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MBAs with Data Science Skills in High Demand

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Read trending MBA news.

Business school graduates with expertise in data science are a prized commodity at top consulting firms.

Meet the new MBA class at the Midwest’s top business school, find out why Bain is hiring data science experts, and get the scoop on HBS’s interview letters in our roundup of trending stories for aspiring business leaders.

Bain & Company seeks data science skills

Bain & Company, one of the world’s most elite consulting firms and most desirable workplaces for many business students, is on the hunt for employees with data science skills. “We have been aggressive in hiring in that space,” said Elizabeth Spaulding, head of the firm’s global digital practice, mentioning the use of data science in the company’s digital unit in particular.

But the trend is larger than just Bain & Company.

A full 27 percent of consulting work is in the digital or technology areas. Many top-ranked business schools have incorporated data science and data analytics into their curriculum to meet the growing demand, but that doesn’t automatically guarantee a job. “While hiring has increased, these positions remain very competitive,” said Sheryle Dirks, associate dean of career management Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. (BusinessBecause)

GMAT scores up, applications down at Chicago Booth

Just about every top MBA program will boast about being “personalized” or “tailored” to its students. But at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, they take it a step further: Only one of its courses is actually considered “core,” meaning students are free to take almost any other course they want for the next two years.

“Everybody comes in with different skills and aspirations. Everybody has a different purpose for being here, says Kurt Ahlm, Booth’s associate dean of student recruitment and admissions. “And so we want students to be able and equipped to fully engage in that process, to dive deeper.”

This year’s entering class has an average GMAT score of 727, one point higher than last year’s class. As you may recall, most top business schools across the country are reporting similar upward GMAT score trends. Applications to the program were slightly down, though. The percentage of women in the class remained constant from last year, at 42 percent. (Poets & Quants)

Teamwork to make the dream work

Apart from quantitative factors like GMAT score and GPA, your personal essay, resume and interview are your best qualitative chances to show business schools that you have the drive to succeed in their program and also show them them you are a good fit. One key trait that employers and business school look for is your ability to work as part of team, so make sure that you stress your leadership abilities and skills as a team player.

“Show off your teamwork abilities by mentioning a situation where you listened to others and bridged a gap between diverse participants to help foster collaboration on a project,” advises one business school admissions expert. She also advised to talk about how you are able to boost up people’s morale during difficult times. (U.S. News & World Report)

You are invited to interview

If you applied to a top-ranked program like Harvard Business School, the two words above are the words you’ve been waiting for—an invitation to visit Cambridge (or another city with a world-class MBA program) for an interview. Last week HBS began sending out emails to those who made it past the first round, with the opening, “After careful consideration of your application materials, we would like to get to know you better. This is our invitation to interview.” To schedule an interview, invitees are able to go online and choose the time and date on their own—on a first come, first serve basis.

HBS currently boasts of the highest yield rate of any top business school, at 90%, just two points higher than its West Coast rival, Stanford Graduate School of Business. But should applicants in Italy, for example, go all the way Massachusetts for an interview? Chad Losee, managing director of HBS admissions and financial aid, explains: “Where you interview does not affect your likelihood to be accepted (all interviews globally are conducted only by members of the Admissions Board), but if you come to Boston to interview, you’ll also have the chance to sit in on a class and interact with current students and faculty.” (Poets & Quants)

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