Love the music industry? Choose an MBA program in an area with a lively music scene and this could be your dream school experience.
You use only the highest quality headphones, you’re the go-to friend for new music recommendations, and you have a curated playlist for every occasion. Music is in your blood … and you’re going to business school. An MBA could be your ticket to a lucrative career in the music industry.
For the next two years or so, most of your time will be devoted to group projects and case studies. Still, business school should be one of the most exciting times of your life, so you should think about spending those two years—and possibly more—in a location that will allow you to complete your studies and still find time to enjoy new bands, live music, and all that the music industry has to offer.
Why not live in the heart of a thriving music scene while you attend business school and think about where you should start your career as an MBA? Check out these top business schools that happen to be located in major music industry hubs.
Emory University Goizueta Business School in Atlanta, Georgia
The MBA program: Goizueta offers several MBA options, including part-time, one-year, and executive MBA degrees. To be a competitive applicant for the flagship two-year MBA program, you’ll need at least five years of work experience and a GMAT score in the range of 620 to 720. Students have the option to join special interest clubs that span all industries, from entrepreneurship to real estate. First-year orientation includes a getaway to Camp Twin Lakes for a team-building ropes course.
The music scene: Best of all, music lovers can enjoy the Atlanta music scene, which is dominated by hip-hop and R&B and home to big names like CeeLo Green and Ciara. See up-and-coming neo-soul acts at the Apache Cafe or discover the next India.Arie or John Mayer at Eddie’s Attic, a cozy listening room for emerging singer-songwriters.
University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business in Austin, Texas
The MBA program: McCombs business students can choose from six different study paths, depending on their post-graduation goals. With an average GMAT score of 690 in its full-time two-year program, McCombs admits students who have an average of five years work experience and come from various fields, including the petroleum and energy sectors. Students with an interest in entrepreneurship can participate in the Jon Brumley Texas Venture Labs, a startup accelerator designed to take student innovations to market.
The music scene: Austin holds the official moniker of “live music capital of the world,” and fans of everything from country twang to Tex-Mex conjunto to acoustic singer-songwriters will find something for them. Every year, MBA students at McCombs can look forward to the town’s two big music festivals: Austin City Limits and South by Southwest.
Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management in Nashville, Tennessee
The MBA program: With a class size of fewer than 170 students, Owen admits MBA applicants with GMAT scores ranging from 620 to 740 and who possess slightly more than five years of work experience. Owen MBA students have extensive study abroad opportunities with exchange partnerships in Germany and China, among many others.
The music scene: Nashville’s music performance venues may be historic (Grand Ole Opry and the Ryman Auditorium) but The Bluebird Cafe is where future songwriters cut their teeth. Garth Brooks and Taylor Swift were both discovered there.
The University of Houston Bauer College of Business in Houston, Texas
The MBA program: Located in Houston, an oil and gas industry hub, the Bauer College of Business offers an MBA focused on the energy sector, including a traditional full-time program and a part-time professional MBA. Bauer students can gain admittance with the relatively less competitive average GMAT scores of 600 to 610, but they tend to enter the program possessing more robust work experience, with six to seven years under their belts. The school’s location in Houston also attracts a large international student body, and the school prides itself on diversity outreach.
The music scene: Just because it’s Texas, it’s not all honky-tonks and cowboy boots (although you will find plenty of those). The city is renowned for both its Houston Symphony and the Houston Grand Opera. In fact, Houston has churned out its share of nationally acclaimed musical talent, from Lyle Lovett to Beyonce herself.
The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The MBA program: The Wharton School is in a class of its own, breathing the rarified air at the top of most business school rankings. With more than 6,000 applications for an enrolled class of fewer than 900 students representing 71 countries, Wharton attracts incredible talent. The average GMAT score of admitted students is 728, and for the class of 2016, Wharton boasted 40% female matriculants and 30% US-based students of color—among the highest figures for top-ranking business schools. Wharton graduates also have the benefit of a 90,000-strong alumni network spanning 150 countries.
The music scene: You may be familiar with Philly Soul, but the city that gave us The Roots, John Legend, and West Philly’s own Will Smith also has a vibrant punk and indie scene. Noteworthy Philadelphia-based indie artists to have emerged in recent years include Dr. Dog and Kurt Vile.
Are you a music junkie about to attend business school? What’s your dream school experience? Share with us below and enter here for a chance to win a trip to your dream school.
The post MBAs for Music Industry Managers: Your Dream School Experience appeared first on Kaplan GMAT Blog.
