Marc Berbari, an applicant who submitted late and sat the GRE on the day he filed, secured offers from Harvard Business School, Stanford GSB, Wharton and MIT Sloan — a rare outcome that underscores continued competitiveness and yield dynamics among top MBA programs. Berbari told Poets&Quants he focused on authenticity in his application and rapid test preparation after delaying his decision to apply. Admissions officers and consultants say his case highlights how elite schools still weigh narrative fit and professional clarity alongside test scores. Berbari’s path — biomedical engineering background, consulting experience in the Middle East, and a late but concentrated application push — will be studied by prospective applicants navigating timing and strategy in a crowded admissions cycle. For admissions directors, the case signals that late-round admits can still be high-value, particularly international candidates who bring diverse regional experience and help schools meet global recruiting goals. M7 refers to the seven most selective U.S. business schools, a shorthand admissions audiences will recognize.