Chat Transcript March 27, 2008, 5:38PM EST

Chatting Up Tepper

An admissions official and a first-year student discuss Carnegie Mellon's MBA program, particularly how to get in and enjoy it once you do

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Laurie Stewart
Carnegie Mellon

Carnegie Mellon's Tepper School of Business, ranked 16th in BusinessWeek's most recent list of best MBA programs, accepted 30% of the 1,331 people who applied in 2006. The percentage of applicants accepted in 2008 could be smaller because, according to Laurie Stewart (LStewartTepper), executive director of master's admissions, this is turning out to be "the most competitive year ever."

Stewart, along with Tepper first-year student Jaymin Patel (JPatelTepper), recently answered questions about the 2008 admissions cycle and campus culture during a live chat event. Fielding questions from BusinessWeek.com reporter Francesca Di Meglio (FrancescaBW) and an audience of those interested in the program, Stewart and Patel covered everything from GMAT scores to the pros of living in Pittsburgh.

Here's an edited transcript of the online event:

FrancescaBW: Why don't you start out by giving us a general idea of what you look for in an MBA candidate?

LStewartTepper: We're really looking for individuals who have the potential for academic success here at Tepper, along with professional goals and potential—and a whole range of personal qualities including leadership skills, teamwork ability, work ethic, and personal ethics. Basically, we're looking for the kinds of individuals that we all love to work with.

There is no set formula for admission. We're really evaluating all aspects of a candidate's application to make our decision.

FrancescaBW: How competitive has this application season been?

LStewartTepper: This has been our most competitive year ever. Our application volume is up for the fourth consecutive year. So far, this year we're up about 14%. The quality of candidates has been really strong, too.

FrancescaBW: What advice do you have for applicants who are concerned about the competition? What can they do if they don't get in or if they end up on the waiting list?

LStewartTepper: First, I'd encourage any candidate who is interested in Tepper to apply. If someone isn't successful in the admission process, we do offer feedback appointments later in the summer and a streamlined reapplication process (BusinessWeek.com, 3/6/08) for those who are interested in Tepper for a future year.

I encourage individuals who are offered a place on our waiting list to stay in touch with us and keep us apprised of any updates in the application profile. We don't rank our waiting list until we know how many spaces we have available, and at that point, we reevaluate their application and any updates they have submitted.

FrancescaBW: What advice do you have for students about writing the application essays?

LStewartTepper: We do have an application tips page on our Web site that includes some advice from one of my Tepper admissions colleagues about writing essays, but in brief, both content and style matter. We're looking for a clear understanding of a candidate's professional goals and why the Tepper MBA is the right next step for them to reach their goals.

KelliHaywood_2: I am a graduating senior at Spelman College. I'd like to know if Tepper is open to applicants coming directly from undergrad. If so, is there anything in particular you look for in those specific applications?

LStewartTepper: Tepper is receptive to candidates applying directly from their undergraduate studies. If you look at our recent class profiles, you'll see that about 5% to 10% of our recent entering classes have less than a year of experience. We're looking for all the same qualities we seek in Tepper MBA applicants in general, but clear goals and an understanding about why Tepper and why now, along with strong academics and solid internships, are key in our decision.

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