Not surprisingly, the top ten full-time MBA programs in the U.S. News & World Report rankings have once again shifted positions. The Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) moved up to capture the #1 spot this year, replacing The Wharton School, which now stands at #2. Chicago Booth climbed to #3, while Harvard Business School (HBS) and Northwestern Kellogg are tied at #4. MIT Sloan dropped one spot to #6, while Columbia Business School (CBS) and NYU Stern tied for #7. Dartmouth Tuck dropped from #6 to #9, and Berkeley Haas rounds out the list in the #10 spot. 

U.S. News’ metrics continue to encompass career placement success (50%), quality assessment by deans/directors and corporate recruiters/company contacts (25%), and selectivity (25%). The ranking maintains its composition of career-related factors for career placement success. Subcategories of this section of the survey include salary by profession (10%), which compares salaries by industry and acknowledges that varying pay scales exist for different occupations; the employment rate at graduation (7%); the employment rate three months after graduation (13%); and mean starting salary and bonus (20%). U.S. News collected scores for both the traditional and new versions of the GMAT. It used percentiles as components for the selectivity analysis, along with GRE scores, GPAs (undergraduate), and acceptance rates.

Regardless of the outcomes or the changes in methodology, applicants, students, and alumni continue to study the rankings insatiably. Interestingly, U.S. News encourages prospective students to consider factors beyond the rankings, including “location, campus culture, strength of specific programs, and cost after tuition and financial aid.” We encourage you to do the same and have created a free guide to help you do so. 

U.S. News received responses to its 2026 survey request from 333 U.S. universities accredited by AACSB International. The publication then ranked the 134 full-time, in-person, and hybrid programs that had submitted sufficient data. It’s worth noting that U.S. News largely adheres to the data-reporting standards set by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) and the MBA Career Services and Employer Alliance (MBACSEA). GMAC’s GME Admissions Reporting Standards and the MBACSEA’s are publicly available. 

Notable Changes This Year

• The Stanford GSB claimed the top spot after tying with The Wharton School last year. The California-based program boasts an overall starting salary and bonus (two-year average) of $206,157 this year, leading the top ten for the highest total compensation. However, the school reported a three-month placement rate (two-year average) of 80.3%, which was the lowest among the top-ten schools (next lowest was HBS, with 80.4%). The median GMAT score at the Stanford GSB increased by five points to 745 (old scale), lagging NYU Stern’s reported median score of 750 (old scale). The median GMAT Focus score at the GSB is 695, which is equal to that at CBS and ties for the highest among all programs. The median GPA at the GSB is 3.8 (tied with Northwestern Kellogg).
• The Wharton School stands alone in the #2 spot this year. Its students reported the second-highest starting salary and bonus (two-year average) at $201,902, slightly ahead of NYU Stern’s reported $201,106. Wharton’s three-month placement rate (87.6% ) is just slightly lower than those of CBS (88.4%) and Dartmouth Tuck (87.7%). The GSB’s acceptance rate is the lowest among the programs in the top ten of the rankings, at just 6.8%, well ahead of the next lowest of 11.2% at HBS. 
• The median GMAT at Wharton, Chicago Booth, and CBS is 740, just behind the reported median scores at the Stanford GSB and NYU Stern (745 and 750, respectively). The median GPA at Wharton (3.7) is slightly lower than the 3.8 at both the Stanford GSB and Northwestern Kellogg but equal to the median GPA at Chicago Booth, MIT Sloan, CBS, NYU Stern, and Berkeley Haas.
• Last year, Northwestern Kellogg and the Stanford GSB were both ranked #2, but this year, Kellogg shares the #4 spot with HBS, which rose from #6. Berkeley Haas entered the top ten this year at 10th, after being ranked 11th last year.
• Some well-known programs that moved into the top 25 this year are UNC Kenan-Flagler at #21 (tied with Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business), the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California at #25 (tied with the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia), and Emory Goizueta at #23 (tied with the University of Texas at Dallas, which moved up eight spots). 

The U.S. News ranking of part-time MBA programs remained relatively static this year. Northwestern Kellogg and Berkeley Haas remained tied at #1, while Chicago Booth slipped to #3, where it is tied with NYU Stern. The rest of the top ten is made up of the same schools from last year, which either maintained their former ranking or shifted one place up or down. 

The part-time rankings were based on survey responses from which 245 schools qualified for the 2026 ranking. Ranking factors included peer assessment (50%), part-time student ratio (12.5%), part-time students total (12.5%), GMAT/GRE scores (10%), undergraduate grade point average (10%), and work experience (5%). 

U.S. News 2026 Top Ten Full-Time MBA Programs

U.S. News 2025 Top 10 Part-Time MBA Programs

Hoping to start business school in 2026 at one of these top-ranked programs? Sign up for a free consultation, and be sure to check out our MBA Admissions Consulting Services and work one-on-one with an expert consultant to create an application that will get you accepted!

Related Resources:

• The Business School Selectivity Index: GMAT Scores, GPAs, and MBA Acceptance Rates, a free tool
• The Best MBA Programs: A Strategic Guide to Selecting the Right One, a free guide
• Admissions Straight Talk Podcast for MBA Applicants

The post U.S. News & World Report 2026 MBA Rankings [Full-Time & Part-Time] appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.

The M7 business schools represent seven distinct, vivid cultures, each with its own history, values, characteristics, opportunities, and challenges.

Of course, there are many commonalities among the M7 schools, as well: all are highly competitive, offer robust academic resources, are supported by a committed and involved alumni network, and attract top-tier recruiters (even in down business cycles). Yet each one also has a unique, strong, and distinctive personality that both reflects and drives its leadership in the MBA realm. These programs have risen to their prominent position because the schools are the leaders in their domain: graduate business education. So, they reasonably expect their students and applicants to have correspondingly high ambitions, but together, they also represent diversity.

In 2026, the M7 schools continue to attract the brightest minds from around the globe, with highly competitive admissions and world-class academic resources. Let’s take a deep dive into these schools and see what they have to offer the next generation of business leaders.

Table of Contents

• Harvard Business School
• Stanford Graduate School of Business
• MIT Sloan School of Management
• The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
• Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management
• University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business
• Columbia Business School

What Sets the M7 Business Schools Apart

There are other elite MBA programs, of course, but the M7 schools have an ongoing, shared history; their deans connected with each other years ago and formed a group that meets regularly and shares information. Over time, these meetings have grown to include other individuals within their admissions offices, creating a consistent flow of information across multiple levels. The meetings address a range of issues, including best practices for components of the admissions process and responses to current events that directly affect MBA admissions.

Here are some other characteristics that make the M7 schools stand out:

• Prestige – Each M7 school is globally recognized as a leader in business education.
• Rigorous Academics – From the case method at Harvard Business School to the flexible curriculum at Chicago Booth, the M7 programs provide an intellectually challenging environment.
• Top Recruiters – The M7 schools attract the world’s leading companies across industries, ensuring that students have access to unparalleled career opportunities.
• Global Network – The alumni networks of the M7 schools are vast, influential, and highly supportive, offering lifelong connections.

While the M7 schools share these qualities, what sets them apart is their unique cultures and offerings. Let’s explore each one in more detail.

Harvard Business School, Class of 2027

• Median GMAT: 685  
• Median GPA: 3.76  
• Acceptance Rate: 11.2%  

Immersion could be the keyword for the Harvard Business School (HBS) experience. The program’s cornerstone is the case-study approach, intertwined with experiential learning; students read a case and then intensively analyze it both before and in class. The aim is to train students in complex, real-world decision-making. Students then have numerous opportunities to sharpen this training through practical application. By continuously engaging with classmates from different functions, industries/sectors, and geographic regions in these case discussions, students radically expand their perspectives, thought processes, and knowledge. This immersive experience is enhanced by the smarts, passion, and ambition of HBS students. Outside of class, these high-achieving, high-energy students participate in many clubs and volunteer activities. The two years of the MBA program reportedly fly by, thanks to the nonstop immersion and engagement.

What HBS Looks for in Applicants 

Given its case method approach, HBS seeks students and future leaders who will carry their weight and contribute fully in the classroom – people who have something to say and the ability to communicate it. Further, students must be able to listen, respond thoughtfully, and adapt to new ideas as the dialogue progresses. Beyond the requisite high level of accomplishment, HBS seeks people who enthusiastically and effectively engage.

Stanford Graduate School of Business, Class of 2027

• Average GMAT: 740  
• Average GPA: 3.76  
• Acceptance Rate: 6.8% 

Nothing less than transformation, that’s what the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) is about – both yours and the kind you bring to the organizations and communities you touch. Stanford’s Silicon Valley DNA, highly customizable program, and emphasis on innovation, change, and entrepreneurship shape its MBA experience. It’s a small, elite cohort that goes on an exploratory journey together, and many students emerge in a different place than they expected when they started out. This journey integrates the personal and the professional – in Stanford’s multifaceted pedagogical approach, building business and leadership skills is tied to understanding and defining one’s mission and vision. Beyond the MBA classroom, students learn from and engage with numerous guest speakers who represent the cutting edge of their fields. They are also encouraged to access Stanford’s other top-notch programs, including law, medicine, engineering, the humanities, and the sciences. During the MBA program, students form a robust, mutually supportive network for testing ideas, boundaries, and their own assumptions and inclinations.

What the Stanford GSB Looks for in Applicants

Stanford wants people who will be excellent “fellow travelers,” people who have – and will therefore bring to the program – a unique point of view. The school values risk-takers and change agents. At the same time, these individuals deliberately remain a “work in progress,” always open to new information, ideas, and situations and willing to shift gears accordingly. They relish exploration and collaboration.

MIT Sloan School of Management, Class of 2027

• Median GMAT: 730  
• Median GPA: 3.69  
• Acceptance Rate: 14.1%

What’s special about the MIT Sloan MBA program is its zeal for tackling large, multifaceted problems. The school’s students learn how to develop robust solutions that can weather uncertainty, ambiguity, and change, and they relish the challenge. The adcom appreciates people who lead organically by drawing others along the journey to solve complex problems. The Sloan MBA approach is rooted in two concepts that intertwine: invention, which entails creativity and agility, and data-driven analysis, which entails rigor and objectivity. These concepts align with MIT more broadly. Just as a robust process involves iteration, this program supports its pedagogy with ongoing experiential learning opportunities (in other words, practice) to reinforce and deepen the learning and ensure that students grasp topics and hone skills in a real-world context. In essence, Sloan MBA graduates are able to see around corners and make constructive use of whatever they encounter. They lead others through the process, driven by their vision and their passion to tackle compelling problems.

What MIT Sloan Looks for in Applicants

MIT Sloan seeks students who are open to following where the data lead, even if doing so contradicts their personal preferences or assumptions. The school is also interested in people who possess both vision and practical skills, who are creative and analytical. That doesn’t mean an applicant must embody these qualities 50/50, but if, for example, a candidate is primarily creative and visionary, they also need to show a record of concrete impact and achievement. Needless to say, curiosity and a collaborative mindset are also sought.

The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2027

• Median GMAT: 735  
• Median GPA: 3.7  
• Acceptance Rate: 20.5% 

The Wharton MBA program is big, with almost 900 students per class, multiple opportunities for joint degrees and certificates (from law and veterinary medicine to the MBA/MA Joint Degree in International Studies program with the Lauder Institute and the JD/MBA), more than 20 majors, an extensive range of electives (including courses across the many other campus schools), and clubs in several broad categories: professional, athletic, social and special interest, community service, geographic, and cultural. Yet Wharton does not sacrifice quality for quantity. Its many majors are deep and rigorous. Moreover, the MBA program’s structure – dividing each incoming class into four clusters, each of which is further divided into cohorts of approximately 70 students, and then into diverse five- or six-person Learning Teams – ensures broad exposure and drives dynamism throughout the learning process. What students learn from their teammates and classmates will help them take full advantage of the program’s vast resources. While bigness and abundance characterize this program, Wharton has devised a learning structure that personalizes and optimizes it for students.

What Wharton Looks for in Applicants

Wharton wants applicants who, along with being high performers, are actively engaged in activities and/or interests that contribute somehow. This doesn’t necessarily have to be community service, but it does need to be some form of clear and consistent engagement outside of work that positively affects others. Finally, given Wharton’s extensive opportunities and resources, it is essential that applicants show that they are resourceful; Wharton does not want its abundance squandered.

Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, Class of 2027 

• Median GMAT: 687 
• Median GPA: 3.68  
• Acceptance Rate: 28.6%

Management has long been, and remains, the hallmark of the Kellogg MBA program, a comprehensive discipline grounded in leadership and global perspective. The premise is that, given today’s rapid change and high volatility, strong management capabilities are needed more than ever. Moreover, they can be applied across industries and sectors. Kellogg’s renowned management resources include two management-focused majors, “Management Science” and “Managing Organizations,” along with numerous other traditional majors. To complement these pillars of business training, Kellogg offers innovative “pathways,” which are cross-functional sets of courses that address timely topics, including “Growth and Scaling,” “Data Analytics,” and “Social Impact.” Students can mix and match majors and pathways, benefiting from the accumulated wisdom of the scholars and experts who devised them. Kellogg has innovated in another area as well: It is one of the first top-tier U.S. MBA programs to offer a one-year option (for people with some academic business foundation). Not least, Kellogg is renowned for its abundant global opportunities, in which almost one-half of its students participate.

What Kellogg Looks for in Applicants 

Kellogg greatly values work experience that shows an applicant’s exemplary people skills – including leadership, teamwork, collaboration, and communication – and presents a record of meaningful accomplishment. Because Kellogg’s student body is particularly strong in philanthropic activity, including this element in one’s application is a good way to show fit with the program.

University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Class of 2027

• Median GMAT: 736  
• Median GPA: 3.6  
• Acceptance Rate: 28.7%

Academic and intellectual rigor combined with curricular flexibility – this intriguing balance is what the Chicago Booth MBA program offers. Intellectual culture is paramount at Chicago Booth, reflecting the character of the broader university to which it belongs. In the Chicago Booth MBA program, ideas are important – having them, sharing them, challenging them, testing them, and acting on them when the time is right. Chicago Booth has unrivaled quantitative depth and analytic rigor among MBA programs. This is a fantastic asset for students who want to refine their strengths in these areas and for those seeking a rock-solid foundation. The school’s flexibility allows students to tailor their learning program to their needs, which puts the onus on students to understand what they need. Although students do not have to select a major, many do, and some even pursue multiple majors. Chicago Booth offers a wide array of options, including both standard choices, such as “Accounting” and “Marketing Strategy,” and less-common ones, such as “Behavioral Science” and “Econometrics and Statistics.”

What Chicago Booth Looks for in Applicants 

Chicago Booth looks for people who have the self-knowledge, critical thinking skills, and resourcefulness to make the most of the MBA program’s flexibility and strengths and to use them productively. And because the school values ideas, it seeks applicants who will go beyond practical career training to explore new topics, areas, and disciplines and who will challenge themselves intellectually.

Columbia Business School, Class of 2027

• Average GMAT Score: 734  
• Median GPA: 3.6  
• Acceptance Rate: 20.9% 

Integral to the Columbia Business School (CBS) MBA program and identity is its New York City (NYC) home, which the CBS website refers to as a top asset of the program. To CBS, this location equals access. To complement the program’s renowned full-time faculty, CBS attracts adjunct professors and speakers who are thought leaders in many areas of business and beyond, because so many either reside in/near NYC or visit frequently. Within this vibrant setting, CBS builds its student community from the start by creating diverse clusters of 60-75 students who take all first-year classes together. CBS’s depth in finance is unique, and the school offers special programs for private equity and value investing. Other highly acclaimed specializations are “Social Enterprise” and “Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Management,” the latter strengthened by the plethora of major pharma companies within a couple hours’ drive of campus. The NYC location also reinforces and amplifies the program’s entrepreneurship resources, given the city’s strong tech and fintech ecosystem.

What CBS Looks for in Applicants 

Beyond strong professional and academic track records, CBS wants people who have a plan to take advantage of the school’s resources, engage with the surrounding city and its endless opportunities, and pursue their defined goals. Because it’s easy to fade into the background amid the immensity of NYC and the dynamism of Columbia University, CBS also wants students who can and will forge bonds with their peers.

Key Takeaways on the M7 Business Schools

With their deep resources, commitment to academic rigor, and diverse student communities, the M7 schools provide unparalleled opportunities for MBA students. While each school has its own distinctive culture and specialties, all the M7 programs offer transformative experiences that will shape your future.

As the MBA landscape continues to evolve, the M7 schools will remain at the forefront in developing leaders who can navigate tomorrow’s complex business challenges. If you’re aiming for a career that will have a global impact, one of these seven MBA programs could be the ideal place for you to start your journey.

Related Resources

• Free MBA Admissions Guides
• The Business School Selectivity Index: GMAT Scores, GPAs, and MBA Acceptance Rates
• Admissions Straight Talk Podcast

The post M7 MBA Programs: Everything You Need to Know in 2026 appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.

Here’s a look at eight MBA programs with especially strong consulting tracks and impressive placement rates at elite consulting firms.

1. INSEAD

With campuses in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, INSEAD offers a unique global perspective that is highly valued in consulting. The one-year MBA program is intensive, allowing students to quickly transition into the workforce. INSEAD’s strong network with leading consulting firms and its diverse cohort further enhance its standing in the industry. With 55% of the Class of 2024 hired into management consulting, INSEAD is a great option for individuals interested in this career path and looking for a global MBA program. 

2. Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University

Kellogg is renowned for its collaborative culture and strength in marketing and strategy, which are critical in consulting. The school’s emphasis on teamwork and strategic thinking aligns well with the demands of top consulting firms. Kellogg also boasts a robust consulting club and high placement rates at McKinsey, Bain, and BCG. Of Kellogg’s Class of 2024, a full 35% accepted jobs in the consulting field. 

3. Chicago Booth School of Business

Chicago Booth’s data-driven approach and analytical rigor make it an excellent choice for future consultants. The school’s emphasis on empirical research and quantitative analysis prepares students for the analytical challenges of consulting. Chicago Booth also benefits from a strong consulting club and an extensive alumni network in the industry. With 33.8% of the Class of 2024 entering jobs in consulting, Booth is an excellent program for prospective MBAs interested in this professional path. 

4. MIT Sloan School of Management

MIT Sloan’s focus on innovation and analytical problem-solving makes it a strong contender for aspiring consultants. The school’s curriculum includes a variety of consulting-focused courses, and Sloan’s Action Learning Labs provide hands-on consulting experience. The program’s graduates are well prepared for the strategic and analytical demands of working at the leading consulting firms. Of MIT Sloan’s Class of 2024, 32.1% accepted consulting roles. 

5. Columbia Business School

Columbia Business School’s location in New York City provides students with unparalleled access to major consulting firms. The program offers a strong consulting track and has a high placement rate at top consulting firms. In addition, its connections make it a prime choice for aspiring consultants, as proven by the 30.6% of its Class of 2024 who entered consulting roles. 

6. The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

Wharton is known for its analytical rigor and strong finance program, which translates well into consulting. The school has a strong track record of placing graduates at McKinsey, Bain, and BCG. Wharton offers a dedicated consulting major and numerous consulting-focused electives. With 25.2% of its Class of 2024 accepting positions in consulting, Wharton is a great choice for candidates interested in the big three firms. 

7. Harvard Business School

Harvard Business School (HBS) consistently tops the various MBA program rankings and offers a strong pipeline to elite consulting firms. It boasts a robust consulting club, extensive alumni network, and a curriculum that uses the case study method exclusively – an approach that prepares students particularly well for the rigorous problem-solving component of consulting positions by simulating real-world problems. The latest HBS employment report backs this up, revealing that 18.0% of the Class of 2024 entered consulting. 

8. Stanford Graduate School of Business

The Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) emphasizes leadership and innovation, which are highly valued in consulting roles. The program’s smaller class size ensures that students receive personalized attention and forge strong relationships with faculty, which can be beneficial in securing career placements in consulting. In 2024, the GSB saw 14% of its graduates go into the consulting field. 

For aspiring MBAs who aim to break into elite consulting firms, an MBA from a top business school can be a powerful springboard. The leading programs offer unparalleled recruiting access, consulting-focused resources, and strong alumni connections, while equipping students with the analytical, strategic, and leadership skills needed to thrive in the industry. Ultimately, choosing the right MBA program means weighing each one’s consulting track record, resources, and network against your personal career ambitions.

Related Resources

• How to Write a Winning MBA Goals Essay: Tips to Clarify and Communicate Your Career Vision
• MBA Admissions Advice for Career Changers
• When the MBA Optional Essay Is No Longer Optional

The post Top MBA Programs for Consulting Careers appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.

• Leadership and an ability to inspire others 
• A collaborative spirit and focus on community
• Intellectual curiosity and analytical strength 
• Creativity in generating new solutions to existing challenges 
• Growth in both professional and personal undertakings 

To uncover these attributes, the MIT Sloan MBA application continues to include the school’s signature “cover letter” essay and resume requirements. It also retains the video component and organizational chart.

Ready to get to work on your MIT Sloan application? Read on.

MIT Sloan application essay tips

Cover Letter – MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic. We are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world. We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative – true doers. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity and respect passion.

Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA Program. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more professional examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to the Admissions Committee. (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation)

MIT helpfully provides insight into what it’s looking for in this cover letter. Like all cover letters, this one is a marketing document. When you’re applying for a job, you research the firm to learn about its values and what it is seeking. Based on your research, you send your resume with a cover letter that is designed to make you as attractive to the company as possible, one that shows that you have what the firm is looking for.

Similarly, your MIT Sloan cover letter should demonstrate that you possess the qualities the program is seeking. Make your case for admission by presenting your accomplishments, specifically ones that reveal the qualities mentioned earlier. How do the talents revealed in your examples demonstrate fit with the MIT Sloan program, its tight-knit community, and its innovative culture of doers? Your resume should show above-average progression on the job and increasing responsibility, as well as the creativity and spirit of contribution that MIT Sloan values.

When making your case and highlighting your accomplishments, emphasize your role and the impact you had on the entities you contributed to. Those results constitute “your stamp on the world” so far. Looking ahead, be sure to provide a complete picture by highlighting your career plans (MIT does not have a specific career goals short-answer question), what you have accomplished that will help you achieve them, and what gaps you need to address through your experience at Sloan.

Note: This is not an essay. Make sure that your letter is formatted as a professional letter, with a date, address, header, salutation, and close.

Video Question 1 – Introduce yourself to your future classmates. Here’s your chance to put a face with a name, let your personality shine through, be conversational, be yourself. We can’t wait to meet you! 

Videos should adhere to the following guidelines:

• No more than 1 minute (60 seconds) in length
• Single take (no editing)
• Speaking directly to the camera
• Do not include background music or subtitles

Video essays are becoming increasingly common as part of the MBA Application, and I shared guidance for GMAT Club on how to tackle a video essay.  The video question allows members of the adcom to gain insight into who you are “in person.” Historically, this was an opportunity available only to the person interviewing you later in the admissions process. Your goal here is this: deliver your response with poise, presence, and authenticity. For Sloan’s video interview, I suggest you outline a 60-second statement that you would use to introduce yourself to your classmates (not the adcom members; they’re just important flies on the wall who happen to be listening in).

Don’t be too casual; your classmates are your future professional network and social group, but you still want to be friendly and remember to smile. What would you tell them about yourself? What would show that you are already a member of MIT’s community, you just don’t happen to pay tuition yet?

Here are a few tips for this video. First, practice in front of a webcam to get used to talking to a little lens that has no effect, feedback, or expression. Recording yourself on video is different from talking on Zoom with other people. Second, put a smiley face just above or below the camera to remind you to smile at appropriate points in your statement. Third, review your practice videos, looking for poise and presence. During some practices, consider having a friend present to encourage you, but also practice alone. We at Accepted are happy to help you prepare as well.

For the real video statement, dress in business or business casual attire. If you’re not confident that your attire is appropriate, it probably isn’t; dress more conservatively. Make sure your location is quiet and that roommates, pets, and children are in a location where they won’t be heard or disturb you. Ensure that your background is neutral and not distracting. Blank walls make a great background.

Video Question #2 – All MBA applicants will be prompted to respond to a randomly generated, open-ended question. The question is designed to help us get to know you better; to see how you express yourself and to assess fit with the MIT Sloan culture. It does not require prior preparation. 

Video Question 2 is part of your required application materials and will appear as a page within the application, once the other parts of your application are completed. Applicants are given 10 seconds to prepare for a 60-second response.

The following are examples of questions that may be asked in the Video Question 2:

• What achievement are you most proud of and why?
• Tell us about a time a classmate or colleague wasn’t contributing to a group project. What did you do?

Unlike for Video Question #1, you won’t know the question you’ll receive ahead of time. The goal of this video is for you to speak extemporaneously about a topic that is not supposed to trip you up. Given that you have only ten seconds to prepare before delivering your response, it is critical that you take time in advance to think through your “fit” with the Sloan program and how you will make a positive impact in the community. 

As you consider the types of questions provided, ensure that you convey not only what you did but also why you took the action you did. Additionally, make sure you convey the impact of the action you took. 

Organizational Chart – To help us better understand your current role and the impact that you have on your team and department, please submit an organizational chart. We should be able to clearly understand the internal structure of your organization, where you sit in your organization, and your line of reporting.

Organizational charts should not be more than two pages and keep the following in mind:

• Give us as much detail as possible (names, titles, etc.) but it’s ok to redact names if you need to.
• Please circle your role in red so that your position is easily identifiable.
• Make sure we can easily identify where you are, to whom you report, and if applicable, who reports to you.
• If your recommender or references are on your organizational chart (they may not be, and that’s ok!), please highlight them for us.
• If you are a consultant, entrepreneur, or affiliated with the military review our FAQs for suggestions on how to approach the organizational chart.

MIT Sloan’s organizational chart is a way to illustrate your role within your organization for the adcom. The goal is to clearly show your line of reporting, including your peers, supervisors, supervisors’ peers, and any direct reports you might have. If you have received a promotion, make sure to highlight both your current and previous roles.

But what if you don’t work in a traditional organization? The admissions team suggests that it might be helpful for some applicants (e.g., entrepreneurs, contractors) to put themselves at the center of the chart and build out from there to the individuals they interact with regularly. A consultant, on the other hand, might select a specific project and identify the players involved in the project from both the consulting firm’s side and the client’s side.  

The World That Shaped You – The Admissions Committee is excited to learn more about you and your background. In 250 words, please respond to the following short-answer question:

How has the world you come from shaped who you are today? For example, your family, culture, and community all help to shape aspects of your life experiences and perspective. Please use this opportunity to share more about your background.

The Sloan adcom is looking to understand life experiences that have shaped your development, character, and motivation. Perhaps you faced challenging circumstances in your childhood. Reflect on how this experience has shaped your perspective and drive. Consider what aspects of your life influenced your personal values. With this brief essay, MIT wants to learn about you beyond your academic and professional experience.  

Notice that this question does not mention your professional life. Most often, circumstances that truly shape who we are come from a situation that affected us personally. Despite what we have achieved, we all have taken different paths to arrive at this point. Take time to reflect – what has truly influenced you? For instance, did you face some sort of adversity yet persevered? Share what you overcame. Have you made a difference in your community? Share how you have done so. Be sure to include how the situation helped to shape aspects of your identity. MIT Sloan wants to learn more about your personal background and how its community will benefit from your being a part of it.

MIT Sloan application deadlines

Source: MIT Sloan website

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with MIT Sloan directly to verify its essay questions, instructions, and deadlines.***

MIT Sloan class profile

Here’s a look at the MIT Sloan Class of 2026 (data taken from the MIT Sloan website):

Class size: 433

Average years of work experience: 5

Women: 49%

International: 40%

Countries represented: 53

U.S. minority: 50%

Underrepresented minority: 15% 

U.S. race/ethnicity (federal guidelines)

• White: 47%
• Asian American: 33%
• Hispanic/Latinx: 10%
• Black/African American: 4%
• Did not report: 3%
• Multi-race: 2%
• American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Other Pacific: <1%

Median undergraduate GPA: 3.7

Median GMAT: 730

GMAT range (middle 80%): 690-760

GRE Quant range (middle 80%): 159-170

GRE Verbal range (middle 80%): 157-168

Undergraduate majors

• Engineering: 29%
• Business: 22%
• Economics: 15%
• Computer Science: 9%
• Science/Math: 8%
• Social Sciences: 6%
• Other: 5%
• Humanities: 4%
• Law: 1%

Pre-MBA industry

• Consulting: 30%
• Financial Services: 21%
• Technology: 20%
• Government, Education, Nonprofit: 10%
• Pharmaceutical, Healthcare, Biotechnology: 6%
• Consumer Products, Retail: 5%
• Other: 3%
• Media, Entertainment, Sports: 2%
• Energy: 1%
• Manufacturing: 1%
• Automotive, Transportation, Defense: 1%

Related Resources

• GMAT Scores, GPAs, and MBA Acceptance Rates: The Business School Selectivity Index
• M7 MBA Programs: Everything You Need to Know in 2025
• Admissions Straight Talk podcast

The post MIT Sloan MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines [2025-2026], Class Profile appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.

For many business degree hopefuls, the MBA remains the gold standard of graduate management education, and not without reason – an MBA can be the start of a new chapter in your life. Professionally, it can help you accelerate your career or make a career pivot. Academically, it can help fill gaps in hard and soft skills. Personally, it can help you discover more about yourself. For these reasons, many cite their MBA experience as being transformative. 

An MBA is the goal for many people who aim to pursue a business career. But what about individuals who have the desire to pursue graduate management study and start making their mark in the business world but don’t meet the work experience requirement of most MBA programs? Is gaining acceptance to business school without work experience possible? The short answer is yes, it is! The two most common paths for candidates in this situation are pre-experience master’s programs and deferred MBA programs.

Pre-experience/Early Career Programs

The terms “pre-experience” and “early career” are used interchangeably, but they both refer to programs that cater to recent graduates (“recent” meaning fewer than three years out of college). While the first offering in this category was the general management MiM (master’s in management) degree, the portfolio of programs now includes master’s degrees in finance, innovation and entrepreneurship, and data analytics, to name but a few options you might find at business schools today. Business master’s (BMs) degrees in data science, accounting, finance, and health administration are generally the most searched BM programs in the United States.

Applicants in this category are commonly referred to as pre-experience or early career candidates, and this market continues to be popular; according to GMAT Geographic Trend Report: Testing Year 2024, while global GMAT scores are most often sent to MBA programs (63% of them are), the proportion of GMAT score reports sent to BM programs has declined from 36% in 2020 to 30% in 2024. Although pursuing an MiM or similar program doesn’t negate the need for an MBA down the road (indeed, you will find individuals with both an MiM and an MBA), these programs are excellent choices for recent graduates looking to explore their options in the business world. 

Candidates who opt to pursue their business studies now, rather than waiting until they’ve earned a few years of work experience, might do so for a few reasons: they might want to specialize early on in a certain area, such as finance or marketing, to enter a specific function; they might want to “convert” their liberal arts or science degree into a business career; or they might come from a business undergraduate degree but want to better understand how theory is applied in the real world so they can hit the ground running in their post-graduate job. Whatever the candidate’s reason, these degrees provide an excellent foundation and help individuals build the skills, knowledge, career support, and network to get a head start in their careers. Additionally, some MBA programs provide a path for their MiM students to return to complete their MBA as a second-year student.

Deferred MBA programs allow students in their final year of study (or just after, if they’re pursuing a master’s without full-time work experience) to secure a seat in the MBA classroom before gaining the generally required work experience. These programs tend to attract highflyers – students with excellent academic credentials and internships, who have demonstrated leadership potential, and who have already started formulating career goals. These candidates understand, and can articulate, how an MBA will help them achieve their goals. These programs are a great option, because they offer security (you don’t have to worry about studying for the GMAT and writing applications while juggling your busy work schedule!) and add some clout to your resume (“Wow, already accepted to an MBA program before you’ve even graduated? Impressive!”). Of course, as with anything, there are pros and cons, so it’s important to determine whether committing yourself to a deferred program makes sense with your career plans. If you decide that a deferred MBA program is the best option for you, bear in mind that they are incredibly competitive. 

Here’s some information to help you better understand which schools offer deferred MBA programs and what these programs are all about. (Information is accurate as of February 2025.)

Harvard Business School 2+2 Program 

Harvard’s 2+2 program is what the name implies – a minimum of two years (four, maximum) of work experience, followed by two years of MBA study. Harvard is looking for “innovative thinkers who have demonstrated leadership and analytical skills and want to develop their knowledge and passion to make a difference in the world.” And this difference doesn’t have to be in a “traditional” business area. In fact, the 2+2 shows some preference for candidates who are pursuing paths “that aren’t as well established”; this could include candidates who plan to work in an operating company, come from a lower socioeconomic background, are first-generation college students, aim to pursue a technically demanding role, or aspire to entrepreneurism. So, if you’re not focused on joining one of the “big three” strategy consulting firms, don’t let that stop you from applying. You might just be what the 2+2 is looking for.

New York University (NYU) Stern NYU x NYU/Stern Program

Undergraduates from NYU’s College of Arts and Science, Tandon School of Engineering, Global Liberal Studies program, Stern School of Business, and Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development can opt to join the full-time, two-year MBA program at Stern (without needing to take the GMAT or GRE) two to five years after they graduate. Financial support is a big pull with this program – accepted students are granted an Early Advancement Award of $10,000, which covers part of their MBA tuition. These students are also eligible for other Stern scholarships, including the Berkley Early Advancement Fellowship, which covers all fees and tuition for the year in which they matriculate. Accepted students with an interest in technology or in the fashion and luxury industries, and who have relevant post-undergraduate experience, can enroll in the Andre Koo Technology and Entrepreneurship MBA program or the Fashion & Luxury MBA program, rather than the traditional two-year MBA program.

Columbia Business School (CBS) Deferred Enrollment Program

CBS’s deferred admissions option offers flexibility; admitted students can explore the professional world for two to five years before beginning their MBA studies at a time that works best for them. This is a great opportunity for individuals who are looking to explore their career options and develop a better understanding of their business interests and passions. The flexibility continues once students begin their studies; they can specify in a letter of intent whether they prefer the 16-month (January) program or the 20-month (August) program, the latter of which includes a summer internship. Having spent time in industry or entrepreneurship during the deferment period can help students determine which MBA journey will offer the teaching and experience they need to achieve their desired professional and academic development.

Wharton Moelis Advance Access Program

Wharton’s deferred admissions program offers recent undergraduate or master’s degree students the chance to work for two to four years before joining the MBA program as a Moelis Fellow. The program is meant for “students who are ambitious, innovative, and prepared to use a sense of professional liberty to maximize their early career experiences.” In addition to seeking proactive, motivated students, Wharton encourages admits to take professional risks during the deferment period and take advantage of the opportunity to “pursue [their] early years with increased confidence and risk-tolerance.”   

Stanford Graduate School of Business Deferred Enrollment Program

Stanford’s program offers something that most do not – deferred MBA admits are able to take as little as one year (but no more than four) to gain experience before beginning their MBA studies. It is open to students in either the final year of their bachelor’s or joint bachelor/graduate program, and to those in a graduate program that they started immediately after their undergraduate study. We should note that Stanford uses the same evaluation criteria for deferred candidates as it does for applicants to its full-time MBA program, assessing how they think, lead, and see the world.

Stanford cites deferred enrollment as a good option for candidates who are unsure of their long-term professional path and feel they would benefit from gaining full-time work experience first. The school also indicates that some industries – such as private equity, biotech, and management consulting – recruit only MBA candidates who have either pre-MBA experience in that field or specialized knowledge. So, taking time out to gain that experience and knowledge can be valuable in ultimately achieving your post-MBA career goals. 

Interested in a dual degree option? Some of Stanford’s programs allow you to wait until the first year of your MBA to apply for a dual degree; others prefer that you apply in the year immediately before you matriculate in the Deferred Enrollment Program.

Stanford expects admitted students to “pursue opportunities that enable [them] to build expertise, enhance [their] skills and knowledge, expand [their] perspective, and develop professional judgment and self-confidence” during the deferral period. So you will need to reflect on what activities will allow you to develop and how you should spend your pre-MBA time.

Kellogg Future Leaders Deferred Enrollment Program

“Graduate with the confidence that incredible things are ahead.” Kellogg’s deferred enrollment program allows admitted students to work for two to five years before beginning their MBA journey. The admissions committee wants to get to know you and to understand your motivations and why Kellogg is a fit for you. Master’s and undergraduate students (excluding law, medical, and PhD students, who apply through the standard admissions process) can come from any study discipline and either graduated in the past year, are in their final year, or went straight into graduate study post-bachelor’s.

The usual admissions requirements apply – test scores, essays, letters of recommendation, interviews – for some candidates, but not all. Applicants who are already engaged in undergraduate studies at Northwestern are exempt from having to take either the GMAT or GRE, so that’s one application requirement that can be ticked off the list for candidates already wearing the purple N.

Yale School of Management Silver Scholars Program

Yale’s program works slightly differently from the other deferred admissions programs on this list. College seniors earn their MBA in a fast-tracked, three-year format immediately after they complete their undergraduate degree. The program structure is as follows: Year 1 covers the core curriculum, Year 2 involves a full-time internship, and Year 3 comprises electives. The opportunity to develop academic skills while simultaneously gaining professional experience is a unique one. In addition, Silver Scholars learn alongside students from Yale’s traditional MBA program. Access to knowledge and experience? Check!

Yale says, “Silver Scholars are chosen for their combination of intelligence and common sense, maturity and curiosity, passion and compassion. Each has made a difference and distinguished themselves in a particular field of interest.” You’ll need to ensure that you really stand out through the application process (which is largely the same as for the traditional MBA program). Remember, you’ll be studying alongside students with five years of professional experience. You’ll need to convince the adcom that you have what it takes to contribute to classroom discussion and debate.

Chicago Booth Scholars Program

Chicago Booth’s program is open to students who plan to pursue either the full-time or part-time MBA and allows candidates to apply before they graduate from college, then defer and gain professional experience for two to five years before enrolling in one of the school’s MBA programs. Booth cites flexibility as one of the major differentiators. Booth Scholars have the option of pursuing the Evening MBA or Weekend MBA, if one of those programs is a better fit with their career objectives.

Booth says that candidates for the Scholars Program “demonstrate intellectual curiosity, personal maturity, competitive scores, and leadership” and that they “have a history of substantive internships or part-time jobs and/or an entrepreneurial spirit.” The application essays make clear that successful candidates need to be able to articulate their career goals and where the MBA fits in. The school wants intelligent, independent thinkers with a considered career map. Although one’s professional goals can change during the deferment period, of course, the adcom wants to see that candidates have taken the time to think through their career path and how attending Booth aligns with it.

UVA Darden Future Year Scholars Program

Darden’s program allows final-year undergraduate students, or full-time master’s students without work experience, to work for two to five years before starting their MBA studies. Student backgrounds are diverse, because Darden aims to recruit individuals who bring to campus a range of abilities and professional and academic experience. In 2024, 121 Future Scholars were admitted and were in the deferral period, busy enhancing their professional experience. This group comprises an internationally (20%) and academically (46% non-business degrees) diverse group of students hailing from 16 countries and 43 undergraduate institutions. Applicants are evaluated in three areas: academics, extracurricular involvement, and personal characteristics. While the latter of these criteria is vague, the adcom does say that the school is looking for individuals who “aspire to be future ethical leaders and managers in a global world.” Putting thought into why you have the potential to be this kind of future leader, and whether your values align with Darden’s, would be time well spent.

MIT Sloan Early Admission

If you are an “ambitious and forward-thinking student,” Sloan’s deferred admissions option might suit you. It is open to final-year students who will not enroll in a PhD, MD, or JD program immediately after graduation and to those in graduate study (who started immediately after completing their bachelor’s) without full-time work experience, except for internships or co-op experiences. Accepted students can work for two to five years before joining the MBA program.

The admissions process is slightly different for Early Admission candidates, and the application calendar differs for non-MIT undergrads. Candidates are required to submit a 300-word cover letter demonstrating their fit with the school. MIT is quite specific about who it’s looking for. The school wants “thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world … people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative … who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to pre-empt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas.” There is a lot to think about and squeeze into a one-page cover letter, so carefully consider how you fulfill the program’s stated criteria. Additionally, candidates must submit a resume and a 60-second video in which they introduce themselves to the class. This video is an excellent opportunity to show your personality and bring the person introduced in your cover letter to life. A second video is required in whish applicants must respond to open-ended questions that are randomly generated.

Additionally, interested MIT students who have a cumulative GPA of 4.2 or higher are in luck, because they can waive the GMAT/GRE.

Berkeley’s Accelerated Access Program 

Berkeley’s Accelerated Access Program is open to undergraduate and graduate students and encourages domestic and international candidates with diverse backgrounds and academic areas of study to apply. Admitted students not only have access to the full-time MBA program but are also eligible for consideration for dual degree programs.

Students are required to work for a minimum of two years before beginning their MBA studies but are allotted a maximum of five years in which to explore their career interests. Although Berkeley does not require its deferred students to follow particular career paths, it prods them to pursue “employment that enhances [their] leadership profile and prepares [them] to contribute to the mission-driven business community” at the school. To ensure that admitted students are meeting the required criteria, some admissions offers are conditional, and students are required to attend check-ins with a Berkeley Haas advisor or career coach. Additionally, a review might be conducted prior to the intended enrollment date to ensure that the student has met the required terms. 

Carnegie Mellon Tepper Future Business Leaders Deferred MBA Admissions Program

In February 2021, Tepper joined the deferred admissions space with its Future Business Leaders program, which allows students to defer for up to four years while they gain professional experience. The program is open to college seniors who plan to graduate from a U.S. university in the current academic year and do not yet have full-time work experience. The school says that “competitive applicants will have a strong academic record, professional internships, and undergraduate leadership experience.” Tepper’s adcom also expects candidates to have put some thought into their career goals and why the program format is a good fit for them (essay alert!). The GMAT/GRE is waived for Carnegie Mellon students, and admits are eligible to apply for scholarships, with decisions to be made at the time of matriculation.

Georgetown McDonough MBA Advanced Access Program 

The most recent player on the MBA deferred admissions scene is Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, with its MBA Advanced Access Program (MAAP). The program allows candidates who are either in their final year of undergraduate studies or in graduate school – and have no full-time work experience – to apply for deferred enrollment. Accepted students can secure a place in the class two years out from when they apply, with the option of extending this time period to three or four years.

The application process is thorough. In addition to the standard written application essay (candidates have three question options to choose from) and video essay, MAAP candidates must complete program-specific essays. The prompts for these essays ask candidates not just about their career goals but also about where they stand in working to achieve them. Additionally, applicants are expected to describe their personal and professional development plans. So, you’ll want to take some time to reflect on how you can present yourself as a proactive, principled future leader who will contribute to the school’s community and make an impact in the business world.

If these options sound interesting, but you’re still unsure whether you should study for a master’s now or wait to pursue an MBA, schedule a free consultation with an Accepted admissions expert today!

Related Resources:

• MBA Acceptance Rates: The Selectivity Index
• Admissions Straight Talk Podcast for MBA Applicants
• Retaking the GMAT with a 700 – Should You Consider It?

The post Deferred MBA Programs and Other Options for MBA Hopefuls with No Work Experience appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.

Show Summary

Dawna Levenson, Assistant Dean of MIT Sloan School of Management, provides a thorough examination into the MIT Sloan School of Management’s full-time MBA program, which is mission-driven, focused on identifying and solving the world’s biggest and most complex problems. The program offers flexibility with a one-semester core and three semesters of electives, allowing students to pursue seven different certificates or concentrations. Dawna discusses the comprehensive application process, which includes a cover letter, one-page resume, 60-second video, and a behavioral video interview. She shares her tips on how to successfully approach the application. Dawna also highlights the early admission program for current college students and graduate students. 

Show Notes

Welcome to the 596th episode of Admissions Straight Talk, Accepted’s podcast. Thanks for tuning in. 

Are you ready to apply to your dream MBA programs? Are you competitive at your target schools? Accepted’s MBA admissions quiz can give you a quick reality check. Just go to accepted.com/mbaquiz, complete the quiz, and you not only get an assessment, but tips on how to improve your qualifications. Plus it’s all free.

It gives me great pleasure to have back on Admissions Straight Talk Dawna Levenson, Assistant Dean of Admissions at MIT Sloan School of Management. Dawna earned her bachelor’s and master’s in management science at MIT Sloan, became a partner at Accenture, and then returned to MIT Sloan in 2007 as associate director of academic programs. She moved into admissions in 2012 and became director of admissions in 2013 and assistant dean in 2018.

Dawna, welcome to Admissions Straight Talk. [2:21]

Thank you very much, Linda. Thank you for asking me to join you today.

I’m delighted to have you back. First off, can you give an overview of MIT Sloan’s full-time MBA program for those listeners who aren’t that familiar with it, focusing on its more distinctive elements? [2:06]

Sure. I think when I’m asked this question, what I always want to begin with is the fact that we are very much a mission-driven school and our mission, in my own words it’s fundamentally really to identify and solve the world’s biggest and most complex problems. And I certainly, that resonates with me and I think it’s a theme you’ll find throughout what’s in the classroom and in the halls and what you’re doing is part of the community and so I always want to begin with that. We have a one semester core and then three semesters to really shape the curriculum in what your own personal interests may be.

We do offer seven different certificates. So you could think about a certificate as either a concentration or perhaps a roadmap. And so if you happen to be interested in finance or entrepreneurship, enterprise management, healthcare, sustainability, analytics, or product management, you could do one or several of these throughout your remaining time. And the only other thing that I really want to add is, well I guess two things. One is that we are not a “one size fits all” in terms of the way things are taught. Our faculty have a lot of flexibility as well and they may teach case-based classes. They teach traditional lectures and problem sets. We have a lot of project-based classes as well and we have a particular category of projects that are our action learning lab classes, where you’re truly spending that semester working on solving a real problem for a real company.

Are the action labs like consulting projects? [3:51]

We don’t like to use that term because you’re not being compensated, but there are many who would come to that same conclusion. Yes. And then the only other thing I really want to add is around our class size. So our class size hovers around, MBA alone, 370, 380. When you combine it with our LGO, which is leaders for global operations where you’re pursuing an MBA and an engineering masters. That’s where we end up. This year our class size is actually 433. Slightly bigger than it’s been in the past. Nonetheless, it’s somewhere in the middle when you’re out there looking at MBA programs. So there are some that are much larger and there are others that are smaller, and we really believe very strongly that the class size is in fact one of those characteristics that really help to define what your experience may be like. It’s very easy to get to know your classmates, many of the people in the class ahead of you, and those in the class behind you.

You mentioned the fact that you have the one semester core, which is structured and the other three semesters are open and entirely elective. Is that correct? [4:48]

Yes.

That offers enormous flexibility to any student. Can you go into the certificates? Can you earn more than one certificate? [5:02]

Very good question. So the certificates have actually, I’m going to say, have been standardized over the last two years. For those of you who may have been looking at MBAs for a while, you may have seen a bit of a shift here. We used to talk about these as three tracks and four certificates and then we did a little bit of house cleaning and turned them all into certificates with a little bit more standardization around the number of classes. So the certificates all require two to three at most required classes and then a handful of other classes out of a subset to earn the certificate.

They are in fact designed to allow you to be able to combine. So as you could imagine, you could do entrepreneurship and healthcare. You could do entrepreneurship and sustainability. You could do finance and healthcare. The only piece of advice I really give there is if in fact this is something that you do want to do, you need to sit back, be a little bit organized, and plan out your classes to make sure you’re able to take the right classes the right semesters. Not every course is offered in both the fall and the spring.

Good advice. Are there any trends that you’re seeing in terms of hiring Sloan grads? Where and when do the MBAs get their jobs? [6:15]

Our students are getting their jobs in a variety of different areas. I would encourage you to actually go on our website and look at our employment report if you want some more detail, but fundamentally, our students are continuing to go into finance and consulting and tech jobs. What I think our career office would want me to say though is that it’s slightly different than it was pre-pandemic where you’re not seeing as many companies come to campus, pitch a tent, and hiring 30 or 40 of our students. It’s changed a bit there and so there’s a lot more one-offs, there’s a lot more of the personal touch with what is it that you specifically are looking for?

I think perhaps on the student side, it may have actually raised the anxiety level just a little bit in terms of the job search, but one thing that we have really done and I think done extremely well is to lean into our alumni network, connect with our alums, to be able to give our students the opportunity to speak with somebody who might be working in the industry they’re interested in, have alums open doors for them, network for them, in many cases actually offer our students jobs. We have a very strong, powerful global alumni network that we’ve really chosen to engage in quite a bit in terms of helping our students end up with the types of jobs that they really want.

You mentioned MIT is mission-driven. I actually wrote down the mission of the MIT Sloan School of Management. It’s to develop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and to generate ideas that advance management practice. How does that mission influence admissions? [7:53]

I think it does actually, and I think it does in a way where, as you could see, the first thing I talked about was in fact the mission. We always begin with mission, and I think as a result of that, it potentially weeds out people for whom this may not be something that resonates with them. Not good or bad, it just may not resonate. And as a result, the majority of our applicant pool and then our students are really people who want to roll up their sleeves and do whatever it takes to make the world a better place. And I think that’s a special kind of person and I think that contributes a lot to the type of community that we’re able to build as well.

MIT Sloan is requiring a GMAT or GRE score and if the applicant submits the GMAT focus edition or receives a test waiver, MIT Sloan may not necessarily require the applicant to take the GMAC business writing assessment. What would cause you to request an applicant to take the BWA? [8:45]

It would be that throughout the assessing the application itself, we see a lot of really positive things that we’re excited about. However, perhaps we’re questioning English language proficiency or fluidity in terms of their writing skills and would like to see an additional writing sample. I would like to add that when we go back to the GMAT, so we currently take both GMATs as well as GRE and we are assessing each one of them on its own. We’re not using any of the tables where you can convert one to another. Each one is actually assessed individually. For us, as long as it’s been taken within the last five years, either version of GMAT or either version of GRE, we will accept them. 

We do not currently have plans to accept the executive assessment for our two-year MBA. We do for the Sloan fellows MBA if anybody is listening who’s interested in Sloan fellows, but not for the two-year MBA.

Is part of the reason for the business writing assessment if you suspect that the essay was written by AI? [10:05]

Not necessarily. I think AI is here to stay. It is. And I think there are those who are comparing it to a calculator or to using Spell Check. We hope that what you’re providing us is authentically you in terms of how you’re responding to any and all of our questions. We understand that you may be getting some support. It could be from an admissions consultant. It could be from generative AI. In the end though, it really needs to be coming from you and throughout the process, particularly throughout an interview, we can sort of assess that a little better. The worst thing in the world is for you to show up on day one at any program and say, “Why am I here?” And so it’s in your best interest as well to share who you really are to ensure that in the end it’s a good match.

That is a great point. I couldn’t agree more. Getting back to the testing, test waivers are limited to those who cannot take either the GRE or the GMAT. I assume that’s a very small percentage of the class. Is that correct? [11:07]

It is. Very small.

But do you admit some people? [11:20]

We do. And now there are some extenuating circumstances, and these are individuals who truly don’t have access to an exam, and yet through other factors, we have been able to gather enough data to feel that we’re comfortable with them being successful in the Sloan classroom. So perhaps it’s their undergraduate major in GPA. It could be that they’ve gone to graduate school. Other certifications. Perhaps the type of work they’re doing and the combination of any or all of those.

MIT Sloan has some really distinctive elements in this application, and I’m not going to go through the whole application, but I’d like to discuss a few. One is the cover letter. As far as I know, it’s the only school that asks for a cover letter from its applicants. The website is pretty clear, but I’m wondering if you could just tell us what you hope to glean from the cover letter. [11:52]

This might go a little bit out of your order, but I think it’s important for me. I like to think about, there’s the cover letter, the one-page resume, there’s the 60-second video where you’re introducing yourself to your future classmates, and now there’s the short question, asking you about your personal background.

Those together are telling your story. So your resume, that one-page resume, is very much your work history. Your video is really your personal side. What are you passionate about?

There are two videos, right? [12:48]

Right. But this is the 60-second one. I can talk about the other one a little bit later.

The 60-second video asks what are you passionate about and what are you interested in. The short answer question now is really an opportunity for you to share with us your background. Your family history, your background, what things happened in your life that have really influenced the person you are today? And then the cover letter ties all that together and begins to address why MIT Sloan.

We completely understand that in 300 words you cannot tell us everything. The goal is to tell us enough for us to want to learn more about you and that’s when you get invited for an interview.

That was great. Thank you. Can we discuss the second video? Why are there two videos [13:34]

They’re for very different purposes.

In the 60-second one you have a lot of time to think about, plan for. While it certainly doesn’t have to be Hollywood production quality, we understand people do multiple takes, et cetera. And again, that’s just a different way to introduce yourself to your future classmates. The other video is a little bit more, it’s embedded in the application. It’s when the time comes for it. It doesn’t just pop up on you. You say you’re ready to do it. It gives you some walk you through some of the steps to make sure that the mechanics all work. You’re then given a question, a random question, that are primarily behavioral questions. You’re given 10 seconds to think about it and then respond. And it’s really assessing your ability to think on your feet as well as your English language proficiency.

We’ve actually been using this format with a couple of our other programs for many, many years and have decided to now use it on the MBA population as well.

Every so often you have applicants and they just kind of think that admissions committees threw a bunch of darts at a dartboard and came up with an application process. And I think you just laid out the different purposes of each element really, really well. I think that’s going to be very helpful to applicants. [14:45]

Good.

Is the interview by invitation only? [15:12]

Yes. It’s a required step in our process and it will continue to be via Zoom. We do not do in-person interviews. And it’s a conversation that allows us within admissions to perhaps answer and ask you some questions. So that might be some open-ended questions from the application itself, some probes. It gives us a chance to ask you a series of behavioral questions. It gives us the chance to ask you why now and why MIT Sloan, and then it gives you the chance to ask us questions. And I think a lot of that is around assessing more of the softer skills around communication skills:  Good teammate? Is this somebody that I would want to actually work on a project with? These are some of the questions that I’m asking myself as I’m interviewing you.

When you talk about behavioral questions, could you give us a couple of examples? [16:09]

Sure. Some of my favorites, which of course if I then interview any of you, you’ll be more prepared than most. Tell me about a time when there was a conflict at work, you wanted to do something one way, your teammates wanted to do it another way, what was that situation and how did you resolve it? How about tell me about a time when you were working on a team and somebody was not pulling his or her weight. Those were just a couple of examples. Or tell me about a time when you had to make a decision and you did not have all of the information you would’ve liked available to you. What was that situation and how did you go about making a decision you were comfortable with?

Those are a few. To be honest, if you do a Google search on behavioral questions, you will get thousands of them.

What’s the most common mistake you see applicants make on the MIT Sloan application? [17:12]

I’m going to say there are two.

The first one is just simply not following directions. If we ask for a 300-word cover letter, I promise you 305 words we’re reasonable people, but 600 words or multi-pages is too much. We’re able to assess, and some of them go on and on and on. The other is trying to stand out in inappropriate ways. We totally understand that this is in fact the competitiveness of the MBA application process and people are looking to stand out and sometimes people are wanting to be remembered in ways that perhaps suspend business judgment and good common sense. They tell a story that’s probably a little bit off color, or they share something that’s a little bit too much information. And I remember those stories. I’ve now been reading for 17 years. So I remember quite a few of those. But were any of those people actually admitted to any of our programs? I don’t think so.

It shows a lack of judgment. [18:22]

Correct. Very much so.

Can you touch on MIT Sloan’s early admissions program, MBA Early? [18:41]

We launched our MBA Early option in 2019, and it’s very much targeted towards college seniors and/or people who are in graduate school who have not taken the time to work full-time outside of school. I clarify it that way because we understand there are people who may be full-time students, but also are working 40 hours a week. That’s not what we’re talking about. Those people are definitely eligible. So you apply to the MBA program at that point in time. We have a separate application deadline for that. It’s sometime in mid-April.

The application is very similar to the MBA application, except we remove some information where we recognize you have not been working full-time. So we remove the org chart and we actually ask for an additional letter of recommendation instead of when we ask for two. Fundamentally, you are applying to our two-year MBA. If you are admitted, we then ask you to go work for two to five years and we will hold a seat for you. After that two-year mark, we reach out every summer, “Do you think the following year is the right time for you?” And if yes, you then sign up for a call, a conversation with somebody on our team, one of our admissions folks, to share with us what you’ve been doing and to the extent that we agree together that you’ve had sufficient work experience that will be of value for you when you matriculate the following year. You then let us know by December that you’re interested in matriculating the following September.

What percentage of the class today is from MBA Early? [20:18]

It’s probably 10%.

Is the overall acceptance rate pretty similar to the full-time MBA program? [20:30]

It is. I would say though, for any of you who happen to be college seniors, I would seriously consider this option and to be completely honest and transparent, we are by no means the only school who offer this.

What we find is there are people who actually apply to multiple schools and actually deposit at multiple schools and experience what it’s like to engage with them over the years. We are very sensitive to the fact that somebody might be concerned, “Well if I don’t get in I’ve ruined my chance down the road,” and that is absolutely not the case. In fact, if we don’t admit somebody, I would argue our letter is not a true rejection letter. It’s, “Thank you for your interest. At this point in time, we do not feel we have enough information to be able to make a decision. We look forward to you applying in,” whatever, three to five years, whatever it might be.

What would you advise somebody thinking ahead to a 2025 or 2026 application? In other words, planning to apply in a year or two years? [21:33]

I think engaging with schools now is not too early. So if you’re listening to this, you’ve started. And I think that’s great. I actually think that attending both virtual events and in-person events at school to the extent that you can is incredibly valuable. I understand that on paper, a lot of schools look very similar and sound very similar, and yet we all have a personality that doesn’t really come to life until you step on campus. And so if you’re a few years out, I encourage you to attend events. We are launching our class visit day next Monday. So you can actually come to campus, sit in on an actual class, have lunch with current students, spend some time in a mini info session with an admissions advisor. It’s a great way to really experience what it’s like to be a Sloan student.

That’s great advice. What would you have liked me to ask you? [22:33]

I think a question that I’m eager to answer is around are there common areas of interest or themes or trends that may be different today with your applicants than they were years ago? And the answer is yes. I think it ties back to our mission. I mean, given that we are problem solvers, the world’s problems are constantly changing. But what I wanted to say, which I find so interesting, is throughout my interviews this past year, there were definitely themes. People mentioned their interest in working in climate or sustainability. I think everybody asked about artificial intelligence, whether it was what classes can they take or are we changing our classes or what could they learn? It was a big topic. Entrepreneurship continues to be very, very big and there’s a lot of interest out there in healthcare.

And so these may not be surprises, but what’s so interesting is MIT, not MIT Sloan, but MIT has a relatively new president. She has been around for about a year and a half. Her name is Sally Kornbluth. And early on in her tenure, she did an exhaustive listening tour with faculty, staff, and students and then came up with a set of priorities for the institute, for MIT as a whole. No surprise, those areas are around climate sustainability, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and healthcare. And while you may say, “That seems so obvious,” it doesn’t have to be that way.

And what it’s also signaling, which I think is incredible, is that the Sloan School at MIT is an integral part of MIT’s initiatives, not just the Sloan school’s initiatives. And for our students, that means incredible opportunities to engage in all of these areas.

So they can take classes obviously in other parts of MIT? [24:27]

Participate in conferences, clubs, you name it. Really be at the forefront of many of these areas that are so important to them as well as to MIT as a whole.

That’s a really good point. Thank you so much. As always, it’s been delightful talking to you, Dawna. Where can listeners and potential applicants learn more about MIT’s full-Time MBA program at MIT Sloan? [24:41]

Sloan.mit.edu 

Relevant Links:

• MIT Sloan Admissions
•  MIT Sloan MBA Early
• MIT Sloan Application Tips

Relevant shows:

•  How to Get Accepted to UCLA Anderson 
•  Prepare for the GRE and GMAT Focus 
• How To Get Into UVA Darden’s MBA Program 
• How to Get Accepted to Cornell Johnson MBA 
•  How to Respond to the New Harvard MBA Essay Questions

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The post Mastering MIT Sloan MBA Admissions: Insights and Tips [Episode 596] appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.

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There is tons of advice on Accepted.com and on previous episodes of Admissions Straight Talk, about what you should do when you’re applying to top MBA programs. But what about common mistakes? What about the things that you shouldn’t be doing? What are the errors that applicants like you all too frequently make on applications? 

Today you’re going to hear different admissions committee directors from around the world talk about what they think are the most common mistakes in MBA applications, and you’re invited to listen in.

Welcome to the 538th episode of Admissions Straight Talk. Before I turn to those mistakes I mentioned a second ago, I have a question for you: Are you ready to apply to your dream MBA programs? Are you competitive at your target schools? Accepted’s MBA admissions quiz can give you a quick reality check. And you’ll not only gett an assessment; you’ll also get tips on how to improve your qualifications. Plus, it’s all free. 

If you’re a regular listener to Admissions Straight Talk, you know that during most episodes of AST I interview a guest. Occasionally, I do a solo show. Frequently, the guests are admissions directors. I also have many times asked my guests, “What are the most common mistakes that you see when you’re reviewing applications?”

Today’s episode is a collection of guests’ answers to the questions, what are the most common mistakes you have seen during the MBA application process? What are the most common mistakes that you see when reviewing applications? All featured guests are admissions directors at top MBA programs sharing what you should not do when you are applying. 

The two most common mistakes were in broad categories, 

1. Lack of authenticity, a sense that you’re not really revealing yourself. 
2. And number two, sloppiness, which can come in many forms and you can learn about those forms through the admissions directors’ comments. 

There are nuances and details that the admissions committee directors provide in their comments, and you want to hear from them in their words what they are – so don’t go anywhere. Don’t just think that the two items I listed, you’re done for the day.

In addition, there were some other errors that don’t fit into those two categories and still are common and damaging to applicant’s chances. For example, one would be to not adjust in your resume for business school, but give in the technical resume that you have used in getting jobs. That’s not going to work when you’re applying to an MBA program. 

But again, you’re going to want to hear what changes you need to make and you’re going to want to hear it from the admissions’ director’s mouth. In short, to make sure that your applications shine like gems, first, remove the impurities. Those impurities are the common errors discussed in the rest of this episode. I’ve arranged the episodes in alphabetical order by school name. 

Teresa Peiro, Associate Director of Global Admissions for Degree Programs at INSEAD [3:22]

Linda Abraham: Our first speaker is INSEAD’s Teresa Peiro, Associate Director of Global Admissions for Degree Programs. 

Now, you’ve been doing this for a few years, what’s the most common mistake you see in the application?

TP: I would say lack of motivation. We know that the application process is long and it takes time, and our recruitment team is always saying  focus on the essays, focus on what you’re writing. You need to prepare. So a sloppy application is a no go.

TP: Essays that aren’t well-structured, essays that are not well-prepared, things that are mismatching, lack of consistency, that would be a killer.

And that translates to you as lack of motivation.

TP: And this is a big investment and it’s not only about money, but it’s also who you’re going to… This INSEAD will follow you for the rest of your life. We tend to say that you’ll never travel alone, for instance. So it’s something that we want to be sure that you’re really going to enjoy. I always say that we are looking for motivated candidates, engaged students, proud alumni. Candidates know that pre-selection is purely based on your application form. So it’s like your business card.

Linda Abraham: If you’re getting the impression that INSEAD really wants to understand what makes you tick, I think you’re right. It’s not the only school, but I think she’s very clear about it.

Taya Sapp, Senior Associate Director of Admission at Michigan Ross [4:53]

Linda Abraham: Taya Sapp, Senior Associate Director of Admissions at Michigan Ross, sees underestimating the importance of your resume as the biggest mistake. Learn why in this clip.

TS: I think honestly, one of them is kind of overlooking the importance of the resume. That’s the first thing I look at when I open an application, and it’s the snapshot of your whole professional career. And so I think it’s really important, and I’ve seen a lot of people kind of just assume I already have that done. I don’t need to worry about that. Let me focus on the essays. And I think it’s important to think this should not be the same resume that you might’ve just applied for your current job with and what that looks like, because it might include a lot of technical jargon that is only appropriate for your particular career path. It might not have as much, I mean, hopefully it has impact, but I think earlier in our careers, we’re more often thinking about what our responsibilities are and need to be shifting into the impact. I do see a lot of resumes that it doesn’t seem like people have stopped and really spent time on thinking about how they want to be representing their professional career and what that looks like. So that’s what I think.

Linda: I frequently tell applicants who want to start early, get your resume done, and focus on your accomplishments, not your responsibilities, that kind of stuff. So that’s a great, great input, I think. 

Dawna Levenson, Assistant Dean of Admissions at MIT Sloan [6:23]

Linda Abraham: Dawna Levenson takes a somewhat different tack. Do you want to write something shocking in your application? Something provocative for MIT Sloan? Well, Dawna, Assistant Dean of Admissions, reveals why that’s a bad idea, along with another critical error.

DL: So the most common mistake is trying to stand out in an inappropriate way. Provocative is the best word I can use on your video or perhaps in your cover letter where you talk about subject matter that has a shock factor tied to it. You use unprofessional, inappropriate language. It happens, every year there’s a handful of them. Aside from just not following instructions. I believe are very reasonable if we ask for a cover letter to be 300 words, we are not word counters. If it’s 310-ish, no big deal. If you submit a five-page essay, it raises a red flag for us.

Danielle Richie, Director of Full-Time MBA Admissions and Student Recruitment [7:14]

Linda Abraham: UNC Kenan-Flagler’s Danielle Richie, Director of Full-Time MBA Admissions and Student Recruitment, returns to the theme of authenticity and failing to reveal the human non-professional side of you in her comments. 

Linda: What are the most common mistakes that you see applicants make during the application process?

DR: Not being themselves. So I think that’s one of the first things. And then also, I mentioned that human component earlier, and I feel like that’s another thing. Everyone has a professional side. Yes, but there’s that personal side to who you are, and I feel like sometimes that’s lacking in an application, and it would be great to fully see and know a candidate throughout the application process. So bringing in that human side, bringing in that EQ is really important.

DR: So if you have extracurriculars, I mentioned earlier, I’m a soccer referee, most people wouldn’t understand what goes into that, the trainings, the thought process, that’s absolutely something I would put on my resume and talk to because in any given game, you can make between 300 and 350 decisions. And so that’s a great talking point to bring up and for someone to think on their feet. So when you have extracurriculars, maybe you’re part of a team, maybe you have volunteer experience, those types of things the committee would love to know about and see how you are outside of work too, because there’s so much more than just your job title in your career.

Rodrigo Malta, Managing Director of MBA Recruitment and Admissions at UT Austin [8:49]

Linda Abraham: UT Austin’s Rodrigo Malta, Managing Director of MBA Recruitment and Admissions, provides three common errors that he says he sees year after year. Don’t make them.

RM: I know that your listeners are awesome and they’re not going to make these mistakes because they’re listening to this podcast. So the first one seems really simple, but it’s not answering the essay prompt. So as you build your application and you focus on those essays, it is really important for you to engage with individuals within your community. If you have an opportunity to work with an admissions consultant, awesome as well. But always ask yourself and those that are reviewing your essays, if you’re appropriately answering the essay prompt.

RM: I know that applicants have a lot to share, right? And they want to share everything with us. Remember that there are a lot of different application components and opportunities for you to share who you are. The essays are a great asset to your application, but it’s only going to be one that you’re going to be able to capitalize on if you answer that essay prompt. So that’s kind of number one. And I have two other ones, if I can sneak them in, is that okay, Linda?

Linda: Absolutely. Go for it. This is great.

RM: So the second one, it’s also around essays, and it seems really basic. So I can see some of our listeners maybe rolling their eyes whenever they listen to this, but mentioning the wrong school name in the application, it’s a big no no. That happens more often than you think. So make sure to double, triple check the materials that you’re submitting with your application that you’re listing out the right school name. And the second one is a kind of a new nuance that we’ve been seeing, I would say as of the past three to five years, which is discrepancies between your resume that you submit with the application and any information that you have that have out on LinkedIn.

RM: So as part of the application here at Texas McCombs, applicants can submit their LinkedIn if they have a LinkedIn profile. If you are going to submit your LinkedIn profile with your application, and that piece of it is optional, the resume is not optional. To submit your LinkedIn profile, make sure that the LinkedIn profile matches the resume on the jobs that you’ve had, on the dates, et cetera. Because if there are discrepancies between both of them, you may raise questions from the admissions committee and you don’t want the admissions committee to have questions. You want to answer any questions that we have. So those discrepancies between resume and LinkedIn can be a little bit tricky sometimes. So be on the look for that.

Linda: Those are great insights and great input. The first two I’ve heard before, and actually I’ve many times been asked, what are schools looking for? And my first answer is they’re looking for the answer to their question. That’s why they asked the question, – they want the answer.

Amber Janke, Director of MBA Recruitment and Admissions at UW Foster [12:01]

Linda Abraham: Amber Janke, Director of MBA Recruitment and Admissions at UW Foster, shared two common mistakes and returns to the theme of insincerity, and shares a second common failing in applications.

AJ: I have a couple that I want to share. One is not being authentic in your application. I think sometimes people believe as though the admissions committee wants to hear just one thing or a certain thing. And really what we’re trying to do is get to know each individual applicant, authentically. We want to know who you are. We want to know what your goals are, your dreams are. We want to know truly who you are and what your experiences have been. And time and time again, I’ll talk with an applicant for an info interview and they say, “My friends are telling me I shouldn’t share this very lofty goal.” And I’m like, “Well, you should think about what you really want to achieve. Certainly have a plan B, but if that’s really what you want to achieve, you’re going to want to share that as part of your application.”

AJ: So that is one thing, people feeling as though they can’t be authentic in their application, and I would encourage you to do so because if you aren’t authentic, we’ll be able to see that in an interview. So that’s really important. The second really is just not doing research on the program ahead of time. We know you want an MBA, but why do you want to Foster MBA? We’re a small program, we can help you achieve certain things, and we want to know that people really want to be part of this type of program. But you got to do the research on your end as well. It’s not just about the MBA, it’s about what you are looking for in an MBA experience and doing some of the research ahead of time to learn if you think a program might be a right fit for you.

AJ: You don’t have to have figured it out yet. That’s totally fine. That’s part of the MBA application process. But start to do some of the work on your end to really understand about not just why you want an MBA, but why you want an MBA from Foster or maybe another program.

Linda: I sometimes talk to applicants and they’ll say something like, “I want to work for Microsoft.” Or, “I want to work for Amazon.” Or they’ll name some other company and some other school. Would your response to that be that’s a good reason, or would it be why do you want to work for Amazon? Or why do you want to work for Microsoft?

AJ: I mean, certainly those are part of people’s goals that they might have certain companies or roles in mind. But an MBA program is not just about what you do immediately post MBA, it’s about what the experience is for the two years that you’re here. It’s about what you want to gain, how you want to learn, how you want to grow for five years, 10 years down the line. Plus.

Linda: It’s your professional life.

AJ: Exactly. For your professional life.

Linda Abraham: So remember NOT to do the things discussed in this episode. And before you submit an application, make sure that you’ve crossed the T’s and dotted the I’s, both literally and figuratively. And of course, make sure that your application reflects the best side of you, but the real you. 

If you’d like help in presenting the best of the authentic you, please contact Accepted for guidance and presenting your best self and polishing that gem of an application. Discover how Accepted’s experts can help you and take advantage of an initial free consultation.

Related Resources:

• MBA Admissions quiz
• Five Fatal Flaws to Avoid in Your MBA Application Essays
• School Specific MBA Essay Guides

Related Episodes:

• Get Into INSEAD, the Business School for the World – podcast Episode 520
• University of Michigan’s Ross MBA Program: Everything You Need to Know – podcast Episode 479
• How to Get Accepted to MIT Sloan MBA – podcast Episode 498
• How to Get Accepted to UNC Kenan-Flagler Full-Time MBA Program – podcast Episode 496
• Get Accepted to UT Austin McCombs – podcast Episode 452
• Get Accepted to UW’s Foster School of Business – podcast Episode 461

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The post Admissions Directors Reveal the Most Common Mistakes Applicants Make [Episode 538] appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.

U.S. STEM MBA Programs: An Overview

STEM certification programs have proven application bonanzas for top business schools. STEM certification may have begun pre-pandemic as a way to alleviate uncertainty in the visa process, but the programs have proven to be a robust inducement for MBA applicants, particularly from foreign countries. According to Poets & Quants, “At Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management, the move to designate its entire MBA program STEM in early 2021 paid dividends this year. . . Its applications rose by an incredible 21%, an increase of 450 to 2,555, even though Cornell presumably felt the same domestic squeeze as its peer schools.”

[List of top STEM OPT U.S. Business Schools >>]

Cornell’s new MBA class has students from 43 countries, a dramatic rise from 30 countries from 2021. Cornell is receiving roughly double the number of international applications as domestic applications. Poets & Quants also reported strong upticks in foreign student enrollment among 27 B-schools surveyed: “In the top 10, the average gain was 10.2 percentage points, or 36.6%, with Dartmouth College Tuck School of Business the biggest by points — 18, or 72%, to 43% — and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania the biggest by percentage: 84.2%, or 16 points, to 35%.

“Across all 27 schools, the average gain from 2020 to 2022 was 14.6 percentage points, or 69%. The biggest gain was at CMU Tepper, which doubled its total from 28% to 56%; notably, UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School gained 23.5 points, or more than 200%, to 35%. Three other B-schools more than doubled their international ranks in two years.”

Are you an international MBA applicant? We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to top MBA programs! CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN HELP YOU GET ACCEPTED >>

The GMAC’s survey from 2019 was the first to inquire about a program’s STEM-certification, and found that these programs were more likely to report growth in international applicants. A total of 195 of the 804 U.S. programs responding reported that their programs were STEM-certified (24%). Among them, the most common program types were Master of Data Analytics (28%); Master of Finance (22%); and Master of Information Technology (14%). And while a majority of both STEM-certified (53%) and non-STEM (57%) programs reported declines in total applications during this period, STEM-certified programs fared better among international applicants. In the 2019-2020 academic year, 43% of STEM-certified programs grew their international applications, compared with 26% of non-STEM programs.

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Given ongoing concerns over visa status and one’s ability to work in the U.S. after business school, programs that are STEM-certified are sure to be more appealing to this applicant pool.

While some MBA programs – such as Chicago Booth, Wharton, Virginia Darden – now offer specific concentrations that qualify international students for STEM OPT, others – such as Berkeley Haas, Carnegie Mellon Tepper, and Rochester Simon – qualify MBA graduates of all majors in their MBA programs for this extension.

During 2021, MBA programs have seen a rebound in international applicants, and many schools (NYU Stern, Darden, and Yale) are touting this return. Still, they are maintaining their STEM certifications because it will pave the way for their graduates to get jobs and stay in the U.S. long enough to pay off or pay down their loans. Despite its cost, the MBA degree continues to pay robust dividends right off the bat. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article: “At about 98% of universities that offer master’s of business administration programs, graduates typically made more money two years out of school than they had borrowed, a Wall Street Journal analysis of federal student loan data for nearly 600 programs found.”

STEM MBA Programs

Name of MBA Program	Majors That Are STEM Designated	MBA Essay Tips
Arizona State Carey	All MBA Platforms	Tips
Babson MBA	1) Business Analytics and Machine Learning 2) Quantitative Finance	Tips
Berkeley Haas	All Majors	Tips
Brigham Young Marriott	Management Science and Quantitative Methods	Tips
Carnegie Mellon	All Majors	Tips
Chicago Booth	All MBA programs	Tips
Columbia Business School	MBA and EMBA programs	Tips
Cornell Johnson	1) Two-Year Management Science MBA 2) One-Year Management Science MBA 3) Tech MBA 4) MPS in Management 5) MPS in Management - Accounting Specialization	Tips
Dartmouth Tuck	STEM track	Tips
Duke Fuqua	Second Major in Management Science and Technology Management (MSTeM)	Tips
Georgetown McDonough	Management Science major	Tips
Harvard Business School	Management Science track	Tips
Indiana Kelley	Accounting, Business Analytics, Finance, Marketing or Supply Chain and Operations	Tips
Lehigh University College of Business	Business Analytics (a concentration within 1-MBA)	Tips
Michigan Ross	STEM track	Tips
MIT Sloan	MBAn	Tips
New York University	Tech MBA Two-year full-time MBA	Tips
Northwestern Kellogg	Management Science MMM Program for Dual Engineering/MBA Degrees	Tips
Notre Dame Mendoza	MBA/Master of Science in Business Analytics Dual Degree	Tips
Pace University	MBA in Information Systems	Tips
Purdue Krannert	MBA-STEM	Tips
Rice Jones	All MBA Programs	Tips
Rochester Simon	All Specializations	Tips
Rutgers	STEM designation	Tips
Stanford GSB	1) All MBA majors 2) MSx	Tips
Syracuse	FT MBA, M.S. in Business Analytics, MS in Finance, MS in Marketing and MS in Supply Chain Management	Tips
Texas McCombs	14 of the 22 concentrations for the full-time MBA program	Tips
University of California, Davis	All Majors	Tips
University of California, Irvine	Analytics in Digital Leadership concentration	Tips
University of California, Los Angeles	All Specializations	Tips
University of California, Riverside	All MBA Programs	Tips
University of California, San Diego	1) Full-time MBA 2) FlexEvening 3) FlexWeekend	Tips
University of California San Francisco	1) Financial Analysis, MS 2) Information Systems, MS 3) Full-Time MBA 4) Marketing Intelligence, MS 5) Energy Systems Management & MBA 6) Environmental Management & MBA (4+1), BS/MBA 7) Financial Analysis & MBA (4+1), BSBA/MS	Tips
University of Connecticut	1) Business Analytics 2) Digital Marketing Strategy 3) Financial Analysis and Investments	Tips
University of Delaware Lerner	Major in Business Analytics	Tips
University of Georgia Terry	Only open to U. of Georgia undergraduates; includes 45 majors	Tips
University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler	All MBA Programs	Tips
University of North Texas Ryan	MBA in Business Analytics	Tips
University of Washington Foster	Management Science	Tips
University of Wisconsin - Madison	1) Specialization in Operations and Technology Management 2) Supply Chain Management	Tips
USC Marshall	Specialization in Management Science	Tips
Vanderbilt Owen	Finance Concentration	Tips
Wharton	1) Business Analytics 2) Business, Economics & Public Policy (BEPP) 3) Business, Energy, Environment & Sustainability (BEES) 4) Operations, Information & Decisions (OID) 5) Quantitative Finance 6) Statistics	Tips
Washington University in St. Louis (Olin)	Full-time MBA	Tips

We’re going to do our best to keep this table current. However, please do not rely on this table; confirm the STEM designation yourself to make sure that the MBA programs you apply to really have that designation. And if you find out a school has attained STEM certification and is not on the list, please let us know by emailing blog@accepted.com.

If you would like to learn how to get into top MBA programs that offer STEM OPT eligibility and are a good fit for you, register for a free consultation with me. 

At Accepted, we’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to top MBA programs and look forward to helping you too! CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED.

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By Jennifer Bloom, admissions consultant at Accepted for 20 years and Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW). She is an expert at guiding you to produce application materials that truly differentiate you from the rest of the driven applicant pool. If you would like help with your application, Jennifer can suggest a number of options that work with any budget. Want Jennifer to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

• STEM Applicants: Why Your Statement of Purpose is So Important
• Top MBA Application Essays: How to Answer Them Right (school-specific essay tips)
• The Questions You SHOULD Be Asking – ANSWERED!, a podcast episode

The post Top STEM MBA Programs: A Comprehensive STEM-OPT Eligible List appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.

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Discover all you need to know about MIT Sloan’s MBA program [Show Summary]

MIT Sloan is one of the magic M7 MBA programs, and its Assistant Dean, Dawna Levenson, shares everything applicants aiming for acceptance should know. 

Interview with Dawna Levenson, Assistant Dean at MIT Sloan School of Management [Show Notes]

Welcome to the 498th episode of Admissions Straight Talk, Accepted’s podcast. Thanks for tuning in. Are you ready to apply to your dream MBA programs? Are you competitive at your target schools? Accepted’s MBA admissions quiz can give you a quick reality check. Just go to accepted.com/mbaquiz, complete the quiz, and you’ll not only get an assessment, but also tips on how to improve your qualifications. Plus, it’s all free. 

It gives me great pleasure to have back on Admissions Straight Talk, Dawna Levenson, Assistant Dean at MIT Sloan School of Management. Dawna earned her bachelor’s and master’s in Management Science at MIT Sloan, became a partner at Accenture, and then returned to MIT Sloan in 2007 as Associate Director of Academic Programs. She moved into Admissions in 2012 and became Director of Admissions in 2013 and Assistant Dean in 2018. 

Can you give us an overview of the MIT Sloan Full-Time MBA program for those listeners who aren’t that familiar with it? [2:07]

Absolutely. I think I would begin with class size. Our two-year MBA has a class size of roughly 410. You may have some friends who just graduated in the past year or so, and their class size was slightly bigger. That’s a result of the pandemic when there was a fair amount of uncertainty, and we actually grew the class size in 2020. However, it was never intended for that to be permanent, and so we have slowly worked our way back down. Fundamentally, the class that just matriculated, and moving forward, will be approximately 410. 

We have a one-semester core and then three semesters to really shape the curriculum as you see fit based on your interests. As much as you as a student have flexibility in terms of your classes and shaping that, our faculty have a lot of flexibility, too, in terms of how they teach. Your classes will be a combination of traditional lectures and problem sets, as well as a lot of project-based classes.

We have a subset of these project-based classes that are called our Action Learning labs, where you are either on a particular subject matter or focused on a certain geography and working as part of a team to solve a real problem for a real company and make recommendations to them at the end of the project.

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Are you seeing any trends in terms of hiring? Where do MIT Sloan MBA grads get jobs? [3:42]

We just recently published our 2022-2023 employment report, so these numbers are right off of that. For students who graduated in 2022 seeking employment, 31.2% of them went into consulting, 22.6% went into finance, and 22.6% went into technology. An additional 6.8% went into pharma, healthcare, and biotech. It’s a good spread.

What’s a little misleading is some may have gone into consulting, but they’re focused on the tech industry. So, keep that in mind.

Can you explain the optional core electives? [5:02]

Our two-year MBA students spend their first semester taking core classes. You’re actually part of a cohort of somewhere between 65 and 70 students who you’re taking all of your classes with. You’re also assigned to be part of a core team of six or seven people where you’re actually doing all of your work together. In addition to your core set of classes, you also have the option to take one additional elective. You can choose from marketing, finance, strategy, or operations for that additional elective.

What are the core requirements? [5:48]

They include microeconomics, DMD, which is data models and decisions, accounting, and communications. 

What are the tracks and certificates that MIT Sloan offers? What is the difference between them? [6:16]

We offer a flexible curriculum, however, if you are interested in finance, entrepreneurship and innovation, or enterprise management, we have tracks. The tracks are very much MBA-specific, and you could really think of them as a roadmap. They provide you with some guidance on how to take your electives over the next three semesters. 

Additionally, we now have four certificates. We have certificates in sustainability, healthcare, data analytics, and we just introduced digital product management. One of the differences would be that while the tracks are very much MBA-specific, certificates are not. In fact, the sustainability and healthcare certificates will have students in them from throughout the institute. Analytics is actually too popular at Sloan to be able to really open it up to others. 

The question that I often hear is, “Are tracks and certificates designed so that you could possibly combine them and do one of each?” The answer is also absolutely. As you can imagine, someone could be on the finance track but want to apply it to the healthcare space, so that’s a great option for them.

The piece of advice I give to students, if you’re seriously considering doing a track and certificate, is to be a bit of a planner. Look ahead and lay out your courses. Some classes are only offered in certain semesters, so make sure that you’re taking them when they’re offered. If you lay it all out in advance, it is absolutely doable.

What don’t people know about MIT Sloan that you would love for them to know? What is a common misconception about MIT Sloan that you’d like to dispel? [8:13]

The misconception is definitely this idea many people have that you need an engineering or STEM background to apply, be admitted, or do well in our program. Our students come from a very diverse set of backgrounds, studying different things in school and having had many different jobs and job functions prior to actually matriculating. 

To answer your second question, I think it’s fair to say that when many people are thinking about going to business school because they want to pursue a career in finance, we are not at the top of their list. There are other schools that are more likely to be there, either because of their reputation or perhaps their location. What I think many students will tell you that surprises them is that when they show up, they realize how amazing our finance faculty are and how diverse the courses are. Our whole finance ecosystem, which is inclusive of classes and clubs, and conferences, is a very pleasant surprise to many students.

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During COVID, MIT Sloan was waiving the test. Today, a waiver can be requested if a candidate cannot access the GMAT or the GRE. Why the change? [9:43]

To be honest, waiving the test for everyone was never meant to be permanent. It was really in response to the fact that at the height of the pandemic, in the 2021 application season, it was very difficult for many of our candidates across the world to have access to an in-person exam or even, quite frankly, to an online exam. We did not want anybody to be disadvantaged. Given the global nature of our applicant pool in our class, we thought that waiving it would make sense. 

What we did at the time to address that was we added a new section to our application where people could very easily provide us with additional information. They could have done this before, but we made it a little bit more visible. In this section, applicants could share certifications they may have or online classes they may have taken. That was the 2021 season. This past year, we implemented the waiver, and we were somewhat lenient with that waiver as well, sort of weaning ourselves from that.

This cycle, we continue to have a waiver, but we have much stronger language around the specifics of what the intention is for the waiver. It’s truly meant for people who don’t have access to an exam.

Does MIT Sloan have any plans to accept the Executive Assessment or other graduate aptitude tests like the MCAT or the LSAT? [11:47]

Not at this time. For the two-year MBA, we accept the GMAT or the GRE. The percentage of people who are submitting a GRE continues to increase. 

In case anyone is listening who is considering our Sloan Fellows MBA program, which is for people who have, on average, 14 years of work experience, we do accept the Executive Assessment because, quite frankly, that’s the population it was designed for.

What is the purpose of the different elements in the Sloan application? It is a very distinctive application. [12:45]

We believe that our application process is extremely straightforward and that it’s really an opportunity for us to get to know you as a candidate. There really are no embedded tricks here at all. Let me just walk you through it a little bit. 

I like to think of the cover letter, the resume, and the video as a bit of a package that tells your story. Your resume is your work history. Your video, which is a 60-second video introducing yourself to your future classmates, is really your personal side. We do not expect this to be production quality. This is you holding your phone or a friend holding your phone and recording you. You can have a little bit of fun with it. Over the years, people have gotten pretty creative, but I would caution you to please not get so creative that we’re not able to hear the audio clearly. The cover letter really ties it all together and begins to answer, “Why MIT Sloan?” It should be 300 words or less. You can’t possibly tell us everything that you want to, but you’re telling us enough so that we want to know more. 

We then have the organization chart. You should think about this as a relationship map. Stick your face in the middle of the page, and then draw lines to other people with whom you engage at work. Do you have direct reports? Do you have peers? Who’s your immediate supervisor? How many levels does that go up? We are not looking for the company organization chart that anybody can find on the website. If perhaps you work in an environment that’s project-based, like consulting or something else, feel free to submit your most recent project structure.

This helps give us a little bit more perspective in terms of your work and where you fit in. There is no wrong answer here. I promise you. We have never not admitted somebody solely on the basis of their org chart.

If you are an entrepreneur and don’t have any formal direct reports, think about who you engage with. Do you have clients? Do you have customers? Do you have suppliers? These are the things we’re looking for for the org chart. 

We ask for one letter of recommendation. Ideally, it is your current supervisor, but we know for a whole variety of reasons, you may not be comfortable telling him or her yet that you’re going to business school. Maybe you just switched jobs and they don’t know you that well. Think of somebody who knows you well and can talk about the impact that you have made on an organization or a group. It should be somebody who is willing to champion you and spend the time to write a meaningful letter of recommendation. 

The two additional references are very similar to when you apply for a job and you list references. We’re asking for their names and contact information. In the event that we are looking for additional information about you, perhaps there are just one or two lingering questions, we would then reach out to one of the recommenders. We would never blindly call them. We would always send an email, give them some context and ask to schedule a call. So, you should let them know, but let them know that the chances of us calling them is pretty low. 

This year, we added an optional short answer question. This is truly optional. It’s 250 words or less. The question is, “How has the world you came from shaped who you are today?” It’s really an opportunity to share more about yourself that you did not find a spot for somewhere else in the application. If there’s nothing more for you to say, feel free to leave it blank. This is not the place to tell us why you had a lower undergraduate GPA than you would’ve liked. This is the first year that we’re doing it, and we’re very interested in seeing exactly what kind of information we get from that. 

In terms of our process, we have three application deadlines. We review all applications after a deadline, so you get no extra credit, and you’re not better positioned at all if you submit an application two weeks in advance, although perhaps you can sleep a little easier. After an application deadline, we review all of the applications. We have a group of trained readers who read through all of our applications, and then a subset of people are invited for an interview. 

An interview is a required step in the process. It is by invitation only. This year, we are continuing to offer interviews via Zoom. Before the pandemic, they were, for the most part, in person. This is by no means a statement that they will continue to be via Zoom forever, but for this year, we felt it was the right choice. They are roughly 30 minutes long. 

If you’re invited for an interview, you’re going to be asked to submit two additional pieces of information. One of them is a response to a question that is reinforcing the fact that we are truly a mission-driven school. Our mission is to really identify and solve the world’s biggest and most challenging problems in order to make it a better place. As one of the pillars of this mission, we believe that creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment is really important. So we want applicants to tell us about a time that they contributed to creating a diverse environment. The second piece is a data visualization that has some meaning for an applicant. You could have either read it online, found it in a magazine, or created it on your own, whether it be for work or not. There are no wrong answers here, for the most part. The range of topics that we get is fascinating. It really runs the gamut. There are some that have been around COVID, sustainability, healthcare, gender inequality in the workforce, you name it. Most likely, your interviewer will ask you to talk about it as an initial icebreaker at the very beginning of your interview, so be prepared to talk about it. 

The interview itself is 30 minutes long. We may begin with this icebreaker. We may have a few questions about the application. Are there some gaps or holes or outstanding questions we might have? Then we’re going to spend a good portion of that 30 minutes asking you a series of behavioral questions. I know that you can now Google behavioral questions so, if you feel the need to prepare and practice with friends, go ahead. Then finally, in the end, we will ask you if you have any questions. The one thing I’d say is to have a question or two prepared. These should be questions that you can’t easily find on our website. Some people think that it sounds good to say, “You know what? I’ve done all my homework. I’ve talked to a bunch of students, and I have no more questions left.” I know that sounds like it could sound impressive. The truth is, it’s a real missed opportunity. So, have a question or two available.

Check out our School-Specific MBA Application Essay Tips >>

What’s the most common mistake that you see applicants making? [21:19]

The most common mistake is trying to stand out in an inappropriate way. Perhaps provocative is the best word I can use. Some applicants do this in their video or cover letter, where they talk about subject matter that has a shock factor tied to it. They use unprofessional, inappropriate language. It happens. Every year, there’s a handful of them. 

Aside from that, it’s just not following instructions. I believe we’re very reasonable. We’re not word counters. If we ask for a cover letter to be 300 words and it’s 310, that’s no big deal. If you submit a five-page essay, it raises a red flag for us.

Can you touch on MIT Sloan’s early admissions program? [22:11]

We launched this back in 2019. This is very much for people who are either finishing up undergrad or graduate school and have not yet worked full-time. You can apply to our MBA program, be admitted, and then after two years of work, decide whether or not you want to come. You have a two- to five-year time period to matriculate with our MBA program. You will have a seat in our class. We will reach out to you every summer and ask you if you think that the following September might be the time you want to matriculate. We’ll have a call with you to see what you’ve been doing. For the most part, we’re pretty reasonable as long as you haven’t been sitting on the couch for two years. Then we will ask for your deposit. We will ask for you to truly commit at the tail end of our Round 1 timeframe, which is early December, and we will fold you into our Round 1 accepts, admin weekend, and deposit timeframe.

All right, great. Thank you for that. Before I leave the early admissions program, I mean, I know it’s for people who are graduating college or are completing a graduate program, have not yet worked full-time, but that’s a very broad category, right? Can you give a little bit more… I mean, that would be millions of people. Can you give a little more detail?

Whom is the MIT Sloan early admissions program for? [23:34]

This is for people who sense they might be interested in pursuing an MBA down the road. Or people who are planners. The GMAC folks will tell you that if you’re considering applying to business school, the best time to do it is actually while you’re a college senior because of your comfortableness with taking exams. Our application is very similar to our MBA application. We don’t have the org chart because we recognize that you haven’t necessarily been working full-time, but we’re looking for evidence of competencies which is very similar to what we would ask for the two-year MBA.

We recognize that we’re looking for this information in different amounts and in different locations. We’re looking to see evidence of relationship building. For the two-year MBA, we would most likely be focused on your work environment and building relationships there. For those who are applying to the MBA early, it may be in the classroom or research. Perhaps you’re involved in your sorority or fraternity or play a sport. We’re looking for similar evidence, just in different locations.

Announcing Extended Round 2 Deadline for Laid-off Workers

We have our Round 2 deadline coming up in January. However, as a result of a lot of the recent layoffs that have taken place, we have actually announced a Round 2 extension for people who may have been impacted by this series of layoffs. That deadline will be February 23rd. We have chosen not to specify a field because there could be a ripple effect. If you’re listening now and this has happened to you, you have three months, which we feel is sufficient time to really prepare, study for an exam, and submit an application by February 23rd.

What advice would you give to someone thinking ahead to a fall 2023 or even a 2024 application? [26:00]

I will say it’s never too early. You’re creating your list of schools, and you should engage with each and every one of those schools as much as you possibly can, whether it be virtually or in person or through these podcasts, because every school has a personality. It does. That personality is made up of certain tangibles and certain intangibles. 

Take, for example, class size, which was the first thing I talked about. I think that’s something that people should make note of when they’re putting together their list of schools. Some people want a bigger student body than others. 

But fundamentally, it’s never too early to start engaging with different schools, attending events virtually or in person and really start to narrow down your list to schools that really resonate with you.

What would you have liked me to ask you? [27:29]

For those of you who follow me on LinkedIn, you saw I just celebrated 15 years at MIT, which is a long time. People ask me why I stay, and the truth is every day that I drive into work, I think, “Wow, I can’t believe I get to work here every day.” And this is 15 years in. MIT is a very special place. Yesterday, we had an overview of our sustainability certificate. People from the certificate came and really drilled down on the sustainability work that’s happening here at Sloan and at MIT that you can really engage with as part of that certificate. It is really trying to make the world a better place. We, as a school, have a very strong mission statement. I believe in it strongly. And for me to be able to play some small role in that is very fulfilling.

Where can listeners and potential applicants learn more about MIT’s full-time MBA program? [28:46]

You can go to mitsloan.mit.edu.

Related links:

• MIT Sloan Admissions
• MIT Sloan Early Admission for Students Without Fulltime Work Experience
• MIT Sloan Interview
• MIT Sloan Application Tips
• Accepted’s MBA Admissions Consulting Services

Related shows:

• What to Expect From the MBA Experience at Cambridge Judge Business School
• Application Trends to Watch in 2021, and a Look Back at 2020
• All About the Kellogg MBAi, for Students Passionate About Business and Technology 
• MBA Life at UC Berkeley Haas, From Its New Executive Director of Admissions

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The post How to Get Accepted to MIT Sloan MBA [Episode 498] appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.

Distance learning and unstable market conditions due to the Covid pandemic have not hurt the fortunes of MBA grads from top programs. The 2022 employment reports released in recent weeks from top schools, including NYU Stern School of Business, University of Michigan Ross School of Business, UC-Berkeley Haas School of Business, MIT Sloan, Harvard, and other peer programs have all announced record-breaking starting salaries for grads. 

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NYU Stern MBA Salaries Soar

Median base salaries for NYU Stern were $170,000–the highest ever–up $15,000 from the previous year. Median signing bonuses of $35,000 were on par with 2021, and average total compensation rose by $14,340 to an unprecedented $196,143. 

Within three months of graduation, 94.1 percent of Stern graduates had accepted job offers; 86.6% had accepted job offers by graduation. Top hiring industries remained consistent: consulting (31.2 percent), investment banking (27.2 percent) and tech (17.0 percent). 

Brian Ruggiero, Associate Dean of Career Services, boasted that the Class of 2022, which had begun their MBA studies during the pandemic, “adapted quickly to the resulting paradigm shifts. The demand for these skills is clear,” he said, pointing to the high acceptance rates for jobs three months after graduation being on par with pre-pandemic levels, as well as the highest compensation on record. Early data for the Class of 2023 also show “strong demand for Stern talent,” he added, evidenced by a 100% success rate among seekers of internships. 

Michigan Ross MBA Class of 2022 Almost at 100% Employment

Similarly, University of Michigan Ross School of Business reported that an eye-popping 99% percent of their 2022 grads were offered jobs within three months of graduation, landing median salaries of $165,000 and a $192,270 median salary package. Both salary figures reflect a $21,000 increase over the previous year.

The B-School Selectivity Index:
Are You Competitive at Your Dream School? >>

UC Berkeley Haas, Dartmouth Tuck, and Georgetown McDonough Report Great Employment Outcomes

On the West Coast, the 2022 class at UC-Berkeley Haas School of Business had a 93.8% job offer rate, up 4% from the prior year, returning that figure to among the highest of the pre-pandemic years. The median base salary for Haas MBAs was $155,000, up by 3.7% from the previous year.

Dartmouth Tuck’s employment data released November 22 for the Class of 2022 showed that 98% of Tuck grads had job offers within three months of graduation, with median base salaries rising by 16.7% to $175,000 from $150,000 in 2021. Ninety-three percent of grads received a median signing bonus of $30,000, bumping median total compensation to $202,900, up more than 15% from last year.

Georgetown MBAs enjoyed average base salaries of $138,552, up from $126,107 last year, and an average signing bonus of $36,342. A statement from their website noted that “96% of students received a job offer within three months of graduation and 95% accepted their offers – tying last year’s placement records as the highest levels ever achieved by Full-time MBA graduates. The record-setting average salary marks a 10% increase from 2021, with bonuses increasing by 6%. 

“The outcomes presented in this report are a testament to the extraordinary talent in the Class of 2022,” said Christy Murray, associate dean and managing director of career services at Georgetown McDonough. “These students began their MBA journey amid ongoing disruptions and uncertainty from the global pandemic, yet through their hard work, perseverance, and commitment to excellence, they were well positioned to secure impactful roles in business across a wide range of industries and sectors.” 

Wharton MBAs pocketed their highest-ever median base salary of $175,000, a jump of 12.9 %. Salaries had been flat at $150,000 in 2019 and 2020, rising only to $155,000 in 2021. Within three months of graduation, 98.7% of Wharton’s MBAs seeking jobs received offers. Wharton’s 20222 employment report, released November 17, also revealed that more grads than ever found jobs in tech, despite the current flurry of layoffs and hiring freezes at tech giants Meta, Amazon, and Twitter. 

However, an article in Poets&Quants cautioned that Wharton’s impressive results in landing tech jobs may be a bit of an outlier: 

“. . . techies should be wary of seeing Wharton’s success in tech as a sign of rebound. While the raw number of Wharton MBAs finding jobs in tech is higher than ever, the percentage of the class in the industry is down slightly, as the number of job-seeking graduates in 2022 (633) is 8.2% more than in 2021 (585) as a result of Wharton enrolling larger classes at the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Moreover, Whartonites’ success in landing tech gigs runs counter to many of their peer schools, where tech hiring is down — and in some cases down big — and likely points to a very different tech landscape graduates faced this summer as they rounded out their offers.”

Other MBA 2022 Jobs and Salary Stats

The following data is from Poets&Quants and underscores that whatever hardships and uncertainties students experienced while applying and earning MBAs during such a volatile period, their investments are paying off handsomely now.

• Harvard Business School grads saw a 16.3% year-to-year increase in median salary to $175,000 and median performance bonuses increase to $40,000 powered a leap in total median compensation to $223,100, a one-year jump of 17.5%.
  
  
• Virginia Darden School of Business MBAs made a median $175,000, up 21% from the Class of 2021;
  
  
• At MIT Sloan School of Management, average base salary increased 7.6% from the previous year, to $159,391, and median base salary grew 10% to $165,000; total median compensation was $204,700, up 4.7% from $195,600 last year;
  
  
• At Northwestern Kellogg School of Management, median salary for the class jumped $15,000, to $165,000, and is up 18% since the last pre-pandemic graduating class in 2019; bonuses stayed at a median $30,000, and with 87% receiving them, median total pay came out to $191,100, up 8.7% from $175,800 last year.

Soaring MBA Salaries’ Significance for Applicants

These stats reflect several factors: 

1. The enduring value of the full-time two-year MBA degree from top MBA programs.
   
   
2. Inflation, which increases salaries and will allow most of those who borrowed their tuition to pay off their debt with cheaper dollars.
   
   
3. A tight labor market in which businesses – even if we are in a recession – are willing to pay for top talent.

Many of the 2022 MBA grads applied to business school in winter and spring 2020 at the height of COVID lock-downs, social isolation, and distance learning. Unemployment hit 14.8% in April, 2020 and remained above pre-COVID levels until Fall 2021. These grads looked at the dismal events of the time, swallowed hard, and concluded that the environment is paving the way for them to obtain their MBA. As you consider whether to apply at a time of rising layoffs, possible recession, and general instability, consider the payoff that these grads have experienced by taking the plunge when they did.

Are you considering an MBA to maximize your earning potential? The stats show that the investment is worth it, but it takes an outstanding application to impress the elite schools. Our experienced MBA admissions consultants work with you one-on-one, throughout the process, to help you get ACCEPTED!

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For 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more. Want an MBA admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related resources:

• Starting Salaries for MBA Grads Climbing
• M7 MBA Programs: Everything You Need to Know in 2022
• Is an MBA Worth It, or Is the Sky Falling Down on the MBA Degree?, a podcast episode

The post Class of 2022 MBAs Earn Bullish Starting Salaries appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.

If you are a recently laid off and otherwise competitive applicant, MBA programs want YOU!

Are you a tech worker who just got laid off from Meta, Twitter, Facebook, Stripe, or a similar company? Were you thinking of getting an MBA before and/or since the layoff? Well, what started as a trickle with Northwestern University–Kellogg School of Management and MIT Sloan has turned into a river, and may turn into a flood.

Here is a list of the changes full-time MBA programs are making to accommodate and attract recently laid off workers.

MBA Programs Seek Laid-Off Workers

School	Who's Eligible	Accommodation
Cornell MBA & Johnson Cornell Tech MBA	Qualified candidates who have recently been laid off by a U.S. company, applying for the January 2023 MBA deadlines	Application fee waiver & GRE/GMAT test waiver
Dartmouth Tuck	Any worker laid off since Aug. 1, 2022. For more info visit tuck.dartmouth.edu	Can request a GMAT/GRE test waiver. Deadline: March 1, 2023
Duke Fuqua	All applicants	Added new round with Feb. 13, 2023 deadline -- Can take test for this deadline prior to Feb. 28
Georgia Tech Scheller	Professionals who have been affected by recent layoffs, applying to the full-time program	A select number of designated fellowships, application fee waiver & test waiver
Indiana Kelley	Laid-off tech employees	Application fee waiver & GRE/GMAT test waiver
MIT Sloan	Laid-off workers	Extend its Round 2 deadline to Feb 23, 2023
Northwestern Kellogg	Employees who were laid off this quarter at a company in the tech sector and are applying to full-time graduate degrees, including the two-year M.B.A., by a mid-January deadline.	Waive GMAT/GRE
NYU's Andre Koo Technology and Entrepreneurship MBA	Class entering in May 2023 (applying either to its Jan.15 or final Feb. 15 deadline)	Waive entrance exams
Rice University Jones Graduate School of Business	Open to U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, or those who currently reside in North America	Round 4 added with a deadline of May 1
SCU Leavey School of Business	Those who work in the technology industry, especially those affected by recent layoffs, applying to the following on-campus graduate programs: • Part-time Evening MBA • Executive MBA • MS Business Analytics • MS Finance and Analytics • MS in Information Systems	1) Waive application fees 2) Lift GMAT/GRE requirement for those with tech backgrounds 3) Award scholarships of at least $3,000 4) Accept applications for the Spring Evening MBA through January 20, 2023
UC Berkeley Haas	Prospective candidates who have been laid off between June 1, 2022 to Feb. 2, 2023 , applying to the full-time MBA program	Application fee waiver & deadline extension to Feb. 2, 2023
UCLA Anderson	Recently laid off due to a organizational restructuring or downsizing and apply by R2 Jan. 4, 2023 deadline	1) Can submit test scores and recommendations by Feb. 4. 2) Application fee waivers. 3) If admitted through this process and later find new employment, may be eligible to switch to Anderson’s part-time fully employed MBA program.

* If you know of other schools that are taking special steps to attract laid off workers this cycle, please email blog@accepted.com and let us know.

Here’s the background.

Kellogg Waives GMAT/GRE for Sub-set of Applicants

On November 14, 2022, Lindsay Ellis of the The Wall Street Journal broke the news that Kellogg is waiving its test requirement for “employees who were laid off this quarter at a company in the tech sector and are applying to full-time graduate degrees, including the two-year M.B.A., by a mid-January deadline.”

Kellogg, like many top MBA programs, experienced a surge in applications when COVID hit due the soaring unemployment rate. At the same time, and due mostly to difficulties in accessing a test, it waived its test requirement. That year, applications to Kellogg and other top-ranking M.B.A. programs, including University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, Columbia Business School and MIT Sloan School of Management, rose significantly.

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Since then Kellogg restored the test requirement and unemployment took a deep dive. This past cycle, like many other top MBA programs, it experienced a drop in applications. With a very tight labor market and the test requirement back in place, Kellogg experienced an 18% plunge in application volume last year. Many in admissions expect either flat application volume this cycle or a further drop depending again on the economy.

Quoting the WSJ article, “Accustomed to jobs with six-figure salaries, big equity packages and other perks, many tech workers have had a particular incentive to stay on the job in recent years.” Now, with tech workers losing their jobs by the thousands, MBA programs are seizing the opportunity to recruit students from an already talented pool of candidates. 

Kellogg’s associate dean of degree programs, Greg Haniffee, said that the school decided to waive tests earlier in November after Twitter began cutting its workforce in half. Again from the article: “These folks were high performers and are now at a pivot point in their life,” he said. “If they’re considering business school, removing this barrier could benefit them.”

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Kellogg’s offer to waive the GRE or GMAT requirement for applicants recently laid off from the tech sector is open to Kellogg’s Round 2 applications for full-time and part-time programs. In a blog post from November 14, Hanifee wrote that these newly available candidates “can apply to Kellogg by providing their transcripts, resume and application which will also include a brief essay on their work experience and most recent role as well as what they hope their transformation will be and how it will advance them. . . We hope this offer will allow some people to speed up their career transformation process.”

Unlike in 2020, when Kellogg waived the test requirement for all applicants, Kellogg is treading more carefully now by targeting a select applicant pool with proven capabilities who will be competitive job seekers. These recently laid-off workers had demanding roles until just a few weeks ago, and their skills, when combined with an MBA, will probably be in demand. It’s understandable that Kellogg is comfortable relying on their transcript as evidence of academic ability (or lack thereof). They probably don’t need the test score. 

Kellogg’s move presents an opportunity for laid-off tech talent who would do well to consider what may be a rare and perhaps fleeting offer. Kellogg is already a techie haven, with seventeen percent of its newest MBA class coming from tech, and one-fifth of its 2022 graduating class having gone into the sector.

As Accepted founder and CEO Linda Abraham noted in Poets and Quant’s “For these recently laid-off workers, who until the last few weeks had positions that were demanding and whose skills when combined with an MBA will probably be in demand, Kellogg is comfortable relying on their transcript as evidence of academic ability (or lack thereof). They don’t need the test score. Getting these kinds of jobs is in and of itself a test.”

With this move, Kellogg is hoping to boost its pool of qualified applicants while easing the decline in application volume.

MIT Sloan has its own approach to attracting and accommodating recently laid off workers.

Work with a seasoned consultant to polish the presentation of your work experience and your entire application >>

MIT Sloan Offers Later Round 2 Deadline to Laid-Off Workers

In an interview on November 17 with Linda Abraham, who is also the host of the Admission Straight Talk podcast, MIT Sloan’s Assistant Dean of Admissions, Dawna Levenson announced that MIT Sloan will extend its Round 2 deadline to Feb 23, 2023 for laid off workers. The move gives potential applicants who were not anticipating a layoff and are interested in the MBA time to prepare for the GRE or GMAT, take the test, and submit an excellent application this cycle.

In addition to having the data point that the test score provides, MIT Sloan may also be attempting to avoid the criticism that Kellogg received for its test waiver. In a lively discussion on LinkedIn about Kellogg’s move, many felt that it is unfair to require the test for some applicants and not for others. People who worked or work at those same companies and applied for Round 1 must take the test. Employees of those firms who were not laid off still must take the test. With its extended deadline, MIT Sloan is getting the data it values, showing understanding for recently laid off workers, and probably increasing its applicant pool.

The complete interview with Dawna Levenson aired on November 29.

With so many changes in the world of MBA Admissions, why not get expert guidance that is tailor-made for you? Our consultants have helped thousands of applicants get ACCEPTED to top MBA schools–and they can do the same for you. Check out our menu of MBA services to pick the one that is just right for you! We’re here to help you GET ACCEPTED.

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For 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more. Want an MBA admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related resources:

• Why MBA? The Winning Ingredients of a Dynamic MBA Goals Essay
• Northwestern Kellogg 2022-23 MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines
• From Example to Exemplary, a free guide to writing outstanding admissions essays
• 5 Fatal Flaws to Avoid in Your MBA Application Essays, a free guide

The post MBA Programs Seek Recently Laid Off Tech Workers appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.

These essay questions show that the MIT EMBA adcom seeks applicants who have the judgment and practical skills to take on the challenges that will fly at them as they redefine and reshape industries and functions to meet the needs of the future. Applicants who push the boundary of what’s possible and provide principled leadership amidst a torrent of change. The essays (including Statement of Purpose) are your main means to show that you possess the qualities that indicate fit for the MIT EMBA. While the statement of purpose challenges you to succinctly create your applicant portrait, the three essay questions probe how your perspective, ideas, and thinking lead to specific impacts and outcomes. As always, MIT Sloan is interested in what you’ve done – actions you’ve taken and impacts you’ve created.

In an overall plan for the essays, the statement of purpose works as a positioner, an opening pitch, a frame. In each of the three essays, strategically select experiences that show different facets of your experience to give a comprehensive view. Also, if possible, discuss recent experiences in at least 2 of the essays, to allow the adcom to see you working at a high level and to show what you’ll bring to the table. A pitfall of the essays is potential overlap in topics and examples. Before drafting essays, I suggest mapping out your topics and examples to ensure you present different types of impacts and experiences and “allocate” your relevant examples/experiences optimally. Finally, MIT EMBA’s mission is stated at the start of the essay questions; keep it on the radar for context as you draft the essays.

MIT Executive MBA application writing prompts

MIT Executive MBA statement of purpose

Please provide a statement on your personal and professional qualifications. What is motivating you to apply to the MIT Executive MBA at this point in your career? (500 words or less)

This is your portrait – your candidacy at a glance. It should convey a vivid, immediate sense of you as a person and as a candidate for this program. It should go beyond just facts to present a point of view and a message (theme). Determine your message before drafting the essay, and be guided by it in selecting and elaborating the content details.

Beware of a potential pitfall: in discussing the qualifications (ideally reflecting accomplishments), do not repeat your resume in prose format. Select your examples thoughtfully, focusing on those that (a) are truly distinctive and relevant to the EMBA and/or (b) support your goals directly or indirectly, and (c) reflect your message. Make a short, meaningful point about each, such as the insight it lends or its influence on you. Don’t forget to include at least one personal (non-work) accomplishment!

For why you are pursuing the MIT EMBA, of course you’ll discuss your professional goals and objectives. Focus not only on what you want to do, but also why — your vision, what motivates this plan. Addressing “why now” should be part of this goals discussion. Finally, address how this program will help you realize your plans – note 2-3 specific attributes and components of the program and thoughtfully link them concretely to your needs. 

MIT EMBA application essays

Three essays are required. The two short-form essays, and one long-form essay will provide you with the opportunity to highlight recent experiences from your professional life.

MIT Executive MBA essay #1

Lasting impact can happen on large and small scales. Tell us about how you inspired your team, and what you learned about yourself as a leader, through a recent difficult time. (300 words or less)

The bulk of the essay will focus on action – your chosen story of leading/inspiring your team through difficulty to achieve a lasting impact. While the story should reflect MIT’s educational mission, don’t strain to find something that literally mirrors all the specific points (innovative, principled, generate ideas, advance management practice). Rather, your story can reflect the spirit of this mission. The key to making this a gripping, memorable essay is including a bit about your thought process as you narrate your actions – at a key point, why you made an important decision, etc. And note the word “recent” in the question – hence the experience should have occurred within the last couple of years.

MIT Executive MBA essay #2

MIT Sloan finds strength through diversity. We believe that a commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and well-being is a key component of both principled leadership and sound management practice. We seek to create a community that encompasses all dimensions of diversity and fosters excellence within MIT Sloan. This includes diversity of identity, thought, role, and perspective.

Please describe a time when you contributed toward making a work environment or organization more welcoming, inclusive, and diverse. (250 words or less)

Again, MIT seeks evidence that you take actions and have an impact that are consistent with its values. They are interested in learning how you implement change in what essentially is culture: diversity, inclusivity, welcoming – a potential pitfall here is to use “warm and fuzzy” verbiage; MIT is interested in concrete changes that make a real difference. You should cite actual outcomes as a result of your contributions. With only 250 words, keep it simple: focus on telling the story. Be sure to clarify your own actions and note your thinking at 1-2 key points. In selecting your example, keep in mind your topics for essays 1 and 3, to ensure that all together you are representing strategically meaningful aspects of your experience.

MIT Executive MBA essay #3

Please tell us about a time when you introduced an idea that changed the way in which your organization approached a business challenge or opportunity. What factors did you consider, what barriers or obstacles did you face, and how did you measure success? (500 words or less)

This question requires you to address both thought (idea) and action (introduced…). MIT Sloan seeks people who have strength in both areas – who have vision and can execute that vision.

A suggested approach is to draft it straightforwardly, as a story: start with your idea and what prompted it, and then narrate your action – how you introduced the idea, and how you implemented it. Conclude with the results, clarifying the change in approach to the opportunity or challenge, and how you measured the success.

There are 2 ways to address the last part of the question. Option A: As you narrate the story, include and “zoom in” on factors you considered and the barriers/obstacles you encountered in the process; make them part of the story. Option B: narrate the story, and then in a concluding paragraph discuss the factors you considered and the barriers/obstacles faced.

For expert guidance with your MIT Sloan EMBA application, check out Accepted’s MBA Application Packages, which include comprehensive guidance from an experienced admissions consultant. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to MIT Sloan’s EMBA program and look forward to helping you too!

MIT Executive MBA 2023 application deadlines

Source: MIT Sloan EMBA website

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Related Resources:

• Executive MBA Essays: How to Make an Impact [Sample Essay]
• MIT Sloan EMBA and Sloan Fellows Programs: Move from Success to Significance, a podcast episode
• EMBA: The Ultimate Guide for Applicants

The post MIT Sloan Executive MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines [2022 – 2023] appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.

Chicago Booth and Wharton (University of Pennsylvania) share the #1 spotlight in U.S. News’ Best Business Schools of 2023 rankings, released March 29.

The metrics for the rankings are based on career placement success, student excellence and qualitative assessments by experts. MBA rankings are studied voraciously by applicants, students, and alumni but remain controversial. 

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Notable changes this year

• Chicago Booth’s rise reflected improvements on several metrics: a class GMAT score up by six points to 730; an acceptance that fell by five points to 22.6%; a higher score by corporate recruiters that now matches Harvard and Wharton; and a spike in average salary and sign-on bonus for last year’s MBA grads of $7,300 to a record $180,144–the second-highest of any business school. (NYU Stern had the highest of all schools at $181,803.) Placement for the Class of 2021 jumped five points three months after graduation, at 96.4%. 
  
  
• Wharton’s acceptance rate dropped by 4.9 percentage points to 18.2% and their average GMAT score rose by one point. Wharton MBAs enjoyed a jump in average salary and signing bonuses by $6,600 to $179,692, the second-highest of all schools behind only Booth. Job placement three months after commencement moved up by 3.3 percentage points to 96.8%.
  
  
• Top-ranked schools continued to jostle for position, with some flagship programs rising and others falling. Stanford’s GSB dropped by three notches, tying with Kellogg (Northwestern) for #3. Harvard and MIT Sloan remain tied at #5–no change from last year. Yale University’s SOM notched its highest ranking ever at #7, with Columbia and Haas (UC Berkeley) nipping at its heels, sharing the #8 ranking. Yale’s rise stemmed from a six-point rise in its average GMAT score to 726; a drop of six percentage points on its acceptance rate to 23.6%; and a dramatic 8.8 percentage improvement on its placement rate three months after graduation to 94.1%.
  
  
• Harvard Business School’s fifth-place showing reflects a surprisingly low employment at graduation of 69.0%, lower than any other Top 10 school. Its placement rate three months after graduation was 92.3%, the second-lowest for a Top 10 program. And the average salary and bonus for Harvard’s MBAs last year was $172,774, lower than seven other U.S. business schools. Harvard lost out on other metrics as well, including a higher admit rate of 12.5%, up from 9.2% last year, and average GMAT and undergrad GPAs that were lower than many other competitors. 
  
  
• Ross (University of Michigan) ascended into the Top 10 from #13, while Tuck (Dartmouth College) dropped to #11. Stern (NYU) and Fuqua (Duke University) share the #12 spot. Many other programs in the top 25 leaped forward, including Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, rising five places to #21 and Mendoza College of Business (Notre Dame) gaining 11 places to rank 25th. 
  
  
• Outside the Top 25, Washington University’s Olin Business School in St. Louis rose seven spots to #29 and the University of South Carolina’s Moore School of Business rose eight positions to place #47.

While U.S. News had dropped standardized test scores from its online MBA ranking earlier this year, it kept the average class GMAT and GRE scores in its formula for the full-time program rankings. 

The rankings were based on a survey of all 493 institutions with master’s-level business programs in the U.S. accredited by AACSB International. A total of 363 survey recipients responded; the final rankings are based on 134 business schools that provided enough data on their full-time MBA programs and had large enough 2021 graduating classes seeking employment for valid comparisons. The rankings also include some programs conferring degrees such as Master of Science in Management and Master of Science in Industrial Administration.

U.S. News 2023 Top 10 Full-Time MBA Programs

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U.S. News 2023 Top 10 Part-Time MBA Programs

Hoping to start business school in 2023 at one of these top-ranked programs? Check out our MBA Admissions Consulting & Editing Services and work one-on-one with an expert consultant to create an application that will get you ACCEPTED!

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Related Resources:

• Do MBA Rankings Matter?
• Top 10 or Bust: Dispelling 2 MBA Myths
• Is an MBA Worth It, or Is the Sky Falling Down on the MBA Degree?
• Financial Times Ranks Wharton as #1
• M7 MBA Programs: Everything You Need to Know

The post U.S. News MBA Rankings 2023 [Full-Time & Part-Time] appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.

The Financial Times has released its global rankings of the best MBA programs and has considerably shuffled the deck. Several top-ranked programs fell several notches, while others rose considerably. For the first time since 2011, Wharton has returned to its status as #1 in FT’s list. 

Other programs that made giant strides in the rankings include Columbia Business School (ranked 8th in 2020), and Kellogg (Northwestern), now #5 (11th place in 2020). One reason for such huge fluctuations was that five of the top U.S. programs (Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, MIT, and Columbia) were not listed at all last year at all, skewing that year’s results. 

Other highly rated programs that suffered serious tumbles in the rankings include London Business School, Tuck (Dartmouth), and UVA Darden. In fact, 69 of the 91 schools ranked fell in the rankings, many of them by double digits.  

Compared with last year, many of these schools’ rankings looked like riders on a roller coaster, with some plunging far below and others rising by as much as 20 points to unprecedented heights. 

As we have cautioned before, it’s vital to keep these rankings in perspective. They are based on many variables that have little or nothing to do with the quality of the curricula per se.

Do you see yourself in one of these top programs? Find out how working one-on-one with one of our Admissions Consultants can help get you ACCEPTED!

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Related Resources:

• Top 10 or Bust: Dispelling 2 MBA Myths
• Top MBA Programs Get STEM-Certified to Attract Int’l Students
• B-School Selectivity Index: Discover the Schools Where You are a Competitive Applicant

The post Financial Times Ranks Wharton as #1 in 2022 Rankings appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.

Looking for the best possible admissions advice?

How about admissions advice from the admission committee members themselves?

Linda Abraham, founder of Accepted and host of the Admissions Straight Talk Podcast has a collection of highly enlightening interviews with directors of admissions and adcom members of top business schools!

Listen in as Linda asks her adcom guests pointed and to-the-point questions about the schools, the admissions process, how to get in, and…how to get rejected.

Listen, enjoy, and apply successfully!

For a varied menu of thought-provoking and informative conversations with business leaders, entrepreneurs, MBA students, and more, check out the Admissions Straight Talk Podcast:

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The post From the Mouths of MBA Adcom Members: How to Get Accepted appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.

Most grad students take out student loans to finance their higher education and can end up saddled with debt running into hundreds of thousands of dollars by the time they graduate. According to a Wall Street Journal analysis of federal student loan data for nearly 600 programs, graduates of approximately 98% of universities that offer MBA programs usually made more money two years after graduation than they had borrowed. Contrast this with law schools, where approximately 6% of programs had grads with higher median salaries than debt for the same time period.

There are many reasons that students pursue an MBA – the promise of a significantly higher salary, the ability to enter a new industry, or the pursuit of an executive track to name a few. However, the high cost of getting an MBA, which can range from $100,000 to $250,000 or more after living expenses are added to tuition and fees, can be enough to change many potential students’ minds. Despite the relatively low-interest federal loans available to grad students, the amount that students can borrow is fixed at $41,000, leaving some students with no choice but to take out additional higher-interest (but unlimited) Grad Plus loans. So it is encouraging to potential MBA applicants to see that what has long been thought of as a “no-brainer investment” does essentially pay off.

However, there are other factors which skew the data somewhat. There have been efforts to diversify the applicant pool for business schools, yet a significant proportion of MBA applicants still enter programs with professional experience, often in finance or other high-earning industries, thereby accelerating their career paths and making the post-MBA cohort a financially healthy group. Moreover, the data in the Wall Street Journal’s analysis reflects federal government loan programs and does not include private loans.

Not everyone who graduates with an MBA sees significant increases in salary. According to Paulo Goes, dean of Tulane business school, 2020 grads have had an especially difficult time since a lot of companies stopped recruiting MBA graduates during the pandemic. The impact of this slow-down is seen in graduates’ placements and salaries.

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For-profit business schools had a lower rate of students who repaid their loans after two years. Strayer University in Washington, DC had 2% of students fully repay their loans during the two-year period following graduation, with about 33% asking to temporarily stop payments. Strayer students borrowed a median of $74,000, but half of the grads earned less than $57,000 two years post-graduation.

Approximately a dozen other business schools revealed median debt loads that were greater than grads’ median salaries. Several schools stated that this is because students attended their expensive dual-degree programs. Roseman University of Health Sciences reported the highest debt to earnings of any program, with students borrowing a median of $172,000.

Even so, there is much to be gleaned from the data that would make an MBA worth the time and investment. Analysis shows that at several elite programs, including Harvard Business School and the Stanford Graduate School of Business, the median starting salary after graduation permitted more than half of grads to pay off their federal student loan debt within two years. 

Interestingly, some of the most expensive MBA programs had some of the lowest debt load. Graduates of Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business borrowed a median of $41,000 in federal loans without turning to more expensive Grad Plus loans. Harvard Business School graduates had a median of $41,000 in debt, and median salaries of about $172,000. According to Chad Losee, Harvard’s managing director of MBA admissions, approximately 56% of the class of 2020 graduated with some debt, averaging $79,000 in combined federal and private loans. 

As Poets & Quants points out in its analysis of the Journal’s article, earnings are a reflection of the graduate’s chosen industry and the job’s location. Harvard reported a record pay year with 7% of the latest class taking positions in hedge funds and investment management jobs. The median total compensation for last year’s grads was $203,307, including a median salary of $152,682, sign-on bonuses of $27,500 reported by 54% of grads, and $132,500 in other guaranteed compensation reported by 27% of grads.

It is also worth noting that business schools have been increasing the number of scholarships they award to students over the last decade. Harvard distributes scholarships to defray the cost of its MBA program, distributing $40 million in fellowships to its MBA students last year. Approximately half of the enrolled students received scholarships averaging more than $42,000 per student in fiscal 2020.

P&Q top 10 business schools debt-income ratio

There seems to be much reassurance in the data that an MBA from a top school will indeed open doors to a lucrative career and allow one to pay off debts sooner than other programs.

Are you considering an MBA to maximize your earning potential? The stats show that the investment is worth it, but it takes an outstanding application to impress the elite schools. Our experienced MBA admissions consultants work with you one-on-one, throughout the process, to help you get ACCEPTED!

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Related Resources:

• Is an MBA Worth It, or Is the Sky Falling Down on the MBA Degree?, a podcast episode
• Top MBA Application Essays: How to Answer Them Right
• Top 10 or Bust: Dispelling 2 MBA Myths

The post MBA Students Pay Off Student Loans Faster Than Other Grad Degrees appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.

One of the key pieces of an MBA application is the letter of recommendation. This letter, usually written by managers, gives the admissions committee an insightful perspective on the MBA candidate. However, since each program has their own unique form, and candidates are often hesitant to ask managers to fill out multiple recommendations, applicants often limit the number of programs to which they apply. Recommenders frequently cannot dedicate enough time to such letters, resulting in less thorough and perceptive recommendations.  

According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the Common Letter of Recommendation was born out of the need to save recommenders and alumni time by enabling them to complete one, common, set of questions. Since the questions stay embedded in each school’s existing application system, few major changes are necessary. The Common LOR was developed by a group of leading business schools in conjunction with GMAC. These programs are leading the way, with the support of GMAC, to collaborate, collect information from industry professionals, and collate information from candidates worldwide.   

Benefits of the Common LOR 

• Delivers deeper understanding of candidates by applying the best practices from top programs and using the most up-to-date science in executive assessment 

• Allows for a wider diversity of prospective students and a greater number of applicants by enabling them to ask for multiple LORs. 

• Reduces recommenders’ time demands so they can devote more consideration to crafting a thoughtful and attuned letter. 

Common LOR sections 

The Common LOR is comprised of the following four sections: 

1. Personal Information About the Recommender 

2. Leadership Assessment Grid: Made up of 12 competencies and character traits that lead to successful leadership. They are divided into these five groups: 

• Achievement 
  
  
• Influence 
  
  
• People 
  
  
• Personal Qualities 
  

• Cognitive Abilities 

3.  Recommendation Questions (Open-Ended Questions for Recommenders) 

• Please provide a brief description of your interaction with the applicant, and, if applicable, the applicant’s role in your organization. 
  
  
• How does the performance of the applicant compare to that of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? (e.g., what are the applicant’s principal strengths?). 
  

• Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. 
  
  
• Is there anything else we should know? (Optional) 

Schools currently using the Common LOR form 

The widespread uptake of the common LOR is due in part to the longstanding lobbying of admissions professionals. Anna Ivey, former president of the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants (AIGAC), welcomed the development of more schools embracing the shared LOR model: “Applicants have for years found themselves in quite a pickle because they have had to dump so much work on their recommenders. In some cases, their recommenders have had to write more words than the applicants do in their essays. That has created all kinds of distortions, despite good intentions. 

“Any convergence around common recommendation questions not only makes the application process easier for applicants and their recommenders, but also helps preserve the integrity of those recommendations and the application process. Cutting down on the duplication and extra work for recommenders will make it more likely that recommenders write their letters themselves, and that’s a great outcome.” 

We can help you take advantage of the common LOR to get the most from your recommenders and supercharge your application. Our experienced consultants also work with recommenders to provide guidance in crafting compelling letters that will set you on the road to getting ACCEPTED! 

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Related Resources:

• Navigate the MBA Maze, a free guide
• MBA Recommendation Letters: 10 Tips for Writing them Right
• Ingredients of a Great MBA Letter of Recommendation

The post The MBA Common Letter of Recommendation (LOR): An Overview appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.

The U.S. News 2023 ranking is now live! Click here to check it out >>

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U.S. News has just released its 2022 rankings of the best full-time and part-time MBA programs. The rankings are based on surveys sent out to the 486 business schools with master’s-level business programs in the US, accredited by AACSB International. 

According to Poets & Quants, unlike the Economist and the Financial Times, only the U.S. News list ranks all the major U.S. business schools. All the M7 business schools opted out of the Economist’s ranking, and five of the M7 chose not to participate in the Financial Times ranking. 

Of the 486 business schools that received surveys, 364 replied, and 143 supplied sufficient data and had large enough 2020 graduating classes looking for employment for valid comparisons. Schools were ranked in eight areas. The data collected was standardized in order to compare them with the mean and standard deviations of other schools. U.S. News weighted and added the indicator standardized scores (z-scores) and gave the top school a score of 100. The remaining schools received a percentage of the highest score. The final ranking is in descending order based on these scores. MBA specialties were also ranked again this year.

[Read: Do MBA Rankings Matter?]

Highlights of the 2022 MBA Ranking

These were some of the significant changes in the full-time MBA rankings: 

• Stanford University and University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) retained their first and second place rankings this year. Stanford was able to do this despite dropping in four of the specialty MBA rankings. 
  

• Harvard Business School crept up to fifth place from last year’s sixth, which was its lowest position ever in the U.S. News ranking. 
  

• Dartmouth College (Tuck) advanced two spots and unseated New York University (Stern) to take the number ten spot.
  

Part-time business school rankings also showed some movement:

• University of Chicago (Booth), University of California, Berkeley (Haas), and Northwestern University (Kellogg) maintained their leading spots in the top three positions. 
  

• Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper) (eighth last year) and University of Texas, Austin (McCombs) (seventh last year) exchanged places and share the seventh spot.
  

• Indiana University (Kelley) is a newcomer to the top ten this year, taking the spot from Emory University (Goizueta).

U.S. News 2022 Top 10 Full-Time MBA Programs

U.S. News 2022 Top 10 Part-Time MBA Programs

Hoping to start business school in 2022 at one of these top-ranked programs? Check out our MBA Admissions Consulting & Editing Services and work one-on-one with an expert consultant to create an application that will get you ACCEPTED!

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Related Resources:

• The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Competitive MBA Applicant, a free guide
• Business School Selectivity Index [Can I Get Into My Dream School?]
• Do MBA Rankings Matter?

The post U.S. News MBA Rankings 2022 [Full-Time & Part-Time] appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.

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Need-to-know information about MIT Sloan [Show summary]

Dawna Levenson, Assistant Dean of Admissions at MIT Sloan School of Management, shares the latest from the school’s full-time MBA program, including why it’s chosen to go test-optional and how the pandemic is shaping the classroom experience.

Do you see yourself at MIT Sloan? Read on for the inside admissions scoop. [Show notes]

This is one of the most competitive MBA application cycles in memory. Today, I’m interviewing the Assistant Dean of Admissions at one of the most competitive MBA programs, MIT Sloan.

Dawna Levenson is Assistant Dean at MIT Sloan School of Management. Dawna earned her bachelor’s and master’s in Management Science at MIT Sloan, became a partner at Accenture, and then returned to MIT Sloan in 2007 as Associate Director of Academic Programs. She moved into admissions in 2012 and became Director of Admissions in 2013, and Assistant Dean in 2018.

Can you give an overview of MIT Sloan’s full-time MBA program for those listeners who aren’t that familiar with it? [1:52]

We have a two-year MBA, we have a one-semester core, and then three semesters to really shape the curriculum to meet your interests. We have three tracks. We have one in finance, one in entrepreneurship and innovation, and a third in enterprise management. Think of those as templates or maps for particular areas of concentration. We also have three certificates: one in business analytics, one in healthcare, and a third in sustainability. These have been designed so that people are able to actually do one of each, if they’re interested. You could imagine that you may do the finance track, but then want to apply it to healthcare.

One other distinction I want to make is that, while the tracks are very specific to our two-year MBAs, the certificates are actually open to not only our MBAs and the entire Sloan community, but actually the entire MIT community. We are, in fact, MIT School of Management. That can mean as much as you want it to mean. As an MBA student, you are able to get involved in classes and clubs and conferences throughout the Institute to really help compliment your MBA experience. You can take some of your electives throughout the Institute. You can actually, also, take classes at several of the Harvard schools as well.

What’s new at MIT Sloan, other than a lockdown and a pandemic? [3:18]

It’s hard to ignore the pandemic, and we absolutely should not. What I think has come out of that is lots of really interesting conversations in the classroom, as well as lots of very interesting projects. Many of our courses, which are, in fact, project-based, have taken the opportunity to refocus on different aspects of the pandemic and COVID-19. Whether it be from a healthcare standpoint or whether it be infrastructure and the impact there, or if you just think about it from a global perspective, so many things have been impacted. This has really, I think, shifted the conversation an awful lot. And again, at MIT and MIT Sloan, we’re really all about identifying and solving the world’s biggest problems. There were those who said we’ve been built for this time. I think we’re trying to do everything we can to really make a difference.

Can you give a couple of examples? [4:20]

Last spring, when the pandemic hit, one of our courses is called USA Lab. And for that lab class, all of the projects, which had been defined very differently early on, shifted focus to be very much focused on helping the companies that we’re working with figure out how to survive through the pandemic. This fall, all of our action learning lab classes have become virtual, which has become very, very helpful to their sponsoring companies all over the world. Because as I mentioned, companies have been impacted tremendously. As part of the actual learning experience in the past, there’s been a travel component tied to that that has been funded by the company. To the extent that the company itself is struggling a bit to still get the knowledge and expertise of our students, to not have to worry about that has actually been quite a relief for many of these companies, a welcome change.

How have pandemic restrictions affected the MBA experience and program at MIT Sloan? [5:25]

Let’s start with last fall. I think it’s important to note, and we’re not alone in this, but really the number one constraint that helps to define and shape the experience is the number of people who can physically be in a room at any point in time, and that is state of Massachusetts regulations. This past fall, that was 25 people. That includes a faculty member, a teaching assistant, an AV assistant, and therefore, 22 students. Understanding that, we opened the campus in the fall to any students who wanted to come on campus, anyone who was able to get there from around the globe was able to come. The number of in-person classes they had though was very much driven by what I was just describing here.

In the simplest of terms, many classes are a Monday, Wednesday class. We would have a group of students in the classroom on Monday and also a second group of students being virtual. And then on Wednesday, we would have a different group of 22 students in the classroom. Now, the number of those who could be online would vary very much actually by faculty, and what they were willing to do, because they could, in fact, have students who were only online. This isn’t necessarily for your first year core experience, but just in general, you could actually register for a class either in person, which would put you in one of those one-day/ 22 student classes, or online only. Many of our faculty were really generous with what those numbers would look like.

The spring, from an academic standpoint, is going to be very similar. What I think we need to figure out how to continue to do better is all of the co-curricular activities. They also were all virtual, and we’re hoping that this spring we’ll be able to have some of those in-person, following similar guidelines with regard to the number of people who could potentially be in the room. But students, all of our students, really crave in-person experience and being together, and so we’re trying to think of creative ways to be able to address that.

What don’t people know about MIT Sloan that you would like them to know, or what is a common misconception about MIT Sloan that you’d like to get rid of? [7:49]

I often think perhaps the caliber and quality of our finance ecosystem gets overlooked. I know that when people are thinking of applying to business school to pursue a career in finance, we may not be at the top of their list. I think people are pleasantly surprised when they arrive and see the outstanding faculty we have, the ecosystem that we’ve built around courses and clubs and competitions in the field of finance. I think that’s actually a bit of a surprise to people.

How can prospective students engage with the Sloan community if you and your students can’t go to them and can’t get together with them? [8:45]

We have migrated to a 100% virtual recruiting engine, which includes a variety of different events. Quite frankly, some are actually more effective and have a wider reach than in the past when we did travel. There are some benefits and definitely some lessons learned here. We host traditional info sessions online. We have a faculty lecture series that we’re continuing to add to, where we have faculty speaking. You can either watch the original, or we have it recorded, and you can watch the faculty recordings. We’re doing a tremendous number of coffee chats, which is a much smaller group of people, maybe 15 or 20, with someone from admissions and potentially a student or an alum to engage in conversations like you and I are having right now. Those have seemed to be very, very effective.

Sloan has a fairly distinctive MBA application with lots of different components. Can you go through the purpose of these different elements? [9:53]

We completely understand that in the application, you’re not going to tell us everything there is to know about you, but you’re going to tell us enough for us to want to know more. You’re going to give us enough information for us to have a good sense of whether or not you are, from a capability standpoint, capable of doing the work. If you think about the cover letter, the resume and the video together, I think of that as a package to tell your story. The resume is your work history. The video is who you are personally. What gets you up in the morning? What excites you? And the cover letter is really meant to tie it all together. Why MIT Sloan? Think of those three things together, and look at those three items together.

The one required letter of recommendation is, quite frankly, our desire that if you’re only asking one person for a letter of recommendation, you’re going to spend the time really thinking about who that person might be, and you’re going to invest the time sitting down with him or her explaining what your interests are. We want to get from them a meaningful letter of recommendation.

The two references are, to the extent that we have additional questions that we may want to find out or ask about you, for if we have other people for whom we can call and contact. And it would never be a cold call. People worry about that. We would obviously email them and ask them if we could speak with them at a mutually convenient time. It’s important to let your references know about it, but I think manage their expectations in terms of how we might or might not get in touch with them.

The org chart, truth be told, we’ve actually borrowed from our Sloan Fellows MBA program, which is a program for more senior individuals. It helps give us a visual around where you stand within the organization. It is not meant to be a traditional org chart. It is not meant to be, if you work for a large company, the org chart that sits on their website. It’s almost like a relationship map. Put yourself in the middle of the page, and then, to whom do you report? Who reports to you? With whom do you interact? It helps give us a better sense of that.

We have two pre-interview questions this year, and the first one is around the mission of the school, which is to develop principled and innovative leaders who can improve the world, and to advance management practices along the way. An important element of that is to create a diverse environment, and so we’re asking you to share with us a time when you contributed to the diversity of an organization or a group.

The second essay is asking you to submit a one-page data visualization, either one that you’ve seen that has attracted your eye and your attention or one that you have created on your own to share it with us. And then in the interview, it’s actually a great icebreaker, we ask you to tell us, why did you pick this? Why is it important to you? And what do you want to make sure I get out of this? It really helps us in assessing your overall communication skills. Again, what is important to you? Depending on what you choose, it’s a really nice icebreaker.

What do you think is the most common applicant mistake that you see? [13:55]

I think an applicant’s mistake is not following directions. We ask for one letter of recommendation, and you send us 10. We have word limits on the cover letter, and it’s three times that. If it’s five words over, that’s fine. If it’s 500 words over it, that’s a bit of a flag, so really pay attention. I also think, perhaps, not thinking through the recommender carefully enough in picking somebody. We are not assessing the recommender; we are assessing the applicant. Therefore, we, quite frankly, don’t care about the recommender’s title. If you have bumped into the CEO of your company in an elevator once and think that you’re comfortable now asking him or her to write your recommendation, but they really can’t say much about the impact you have made, then that is a waste of a recommendation. What we want for recommendations is really somebody who can speak to the impact that you have made on an organization or a group or a team of people.

The other mistake that people make is not about applicants; it’s about people who choose not to apply, who feel that you don’t have a chance of getting in, and it could be for one single reason that you just think is a hurdle that you cannot overcome. What I would really like to say to people is give it a shot. You never know. There’s a lot of misconceptions out there, I think, across the MBA landscape, if certain things will outweigh others. A perfect example might be a GMAT score. Everybody wants to put their best foot forward. I completely understand that. But I think that you should not let one specific attribute or element about yourself discourage you from applying.

In light of the pandemic and the crazy end to last year’s admission cycle, are you reading applications with a slightly different perspective, looking or weighing certain attributes more or less than you did before the pandemic? [16:20]

Where that probably comes into play the most is around people’s work history, and the fact that we completely understand that many people may have been laid off early on, especially during the pandemic, and the challenges with finding another job. We are very understanding of that. I think it’s interesting to see how people have chosen to spend their time, if, in fact, it’s not in a traditional job. There’s definitely data. But again, I don’t think people should suddenly feel like they’re a knockout if they’ve been impacted by the pandemic from a work history standpoint.

One of the biggest pieces of news, which we’ve kind of danced around, is that MIT is test-optional this year. Are you missing the test score as you evaluate some applicants? Do you plan to continue with test optional? [17:16]

The honest answer is, it’s too soon to tell. I can tell you that a large percentage of people still submitted a test score, whether that be GMAT or GRE. I can tell you that we modified our application to make it very easy and to encourage people to share additional information with us that would help assess their ability to be successful in a Sloan classroom, whether that might be a CFA certification or online classes that they have taken, or other certifications that they’ve done. That’s been very, very helpful for us. I think we’ve just sort of fully completed round one. Deposits were due this week, and we’re now in the process of reading round two and identifying who to interview. We don’t feel like we’re at a disadvantage because everybody does not necessarily have a test score.

Can you touch on MIT Sloan’s Early Admission program? Whom is it for, and how can one get in? [18:21]

We are in our third year of this cycle. MBA Early Admission is targeted at undergrads and grad students who have not yet worked full-time. So, if you’ve been in a situation where you’ve pursued your undergrad and then went immediately onto graduate school, you are eligible, as long as you haven’t had full-time work experience. For MIT students who may be listening, there’s actually an MIT application deadline in November. For all non-MIT students, that application deadline is in the spring; it’s sometime early April. It’s for the most part, very comparable to the actual MBA application itself, because we’re looking to assess very similar qualities. It does include an interview. If admitted, we asked for a pretty small deposit of $750 dollars, and you then have two to five years to actually matriculate. You can go off into the world work, and we will reach out to you every year and say, is next year the time? We do it in round one, so we have a good sense of how many people will be doing it, to let us know how many seats we have available. For people who are college seniors who think that an MBA is in their future, it is really a great thing to do to apply now. Just to have that security, to know that you actually have a seat in an MBA class when the time is right for you.

READ: No Work Experience. Want MBA. What Should You Do? >>

Approximately how many people have these acceptances per year? [19:58]

It’s just too soon to tell. We are again in year three. If I was 10 years out or even five years, I might be more comfortable sharing. It’s just too new for us. This fall, 11 people have expressed their plans to matriculate. I think what’s important to note is that this is a separate channel to be admitted to the MBA program. Once you actually matriculate, in that year, you’re just an MBA student. There’s not a separate track for MBA Early and there’s not special programming or anything. You don’t wear a big label that says “I was admitted MBA Early.” You are part of the MBA class, who happened to have been admitted through a slightly different channel.

Are there any requirements in terms of what they have to do in the two to five years? [20:51]

Ideally, people are working professionally and gaining experience that would be relevant in the MBA classroom. That could perhaps be your own venture. It could be working for a traditional firm. We have a process set up by which, when you express your interests, we have a conversation to make sure that we agree that this is the right time for you. So it’s pretty loose.

Applicants have expressed the following concerns about applying this year. They’re concerned about, A, graduating into a weak economy, or B, applying when deferrals may have shrunk the number of available seats and when there’s been a spike in applications. How would you address those two concerns? [21:22]

I think people shouldn’t overthink this. I think if this is the right time for you to apply for personal reasons and professional reasons, you should go for it, and you should apply, and you should put your best application forward. We are a school who welcomes reapplicants. We don’t necessarily hold that against you at all. In fact, we think that’s a sign of persistence, which we like. To the extent that you apply and you don’t necessarily get in this year, and you apply again next year, you’re more familiar with the process and you can build on the experience that you had. I’m not saying that everything you described is not true, because yes, application volumes have increased. And yes, the number of people who requested a deferral last year was significantly more than previous years. But also, again, don’t overthink this. Not everybody who requested a deferral last year is, in fact, matriculating this year.

Sloan’s round three deadline for a September 21, 2021 matriculation is April 12. Is there a difference in the way you evaluate a round three application from a round one and a round two application? Do you have any last minute tips for applicants applying in round three? [22:59]

We don’t assess people any differently. The reality is we have much fewer seats to fill by the time we get to round three. But in terms of the qualities that we’re looking for, it’s all the same. A lot of people who apply in round three are perhaps people who an MBA was not on their radar necessarily, or they were going to think about applying next year, and then something happened that accelerated that process. The caliber of people apply in round three, I don’t think there’s a huge differential there either. I think it’s all very legitimate experiences and reasons for doing so. Put your best application forward, and again, if you don’t get in this year, you can reapply next year.

What advice would you give to someone thinking ahead to a round one or a round two an application in fall 2021, planning to matriculate in 2022? [24:00]

To the extent that you’re now thinking about applying next year, apply as early as you possibly can. The reason is not because we have quotas; it’s because we don’t have quotas. It’s not like we say, “We’re going to admit half the class in round one, and 25% in round two, and 25% in round three.” At any point in time, we are looking to admit the best qualified people for our program. Then, depending on what the acceptance rate is in terms of them accepting our offer, I guarantee you, we will have less seats in the next round. 

In addition, if you apply in round one and you’re waitlisted, you will be considered as part of the round two pool, not after the round two pools. If you apply in round one and for some reason you don’t get in and you get waitlisted, you have a very good chance of being seriously considered in round two.

Is there anything you would have liked me to ask you? [25:10]

“Is now the right time to pursue an MBA?” Because a lot of people will ask that, and I think I probably covered bits and pieces of it as we were chatting, but maybe to just bring it all together: A lot has happened in the world in the last year. A lot of things have to be fixed as a result of this. I think pursuing an MBA now, the discussions that are happening in the MBA classroom, the opportunities that will be available to people once they complete… The world needs principled, innovative leaders now more than ever. To pursue your MBA now, all other things lining up, I think is a perfect time.

Where can listeners and potential applicants learn more about MIT’s full-time MBA program?

Go online to sloan.mit.edu.

Related links:

• MIT Sloan’s website
• MIT Sloan MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2020-2021]
• MIT Sloan Class Profile
• Ask Me Anything With Dawna Levenson, Assistant Dean of Admissions at MIT Sloan, an on-demand session

Related show:

• What Post-MBA Life Is Like, During COVID and Beyond
• Application Trends to Watch in 2021, and a Look Back at 2020
• How to Address COVID-19 and the Events of 2020 in Your Application
• MBA Life at UC Berkeley Haas, From Its New Executive Director of Admissions
• What MBA Students Can Expect at UCLA Anderson
• What Prospective MBAs Should Know About Applying to Michigan Ross

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The post What’s New at MIT Sloan’s Competitive Full-Time MBA [Episode 409] appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.

An invitation to an MBA interview is an achievement and cause for celebration, but the interview itself can be a daunting prospect – if you are not properly prepared. Make the most of this opportunity by following our tips for a successful interview.

1. Preparation is everything

While you may not have control over the questions you’re asked, you can prepare a set of flexible responses that you can apply to commonly asked questions. You should be able to discuss the following:

1. A walk through your resume (focus on what you accomplished and learned at each job, and why you transitioned to the next position)
   
   
2. The reasons you chose your undergraduate school
   
   
3. An example of an extraordinary achievement in the context of your job
   
   
4. An example of how you influenced stakeholders to bring an idea to fruition
   
   
5. An example of when you led a team to produce quantifiable results
   
   
6. An example of when you failed and what you learned from that failure
   
   
7. Your career goals and future ambitions
   
   
8. The top reasons you want an MBA (make it school specific, explaining why the school is ideal for you, and what unique qualities you would bring to the school)

2. Structure your stories

Frame your answers to tell a story. If you follow a clear structure you can ensure you don’t leave out vital information while simultaneously displaying an organized mind and confident communication. I suggest loosely following the S-O-A-R framework: Situation-Objective-Action-Result. (I also suggest adding one more letter to the acronym: L for “Learned”.)

• SITUATION: Give background and context to the situation such as where you were working, what your role was, and who were the stakeholders involved. Be succinct, yet specific.
  
  
• OBJECTIVE: Describe what your goal was, and any obstacles that complicated the situation.
  
  
• ACTION: Discuss how you proceeded toward your goal, and how you overcame an obstacles.
  
  
• RESULT: Quantify the impact that you had on the situation.
  
  
• LEARNED: Tell the interviewer what you learned about yourself, leadership, or business from the experience.

Your response should take no more than about 2–3 minutes. You don’t want to bore the interviewer with a lot of unnecessary information. Once you’ve got your top stories down, when you’re on the spot you’ll have a reservoir from which to draw that will be easily adaptable to the interviewer’s questions.

3. Practice, Practice, Practice

Practice is the key to successful preparation. Make sure you find at least two people with whom you can sound out your answers. A close friend or family member is often more willing to put in the time but may be less objective when it comes to constructive criticism. An acquaintance, colleague, or teacher can give you good feedback on your first impression or body language without the hindrance of knowing you too well but may be less inclined to be negative than someone who loves you faults and all. Because of this it’s important to find a variety of practice partners to work with. More practice means you are better prepared, and you do want to practice – a lot – however, you don’t want to end up sounding over-rehearsed and unnatural. No memorized, robotic answers allowed!

We recommend setting up a mock interview or interview coaching from an Accepted professional to help you strike the right balance.

4. Stay relevant

Let’s say they ask you what accomplishment you are most proud of. In your heart of hearts, it might have been working two jobs to put yourself through university. Now that is quite an accomplishment. But if it was more than say, three years ago, you need to pull from something more recent. You don’t want the interviewer to think your best days are far behind you.

If it truly was a significant achievement from your past, you can use it. But bring that accomplishment into the present by explaining how it influences your values or interests right now. Show progress from past to present and how you are building on it for the future.

Keep your answers relevant to place as well as time. Customising your examples to show connection to a particular school will help you connect to the adcom on a personal level and show them why you are an ideal candidate for their program. Pick up on any relatable aspects of the course curriculum, school values, or alumni community and showcase them in your answers.

5. Hit the right tone

Remember the adcom is trying to imagine you fitting in with future alumni. You want to communicate your fit in the way you present yourself, including body language, the way you speak, and even what you wear.

This is a conversation between humans so be natural and at ease. Don’t list off your academic results like a machine– all that information is on your transcript. The interview is your chance to show who you are as a human being, not a set of grades or publications. Focus instead on your accomplishments in the real world, collaborating with others, and working as a team.

Don’t be argumentative or object to a line of questioning. Stay friendly, open, and communicative – the sort of person one would want to have a conversation with again in the future. Try to match your interview style to the culture and tone of the school and your chosen course. Some schools are more informal, some more conservative. Researching your school is part of good preparation and can help you decide which is the right program for you. Once you know that you can show the adcom why you are right for them.

6. Roll with it

Some schools like MIT and Harvard grant non-blind interviews. That means the interviewers have full access to your resume, essays, and letters of recommendation, though to what extent they’ve reviewed them is variable. Your interviewer could be an experienced senior member of the admission committee or a new member of the team. Many schools rely on alumni or current students to gauge the compatibility of applicants, and they typically only see your resume. For this reason it is extremely helpful to prepare for different styles of interviews so you can feel comfortable and self assured in each situation. 

Sometimes an interviewer may throw a surprise question into the mix, just to see how you handle pressure. That curve-ball question is a great opportunity for you to prove your worth under fire. Keep calm and draw on that reservoir of prepared examples – the right preparation means you will have something relevant in the bank.

They will also want to know how you deal with problems and failures. Take the time to go over your resume (or have an objective person check it) for any discrepancies, holes in your work history, or problematic areas that the interviewer may pick up on so that you don’t feel blindsided. And if they do ask, embrace it! This is your chance to demonstrate your resilience in the face of obstacles, your ability to learn from mistakes, and your talent in converting adversity to accomplishment.

Be honest – don’t try to fudge things to make yourself look better. You can admit when something went wrong but make sure you show how you grew from the experience and what you were motivated to do as a result.

7. Group interviews

Some business schools, such as Wharton and Ross, require group interviews so they can easily identify the leaders and team-players. This is a framework that merits its own preparation as the dynamics can be more unpredictable. You don’t know what sort of people will make up the group or what task you will be asked to perform. Signing up with an interview prep service is the perfect way to make sure you are ready to think on your feet and deal with a high-pressure situation. How do you show natural leadership qualities without steamrolling the other applicants? Allow space for a team effort without being a pushover or shrinking violet? Can you collaborate easily within a team, making your voice heard but not alienating your teammates? Compete with other alpha candidates without becoming dictatorial? These are all skills that can be developed, practiced, and achieved with the right preparation.

The interview process gives you the scope to express who you really are, to jump off the page of your application and present yourself as a three-dimensional future MBA graduate. A successful interview is within your grasp if you put in the groundwork and take advantage of the fantastic resources available.

Our expert admissions consultants will work with you one-on-one to help you prepare for your interview. Check out our MBA Services Packages, including mock interviews, interview prep, and admission guides and get on the road to being ACCEPTED!

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Related Resources:

• Perfect Answers to MBA Interview Questions, a free guide
• 9 Tips for Team Interviews
• Preparing to Answer Your MBA Interview Questions

The post Seven Tips for MBA Interview Prep appeared first on Accepted Admissions Blog.