Lauren Wakal

Home » Blog » Weekly Columns » Weekly Refresh » Weekly Refresh: MBA Essay Questions, Analyzed – Plus Deadlines & Rec Questions Welcome to Weekly Refresh, a roundup of admissions advice and updates on the Clear Admit site. We continue with updates for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle with some deadlines, essay advice, and recommendation questions. Essay Tips Drafting your application essays? See the latest of our experts’ advice in our Essay Topic Analysis.

This Admissions Tip steers attention to an oft-overlooked element of the MBA application process: the data forms.These are the online forms that one fills out when applying to a business school. While the forms used to be straightforward and brief (essentially amounting to contact information, academic information, and work history), they have been expanding in some areas and have become an increasingly important part of the mix of application materials.

Steve Thompson, Senior Director of Admissions at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, is back to talk more about MBA admissions and trends in the latest episode of the Clear Admit MBA Admissions Podcast. Steve Thompson, Senior Director of Admissions, Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management At Kellogg, Steve leads talent acquisition strategy to draw the best and brightest candidates to the school’s portfolio of eight Full-Time MBA programs.