Dr. Corcoran is a popular speaker at university associations, including those of Brown, Cornell, Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania; at international schools; and at civic and parents' organizations.

WEBINARS & TALKS

  • Grades? Extracurriculars? Supercurriculars! Your Key to College Admissions (Cornell Club of New York, 2026)

    Learn how what students do both in and outside of class helps admissions officers decide who gets into Ivy League and highly selective colleges. What are the best—and worst—extracurriculars?

    As highly selective colleges released their admissions decisions, some parents may have wondered why some students with lower grades or test scores get admitted, while higher-scoring kids get rejected. Comparing students on the basis of their SAT scores or grades is relatively straightforward. But that’s not how admissions work at most highly selective colleges.

    As Harvard puts it, “we do not admit by the numbers.” So what are the various elements of an application and how do they pull together to make an application something more than the sum of its parts? Dr. Corcoran explains the concept of “holistic admissions” and the importance of telling a story that is uniquely yours—and a match for a particular college.

  • An Insider's Scoop on College Admissions, The Princeton Club of New York, 2016

    Every year, parents and teenagers are bombarded with dizzying statistics on how difficult it is to get into college, particularly the Ivy League. This complex and often stressful process leaves students asking, “What do colleges really want?” and “How can I get in?” 

    Dr. Corcoran offers insider tips and advice on such topics as: how to use the Common Application as a mirror; how to use supplemental essays to create your list of colleges; and how to choose and leverage extracurricular activities.

    Dr. Corcoran explains how the path to college should serve as an exciting process of self-discovery and an opportunity to find the best education in the world—for you.

  • Writing Your Next Chapter: Is a Top MBA in Your Future? Cornell Club of New York, 2026 with Salma Qarnain

    Whether you are curious about MBA programs to which you can apply straight from college, are on a classic path to the “Magnificent 7,” or contemplating an EMBA, you need a strong narrative to get beyond facts and test scores to create a compelling application. Learn why admissions committees want to read your “story”—and how you can write yours.

    Marlena Corcoran and Salma Qarnain have three decades of experience helping applicants gain admission to the world’s most prestigious MBA programs. They also have surprising accomplishments in fiction-writing and Broadway theater that can help you make your application story a hit.

VIDEOS

BROWN GLOBAL ALUMNI CAREERS INITIATIVE WEBINAR, 2025

MBA or Master's in Business? Why, When and How?

College students and recent graduates! Early-career business education is the fastest-growing segment of graduate management education. Dr. Corcoran explains the very different varieties of early-career degrees at schools such as Harvard Business School, Yale School of Management and other prestigious institutions. Learn what you can do while you're still in college to gain admission to a program that will help jump-start your business career.

PODCASTS

  • Do you think Stanford is in the Ivy League? Can you tell the difference between Columbia and Brown? Are Princeton and Harvard pretty much the same to you? You need to listen to “How to Tell the Ivies Apart”!t. Listen →

  • In this episode, Dr. Corcoran joins the hosts to share expert tactical advice on how applicants can evaluate, select, and successfully collaborate with an admissions consultant to optimize their business school application strategy. Listen →

  • In this episode, she returns to the podcast to analyze the differences between pursuing an MBA, a Master in Management (MiM), or a Master in Finance, helping candidates determine which path fits their current work experience and career trajectory. Listen →

  • An earlier, highly rated roundtable panel where Marlena outlines the core traits of standout applicants and how proper counseling transforms an application. Listen →

  • The choices a high schooler makes about how to spend their time outside of classes tell prospective schools a lot about what kind of college student they’ll be. However, in terms of admissions, not all activities are created equal. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Marlena Corcoran to review the best and worst extracurriculars for high schoolers. Listen →