Poets&Quants
Poets&Quants is a podcast dedicated to MBA news, expert opinions, and admissions advice. Hosted by executive editor Pola Lem, it offers insights for prospective business school students and professionals. Episodes feature discussions with admissions experts and coverage of trends in MBA education. The podcast aims to help listeners navigate the complex world of graduate business programs and applications. It is an extension of the Poets&Quants media brand, known for its in-depth reporting on business schools.
Episodes
US News Undergraduate Business Rankings 2026
For better or worse, US News is the king of rankings. So why does everyone care so much about this ranking, how’s it made, and how much stock should applicants put in this list?Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
MBA Rankings: Bloomberg Vs. QS
Three major business school rankings dropped in the same week this September. We examine what changed – and what to take away if you’re applying for business school. Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
"Sustainability Is Strategy, Not a Module": Inside CBS's Triple-Accredited MBA
Copenhagen Business School's MBA is capped at 50 students, triple-accredited, and built on one idea: sustainability is a business strategy, not an add-on. Pola Lem talks with Andreas Rasche, Professor of Sustainability and Associate Dean of the MBA, about how CBS weaves ESG and resilience into every core course, not just electives, and why 70% of participants arrive with no sustainability bac
One Student’s Path: IIT To Wharton To BCG
How do students get from undergraduate degree to internship, to first job, into a top MBA program – and beyond? Today’s guest went from an IIT into consulting, Wharton MBA and then BCG.Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
September MBA Changes: Enrollment Drops To Scrapped Requirements
This month, Duke’s Fuqua School enrolled its smallest MBA class since the pandemic. Meanwhile, Harvard Business School killed off one of its most iconic traditions. We explore the common thread. Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Top Master's In Management Programs In 2026
Is the Master’s in Management actually worth it right now? And what can we glean from the FT’s recent MiM ranking?Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Leadership Lessons From Extreme Sailing
Skipper Gavin Rees led London Business School to second place in the 2025-26 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. In this mini-episode, he tells Business Casual’s Pola Lem about the leadership lessons he gleaned in this high-stakes environment. Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Confidence Without Cringe Getting It Right In the MBA Essay
How can applicants strike the right tone when they describe their achievements? We go through some top tips – and what not to do to alienate your file reader.Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
The MBA That Won't Make You Quit Your Job
Can working professionals do the full-time MBA without dropping their jobs? Columbia is the most recent business school to bet yes.Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
What Does It Take To Get Into The M7
Last autumn, elite business schools enrolled their largest combined class in six years – yet admissions plateaued. What can students expect this year?Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
What US Immigration Changes Mean For International Students
Foreign students in the US are facing new, stricter visa rules limiting their time in the country. Plus, the Trump administration is considering a $100,000 fee for working in the US after graduation.Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
The Princeton Review Rankings: What Actually Matters
One ranking does things very differently. This week we talk about the Princeton Review Ranking – why it’s unusual and how it can be useful for MBA applicants. Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
MBA Application Changes 2026-27
We discuss the trends in this year’s b-school application questions and drill into the details at numerous top programs.Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
From MBA To MBB
We dig into the truth and perceptions behind the narrative of hiring cooldown in the MBB. Plus, this week we have a guest host. Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
MBA Application: The Couples’ Edition
Which factors should MBA couples consider when deciding whether to apply together? And how should they communicate that in their applications?Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Overthinking The Essay? Stanford’s New Tool
We take a look at Stanford’s new MBA application tool and the reasons why candidates overthink certain essay questions. Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Unpacking The GMAT Superscore
How does GMAT’s new ‘Superscore’ change things for b-school applicants? Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Overseas MBA: The Real ROI
We dig into misconceptions and truths about the true cost of an MBA abroad.Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
The Gift That Keeps Giving: Philanthropic Funding
This week we talk test waivers, optional essays, and how big-ticket charitable gifts shape scholarship funding.Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
AI With A Human Touch: Rethinking Intelligence In Business And Healthcare With Eren Ahsen
In this episode, Gies Business professor Eren Ahsen shares his unconventional journey from mathematics and electrical engineering to machine learning in healthcare and ultimately business education. He discusses how AI evolved from an academic pursuit into a transformative force in medicine and organizations, why combining multiple algorithms leads to better decisions, and how business leaders can
To Ai Or Not To AI: The Admissions Essay
Should applicants use AI in their admissions essays? With extreme caution, as we hear this week.Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Crafting A Career Vision
As we enter summer, we talk about how applicants can strategically approach those early MBA application dates. Plus, we demystify the ‘career vision’. Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
From Wall Street To The Classroom: Rich Excell On Markets, Risk, And Teaching Finance
In this episode, finance veteran and Gies College of Business professor Rich Excell shares his journey from global trading floors around the world to becoming an award-winning educator. He discusses the evolution of derivatives and market efficiency, the realities of trading risk, and why today’s students bring a fresh sense of optimism to finance. Along the way, Rich offers candid stories from hi
The Scholarship Wars
A fire sale? An arms race? However you term it, business schools are slashing rates – we look at how applicants can score a scholarship.Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Welcome To The MBA Book Club
We talk over the picks on Poets&Quants’s inaugural Career & Admissions Bestseller List, from ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ to ‘What Colour is Your Parachute’. Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Rethinking Business: Teaching Ethics And Impact From Day One
In this faculty spotlight, Professor Aimee Barbeau of Gies College of Business explains how she introduces first-year students to business through ethics, experiential learning, and real-world impact projects. She challenges common misconceptions about capitalism by framing business as a value-creating, ethical practice and shows how tools like AI and hands-on corporate partnerships help students
Which B-Schools Are Doing The Best At AI?
AI is rapidly reshaping the MBA - and some business schools are racing ahead faster than others. In this episode, who leads the charge and what questions MBA applicants should ask about AI adoption.Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Double Degree, Double Worth?
Thinking about a dual-degree MBA? In this episode, we break down the most popular pairings – from MBA/MPP to MBA/JD – who they make sense for, costs and career trade-offs.Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Calibrating The MBA To The MBB
How much do rankings actually matter to employers? Plus, we talk about career pivots into consultingCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
U.S. News 2026-2027 MBA Ranking
From volatility to greatest gains: we dig into the ups and downs of this year's listCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
John A. Byrne's Last Podcast
Poets&Quants Founder John A. Byrne bids farewell and introduces Executive Editor Pola LemCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
A Stanford MBA Dishes On The Experience
Nikhil Jain applied four times before getting in. This is what he discovered once he got thereCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Purpose In The Details: Sandra Corredor’s Student-First Teaching Mindset
Gies Business professor Sandra Corredor explores one of the biggest misconceptions students have about business: the idea that there’s always a correct decision. Drawing from her research and teaching, she explains how success comes from thoughtful design, attention to detail, and embracing uncertainty - both in corporate strategy and personal career paths.Covering all that matters in Business Edu
What B-School Research Rankings Really Measure—And What They Miss
How Wharton dominates rankings of business school academic researchCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
MBA Admission Consultants: Should You Hire One?
We discuss the 20th anniversary of the AIGAC (Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants)Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Accounting As Detective Work: Fei Du On Data And Decisions
What if accounting isn’t about numbers—but about uncovering the story behind them?In this episode of Poets&Quants’ Faculty Spotlight, Gies College of Business professor Fei Du joins John A. Byrne to share how intellectual curiosity, and a desire for freedom, shaped her path into academia. What began as a practical career choice in China evolved into a passion for decoding financial statements
The Best One-Year MBAs In The U.S.
What you need to know about the one-year optionCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Earning Your MBA In Europe
What international students experience in a program abroad Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Trump's Impact On International Business Students
We analyze the severe downturn in international applicants due to the Trump administrationCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Fortune's 2026 MBA Ranking
What we really think of the latest ranking from Fortune which has Wharton on top and Stanford missingCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
The 2026 Financial Times MBA Ranking
Special guest Conrad Chua, former executive director of The Cambridge MBA, helps us dissect the newest FT rankingCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
The Future Of Standardized Testing
The GRE and TOEFL are for sale. Here's why and what it means for test takingCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Round 3 In The Midst Of Plunging Applications
This year, round 3 applications are less a Hail Mary pass than ever before due to slumping application volume at top business schoolsCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Why Buying More Won’t Make You Happier With Aric Rindfleisch
Gies College of Business marketing professor Aric Rindfleisch reflects on why he chose marketing and how his research on materialism reveals why buying more doesn’t lead to happiness. He discusses his passion for teaching in the College’s fully online iMBA program, the balance between digital and analog worlds, and why business schools must put humanity at their core in an AI-driven world.Covering
The Hidden Gems Of MBA Programs
We reveal the unexpected strengths of MBA programs that aren't well knownCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
What If Trump Bans OPT: The ROI Consequences For The MBA
We discuss the implications to international students if OPT is wiped out Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
What B-Schools Will Ask You During An Interview
We discuss the latest questions admission teams are asking candidates this yearCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
What To Expect In 2026
Our predictions for business education and the MBA in this new year.Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
The Big Business Education Trends In 2025 & What To Expect In 2026
Our interview with Andrew Walker, director of research analysis for the Graduate Management Admission CouncilCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
How Competitive Will This Year's Admissions Cycle Be?
Plenty, according to a new survey of admission officials at business schools. We discuss and debate the findings.Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
What Harvard MBAs Now Make: Highest Pay Ever
We distill the latest employment reports for this year's MBA grads and remark on the deportation of a Babson studentCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Who's Getting Into The HIghly Selective MBA Programs
Reading the tea leaves in the newest class profiles at the top business schoolsCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
What To Expect When You Get An Admissions Interview
What are the most common questions? The pitfalls?Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
The Top MBA Startups Of 2025
For the first time, MBAs from three European business schools have raised the most money for their startupsCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
If You're An International Applicant, Should You Come To The U.S. Now?
A candid, brutally honest conversation about getting an MBA in the U.S.Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
MBA Rankings Galore!
We dissect three rankings — all of which arrived in a single month: Businessweek, LinkedIn & QSCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
See Who's Getting An MBA Right Now
Our annual Meet the MBA Class feature is up. Here's what it says about the latest crop of students to start their MBA journeys all over the world.Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Masters In Management: An Assessment
We digest the new Financial Times ranking of MiM programs and explain who they are for and what kinds of results grads get from these programsCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Tell Your Recommender Not To Use AI
Our advice in working well with a recommender who might want to use AI to draft a rec letterCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Dos & Don'ts Before Hitting Submit On Your MBA Application
With round one deadlines a little more than a week ago, we provide advice on what you need to know right now.Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Stanford's GMAT Time Bomb For Applicants + An Alarming AACSB Study
A change in the validity period for GMATs and GREs will impact some applicants this yearCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
What You Need To Know About The M7
The Magnificent 7 MBA programs in the U.S. by the revealing numbers Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Where MBA Grads Want To Work
Why finance is surging and tech is fadingCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
The New Princeton Review MBA Ranking
The results are sometimes as mystifying as they are illuminatingCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
What If The U.S. Schools Walk From The Financial Times MBA Ranking?
We discuss the increasing possibility of a boycott of the FT's rankings by U.S. MBA programs.Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
New Essay Questions For Chicago Booth & Dartmouth Tuck
Caroline Diarte-Edwards and Maria Wich-Vila on the changes for MBA applicantsCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Trump's DEI War Causes UT McCombs To Walk From The Consortium
Will other business schools and corporate partners follow? We discussCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
How To Express Your Career Goals On An MBA Application
Caroline, Maria and John on what you need to know to make the best impressionCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
A Top Immigration Lawyer With Advice On Student Visas
Waypoint Immigration's Amber Davis on what to expect from the new social media reviews in the U.S.Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
New MBA Application Essays & Deadlines
Berkeley Haas shakes things up, MIT Sloan and Kellogg set MBA app deadlinesCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
The Perfect Storm Facing U.S. Business Education
Visa restrictions, tuition model changes and increased taxes on college endowments will force a fundamental reshaping of business schoolsCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
The Student Visa Freeze & What To Do Now
Our advice: Purge your social media accounts. Create a Plan B. And apply first round if you want to come to the U.S. to study next year.Covering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
What To Expect For This Admissions Season
Chances are applications to top MBA programs will be down due to economic uncertainty and Trump's visa terrorCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
The Best & Brightest MBAs Of 2025
These MBA graduates represent the most promising and exceptional young professionals in the worldCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Crafting The Ideal MBA Resume
The resume you submit with your application is very different from the one you use to get a jobCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
The Real ROI On The MBA Degree
The true benefits of an MBA go well beyond higher salaries and better jobsCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
GMAC's Advancery: A New Admissions Tool For Prospective Business Students
A conversation with GMAC Chief Product Officer Adam Witwer on what Advancery can do for those interested in a graduate business experienceCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
U.S. News 2025-2026 MBA Ranking
What’s wrong and what’s right about the annual list and the treasure trove of data that comes with itCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
How To Finance Your MBA Experience
We speak with a personal finance expert about the budgetary essentials every prospective student should know before going to business schoolCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
Beyond GPAs & Standardized Test Scores
How to differentiate yourself on an MBA application on your work experience and extracurricularsCovering all that matters in Business Education: https://poetsandquants.com/
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