Georgetown University MSB in Washington, D.C. Pictured are professors Turan Bali, left, Stephen Weymouth, center, and Preeti Choudary. Photo by Leslie E. Kossoff/Georgetown University
Following a general trend in top MBA programs, applications to this year’s incoming full-time MBA class at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business dipped from 1,742 last year to 1,459. But, for the 271 students planning to enroll, average GMAT scores ticked up from 692 to 693 and the median GMAT score remained at 700.
Average undergraduate GPA, however, slipped slightly from 3.37 to 3.34.
“We have an energetic new dean with a focus on innovation and collaboration, we are adding flexibility to the delivery and duration of our MBA, and we continuously achieve high national and international rankings,” Shelly Heinrich, interim associate dean for MBA Admissions, said in a news release from the school. “It’s no surprise we continue to attract a diverse pool of highly qualified applicants who see the Georgetown MBA as a way to exceed their personal and professional expectations.”
The school touted the diversity in its student population in terms of where in the U.S. students are coming from. Enrollees from the Mid-Atlantic region of the country dropped from 41% of last year’s class to 35% this year, but students from the Northeast, Southwest, and Midwest all increased. In terms of international diversity, the class maintained last year’s representation from 37 countries. According to McDonough, 48% of students in this fall’s cohort are fluent in more than one language, and 73% have lived, worked, or studied outside of their home country.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND WOMEN DROP, U.S. MINORITIES SURGE
Percentage of international students, however, dropped from 34% last year to 29%. The data point adds more fodder to concerns around the Trump administration’s handling of immigration and foreign policy and its impact on international students attending — or considering attending — U.S. universities. And in an age where many schools are putting more emphasis on enrolling women, Georgetown’s female numbers also took a hit, dropping from 32% last year to 29% this year. The percentage of U.S. minorities, however, surged from 16% last year to 37% this year — a five-year high, contrasting the five-year low in international students and women.
In fact, Georgetown’s Class of 2018 had 34% women but the percentage has since dropped with the past two classes. For international students, the numbers have decreased from 41% for the Class of 2016 to 29% this year. Even so, Heinrich says diversity is a point the admissions team “strives” for.
“The admissions team strives to build cohorts each year that will greatly contribute to the classroom experience,” she said. “We achieve this by ensuring our students bring a diversity of experiences, viewpoints, backgrounds, and cultures to discussions. This class already is off to a great start.”
