certification packages, can be a more flexible way to close knowledge gaps “while keeping your feet firmly on the ground of your current career,” says Petia Whitmore, a former dean of MBA admissions. She recommends first identifying what you need to advance. If that’s a skill, an online program or classes may help you quickly level-up “at a fraction of the cost” — and allow you to apply the knowledge to your work right away. What’s your advice for prospective students on identifying the right B-school option for them? Weigh in below and check out the full ranking of LinkedIn’s Top MBAs here: http://lnkd.in/TopMBA24.

It's no secret that I am an MBA enthusiast. But I'm also well aware that the traditional degree route is not the only bridge to high quality business education. In this conversation with LinkedIn News, we delve into some of the best alternatives to a traditional MBA. #mba #mbaaplication #mbaadmissions