Comprehensive Analysis of 15 Leading MBA Programs Reveals New Trends in Business School Admissions, Says Veritas Prep
A Newly Welcoming Environment for Career Switchers, More Integrated Learning Models and an Increasingly Global Perspective Among Trends Revealed in the Veritas Prep Annual Reports
| Source: Veritas Prep
MALIBU, CA--(Marketwire - October 22, 2009) - In an effort to provide prospective business
school students with unprecedented insight into the ultra-competitive
admissions game, GMAT prep
and MBA admissions consulting
provider Veritas Prep today revealed
new trends in admissions to help MBA candidates execute a successful
application strategy. Veritas Prep identified several recurring themes
during its thorough audit of 15 of the world's elite business schools. The
three most notable discoveries are that (1) some schools embrace career
switchers, (2) many top programs have recently overhauled their MBA
curricula and (3) nearly every school places more emphasis on global
business than ever before.
Some business schools have become havens for career changers. Historically,
business schools have been wary of candidates applying to school in order
to facilitate a change in careers. Career switchers often struggle to land
a post-graduation job, harming placement statistics -- a crucial component
of the most respected MBA rankings. However, more students than ever before
are hoping to use a formal business education to move into a new industry.
The Stern School of Business at New York University even offers a specific
program tailored to such candidates, the Industry Mentoring Initiative
(IMI), while the Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth
College also encourages career switchers to apply.
Revamped curricula and diversified learning methodologies. Of the 15 elite
MBA programs examined in the Veritas Prep Annual Reports, ten have recently
renovated their entire curricula to more tightly integrate how their
professors teach the core disciplines common to every first-year MBA
program. For example, the Yale School of Management has deviated from a
more traditional, structured classroom format in favor of a blend of
lecture, student projects and presentations and the proprietary "raw case"
approach, in which students must distill information from ambiguous source
materials similar to what a professional might encounter while analyzing a
real-world business problem.
Truly global perspective. While most business schools have boasted about a
global approach for years, globalism in MBA programming and curriculum
requirements has never been more prevalent. Most top programs now feature a
specific core class devoted to international perspectives, while the Fuqua
School of Business at Duke University devotes its entire orientation period
to the Global Institute, a three-week introduction to international
business and the world economy. The Stanford Graduate School of Business
mandates international experience prior to graduation, nearly a quarter of
Harvard Business School case studies now address global business issues and
the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania recently brought
international experience to the forefront in the application itself, asking
a key essay question about the candidate's global perspectives and
experiences.
"It is critically important for applicants to cultivate a genuine
understanding of the trends in MBA admissions in order to select schools
that best align with their professional aspirations and learning styles,
and also to help craft compelling cases for admission," explains Scott
Shrum, Director of MBA Admissions Research at Veritas Prep.
These trends and others are captured in the inaugural series of Veritas
Prep Annual Reports, now available for the following business schools:
Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, Kellogg, MIT Sloan, NYU Stern, UCLA Anderson,
Chicago Booth, Columbia, Ross, Fuqua, INSEAD, Haas, Tuck and Yale. For more
information about Veritas Prep's Annual Reports or to download a
complimentary report, visit http://www.veritasprep.com/annual-reports or
call 1 (800) 925-7737.
About Veritas Prep
Veritas Prep is the world's fastest-growing test preparation and admissions
consulting provider, offering industry-leading programs to help applicants
improve their test scores and gain admission to the world's best graduate
schools. Founded in 2002 by graduates of the Yale School of Management,
Veritas Prep now offers live GMAT prep instruction in more
than 80 cities worldwide, as well as interactive online courses available
everywhere. Additionally, Veritas Prep offers industry-leading admissions
consulting services for applicants seeking admission to the most
competitive business schools, law schools, and medical schools in the
world.