How to incorporate your love of food into your business school search.
You can taste the difference between regular and smoked paprika, you’re strongly opinionated about molecular gastronomy, and you have your finger on the pulse of the food truck scene. You’re the most adventurous and discerning eater you know … and you’re going to business school.
MBA programs for the food lover
The next two years of your life may be devoted to corporate strategy and arbitrage, but you’ll still need to eat something between case studies—and it might as well be something you love. Unless you’re planning on reviving your college diet of pizza and ramen, attending an MBA program in a big city can confer the added benefit of a flourishing food scene. Check out these business schools located in the best cities for food lovers.
Berkeley Haas School of Business in Berkeley, California
The MBA program: With GMAT scores in the 90th-95th percentiles and an average of five years of work experience, Berkeley Haas’s full-time MBA students boast stellar qualifications, with nearly 20% of the class holding advanced degrees. A fifth of incoming Haas students have backgrounds in engineering—not surprising given the school’s location in the high-tech Bay Area. Engendering Berkeley’s commitment to social justice, Haas students participate in numerous charitable causes and mentoring activities. In addition, MBA life at Haas revolves around a breadth of student clubs, conferences, venture accelerators, and even club sports.
For food lovers: Berkeley and nearby San Francisco are foodie havens, with an emphasis on local and organic fare. Institutions like Chez Panisse and the Cheese Board Collective anchor Berkeley’s “Gourmet Ghetto.” Another noteworthy culinary attraction for any food lover is Off the Grid, a huge network of mobile food markets specializing in everything from pizza to Peruvian cuisine.
Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business in Washington, DC
The MBA program: McDonough MBA students are among the most diverse of top-ranking business schools: 41% are international from 39 countries. The mean GMAT score is close to the 90th percentile, and almost a third of the students have more than five years of work experience. Students are also encouraged to pursue global experience during their studies, as well as volunteer and community service.
For food lovers: D.C. is an up-and-coming foodie town, and the scene can be enjoyed via walking tours that showcase the city’s thriving local food movement and a mouth-watering array of international cuisine. Reflecting the District’s internationalism, there is no lack of variety for the intrepid eater—and ample public transportation makes it easy to explore new restaurants.
USC Marshall School of Business in Los Angeles, California
The MBA program: USC Marshall’s full-time MBA program receives more than 1500 applications for a relatively small and cozy class of just over 200 students who are admitted with an average GMAT of 690 and GPA of 3.3. During their one-week orientation, students identify their leadership style, complete outdoor team-building exercises, and participate in a case competition.
For food lovers: Are you tantalized by the thought of exclusive pop-up restaurants created by culinary superstars? Or maybe late-night food trucks are more your speed? Either way, Los Angeles’ diverse neighborhoods each hold a treasure trove of locals-only spots and see-and-be-seen celebrity chef restaurants.
Chicago Booth School of Business in Chicago, Illinois
The MBA program: Ranked as one of the best business schools in the country, Chicago Booth admits about 580 students every year to its full-time MBA program. Those students’ GMAT scores put them in the 99th percentile of all test-takers, with a 724 average. Add to that five years of work experience and a 3.6 GPA, and Chicago Booth matriculants stand among the most competitive in the country.
For food lovers: Eating your way through Chicagoland cuisine is simple. Start with a deep dish pizza drowning in tomato sauce, grab a Chicago Dog, and don’t slow down. Chicago has an excellent food scene featuring such noteworthy restaurateurs as Rick Bayless, whose influential take on Mexican cuisine has garnered national recognition.
D’Amore-McKim School of Business in Boston, Massachusetts
The MBA program: Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim full-time MBAs graduate in 24 months, which includes a six-month, paid corporate residency with a screened, top employer. Students also complete an International Field Study. With a smaller class size of 72 students, D’Amore-McKim matriculants work together closely. They also bring an average GMAT score of 652 and 3.3 years of work experience with them. Mirroring Boston’s own reputation as a global city, more than a third of the school’s students come from abroad.
For food lovers: Boston’s food options range from the upscale and buttoned-up to a thriving food truck community. To prove you’re a local, you’ll have to develop an opinion on the best pizza (Regina Pizzeria), the best lobster roll (Legal Sea Food), and the best cannoli (Bova’s).
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