Thursday, June 22, 2017

Top MBA Schools breaking the $200K Total Cost Barrier

  • Stanford University is the costliest of all U.S. elite MBA programs at more than $225,000. 
  • The average percentage increase at those top 15 schools between 2016 and 2017: just under 7%. 
  • The median price tag of the degree at a Top 25 school is $185,747, up big from about $171,000 last year, which itself was an increase from about $168,000 the year before.

Schools with a total program cost of over $200,000
  1. New York University’s Stern School of Business, 
  2. University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School,
  3. Columbia Business School.
  4. Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business
  5. University of Chicago Booth School of Business
  6. MIT’s Sloan School of Management
  7. Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. 
Schools with a total program cost of over $180,000 
  1. UCLA’s Anderson School of Management
  2. Yale University’s School of Management
  3. Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business
  4. University of California-Berkeley’s Haas School of Business
  5. University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. 


Scholarships
At Stanford, the average yearly scholarship grant is about $35,000. At Harvard Business School, scholarship support to MBA students hit an unprecedented $34 million in 2016, up from $32 million a year earlier. In 2016, UC-Berkeley spread $5.8 million in scholarship money to its relatively small class of about 250 MBAs.

Income boost
According to new figures from the Graduate Management Admission Council, projected median base starting salary for recent MBA grads in the U.S. is $110,000, up from $105,000 in 2016 and an incredible 83% premium over recent bachelor’s-degree holders who can expect to receive a median starting salary of $60,000 in 2017.

Stanford GSB boasts about the $140,553 average salary and the $136,000 median for the Class of 2016; UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, the costliest public-school MBA program in the U.S., promises a 137% increase in salary six to eight years after graduation.

Rising Costs
- UCLA’s Anderson School cost rose 13.6% from $170,982 last year to $194,220
- Wharton up 9% to $218,900
- Duke Fuqua up 9.6% to $184,476
- Harvard up 8.5% to $213,600
- UC-Berkeley Haas up 7.6% increase to $183,342.


Tuesday, June 20, 2017

ハーバード・ビジネス・スクール New MBA/MS in Engineering



Harvard University has announced the launch of a new joint master’s degree (MS/MBA) program between Harvard Business School (HBS) and the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS).

The two-year, full-time, HBS joint MS/MBA degree for tech leaders will include additional coursework during each January term but give students freedom during the summer to pursue an internship or startup venture, just as the traditional MBA does. It will welcome its first cohort of approximately 30 students in August 2018 and will confer two degrees to graduates, a Master of Science in engineering sciences and an MBA. 



The new program is designed to bridge the divide between engineering and business for aspiring leaders in the tech sector who want to drive and manage innovation throughout their organizations.

The program was created by HBS Professor of Business Administration Tom Eisenmann, faculty co-chair of the HBS Rock Center for Entrepreneurship and faculty chair of both the HBS California Research Center and the recently launched HBS Startup Studio in New York, and SEAS Professor of Engineering Rob Howe, who directs the Harvard Biorobotics Lab and cofounded RightHand Robotics. Together they will serve as faculty co-chairs of the new MS/MBA program.

SEAS, located across the river from HBS, will also be moving the majority of its faculty, students, and classes to a new facility adjacent to HBS in the coming years.

The curriculum
  • 
Students in the new MS/MBA program will begin as a cohort at SEAS in August, completing a two-week intensive System Engineering Course. 
  • The majority of the rest of the first year will be spent at HBS completing the MBA Required Curriculum (RC).
  •  MS/MBA students will continue to meet periodically as a cohort at SEAS during the first year in an Engineering, Design & Innovation Management Seminar and will also complete a Technology Venture Immersion course together during the January term.
  • During their second year, MS/MBA students will split their time between electives at each SEAS and HBS. They will also come together as a cohort for an Integrated Design course during the fall term and complete a Capstone course during the January and spring terms, working in small teams to build and launch a new product.
  • There will not be any summer coursework, giving students the freedom to pursue a summer internship at an established tech firm or startup or work on their own venture.
Who Should Apply?
One of the goals we have with this program is attracting students who may not be interested in either a standalone MBA or MS in engineering sciences. 
To gain admission to the joint MS/MBA program, students must:
  • Hold an engineering, computer science, or related undergraduate degree, with a record of outstanding academic achievement
  • Have at least two years of full-time work experience, ideally in designing and/or developing technology-intensive products;
  • Meet the criteria for admission to both the HBS MBA program and the SEAS MS program.

Admissions Process
1] Those interested in this new program must submit all application elements required by both schools, but the entire process will be hosted within the system HBS currently uses to make it as easy as possible to complete. 
2] Applicants will only have to log into one account, submit all of the application requirements for the MBA program—transcripts, essay, work history, test scores—and then open up a connected page where they can submit all of the SEAS required components.
3] Applicants to the joint-degree program will be required to submit an additional essay focused on their tech expertise and experience. 
4] Applicants who advance to the interview round will at that point also be asked to supply an additional letter of recommendation focused on their tech credentials, he adds.

The initial application review process will be the same as it is for all applicants to the MBA program, with a subset invited to interview.

There will be three potential outcomes
1] Admission by SEAS and HBS as part of the joint program
2] Admission into the MBA program but not the joint degree program, 
3] Rejection

Deadlines: 
There will be two application rounds for the inaugural MS/MBA cohort slated to start in August 2018. 
  • The Round 1 deadline is September 6, 2017
  • Round 2 deadline is January 3, 2018. 
  • College seniors can also apply for “2+2” deferred admission to the MS/MBA program. The deadline for those applicants is April 10, 2018. 


Harvard’s new joint MS/MBA program becomes the sixth joint-degree program offered between HBS and Harvard’s other leading schools. Other programs are
a) Joint-degree programs with the Harvard Kennedy School—an MBA/MPP (Master of Public Policy) program 
b) an MBA/MPA-ID (Master of Public Administration-International Development)
c) a JD/MBA with Harvard Law School, 
d) a MD/MBA with Harvard Medical School
e) a DMD/MBA with Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

Similar programs:
- NYU Stern School of Business announced this spring a new one-year accelerated Tech MBA program
- Cornell’s Johnson Graduate School of Management offers a one-year Tech MBA program on its Cornell Tech campus in New York City. 
- Stanford Graduate School of Business features two related, three-year dual-degree programs, one combining an M.S. in computer science with the MBA, and a second combining an M.S. in electrical engineering with the MBA. 
- MIT offers a System Design Management (SDM) program jointly offered by its School of Engineering and Sloan School of Management.

For more information see either HBS or SEAS websites. 

New GMAT Test Details: the "Select Section Order"

New GMAT Feature Offers Test-Taking Personalization

There will be significant changes for the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), from July 11, 2017.

Until now the GMAT had a set order: 
1] Analytical Writing Assessment
2] Integrated Reasoning
3] Quantitative, and 
4] Verbal section. 

The amendment made by the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) offers considerably greater flexibility, giving test-takers some choice in the order in which they complete these tasks.
The new GMAT feature, officially titled the Select Section Order, was implemented based on research from GMAC.
Along with the aforementioned traditional GMAT order, those taking the exam have the option to complete it in the following additional orders:
Verbal, Quantitative, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment
Quantitative, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment
GMAC also laid out what the test could look like on its website, with the included optional eight minute breaks:


GMAC will also refresh its test materials and website, which also includes a major change to profile pages that not only reduces the amount of time it takes to complete the exam, but gives test-takers a chance to know their scores immediately after completion.

The modifications to the exam may be a direct result of increased competition from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). In recent years, more and more business schools have begun accepting GRE scores in lieu of the GMAT, with 92 percent of MBA programs now accepting GRE.

Practice examinations available from GMAC will not be available until the end of July. However, those who do purchase a full-length exam from mba.com in the meantime “will be eligible for a complimentary upgrade of GMAT Prep or Exam Pack,” according to GMAC.

For more information please see GMAC. 

Friday, June 16, 2017

2017-2018 MBA Application Deadlines

The main changes so far:

  • The University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School has moved its round one deadline ahead by eight full days to Sept. 19th of 2017, versus last year’s Sept. 27th date. That puts Wharton more in sync with other school deadlines, including Stanford which has a round one cutoff date that is exactly the same. 
  • Wharton won’t post its essay questions for the Class of 2020 until early summer, and Stanford has already made clear it intends to keep its iconic “What Matters Most” essay in the mix.
  • Columbia Business School, which maintains its early decision deadline and rolling admissions approach without specific release dates, has switched out several essay questions. 
  • NYU Stern has added an emotional intelligence endorsement requirement that allows a colleague at work or a friend to convey a compelling story that demonstrates a candidate’s EQ.
  • Michigan Ross has introduced a new essay format with a short answer section containing three groups of prompts that requires applicants to select one prompt from each group and respond to it in 100 words or less. 
  • At Dartmouth Tuck, for example, the early action round is Oct. 3, with decisions revealed on Dec. 15th. The school also expects applicants to initiate an interview with the school no later than Oct. 31.
  • Notre Dame’s Mendoza School also has an early round deadline for applicants who are strongly committed to the school’s MBA. 
  • Both Wharton and MIT Sloan, for example, don’t expect to issue their new essays until early-to-mid July.

Round 1 Deadlines



Round 2 deadlines


Round 3 and 4 Deadlines

Basic Advice: It's best to apply in the first round when none of the seats in the class are filled. At most schools, early applicants have an advantage over those that complete their applications in later rounds. There are some other reasons why you want to get your app in early:
The ability to receive a scholarship award from the school’s Financial Aid Office prior to the date by which you must respond to your offer of admission.
Ample time to complete recommended quantitative and/or language coursework prior to arrival on campus.
Access to on-campus housing lottery systems at some schools.
Sufficient time to complete the visa application process for international candidates.
Attendance at a school’s Admit Weekends. Sometimes, round three candidates lose out on 

Monday, June 12, 2017

レナード・N・スターン・スクール・オブ・ビジネス Big Change in Application: Pick Six

NYU Stern's 2017-2018 MBA application has undergone big changes and it will now offer two new one-year MBA programs, focused on fashion & luxury and technology respectively. 

1. Applicants can now opt to be considered for multiple Stern programs—the full-time, part-time, or new specialized one-year MBA programs—simultaneously using a single application. 
2. The school has stopped its long-standing “creative” essay—which gave applicants near total free reign to submit whatever they felt best communicated who they are as a person. 
3. “Pick Six” has been introduced in its place—an Instagram-esque opportunity for applicants to use images and captions to tell their stories. 
4. Finally, reflecting the importance Stern places not only on candidates’ IQ but also their EQ—or emotional quotient—the transformed application now solicits an “EQ Endorsement” in additional to more traditional letters of recommendations.

Also
  • The November deadline for the full-time MBA program has been eliminated, leaving only three deadlines: October 15th, January 15th, and March 15th. 
  • The other programs—fashion & luxury MBA, tech MBA, and part-time MBA (for spring term)—will each feature two deadlines, September 15th and November 15th.

Candidates who do opt to apply to more than one program will be required to select a primary program—full-time MBA, part-time MBA, tech MBA, or fashion & luxury MBA—and then provide an additional essay explaining their program preferences—i.e. why their first choice program is their first choice but how more than one option could ultimately align with their career goals. Applicants should submit their applications by the deadline for the primary program they are targeting, and there will be no additional fee for applying to more than one program.

”
Stern’s famous “creative” essay has been a hallmark of the school for more than 15 years, inviting applicants to use just about any means they could think of to express who they are as a person to the admissions committee.

With Pick Six, Stern hopes to provide a little more guidance to applicants and create more consistency in the evaluation process while still offering plenty of freedom of expression. Through Pick Six, candidates get to submit six images—whether pictures, charts, infographics, or artwork—accompanied by six short captions.

EQ Endorsement
Stern’s has long placed a premium on candidates who possess both intellectual and emotional intelligence—what it terms “IQ + EQ.” Applicants will now be required to provide a testimonial illustrating a specific example of demonstrated EQ from someone who knows them well.
While traditional professional recommendations still will be required, the EQ endorsement won’t be restricted to supervisors, as traditionally is the case with letters of recommendation. Instead, they can come from a team member, colleague, or peer—whomever can best attest to the candidate’s emotional intelligence.
  •  EQ endorsers with receive a definition of what IQ + EQ means at Stern and be asked to provide one specific compelling example that demonstrates the candidate’s EQ. U

As before, all applicants will be required to submit a data form, resume/CV, work history form, two professional recommendations, academic transcript, standardized test scores, and essays on each career goals and program fit. 

For more information see the Stern Admissions site. 

アンダーソン・スクール・オブ・マネジメントUCLA Anderson MBA Essay Questions and deadlines 2017-2018

 UCLA Anderson has posted their 2017-2018 MBA essay topic. Anderson only requires one essay (750 words), which remains unchanged from the prior years. An optional essay and re-applicant essay are also available.

First-Time Applicants (Required Essay):
We believe that the best results are achieved when you share success, think fearlessly and drive change. 
1. With this in mind, what are your goals at UCLA Anderson and in your short-term and long-term career? (750 words maximum)
Optional Essay:
The following essay is optional. No preference is given in the evaluation process to applicants who submit an optional essay. Please note that we only accept written essays.
2. Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? Please use your best judgment. (250 words maximum)
Re-Applicant Essay:
Reapplicants who applied for the MBA program starting in 2016 or 2017 are required to complete the following essay:
1. Please describe your career progress since you last applied and ways in which you have enhanced your candidacy. Include updates on short-term and long-term career goals, as well as your continued interest in UCLA Anderson. (750 words maximum)
Please note:
Your essays are the primary way for you to share your perspectives and plans with the admissions committee. The best essays are introspective, genuine and succinct in directly answering our questions and responding to our topics.



2017-2018 UCLA Anderson Deadlines
Round 1
Deadline: Oct. 6, 2017
Decision Release Date: Dec. 15, 2017
Round 2
Deadline: Jan. 5, 2018
Decision Release Date: March 29, 2018
Round 3
Deadline: April 12, 2018
Decision Release Date: May 24, 2018

For more information, see the UCLA Anderson website. 

スタンフォード大学経営大学院(Stanford GSB MBA Essay Questions – 2017-2018)

Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) has revealed its essay questions for the coming admissions season. Applicants are required to respond to two essay questions and given 1,150-1,200 words in which to do so.

2017-2018 Stanford GSB Essay Questions
Essay A: What matters most to you, and why? (750 words)
For this essay, we would like you to:
Do some deep self-examination, so you can genuinely illustrate who you are and how you came to be the person you are.
Share the insights, experiences, and lessons that shaped your perspectives, rather than focusing merely on what you’ve done or accomplished.
Write from the heart, and illustrate how a person, situation, or event has influenced you.
Focus on the “why” rather than the “what.”

Essay B: Why Stanford? (400 words, or 450 words if applying to both the MBA and MSx programs)
Enlighten us on how earning your MBA at Stanford will enable you to realize your ambitions.
Explain your decision to pursue graduate education in management.
Explain the distinctive opportunities you will pursue at Stanford.
If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to address your interest in both programs. 



The Stanford MBA deadlines for 2017-2018 are as follows:
Round 1
Application Deadline: September 19, 2017
Notification Date: December 14, 2017
Round 2
Application Deadline: January 10, 2018
Notification Date: March 29, 2018
Round 3
Application Deadline: April 4, 2018
Notification Date: Mid May 2018
For more information on applying, visit the Stanford GSB MBA Admissions website.

US Business Schools Try to Boost Women Intake for MBA Programs


  • Just 37% of full-time, two-year MBA program applicants in 2016 were women. 


According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), 75% of full-time, two-year MBA programs with 120 students or more reported a growth in applications from women in 2016. 
  • At Temple University’s Fox School of Business, 55% of MBA students are women. 
  • At the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business, the proportion was 52%.*

Yet women are still under-represented on most full-time MBA programs. And just 37% of all full-time, two-year MBA program applicants in 2016 were women.

  • Syracuse University’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management has experienced percentages of women on its full-time MBA program more typical of US business schools across the board – increasing slowly but steadily from 30% for 2014’s intake, to 32% for 2015, and 39% for 2016.

One major reason for the lack of women is costs. This March, GMAC released an International Women’s Day white paper based on a survey of 5,900 business school applicants.
  • 38% of female survey respondents in the US cited financial reasons as the key reason why they had not yet accepted their admissions offer to business school, compared with 20% of male respondents.

Arizona State University’s WP Carey School of Business is tackling the MBA funding problem head-on. In 2016, it launched its new Forward Focus MBA, with the university covering the entirety of all incoming MBA students’ tuition. Applications jumped from 500 in 2015 to 1,159 in 2016. 
  • As well as boosting numbers of international MBA applicants, WP Carey increased its female MBA population from a plateau of 30% to 43% in 2016.
At WP Carey, the drive to open up more opportunities for women in business comes right from the top. 
  • The school’s dean, Amy Hillman, is one of the few female business school deans in the US
  • The school’s senior leadership team is also predominantly female.

WP Carey is a member of the Forte Foundation, a non-profit consortium of leading companies and business schools devoted to promoting women in business.



Since its launch in 2001, Forte Foundation has dished out $110 million in fellowships to 5,000 female MBAs, bolstering numbers of women in business school.

At the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School, the percentage of women in the MBA class in 2000 was around 25%. Now, it’s 34%.

  • For online MBA programs, 43% of applicants in 2016 were women. For specialized business master’s programs in management, marketing, and accounting: 52%. Full-time MBA programs face competition from shorter, more flexible, more affordable programs better suited to an active family life.
At Yale School of Management, 334 students make up the total enrollment for Yale SOM’s class of 2018. 43% are women.


The current MBA class at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management has more women in it than ever before. Kellogg’s latest intake was 41% female.

For more information, see BusinessBecause

Saturday, June 3, 2017

Oxford Saïd Expands New Global Leadership Council & Responsible Business Forum

Like many leading MBA programs in the global arena, the University of Oxford Saïd Business School is continually working to enhance its opportunities for students, professors, and alumni. Most recently, the school expanded its global reach with the establishment of a new Global Leadership Council, which has the goal of advancing the school’s business education model. In addition, the second annual Responsible Business Forum provided a platform for the next generation of business leaders to address social and environmental issues.

Both the council and the forum brought together global companies and educational stakeholders to support the development of mutually beneficial relationships.

Global Leadership Council
The newly appointed Global Leadership Council comprises 28 current and former chairs, CEOs, and C-level executives and will provide independent advice and guidance to the school, helping Saïd and the broader university address the most pressing challenges in business and society.

In a press release, Saïd Dean Peter Tufano explained: “The council will help ensure that our activities remain forward thinking and relevant, to meet our mission of developing leaders with a thorough understanding of business and importantly, its broader role in society.” He added, “We are very grateful to the leaders who have joined the council—their advice and insights will be invaluable.”


The 28-member council consists of leaders from top organizations in both the private and public sectors, including Apple, BlackRock, L’Oréal, McKinsey, UBS, Santander, and CreditEase. Each leader will advise the school on strategy and initiatives that promote Saïd’s global profile, including its relations with the corporate sector, program development, and research.

Ning Tang, CEO of CreditEase and one of the leaders appointed to the council, said in a press release: “I am humbled to be appointed to Oxford Said’s Global Leadership Council and excited to be an active contributor to the school’s mission as it strives ahead. I look forward to working with the global leaders on the council, giving advice and providing insights to help foster forward thinking in addressing the world-scale challenges we face today.”

Sam Laidlaw, executive chairman of Neptune Oil and Gas Limited and former CEO of Centrica, will chair the council. Laidlaw has had a distinguished 30-year career in the energy industry. His previous roles include executive vice president of Chevron Corporation, non-executive director of Hanson PLC, chief executive officer of Enterprise Oil PLC, and president and chief operating officer of Amerada Hess Corporation. He’s also a member of the U.K. Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Group and was a senior director of the U.K. Department of Transport.
Of his appointment as the chair of the Global Leadership Council and its impact on Saïd, he said: “Oxford Saïd celebrates its 21st anniversary this year and it has achieved a great deal in a relatively short time. The new council will help the school build on this success and focus on the trends that will define the future, and the organizations and leaders that will shape it.”
Responsible Business Forum
Oxford also hosted the second annual Responsible Business Forum recently. This event brought together global companies to share their experiences tackling business challenges with Saïd MBA students. Nearly 300 MBA students attended the forum alongside representatives from organizations such as Mars, Dell, and Marks & Spencer, all of whom led case studies and master classes at the event. The forum is a core module of the MBA program and is designed to deepen students’ understanding of the relationship between business and society—specifically, as it relates to challenges in the workplace.
Colin Mayer CBE, Saïd professor of management studies, led the forum. In a news release from the university, he explained: “We need a paradigm shift in this area to change not only business practice but also the intellectual agenda. So long as business education continues to preach the Friedman doctrine [which implies that there is only one social responsibility of business, to increase profits in open and free competition] then we’re in no better position to change practice than in the past. We need to recognize that the management change that’s needed cannot be incidental, it has to be intentional and a core part of business going forward.”

Throughout the forum, MBA students had the opportunity to learn about ways companies have simultaneously created financial, social, and environmental value through various forms of ownership, governance, management, leadership, and measurement.

Maren Mende, an MBA student who attended the event, praised the forum: “What I find encouraging is I’m surrounded by a cohort of students, friends and faculty who feel and think the same way and have the collective power, as we spread out across industries and geographies, to take business on its final step on its journey towards mutuality.”



4 Qualities to Show During MBA Interviews

MBA admissions officers say they like to see applicants display humility and resilience during interviews.

Applicants should directly answer interview questions about past failures, MBA admissions officers say. It's hard to succeed in business if you lack the ability to sell yourself. That's one reason why experts say MBA interviews are a critical component of the admissions process.

"We have had cases where an interview evaluation tipped the scales one way or another," says Soojin Kwon, admissions director with the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan—Ann Arbor.

She says a strong interview evaluation has occasionally changed her mind about an applicant and caused her to shift an application from the "no" pile to the "yes" pile. But she also says that a poor interview evaluation – in rare cases – can lead to a rejection.

Face-to-face communication skills are crucial in the business world, Kwon says; but those skills are hard to measure in the written components of the MBA application, so the interview is key.

Peggy Conway, director of MBA admissions with the Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University, says she cannot imagine accepting an MBA applicant without interviewing him or her first.

Conway says she uses interviews to gauge not only whether an MBA applicant would thrive at the Neeley School of Business but also what kind of impression an applicant would make on future colleagues and employers.

"We want students who are going to make an impact," Conway says.

The MBA interview also offers insight into how applicants think and what they care about, says Chad Losee, managing director of MBA admissions and financial aid at Harvard Business School.

“We don’t feel that people need to come in with a life plan already mapped out, but we do like to get a sense for how people think about the decisions that they make," Losee says.

He says MBA applicants who are anxious about the interview process should do their best to relax before the interview by perhaps taking a run or walk, eating comfort food or meditating. "Whatever it is, just make sure you feel as at ease as possible," Losee says.

"I think that’s good advice. And know that on our end, we’re real people. We’re not trying to trick you. We’re just trying to get to know you as well as we can."

U.S. News asked MBA admissions officers to describe key traits applicants displayed during interviews that made lasting impressions. Here are four qualities that resonated with the interviewers.

• Clarity: Applicants who are able to explain their work eloquently to alumni interviewers in other industries often get rave reviews, Kwon says.

For instance, a Ross MBA applicant who was a military veteran received a glowing evaluation for his interview because of his ability to share with his civilian interviewer the lessons he learned during his military experience, she says.

"Oftentimes, candidates think that they have to have this monumental achievement in order to impress the admissions committee, and it's not about the size," Kwon says. "We're trying to understand how you think about things and how you think about yourself."

• Self-awareness: Applicants stand out in MBA interviews when they offer thoughtful reflection about their career, Kwon says.

"It's being able to have perspective about the things that you've done and the import of those things, because there's value in everything that an applicant might have done in their career," she says. "It's knowing how that translates into something that will be valuable in your business school experience, in life and in work."

[Ask these five questions during an MBA admissions interview.]

• Humility: Business school leaders say they appreciate it when MBA applicants acknowledge mistakes when they're asked a question about past failures.

"I don't think you're ever penalized for being open and honest with that question," says Patrick Mullane, executive director of HBX, Harvard Business School's online education platform.

Mullane recommends applicants be natural. He says dodging questions, rather than answering them honestly, during MBA interviews also typically backfires.

Kari Graham, director of graduate admissions at the University of Denver's Daniels College of Business, says some of the most poignant interviews she's conducted are ones where MBA applicants described the wisdom they gained from mistakes.

"Those are usually the things that make us better people and hopefully better students," Graham says.

• A personal connection: Showing emotions during an interview isn’t a sign of weakness and could, when real and appropriate, help applicants make meaningful connections with interviewers, experts say.

Graham says she has encountered MBA applicants who cried when describing the profound impact a mentor had on their lives or discussing adversity they have overcome.

"I've had people really, literally come to tears in my office," she says. "What's so beautiful about that is that really breaks down barriers, and it connects us profoundly emotionally to one another."

David Simpson, admissions director at the London Business School, says that a great MBA interview goes beyond discussing an applicant's resume.

“A poor interview is one that just restates facts that could have come from the application form," Simpson says. "A good interview adds color.”


日本精工、留学生支援の財団法人を設立

日本精工 留学を支援する一般財団法人「NSK奨学財団」を設立した。海外の大学や大学院への留学を希望する日本人学生や日本の大学院に留学するアジア人学生を対象に、学費や渡航費、生活費を支給する。学生の留学を後押しすることで、日本の次世代を担うリーダーやアジア地域における人材育成を支援する。

同社の創立100周年事業の一環として4月に設立した。

2017/5/18 23:46
日本経済新聞 電子版

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

5 Amazing MBA Experiences You Can Only Get Studying Online

Online MBA programs have become more than just affordable alternatives to traditional classroom-based courses

Today’s online MBA programs are credible alternatives to traditional classroom-based courses. And, with advances in technology, online MBAs are more interactive and engaging than ever before.

So much so that Birmingham Business School positions its Online MBA - the world’s first 100%-online MBA to be accredited by AMBA – as a direct alternative to its full-time MBA program. When Birmingham’s Online MBA students graduate, the certificate they receive is the same as students on the full-time course.

But online courses offer more. There’s no opportunity cost – online MBA students can study while they work. While some full-time MBA programs can cost upwards of $100,000 (USD) in tuition alone, Birmingham’s Online MBA costs a more affordable £18,000 ($23,000)*.



According to GMAC – the demand for online MBA programs is outstripping that for traditional face-to-face part-time and executive courses.

Here’s five amazing MBA experiences you can only get by studying online:

1. Study anywhere, anytime
Flexibility is a big buzzword in business today. Online MBA program participants can study almost anywhere –juggling work and study at the same time.

The is part of the UK’s Russell Group; renowned for its high standard of faculty and research facilities. For Munyaradzi Chikwanda, a South African student on Birmingham’s Online MBA, studying online means having access to a level of educational experience which is less available locally:

“I needed an MBA program that would fit well with my family commitments and responsibilities - as well as my hectic work schedule,” he says. “I also wanted an MBA program from an internationally-recognized and revered academic institution.

“Studying for an MBA from Birmingham will open doors and introduce me to new professional networks, helping me realize both my professional and personal goals,” he says.


2. Connect internationally
Where is more diverse than the internet? Online students connect globally through their computer – to fellow students, professors, and mentors – at the click of a mouse.

Birmingham offers an Online MSc International Business alongside its Online MBA. Across both programs, 62% of students are international, representing 45 different nationalities.

“During my first online session, I was simply amazed as the class went live with students from America, Australia, Africa and Asia,” says Ceridwen Scerri, a Birmingham Online MBA student from Malta.

“And with each module, experts join the course,” she continues. “So far, I’ve had lecturers from New Zealand, Malaysia, Israel and the UK – I don’t think that this can be experienced on-campus, to the same extent.”

3. Use new, cutting-edge technologies
While MBAs in classrooms might read about new developments in digital technology in a textbook; online MBA students live them.

On Birmingham’s Online MBA, students and professors connect through fortnightly live sessions – intensive, two and a quarter hours long sessions in an immersive online learning environment. Birmingham is also looking to use cutting-edge technologies – like artificial intelligence and big data analytics – to create a more personalized online learning experience.

“Online, we’ve got the analytics,” says Daniel Chicksand, director of Birmingham’s Online MBA. “We can see exactly where students are in the program, how much time they’ve spent on a particular page, and how they navigate through the learning experience.

“We can make that learning pathway smoother and more rewarding for students. And we can give them that constant and immediate feedback that you can’t always get in a face-to-face environment.”

4. Get a specialized skillset
Flexible, remote working online is the future of the workplace and online study is the perfect preparation. Employers recognize that completing an MBA online needs even more self-discipline, self-motivation, organizational and time-management skills than a traditional full-time course.

“My employer is pleased that I’ve decided to get my MBA,” says Birmingham Online MBA student Patrick Gettleman – his employer offset some of the program’s cost.

“Having a different perspective on things helps shape different responses to situations,” he continues. “I now look at my projects from more of a big picture perspective than I would have before.”

5. Apply your learnings in your day-to-day work
Combining work and study means online MBA students can implement their learnings in the workplace. Ultimately, studying online makes students better at their jobs, whether they’re bankers, consultants, or entrepreneurs.

Florence Britton (pictured above) is using the skills she’s gaining on Birmingham’s Online MBA grow her home care agency: “When we completed the strategy module, I redeveloped my company’s strategy. When we completed the marketing module, I redesigned my marketing plan,” she says.

“For every module that I have studied, I have done something to improve my business.”

*Course price is rising to £18,540 (GBP) in October 2017

For more information see BusinessBecause

アジアのトップビジネススクールが集結!第5回『アジアMBA夏祭り』7月23日開催

海外トップ大学・大学院留学準備指導校を運営する株式会社アゴス・ジャパン(代表取締役:横山 匡、本社:東京都渋谷区)は、アジアMBAトップ校の日本人卒業生・在校生が集結する『アジアMBA夏祭り』を2017年7月23日(日)に開催いたします。

今年で第5回目を迎える『アジアMBA夏祭り』では、アジア全域を一度にカバーする卒業生によるパネルディスカッションだけではなく、各校ブース形式での学校紹介を行い、リアルな情報を直接得られる貴重な機会となっています。

近年アジアMBA志望者は急増しており、アジアMBA主要10校では、2009年の11名から昨年2016年は47名と、4倍以上増加しています。(※1)
Financial Times Global MBA Rankingによる「Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2017」の評価を見てもアジアMBAの進出は目覚ましく、2009年の4校から10校に増加しています。(※2)
アジアMBAトップ校の卒業生総勢50名以上が集まる本イベントで、アジアMBAの実力を直に感じていただくことが可能です。

(※1)チャイナMBAマネジメント協会(CMMA: http://cmma.biz/ )の調査による
(※2)「Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2017」
http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/global-mba-ranking-2017

◇日時 :2017年7月23日(日) 13:30-17:00
◇会場 :AP渋谷道玄坂渋東シネタワー
https://www.tc-forum.co.jp/kanto-area/ap-shibuyadougenzaka/shb-base/
◇来場予定者:約200名

◇イベントスケジュール
第1部:13:30~15:00 卒業生によるパネルディスカッション
【アジェンダ】
・アジアのMBAを選ぶべき理由
・アジアMBAの特徴
・卒業生はアジアMBAの経験をどのようにキャリアに活かしているか

【モデレーター】
都築 啓氏
卒業校:香港科技大学/The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology class of 2015
留学形態:私費
留学前の産業/職種:総合コンサル/経営コンサルタント
留学後の産業/職種:プライベートエクイティ/投資・企業再生

【パネリスト】
橘 省吾氏
卒業校:香港科技大学/The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology class of 2017
留学形態:私費
留学前の産業/職種:外資総合コンサル/IT・組織戦略コンサルタント
留学後の産業/職種:外資戦略コンサル/経営戦略コンサルタント

周藤 一浩氏
卒業校:清華大学経済管理学院/School of Economics and Management Tsinghua University class of 2016
留学形態:社費
留学前の産業/職種:日系IT/コンサルティング
留学後の産業/職種:日系IT/コンサルティング

大川 栄一氏
卒業校:中欧国際工商学院/China Europe International Business School(CEIBS) class of 2016
留学形態:社費
留学前の産業/職種:総合商社/営業・トレーディング
留学後の産業/職種:総合商社/事業投資・事業開発

井上 貴江氏
卒業校:シンガポール国立大学/National University of Singapore Business School class of 2013
留学形態:私費
留学前の産業/職種:投資銀行/地方金融機関向け債権営業
留学後の産業/職種:ヘッジファンド/エクイティアナリスト

向井 秀明氏
卒業校:早稲田-ナンヤンダブルMBA/Nanyang-Waseda Double MBA class of 2012
留学形態:私費
留学前の産業/職種:外資IT/技術営業
留学後の産業/職種:日系IT/新規事業開発

山田 泰穂氏
卒業校:一橋大学大学院国際企業戦略研究科(一橋ICS)/Hitotsubashi ICS class of 2015
留学形態:社費
留学前の産業/職種:ホテルマネジメント・運営/経営コンサルタント
留学後の産業/職種:ホテルマネジメント・運営/海外事業開発・新規事業開発

第2部:15:00~17:00 各校ブース形式での学校紹介
◇参加予定者出身校:13校(2017/5/18現在)
・清華大学経済管理学院/School of Economics and Management Tsinghua University
・北京大学光華管理学院/Guanghua School of Management Peking University
・長江商学院/Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business
・中欧国際工商学院(CEIBS)/China Europe International Business School
・香港中文大学/The Chinese University of Hong Kong
・香港科技大学/The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
・香港大学/The University of Hong Kong
・香港城市大学/City University of Hong Kong
・シンガポール国立大学/National University of Singapore Business School
・南洋理工大学/早稲田大学 Nanyang-Waseda Double MBA/Nanyang MBA
・シンガポール経営大学/Singapore Management University
・一橋大学大学院国際企業戦略研究科(一橋ICS)/Hitotsubashi ICS
・国際大学(IUJ)/International University of Japan

◇参加費:
無料ですが参加予約のためにアゴス・ジャパンWebサイトの無料オンライン登録が必要です。

◇参加方法:
アゴス・ジャパンWebサイトよりお申し込みください。
http://www.agos.co.jp/e.php?e=5366

主催:アゴス・ジャパン

協力:チャイナMBAマネジメント協会(CMMA)
「チャイナMBAマネジメント協会(英文表記:CMMA:China MBA & Management Association、理事長:大内 昭典)」は、清華大学、北京大学、長江商学院、CEIBSなど中国トップビジネススクールの現役学生および卒業生を中心とし、メンバー同士の交流や研鑚を通じて、中国文化圏および日本中国間で活躍するトップ経営者人材の輩出を目指す団体です。また、日本で初めてアジアMBAを紹介する書籍『アジアでMBA』(英治出版)を共著出版しました。
URL: http://cmma.biz/

■株式会社アゴス・ジャパンについて
アゴス・ジャパンは、MBA/LLM/大学院/大学留学指導、TOEFL(R)TEST/IELTS/GMAT(R)/GRE(R)TEST/SAT(R)対策のエキスパートです。トップ校合格のために必要な各種英語テストの攻略法および出願コンサルティング指導により、海外トップスクールへ1万件以上(2000年以降の累計)という、圧倒的な合格実績を誇ります。また、国内70社以上の企業派遣生への特別テスト対策講座・留学指導、東京大学を始めとする大学でのテスト対策講座等も行っています。


Why The MBA Beats The MD & The JD

The cost of getting an MBA degree can be staggering, leaving students with heavy debt burdens after graduation. But the perennial question every new generation of MBA applicants have is, does the degree still pay off in dollars-and-cents terms? 

A new return-on-investment analysis on graduate education shows that the MBA continues to beat all other degrees when it comes down to value.

The study by San Francisco-based Priceonomics to determine which advanced degrees produced graduates with the most (and least) student debt and how that compared to post-degree income immediately after graduation. 

Researchers analysed MDs (medicine), DDS (dentistry), Pharm D (pharmacy), JDs (law), Masters in Science or Engineering, Masters in Arts, and other masters degrees. They also examined the impact of a university’s brand on a graduate’s earnings.

The study found that MBAs had the lowest debt-to-income ratios of  0.71. That compares with medical professionals’s debt-to-income ratio of 1.41, master’s of arts at 1.07, or law at 1.0. 

Medical professionals incur the most average debt at  $191,200, followed by law graduates at $139,900 (see below table). The average debt for an MBA was $89.900.

The analysis, moreover, tends to underestimate the MBA’s value: the stated first-year income for MBAs of $127,200 is substantially below the actual figures for graduates of the top schools. Last year, the median total compensation package—including sign-on bonuses and other guaranteed pay— for MBAs at two dozen of the most highly ranked institutions exceeded the reported average in the study. In fact, the total pay for MBAs at Stanford, Harvard, NYU, the University of Virginia, and the University of Michigan topped $150,000, with Stanford GSB grads making a record $163,827.



The analysis also understates the value of an MBA because employment rates out of business school tend to be substantially higher than they are for law school grads and many other master degree holders. Finally, leading business schools tend to be far more generous with scholarship aid than many other graduate schools. At Harvard Business School, for example, roughly half of the school’s MBA students currently receive fellowships, which now cover more half the cost of the annual tuition of $61,225. Last year, HBS gave $34 million in scholarship aid to not much more than 950 students. While this generosity would lower the debt burdens in Priceonomics calculations, the study wouldn’t capture graduates with full rides or substantial awards who wouldn’t need to borrow any money at all for their education.

A study commissioned by Poets&Quants, for example, showed that over a 20-year career a Harvard MBA made $3,233,000 in income, while a Stanford MBA pulled down $3,011,000. At Wharton, the total was $2,989,000 and at UC-Berkeley’s Haas School graduates earned $2,858,000. The higher ranked the school, the more career income MBAs made. Median total compensation for an MBA from the top three schools was $3,011,000 versus $2,759,500 at a top ten, $2,266,000 for a top 50, or $1,771,000 for all MBA degree holders.

School Reputation Matters 

Degrees from the most highly selective schools come with tangible financial benefits. For all disciplines except medicine, graduates of top-100 programs enjoy lower debt relative to their income upon graduation. This trend continues after graduation, with the exception of engineering graduate students, where students from less prestigious schools have more favorable debt to income ratios six years after graduation than their counterparts from higher ranked schools.

The average MBA makes six figures after spending one or two years in graduate school. They typically take on around $90,000 in debt, but consistently enjoy a low debt-to-income ratio. This is doubly true for graduates of top-100 business programs, who enjoy the high income that comes with access to a high-powered alumni network.

For more information, please see Poets & Quants

Sunday, May 28, 2017

世界MBAランキング2016 トップ7を独占するアメリカと苦戦するアジア

ビジネスシーンでよく耳にするMBA。MBAとは、Master of Business Administrationの略で経営学修士を表すものだが、就職後のタイミングで取得するビジネスマンが多い印象があるのではないだろうか。そんなMBAトップ校ランキングの2016年版がエコノミストによって発表された。このランキングは、MBAの中でもフルタイムMBAのみを調査対象としている。


2016年は第1位から第7位まで全てアメリカの学校が独占しており、第1位はシカゴ大学ブース校、第2位はノースウェスタン大学ケロッグ校、第3位はバージニア大学ダーデン校となっている。昨年に比べ第1位のシカゴ大学以外は順位の変動が激しいが、トップ20に入る大学の顔ぶれに違いは一切なかった。

トップ2校の概要を簡単に説明すると、2年連続第1位についたシカゴ大学ブース校はカリキュラムの柔軟性が特徴的であり、リーダーシップ育成プログラムのLEADのみ全員必修となっている。柔軟性を活かし、様々なバックグラウンドや角度から考え、アイデアを創出することに重きを置いているプログラムである。次席のノースウェスタン大学ケロッグ校は、特にマーケティングの分野において秀でていることで有名なビジネススクールであり、傾向としてチームワークや協働を重視するようだ。マッキンゼー・アンド・カンパニーなどトップコンサルティングファームへの輩出人数の多さも特徴的である。

2016年にトップ10入りしたアメリカ以外の学校は3校で、第8位にスペインのナバラ大学、第9位にフランスのHEC、第10位にオーストラリアのクイーンズランド大学ビジネススクールがランクインした。トップ20で見ても、アメリカ、フランス、スペイン、イギリス、オーストラリアと欧米諸国の学校が圧倒的プレゼンスを持っている。トップ100になると、アジア圏の大学は6校ランクインしているが、日本の大学で調査対象になったのは新潟県にある国際大学1校のみに留まり、トップ100のランク外であった。

 エコノミストのMBAランキングでは、生徒に自身の所属するビジネススクールを幾つかの要因について評価してもらう。また、それぞれの要因をどれだけ生徒自身が重視しているかでその要因の比重が決められており、新しいキャリアへの機会が35%、自己成長・教育体験が同じく35%、収入の増加が20%、人的ネットワークの潜在性が10%で構成されている。

日本で知名度の高いMBA校のハーバード・ビジネス・スクールは4位、スタンフォード大学は5位と、トップ3を逃した。2016年度のランキングでは、ハーバード大学もスタンフォード大学も卒業生の幅の広さ、MBA取得前と比較した収入増加の割合で特にランキングが80-90位台と低く、スタンフォード大学はそれに加えてキャリアサービスを通じて就職した人の割合も97位と低かったことが影響しているようだ。

最後に2016年のトップ10のフルタイムMBAランキングを紹介する。

1. シカゴ大学ブース・スクール・オブ・ビジネス(アメリカ)
2. ノースウェスタン大学ケロッグ・スクール・オブ・マネジメント(アメリカ)
3. バージニア大学ダーデンビジネススクール(アメリカ)
4. ハーバード・ビジネス・スクール(アメリカ)
5. スタンフォード大学経営大学院(アメリカ)
6. ダートマス大学タック・スクール・オブ・ビジネス(アメリカ)
7. カリフォルニア大学バークレー校ハース・スクール・オブ・ビジネス(アメリカ)
8. ナバーラ大学イエセビジネススクール(スペイン)
9. HEC経営大学院(フランス)
10. クイーンズランド大学ビジネススクール(オーストラリア)


Blogosから

中国のトップMBAスクール、中欧国際工商学院(CEIBS)アドバイザーに出井伸之氏が就任

中国のトップMBAスクール、中欧国際工商学院(CEIBS)アドバイザーに出井伸之氏が就任。


7年連続世界トップ20位入りしているアジアのトップMBAスクール、中欧国際工商学院(CEIBS: China Europe International Business School)のインターナショナルアドバイザリーボードに元ソニー社長で現クオンタムリープ株式会社・代表取締役/ファウンダー&CEOの出井伸之氏が就任した。

出井氏は2017年4月19日より3年間就任の予定。

CEIBSは今後の中国にとって日本を重要な国とみなしており、日本人学生の受入れ強化に力を入れている。

Saturday, May 27, 2017

トランプ政権誕生で広がった米MBA留学離れ

トランプ米大統領は企業寄りの政策課題を掲げているにもかかわらず、外国の学生の間では、同政権の発足を受けて米国の経営学修士(MBA)に対する見方が悪化している。

1日、ホワイトハウスでの金融関係者との会合に出席したトランプ米大統領。同氏のビジネス寄りの姿勢にもかかわらず、米国でMBA取得を目指す外国人学生は減っている=ロイター

1日、ホワイトハウスでの金融関係者との会合に出席したトランプ米大統領。同氏のビジネス寄りの姿勢にもかかわらず、米国でMBA取得を目指す外国人学生は減っている=ロイター
 経営大学院(ビジネススクール)の入学適性試験「GMAT」を運営する米GMACによると、出願期間の半分が経過した今年度の募集状況では、米国のビジネススクールの64%で国外からの出願が減っている。

 米国発祥のMBAコースを持つエリート校の過半で国外からの出願が減るのは、十数年ぶりのことだ。

 調査対象となった324のMBAコースのうち、今年3月までの6カ月間の外国の学生からの出願数が前年同期を上回ったのは31%にとどまった。これは過去12年で最も低い水準だ。昨年の同時期に、その数字は39%だった。

 GMACは、海外からのMBA出願数の減少をトランプ氏の大統領就任と関連づけている。米大統領選があった昨年11月のGMACの調査では、非米国人のビジネススクール志願者の35%が、大統領選の結果を受けて米国への留学出願の可能性が薄れたと答えた。今年2月までに、その数字は43%に上昇している。

■課程終了後の就労ビザ規制に不安

 特に米国のビジネススクールにとって重要な市場であるインドで、課程修了後の就労ビザの規制をトランプ氏が強めるのではないかとの不安が出願の減少につながっている。GMACの調査では、留学を希望するインド人学生の80%以上が留学先で就職できることが「とても重要」だと答えている。

 フィナンシャル・タイムズによる今年のMBAコース・ランキングでトップ100に名を連ねる米国のビジネススクール51校では、学生の39%が外国からの留学生だ。

 GMACのサンギート・チョウフラ社長兼最高経営責任者(CEO)によると、米国を避ける学生は、カナダやオーストラリア、欧州など米国よりも歓迎されそうな留学先に変更するか、国内のMBAコースを選んだり、決定を先送りしたりしているという。

Nikkei 

米スタンフォード大、MBA取得者の年収首位-BW誌経営大学院番付

米スタンフォード大学のビジネススクール(経営大学院)は、一代で財を成した億万長者や現役の最高経営責任者(CEO)を輩出している名門校だ。だが、卒業生の中には、週最大4日、午前2時前後に起きてトイレ清掃をするロス・ペダーセンさん(2016年卒)のような人もいる。
  2月初めまでペダーセンさん(25)は、ダラスのヘッジファンド、ベルダ・アドバイザーズのバイスプレジデントとして、投資銘柄・企業の選別を行っていた。在学中にパートタイムで雇用され、卒業の約1週間後にフルタイムで入社。約5万5000ドル(現行レートで約610万円)の学生ローンを抱えたペダーセンさんに、6桁の年間報酬パッケージが提示された。だが入社してわずか数カ月で公共の利益になる仕事をしたいという思いが「くすぶる」ようになったため、米陸軍に加わって州兵になる準備のため上司の理解を得て1年間の休暇を取得した。

  ペダーセンさんの例は、スタンフォードの経営学修士(MBA)取得者がその他MBA取得者より収入が多い理由を説明する一助になる。彼の元クラスメートの多くはコンサルティングやプライベートエクイティー(PE、未公開株)投資会社など6桁報酬の職に就職した。ブルームバーグ・ビジネスウィーク(BW)誌の米経営大学院ランキングで、MBAプログラムでハーバードに次ぐ2位にランクしたスタンフォードでは、典型的な仕事に落ち着くよりも自らの情熱を追い求めることが奨励されている。
  BW誌の調査結果によると、スタンフォードMBA取得者が卒業から1年後に手にする報酬は、ハーバード大学の経営大学院とペンシルベニア大学ウォートン校を抑えてトップ。 近年のスタンフォードMBA取得者の卒業後6-8年後の年収は28万5000ドル(約3200万円)と、ハーバードと並んで最高だった。
  スタンフォードMBA取得者やその他の関係者らは、スタンフォード大が誇る名声やサンフランシスコ湾岸地帯(ベイエリア)の生活費の高さ、米グーグルやフェイスブックといったシリコンバレー企業との距離の近さが全て高報酬をもたらしていると話している。また、スタンフォードのウェブサイトによれば、18年の入学が認められたのは志願者数のわずか5.1%。ハーバード(9.6%)やウォートン(12.7%)よりも競争率が高いことと、比較的少人数制であることも卒業後の収入を押し上げているとの指摘もある。
  BW誌の調査では、MBAプログラム上位50位のうち、卒業生による起業率はスタンフォードが最も高かった。近年のMBA取得者全体の平均的な起業率は3%程度だが、スタンフォード大キャリアセンターのディレクター、メーブ・リチャード氏によるとスタンフォードでは約16%で、水準はここ5年ほど比較的落ち着いている。
  スタンフォードの名声がいつまで持続するかは不明だが、コンサルティング会社チャレンジャー・グレイ・アンド・クリスマスのジョン・チャレンジャーCEOは「シリコンバレーが光輝き続ける限り、スタンフォードの卒業生もその輝きの一部を反映するだろう」と話した。


Monday, May 15, 2017

Average GRE Scores At The Top Business Schools


The GRE cis becoming the preferred test for an increasing number of students, and an increasing number of candidates are getting into business schools by submitting GRE scores rather than — or in addition to — scores from the traditionally preferred Graduate Management Admission Test.

  • 8 schools surpass 30% in admits with GRE scores.
  • 11 schools saw a drop in GRE admits between 2015 and 2016, though of those declines, six were of just 1 percentage point. 
  • 24 schools saw increases, ranging from 1 percentage point to 24 points in a single year. 
  • 9 schools continue to have GRE admits in the single-digit percentages
  • 18 have eclipsed 20% and eight have surpassed 30%, led by Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, where a remarkable 42% of the 2016 intake were admitted with GRE scores.
Other notable schools: 
  1. Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School (39%, up from 15% in 2015)
  2. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Business (36%)
  3. Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business (35%, up from 12% in 2015),
  4. Washington University’s Olin Business School (34%)
  5. Georgia’sTerry School of Business (31%). 
The previous year’s high-level mark for GRE scores was owned by Yale School of Management, with 23%.

At Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, the percentage of admits with GRE scores tripled in the three years from 2013 to 2015, from 4% to 12%. Last year it dipped to 11%, but according to Anneli Richter, assistant dean of admissions, that may be an aberration.

Rise Of The GRE
Over the last several years, an increasing number of business school applicants have been admitted with Graduate Record Exam scores in place of Graduate Management Admission Test scores. The trend shows no signs of letting up, with a handful of schools seeing double-figure jumps between 2015 and 2016.

Percentage Of Incoming Class With GRE Scores



Percentage Of Incoming Class With GRE Scores





Rise Of The GRE



Stanford Scores Best — Again
Just as it did the previous year, Stanford GSB in 2016 edged out Yale SOM in overall average GRE score with 329 to Yale's 328, though Yale topped Stanford in Verbal scores, 165-164. In 2015, Stanford was the top school for average GRE with 328, better than Yale by 2 points.




Business Schools Dispute MBA Rankings

A number of universities are pushing back against annual business school rankings. Academics from more than 20 business schools participated in a research paper to be published this month in the journal Decision Sciences that questions the methodology and purpose of numerical ranking systems employed by several publications.

Deans and faculty from USC Marshall School of Business, UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, and OSU Fisher College of Business are among those protesting the approaches used by media outlets to aggregate multiple factors into a single ordinal rank—and they are airing their grievances in the form of a research paper scheduled for publication in the May issue of Decision Sciences Journal.

Bloomberg Businessweek, for example, has ranked full-time MBA programs in the U.S. since 1988. The current methodology focuses on "how well the programs prepare their graduates for job success" and is comprised of five elements: employer survey (35 percent), alumni survey (30 percent), student survey (15 percent), job placement rate (10 percent), and starting salary (10 percent).

The 2016 survey, published in November, ranked Harvard the top MBA program, followed by Stanford, Duke and the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management was ranked No. 9.

Some argue that surveys that focus on average base salary at graduation unfairly reward schools that place graduates in the financial sector. Others argue that the  best universities are the ones that provide the most value added to their students. Further, schools that do not cooperate are left out of rankings.

For more information please see the WSJ