As you can see the changes are somewhere between slight and miniscule.  Larger jumps and changes occurred outside the top 10, but the statistical significance of these changes becomes questionable due to fewer responses farther down the list.

And how “reliable” are these rankings? Wait a bit. We’ll be writing more on that.

By Linda Abraham, president and founder of Accepted.com and co-author of the new, definitive book on MBA admissions, MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools.

Consortium students at CMU Tepper

Thank you for attending our recent Consortium Strategy Q&As with Travis McAllister and the reps from participating Consortium schools UT McCombs, University of Wisconsin, UC Berkeley Haas, Yale SOM, Michigan Ross, CMU Tepper, Indiana Kelley, and Rochester Simon. The school adcom representatives each talked about what’s new at their schools and how their programs view Consortium applicants.

Here’s an excerpt that covers some info on Consortium member perks:

Linda Abraham: Maria asks is, “What is the most valuable aspect of being a member of the Consortium?”

Robyn Winstanley: One of the most beneficial aspects is that it does allow you the opportunity to create a whole additional funnel of corporate sponsors and relationships that you can develop for your future career goals. So within each business school that you ultimately choose to attend, of course you can work through the Career Management Center and then networking opportunities available through the alums of that particular business schools, but being part of the Consortium will also provide you an additional set of organizations that can be very useful to you, depending on what your future career goals are….

Obviously another large benefit is financially. We certainly encourage all students who believe that they can fulfill the values and mission of the Consortium absolutely to apply, as we’ve already mentioned the ability to receive a full-tuition fellowship….So a combination of both networking opportunities and the financial advantages are the two key things that I personally would highlight.

Jim Holmen: [R]emember that the Consortium has been around nearly 45 years. So when you join any Consortium member school, you become a member of their family of alums, but you are also part of the family of the Consortium alumni from all the member schools, and that significantly increases the pool of candidates that will be a part of your network of friends and colleagues.

Linwood Harris: I wanted to add the fabulous experience that students will actually gain by attending the Orientation program….You will get an opportunity to set your future career path on fire. And it’s a great way to connect with 300-400 students who are actually in the same shoes as you are, coming into this incoming class….Many of the students who actually come to campus in the fall, by attending that orientation program, they’ve already received some interviews and some great offers for internship before they even step foot into any class because of their relationship of being involved in the Consortium.

For the entire conversation, please view the transcript or listen to the audio file on our website. (This excerpt is from the second Consortium Q&A event we held. Here’s the link to the first.) You can also read up on Consortium-related news and advice by visiting the Consortium Zone.

To automatically receive notices about these MBA admissions chats and other MBA admissions events, please subscribe to our MBA event list. To listen to the Q&A recordings on-the-go, please subscribe to the Accepted Admissions Podcast.

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Look no further – the MBA book of all books is here, MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools, written by Accepted.com founder, Linda Abraham, and editor Judy Gruen. And now, for a very limited time only (Monday, Dec. 5 – Tuesday, Dec. 6) you can purchase this must-have book for $10 OFF the cover price by using coupon code SMARTIES at checkout. That’s almost 2/3 off the list price!

In MBA Admission for Smarties you will learn how to:

• Determine “fit” with a program.
• Establish your post-MBA goals and present them in a compelling goals essay.
• Write dazzling, memorable application essays.
• Secure winning letters of recommendation.
• Optimize your MBA application resume.

…and much, much more!

So what are you waiting for?

Be smart. Buy MBA Admission for Smarties now!

(Non-U.S. residents should buy MBA Admission for Smarties from Amazon.com where international shipping is available. Sorry – no coupon available to ship outside the U.S.)

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best

Here is some helpful advice for career changers from the Yale SOM Q&A:

Linda Abraham: The next few questions are about career change: “How does Yale view career switchers? Does Yale provide opportunities to make that transition? Does it have a wide alumni network in high tech?”

Bruce DelMonico: I’ll talk a little about career switchers generally… there are two aspects to it. One is the admissions component, which I know more intimately, and then there are the resources at Yale and the opportunity once you are on campus to make that switch. Many times people do choose to get the two-year full-time MBA specifically because they are switching careers, and they want and need that additional time to make that transition. Because if you are doing a part-time or a one-year program, you just don’t have the space to make the switch as effectively, and you need that additional year, you need some internship, to really make that transition. So it’s not uncommon for people to use a program like ours as a career pivot to make a switch. We are used to seeing that and we are comfortable with that, both on the admissions side and programmatically once students actually get into the program and begin the program…

…And in terms of opportunities to make that transition, we have a full-service Career Development Office that has a range of activities throughout the year to help students understand their opportunities, prepare for their opportunities, and then really design and execute their career search. And a lot of times, it involves a transition to something different than what they thought they were going to transition into when they applied.

Linda Abraham: I think probably one key element would be transferable skills and knowledge.

Bruce DelMonico: That is exactly right. And a lot of times it’s not really a matter of gaining those skills and knowledge because you have it, but helping recruiters and potential employers understand that you have those skills, that you’ve been able to acquire them in your past experience. But also to the extent that you haven’t been able to in your past work experience, have you been proactive about building your skills set in other ways in terms of your activities, in terms of your professional associations?

View the full Yale SOM Q&A transcript or listen to the MP3 recording of the event now and check out our Yale SOM MBA essay tips.

For more advice on applying to b-school as a career switcher, please view our on-demand webinar, MBA: Catalyst for Career Change.

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• Harvard’s 2+2 Deferred- The Harvard Crimson announced that Harvard Business School released its acceptance decisions for the 2+2 Class of 2016, but BusinessWeek looks at why a surprising number of accepted students chose to defer.  These days many accepted students are delaying going to school (or rejecting school altogether) in order to take advantage of job opportunities. Even Harvard’s 2+2 program is seeing a large number – more than one third – of deferrals.  On some level this news means that HBS may not be achieving its goal of snagging the best of the best with 2+2.

• Changing Up the Interview and Application Questions– The Wall Street Journal reports that many changes are being made to the questions MBA applicants are asked. For instance, Harvard Business School now asks applicants to “Answer a question you wish we’d asked,” and Columbia Business School only lets applicants answer the question “What is your post-M.B.A. professional goal?” in 200 characters or less.  University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School is also piloting a new concept of inviting applicants onto campus to join in group discussions with fellow applicants.

• Making Layoffs Look Good- BusinessWeek talks about how to turn a layoff into a learning experience for your MBA interviews.  When talking about losing your job, be honest, give the interviewer context and highlight the ways in which you made lemons into lemonade once you were let go. For more information, check out Accepted’s advice, Applying after Being Laid Off.

• Boot Camp at Yale School of Management- Yale School of Management’s YEI Summer Fellowship is a 10-week “startup boot camp” for entrepreneurial students run by The Yale Entrepreneurial Institute. In total, this initiative has launched 47 new ventures and raised $37 million in investments.

• Harvard Business School Q&A- BusinessWeek interviews Harvard Business School’s managing director of admissions and financial aid, Deirdre Leopold, about the best ways for students to hand in a strong application. Leopold describes the “ideal HBS student” and talks about some recent changes made to HBS. Her best advice for future applicants is simply “to tell their story.”

• MBA Application Numbers Continue Declining- The Wall Street Journal looks at how 1/3 of business schools in the US reported at least a 10% drop in applications. Typically there is an increase in MBA applications when the economy is down, but potential applicants are still worried about whether the market will bounce back and are holding off on business school. However, despite the suffering economy, applications to specialized master’s programs are still up, and the quality of applicants to MBA programs has only gotten better.

Register now to reserve your spot for Serious about SOM: Yale MBA Q&A!

What time is that for me? Click on the link to find out the exact time for your location.

This post about Yale SOM and healthcare is part of a series of interviews of top MBA programs called “MBA Career Goals and the B-Schools that Support Them.” Please subscribe to our blog to ensure that you receive all the interviews exploring the elements at each school that support career goals in finance, consulting, general management, entrepreneurship, marketing and more.

Here is the interview with the Admissions Office and Career Development Office at Yale SOM.

What kind of background and skills do you like to see in applicants expressing interest in a career in healthcare?

Scientific-oriented companies such as those in pharmaceuticals and medical devices tend to seek MBA’s with technical, biological, or chemical backgrounds, especially for positions in product marketing, product management and business development roles.  Finance positions tend to seek students that have strong analytical and prior finance, accounting, or audit experiences.

What aspects of Yale’s curriculum are best suited to students who want to eventually pursue a career in healthcare?

Students seeking to emphasize in healthcare should consider taking Managing Healthcare Organizations; Healthcare Policy, Finance, and Economics; Healthcare Leadership Seminar; and Healthcare Operations. They may also want to take Policy Modeling and Simulation Modeling to strengthen core skills.

Which school clubs, programs, and extra-curricular events are most relevant to people interested in Healthcare?

The Healthcare Club is essential.  It provide students with a community to discuss career alternatives, share prior experiences with other students (especially 2nd years), and network with companies, alumni, and MBA-e (executive MBA) students.  The Healthcare Club is also active in organizing student-led treks to visit companies in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and California.

Yale University hosts a Healthcare Conference in the spring and students in the Healthcare Club help organize and participate in the conference.  It is a University-wide event that includes professors, researchers, dignitaries, employers, and consultants in the healthcare industry.  Most Yale SOM students in the Healthcare Club participate and many hold leadership positions in organizing this event.

Since “healthcare” is a very broad term, can you break down some of the some of the sub-categories in the field that Yale SOM excels in?

Healthcare at Yale SOM consists of 5 sub-categories: pharmaceuticals (including biopharma), medical devices, providers (hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics), payer companies (insurance companies, Medicare, and Medicaid), and healthcare consulting.

The sub-categories that have been historically most attractive to Yale SOM students are pharmaceuticals, medical devices, consulting, and payer organizations.  Some students pursue “provider” opportunities; most of them are duel-degree students in either the MPH/MBA program or the MD/MBA program. The functional roles vary from product marketing, marketing insight, product management, business development, strategy, and finance.

Which healthcare organizations recruit at Yale SOM? How many graduates of your 2010 class received offers in healthcare?

Some of the companies that recruit Yale SOM students include Aetna, J&J, Covidien, Boehringer Ingelheim, CIGNA, Genentech, Pfizer, Medtronic, Forest Laboratories, Bayer, and Medco.  Many local niche companies and startups pursue our graduates. Approximately 5% of our 2011 graduates have taken full-time positions in companies within the healthcare sector.

Thanks to the Yale SOM Admissions Center and Career Development Center for granting us this interview.

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This post about Yale SOM and management consulting is part of a series of interviews of top MBA programs called “MBA Career Goals and the B-Schools that Support Them.” Please subscribe to our blog to ensure that you receive all the interviews exploring the elements at each school that support career goals in finance, consulting, general management, entrepreneurship, marketing and more.

Here is the interview with the Admissions Office and Career Development Office at Yale SOM.

What kind of background and skills do you like to see in applicants expressing interest in a career in management consulting?

The backgrounds for prospective management consultants can vary widely from analyst positions at consulting companies to work experience as part of Teach for America.  The generalist model consulting companies are looking for the “best and brightest” regardless of industry background, so strong analytical skills and communication skills (for example, as demonstrated by high GMAT scores) are essential.  The interview process is extensive and is focused on “casing,” which requires candidates to demonstrate business acumen, problem framing and solution development while engaging in a collaborative discussion with the interviewer.

The generalist consulting companies do value to some degree prior experiences in consulting, finance, operations, or marketing; however those experiences are not essential.

More specialized firms expect undergraduate education and prior experiences in related fields.  For example, healthcare consulting companies consider more candidates that have scientific undergraduate degrees and have worked in the healthcare industry prior to Yale SOM and finance consulting companies consider more candidates with a related financial work experience.

What aspects of your curriculum are best suited to students who want to eventually pursue a career in management consulting?

The “core” course for the strategy curriculum is Competitive Strategy. Students can pursue an ‘emphasis’ in strategy; for those students or students interested in consulting/general management, the second “core” course of the strategy curriculum is Internal Competitive Strategy and the Internal Organization of the Firm. Students considering a career in strategy are also recommended to take Statistical Modeling. Other courses to consider include Technology Strategy, Behavioral Economics and Strategy, and Developing Winning Strategies.

Which school clubs and extra-curricular events are most relevant to people interested in management consulting?

Membership in the Consulting Club is essential for prospective consultants.  The club conducts a curriculum that is focused on case interviewing, enabling students to develop essential techniques and offering an environment for practicing case interviewing in groups and one-on-one.  Additionally, the Club holds case competitions in conjunction with prospective employers, which both sharpen skills and build professional contacts for networking.  Club leads and 2nd year members act as coaches to help students sharpen their resumes, prepare for interviews, and navigate employer opportunities.

Since “management consulting” is a very broad term, can you break down some of the some of the sub-categories in the field that Yale SOM excels in?

A wide variety of consulting firms recruit Yale SOM students, including strategic consulting firms, operational consulting, human capital, financial consulting, healthcare consulting, and innovation consulting.

Which management consulting firms recruit at Yale SOM? How many graduates of your 2010 class received offers from each of these firms?

Many consulting firms recruit at Yale SOM.  A sampling of them includes Bain, BCG, McKinsey, Deloitte, PwC, Booz Allen Hamilton, Arthur D. Little, Charles River Associates, PA Consulting, Casey, Quirk and Associates, CCS Fund Raising, Chartis Group, Frankel Group, The Hay Group, Innosight, Mars Consulting, The Parthenon Group, and Putnam Associates.  Additionally there are many firms that recruit Yale SOM graduates through other channels such as diversity programs.  Approximately 20% of our 2011 students have taken full-time positions at companies within the consulting sector.

Thanks to the Yale SOM Admissions Office and Career Development Office for granting us this interview. 

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This post about Yale SOM and investment banking is part of a series of interviews of top MBA programs called “MBA Career Goals and the B-Schools that Support Them.” Please subscribe to our blog to ensure that you receive all the interviews exploring the elements at each school that support career goals in finance, consulting, general management, entrepreneurship, marketing and more.

Here is the interview with the Admissions Office and Career Development Office at Yale SOM.

What kind of background and skills do you like to see in applicants expressing interest in a career in investment banking?

Yale SOM seeks candidates with experience in a wide variety of industries and functional areas for careers in investment banking. Valuable attributes for applicants include strong quantitative skills and financial acumen, client communication skills, attention to detail, a strong work ethic, and the ability to thrive in a team environment. Desirable applicants must also demonstrate passion for a career in investment banking and be able to articulate reasons for entering the industry.

What aspects of your curriculum are best suited to students who want to eventually pursue a career in investment banking?

In addition to the core Integrated Curriculum which includes Accounting, Economics, and Spreadsheet Modeling, students can declare an ‘emphasis’ in Finance.  The many finance-oriented elective courses include Advance Financial Analysis, Capital Markets, Venture Capital & Private Equity Investments, Financial Instruments & Contracts, Corporate Finance, and Security Analysis & Valuation.

Which school clubs and extra-curricular events are most relevant to people interested in investment banking?

The Finance Club at Yale SOM supports the career pursuits of students focused on investment banking through weekly meetings and workshops in practical areas like resume writing, interview preparation, and gaining insights on specific roles, career tracks, specific banks, and the industry in general. Treks, visits from alumni, and other events are also sponsored by the Finance Club and other finance-related clubs. Related clubs cover Sales & Trading, Investment Management, Private Equity, and Real Estate.

Since “investment banking” is a very broad term, can you break down some of the some of the sub-categories in the field that Yale SOM excels in?

Yale SOM excels in a wide range of areas within an investment bank. “Investment Banking” typically refers to mergers and acquisitions and other financial advisory work. Approximately 50-70% of first-year student students who intern at investment banks work in investment banking. This figure is representative of most top business school programs. The other 30-50% of students who are hired by investment banks work in a variety of areas including research, sales & trading, capital markets, direct investments, investment management, and operations.

Which investment banking firms recruit at Yale SOM? How many graduates of your 2010 class received offers from each of these firms?

Over a dozen investment banks recruit at Yale SOM, including the large banks like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Citi, Credit Suisse, and UBS, as well as more regionally-focused and boutique banks including Nomura, Houlihan Lokey, Lazard Middle Markets, Celfin, and Banco Santander. Other banks without an on-campus presence also recruit Yale SOM students as well. Among them are Rothschilds, Brown Brothers Harriman, Jefferies, Macquarie, Piper Jaffray, Bank of New York, and Royal Bank of Scotland. In 2011, the largest employer for summer interns was Goldman Sachs.  15% of the class of 2010 pursued careers in Investment Banking.

Thanks to the Yale SOM Admissions Office and Career Development Office for granting us this interview.

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This post about Yale SOM and environmental management/sustainable development is part of a series of interviews of top MBA programs called “MBA Career Goals and the B-Schools that Support Them.” Please subscribe to our blog to ensure that you receive all the interviews exploring the elements at each school that support career goals in finance, consulting, general management, entrepreneurship, marketing and more.

Here is the interview with the Admissions Office and Career Development Office at Yale SOM.

What kind of background and skills do you like to see in applicants expressing interest in a career in environmental management/sustainability?

Yale SOM seeks candidates with a clear and demonstrated interest in environmental management and sustainable business practice.  Ideal applicants will have a mix of private sector experience coupled with exposure to the nonprofit and/or public sectors.  Desired skill sets include strategic management, ability to influence senior management, and analytical skills.  Technical skills in the environmental/science area are a plus.

What aspects of Yale’s curriculum are best suited to students who want to eventually pursue a career in environmental management/sustainability?

In addition to the core curriculum, students can declare an ‘emphasis’ in environmental management.  There are numerous courses of interest, including the Public and Private Management of the Environment, Environmental Management and Strategic Advantage, Energy Markets Strategy, Private Investment and the Environment, and Valuing the Environment.  In addition, Yale SOM students are able to enroll in classes at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Science to further develop their skills and expertise in this area.

Which school clubs, programs, and extra-curricular events are most relevant to people interested in environmental management/sustainability?

The most relevant student professional clubs include the Business and the Environment Club, the Energy Club, and Yale SOM Net Impact.  There are additional ways to participate in environmental management activities through Yale’s Center for Business and the Environment, and/or via the School of Forestry and Environmental Science.

Since “environmental management/sustainability” is a very broad term, can you break down some of the some of the sub-categories in the field that Yale SOM excels in?

Yale SOM excels in the functions of Environmental Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility.  Other related areas of expertise include Carbon Finance, Sustainability Consulting, Renewable Energy, and Green Real Estate.

Which organizations recruit at Yale SOM for environmental management/sustainable development? How many graduates of your 2010 class received offers in this field?

The Career Development Office has built strong relationships with employers considered leaders in environmental sustainability.  Students secure sustainability-related roles in a variety of industries for internships and full-time following graduation.  A few of these employers include Environmental Defense Fund (particularly for their Climate Corps program), The Nature Conservancy, Nestle Waters, National Parks Service, Department of Energy, GE Renewable Energy, DuPont, Redstone Strategy, New York City’s Economic Development Corporation, and Tishman Speyer.

Thanks to the Yale SOM Admissions Office and Career Development Office for granting us this interview.

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