One of the main focus for business schools is to include diversity in the classrooms and one way to do that is to have candidates from underrepresented and minority groups. The Riordan MBA Fellows program is one such initiative whose aim is to create a pipeline of such deserving candidates for top MBA programs.
The MBA Fellows Program targets recent college graduates who are considering graduate education in business management. Its core purpose is to educate, prepare, and motivate these individuals to competitively apply and succeed in a top MBA program and a career in management.
In this interview with Chandrani (Founder of ApplyMBA) , Margie Cruz-Hassan, Senior Assistant Director of Programs from the Riordan Programs talks more about the Riordan MBA Fellows program, the aim of the program, the kind of profiles they are looking for, admissions, curriculum and opportunities after graduating from the program.
ApplyMBA: Thanks Margie for agreeing to talk with me about the Riordan MBA fellows program. It would be great if you can tell us a little bit about yourself and how you are associated with the Riordan MBA Fellows program.
Margie : I have been with the Riordan Programs for three and a half years. Prior to overseeing the MBA Fellows program, I oversaw the Riordan Scholars and College to Career program. I am personally tied to our mission because I am a first-generation college student myself.
ApplyMBA: Can you tell me briefly about the MBA fellows program?What was the thought that went behind creating the MBA fellows program?
Margie: The Riordan Programs were founded in 1987 by Richard Riordan, former mayor of Los Angeles, and William Ouchi, UCLA Anderson professor, as career-based outreach programs for underrepresented high school and college students in the Los Angeles area. They realized that there was a lack of diversity in top tier business schools and saw that most people who were in positions of power were not people from the under-represented minority groups. They wanted to create a pipeline to include diversity in the top tier business schools of the country. So we have a high school program where we start teaching them about business, the stock market and college. We also have an undergraduate program and pre-MBA scholars program which is what we are talking about.
ApplyMBA: Is there any specific background profile that you are looking among the applicants beyond what you just mentioned?
Margie: We primarily look for candidates who need the resources. They do not have all the resources readily available to be competitive within business school. Be it that maybe their parents went to an education system outside the country and they don’t know how to navigate the U.S. system or that they do not know anyone directly affiliated with the business sector. We are looking for young professionals, who on an average, are anywhere from 1-5 years out of college-- though we do admit even if you are over 5 years. We want at least one year of full time work experience. Really we are just looking for potential. You should have the potential to go to a business school. We look at the application holistically. It could be your personal story, your work experience, academic background, GPA etc. Our applicants are usually 3.0 or higher.
ApplyMBA: How should applicants prepare for applying to this program?
Read the full post here________________________
We have very recently added the free initial consultation feature in our discovery platform for MBA admissions consultants. So go ahead,
find your consultant and book an initial session without having to pay first. Find out your profile fit, get questions about MBA applications answered as well as figure out the consultant's approach towards advising candidates.
Click here.