5 Podcasts To Help With Your Business School Application

Podcasts offer an easy and accessible tool to broaden your understanding of the business school application process.

The business school application process can be challenging, and there may be times when you need a little inspiration. Fortunately, podcasts are an excellent option to find the motivation and insights you need to excel.

Podcasts are a great way to gather information while in the middle of your business school application process. They offer digestible content and the flexibility to listen whenever and wherever fits into your busy schedule.

Whether you want to learn how to stand out to admissions committees or hear from business school students about their own application experiences, there are plenty of podcasts available to guide you each step of the way—from building a standout resume to preparing for interviews.

Here are five podcasts that could give your business school application a boost.

The Touch MBA Podcast

For b-school applicants seeking expert advice for their application.

Looking for the inside scoop on how top business schools assess MBA applications? The Touch MBA Podcast should be your first port of call.

In addition to covering key strategies and tips for creating a successful MBA application, the show features interviews with admissions directors from some of the world’s top-ranked MBA programs. This includes Sara Vanos, the executive director of marketing and admissions for MBAs at HEC Paris, and Paula Amorim, the MBA admissions director at IESE Business School.

Episode Spotlight: We appreciate that as a business school applicant, you may not have time for all 200+ episodes. We therefore recommend starting off by joining host Darren Joe in episode 199, where he summarizes the top 10 application lessons he has learned from 10 years of Touch MBA.

You can listen on Spotify here.

B-Schooled: Get your MBA Admit

For b-school applicants looking for guidance.

Hosted by Stacey Blackman, founder of Stacey Blackman Consulting, a top MBA admissions consulting firm, B-Schooled covers all aspects of the MBA admissions process.

The show includes interviews with current business school students and graduates, as well as other important players in the MBA admissions journey, helping paint an intricate portrait of the entire admissions process for listeners.

Stacey holds a BSc from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. Her extensive knowledge makes her the ideal person to accompany you through your business school application journey virtually.

Episode Spotlight: In a two-part episode (231-32), Stacey explores the story of an applicant she worked with, discussing how former admissions committee members assessed her candidacy and the advice they provided to strengthen her application. The key points shared can be directly applied to your application.

You can listen on Spotify here.

The MBA Candidate

For b-school applicants wondering what challenges lie ahead.

In this show, host and alum of the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, Adam Miller, sets out to answer the question of how challenging it is to gain admission to a top 25 business school.

He interviews friends who attend or have attended various prestigious institutions, including Wharton, Kellogg, and UC Berkeley Haas. Discussions cover a range of topics, from taking the GMAT exam to exploring the motivations behind their own decisions to apply to business school.

Episode Spotlight: In episode 13, Adam is joined by a friend and fellow alum of the Ross School of Business to discuss how a non-profit called “The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management” helped them get into business school.

You can listen on Apple Music here.

Inside the GMAT

For b-school aspirants starting their exam prep.

Brought to you by The Graduate Admissions Council (GMAC), Inside the GMAT provides listeners with expert tips for preparing for and completing the world's most widely-used business school admissions test. 

This podcast, created by the developers of the test, provides listeners with in-depth insights into the application process. Featuring discussions with senior product managers involved in the creation of the exam, the show offers behind-the-scenes information for all business school applicants who are eager to learn.

Episodes cover topics including: reducing exam anxiety, overcoming imposter syndrome, and how to master every element of the GMAT including the verbal and quantitative reasoning sections.

Episode Spotlight: In episode 32, 'Navigating the Business School Admissions Process,' Rodrigo Malta, the managing director from the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business joins the show to discuss how you can strengthen your application. His advice is a must-listen for anyone just starting the application process, giving you the tools needed to stand out to admissions teams.

You can listen on Spotify here.

Admissions Straight Talk Podcast

For b-school applicants searching for straight talk on the admissions process.

In the Admissions Straight Talk Podcast, Linda Abraham, the founder of Accepted, a professional admissions consulting firm, joins listeners for a weekly discussion of what's new, thought-provoking, and useful in the world of admissions.

After recently celebrating its 600th episode, the Admissions Straight Talk Podcast provides a wealth of content for eager business school applicants to explore and draw inspiration from.

Episodes include ‘How to Get into Yale SOM,’ ‘Mastering MIT Sloan MBA Admissions,’ and ‘How to Respond to the New Harvard MBA Questions.’

Episode Spotlight: Before you begin your application, consider listening to episode 594 of ‘The Write Stuff: How to Create Successful MBA Applications.’ In this episode, host Linda offers a strategic framework for crafting a successful MBA application, along with tips that can be beneficial for applicants of any program.

You can listen on Apple Music here.

If you find yourself in a rut during the admissions process, one of these podcasts could be just what’s required to help you get out of it. Find more top tips and advice on applying for business school in our 'How To Apply' hub.