Linda Abraham

Admissions Straight Talk

Advice from experts on the MBA, medical school, law school, and graduate school admissions process.

Author

Linda Abraham

Category

Education

Podcast website

blog.accepted.com

Latest episode

Jul 2, 2026

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Episodes

“Is Grad School for Me?” Authors Reveal Secrets of Successful Applications [Episode 575] 14.05.2024

Send us your admissions questions! Show Summary In this episode, Dr. Miroslava Chavez-Garcia and Dr. Yvette Martínez-Vu discuss the challenges faced by underrepresented groups in graduate school and provide advice for all grad school applicants. They emphasize the importance of finding a good fit in a program and building strong relationships with faculty. They also discuss the concept of imposter...

Oxford Lecturer Joins Accepted: Welcome, Dr. Sundas Ali [Episode 574] 07.05.2024

Send us your admissions questions! Show Summary Dr. Sundas Ali , a former Lecturer at the University of Oxford and now an admissions consultant at Accepted, discusses the differences between graduate school admissions in the UK and the US. She explains that while there are some similarities in the application process, such as the importance of personal statements in both countries,there are also s...

How to Get into USC Gould School of Law [Episode 573] 30.04.2024

Send us your admissions questions! Show Summary In this episode of Admissions Straight Talk , Linda Abraham interviews David Kirschner, the Associate Dean of Admissions, Financial Aid, and Innovation at USC Gould School of Law. They discuss the distinctive elements of USC Gould’s JD program, including its small class size and student-centered approach. Dean Kirschner also highlights the flexibilit...

So You Want to Do an MBA Outside the U.S. [Episode 572] 23.04.2024

Send us your admissions questions! Show Summary In this episode of Admissions Straight Talk , Linda Abraham interviews admissions directors from MBA programs outside the United States to find out if there are any common threads among them. The guests on the show include representatives from Oxford Saïd Business School, INSEAD, NYU Abu Dhabi, and HEC Paris. The interviews cover various topics such...

Reserve Your Spot at Case Western Medical: An Interview with Christian Essman [Episode 571] 16.04.2024

Send us your admissions questions! Show SummaryIn this episode, Linda Abraham interviews Christian Essman, Senior Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at Case Western Reserve University Medical School. They discuss the unique aspects of Case Western's three MD programs, the significance of research in the application process, and what makes an applicant stand out. Christian emphasizes the...

Former Wharton/Lauder Admissions Director Joins Accepted: Welcome Kara Keenan Sweeney [Episode 570] 09.04.2024

Send us your admissions questions! Show SummaryMBA admissions veteran Kara Keenan Sweeney has joined Accepted. Formerly part of the admissions team at Wharton Lauder, INSEAD and Columbia Business School, she's not only an Accepted consultant but she's our guest on the podcast. Kara discusses various aspects of the MBA application process, including choosing the right schools, handling co...

Tulane Medical School: How to Get In [Episode 569] 02.04.2024

Send us your admissions questions! Show SummaryWould you like to apply to Tulane University School of Medicine, but are you concerned about the intense competition for seats? Its Director of Admissions, Dr. Mike Woodson, is our guest today, and he'll tell you what it takes to get in. Dr. Woodson discusses the unique aspects of Tulane's medical program, including its focus on healing comm...

Get Accepted to PhD Programs in the Humanities [Episode 568] 26.03.2024

Send us your admissions questions! Show SummaryHere at Accepted, we're getting more and more inquiries from applicants interested in PhD programs in the humanities. We have a panel of experts today on the show to discuss PhD admissions in the humanities. You’ll hear from Vanessa Febo, Dr. Mary Mahoney, and Dr. Christie St-John as they discuss what PhD programs in the humanities look for in ap...

Start Medical School in 2025: How to Get Accepted This Year [Episode 567] 19.03.2024

Send us your admissions questions! Show SummaryThe 2024-25 medical school application cycle is looming. In fact, for many it's already started. Would you like to learn how to craft a quality application to medical school, a compelling persuasive application? Well, that's the topic of today's episode, so tune in. Show NotesWelcome to the 567th episode of Admissions Straight Talk. Tha...

How to Apply Successfully to STEM PhD Programs [Episode 566] 12.03.2024

Send us your admissions questions! Show SummaryHere at Accepted, we're getting more and more inquiries from applicants interested in PhD programs in the STEM fields, so Linda Abraham has invited a panel of Accepted consultants to discuss PhD admissions in engineering, life sciences, and STEM. The panelists discuss what PhD programs in STEM typically look for in applicants, including academic...

How to Get into HEC Paris MBA? [Episode 565] 05.03.2024

Send us your admissions questions! Don’t miss our Admissions Straight Talk podcast interview with Sara Vanos, the Executive Director of Marketing and Admissions for HEC Paris MBA Programs. Sara highlights the unique aspects of the full-time MBA program, such as the 16-month duration, on-campus housing, and flexibility in specialization and electives. She also mentions the New Horizons program, whi...

JD-Next: A Great Option for Law School Applicants [Episode 562] 27.02.2024

Send us your admissions questions! Show SummaryAre you planning to take the LSAT or the GRE before you apply to law school? Are you dreading it? Well, there's a new option that includes a course and a test, and is accepted by 25% of all law schools. The JD-Next is an eight-week online course that simulates a real law school contracts class and trains students on the skills necessary to be suc...

The Inside Scoop on Duke’s Master of Engineering Management (MEM) [Episode 564] 20.02.2024

Send us your admissions questions! Show SummaryAre you an engineer who wants to use your technical skills and move into an entrepreneurial or managerial role? Well, Duke's Master of Engineering Management or MEM may be just the ticket for you, and it provides two options, on campus and online. The program has been around for over 25 years and aims to prepare engineers with business knowledge....

MIT Sloan: For Rising Executives Considering an MBA [Episode 563] 13.02.2024

Send us your admissions questions! Show SummaryAre you a mid-career manager hoping to elevate your career to senior management? Do you feel your business skills could use a boost? Are you interested in a top, top program? In this episode of Admissions Straight Talk, Linda Abraham interviews Johanna Hising DiFabio, Assistant Dean of MIT Sloan's Part-time and Full-time MBA Programs for Executiv...

What You Need to Know to Apply to Medical School [Episode 561] 06.02.2024

Send us your admissions questions! Show SummaryWould you like to hear insight based on decades of experience, both advising applicants to a variety of healthcare programs and working in admissions offices for, again, many different healthcare programs? Well, today's episode is the ticket for you. Dr. Emil Chuck, Director of Advising Services for the Health Professional Student Association is...

Michigan Ross’ Master in Management (MM): All You Need to Know [Episode 560] 30.01.2024

Send us your admissions questions! Show SummaryAre you a college junior or senior with an interest in business and a non-business major? Or perhaps you recently graduated and realized you need to boost your business knowledge to propel your career? Tune into this episode with Julia Hoffert, Director of Admissions & Recruitment of One-Year Master's Programs at the University of Michigan&ap...

How to Get into the University of Chicago Law School [Episode 559] 23.01.2024

Send us your admissions questions! Show SummaryRanked number three in U.S. News' most recent rankings, the law school at the University of Chicago is a top law school famous for its intellectual rigor. In this podcast episode, Linda Abraham interviews Dean Ann Perry, Associate Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid at the  University of Chicago Law School. Dean Perry discusses the distinctive...

All You Need to Know about the New Frist College of Medicine [Episode 558] 16.01.2024

Send us your admissions questions! Show SummaryLet's learn about the newest medical school in the United States in this interview with Dr. Caleb Marsh, the Director of Recruitment and Pathway Programs of Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Not only that, but Frist is still accepting applications for its inaugural class matriculating this summer. In this conversation, Dr. Marsh details...

Advice for Applicants: Moving from 2023 to 2024 [Episode 557] 09.01.2024

Send us your admissions questions! Show SummaryIn this episode of Admissions Straight Talk, host Linda Abraham looks back at her predictions for the 2023/2024 application cycle and offers advice for current and future applicants. She reflects on her previous predictions, such as the increase in test options and waivers and the continued use of rankings in admissions. She also makes new predictions...

What MBA Admission Officers Think of Applicants Using ChatGPT and AI [Episode 556] 02.01.2024

Send us your admissions questions! Show SummaryIn this podcast episode, Linda Abraham discusses the use of ChatGPT in MBA application essays with admissions directors at top MBA programs. The admissions directors generally view ChatGPT as a tool that can be used to enhance the application process, but they emphasize the importance of authenticity and personal reflection in the essays. They caution...

Are You Toast? - Med School Admissions Officers Reveal Interview Timeline [Episode 555] 26.12.2023

Send us your admissions questions! Show SummaryIn this episode of Admission Straight Talk, host Linda Abraham addresses the concerns of medical school applicants who have not yet received interview invitations. She debunks the myth that not receiving an invitation by Thanksgiving means rejection and shares insights from several admissions directors. She offers tips for both current med school appl...

Applying to Medical School? The Pre-Med Competencies are What You Must Show [Episode 554] 19.12.2023

Send us your admissions questions! Show SummaryWhat are the pre-med competencies? And if you're pre-med and planning to apply in September 2024, what do they mean to you? That's the subject of this week’s podcast of Admissions Straight Talk, as Linda Abraham and Dr. Valerie Wherley, an Accepted consultant, dive into pre-med competencies. Dr. Wherley gives an overview of the 17 competenci...

​​How to Get Into CMU Tepper’s NEW MS in Management Program [Episode 553] 12.12.2023

Send us your admissions questions! Show SummaryCarnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business is welcoming a newly launched Masters of Science in Management (MSM) program. The one-year program is designed for early-career professionals with zero to two years of work experience who are looking for a career pivot or to gain business skills. If that sounds interesting to you, you don’t w...

ROI and NYU's Part-time MBA [Episode 552] 05.12.2023

Send us your admissions questions! Show SummaryIn this episode of Admissions Straight Talk, Linda Abraham discusses MBA return on investment (ROI) and NYU Stern's part-time MBA options with Isser Gallogly, Associate Dean of MBA Admissions at NYU Stern School of Business. They discuss how to calculate ROI, the ROI of NYU Stern's part-time MBA program, and the benefits and flexibility of t...

Are you rushing to attend Rush Medical College? [Episode 551] 28.11.2023

Send us your admissions questions! Show SummaryDr. Cynthia Boyd, Associate Dean for Admissions and Recruitment at Rush Medical College, discusses the distinctive elements of the Rush Medical College program, including its focus on developing critical thinkers and providing excellent clinical care. She also highlights the importance of community service and healthcare exposure in the admissions pro...

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