The Weekly Brief: Aug. 31, 2025
It's D-day (or week) for Round 1 MBA applications!
It's bad enough that summer is ending... but even worse that the trifecta of Harvard, Wharton, and CBS applications are all due on Weds., Sept. 3rd.
If that's not enough to put a serious dent in your Labor Day plans, you're either WAY ahead of schedule... or pushing to Round 2. Good luck!
Here's what we're talking about this week:

What's Happening in MBA Admissions Right Now
The Round 1 application deadlines are imminent, and a few patterns are emerging. We discuss ChatGPT, European MBAs, double pivots, and more...

Josh Cohen from Fuqua shares The Upside Down Job Search
If you're trying to break into the startup world, this is required reading. Josh talks about optimizing for impact, learning from failure, and how "you have to DO the job in order to GET the job."

Sometimes, the best MBA is.... no MBA
If you're on the fence about getting an MBA, questioning the $250K investment (before opportunity costs), and in a good spot professionally, maybe an MBA isn't for you. We break down who should and shouldn't consider this path.
Weigh in
Chill out about your first post-MBA job
Many fresh grads spin out if they don't land their top choice. However, all is not lost. As Heather Byrne from Ross says, "Forget the dream job. You need a role where you can do great work, learn, and build your reputation."
Check out the conversation on LinkedIn
๐ Coming next week
The hard truth about M7 admissions
HSW or bust? Think again. We'll talk about what really matters.
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