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What does Harvard Business School really look for in its MBA candidates? Credit: David Jones via Flickr cc
From noteworthy MBA networking tips to wowing the Harvard Business School admissions committee—it’s been a sizzling month of business education news. Keep reading to find out what’s going on.
Networking niches
Do the networks you build in business school determine your post-graduation destiny? Sometimes, yes. So, enrolling in the right MBA program—with the right MBA network—makes a big difference. For example, if you decide to pursue a degree at NYU’s Stern School of Business, you might rightfully expect to hobnob with people who work in investment banking. Remember, networking doesn’t take place just at cocktail parties, mixers, or kayaking trips. It could mean simply sending an email to a fellow alumni in the industry whose LinkedIn article you enjoyed reading. As long as you come across as genuine, it can go a long way. Business folk are pretty good about recognizing phoniness, so be yourself. It’s all about rapport. (Poets & Quants)
MBAs have less student debt
Law and medical students often borrow upwards of $100,000 to secure their degrees—though, given such lucrative professions, loan repayment is perhaps less worrisome than for other graduate students. The issue, however, is that many doctors won’t start earning a lot of money until they hit 30. As for lawyers—the job market isn’t what it used to be. MBAs students are different. True to their calling, most aspiring MBA students spend a good deal of time planning out how to finance their education. Research shows that because MBA programs are only two years long, and because many graduates land high paying jobs quickly, not nearly as much debt builds up. The student debt that does accrue is usually paid back shortly after graduation. That said, be sure to plan out how you plan to cover tuition—the less student debt, the better. (NPR)
MBA recruiting Up
We don’t mean to encourage you to aim lower in terms of where you plan to enroll in business school. Nonetheless, here’s some empirical data showing you how good the market is for graduating MBAs… especially at lower ranked schools where recruiting of new hires is up. Recruiters have traditionally overlooked lower ranked programs in favor of top ranked institutions, and it’s hard to say how long this trend will last. Data continues to show, however, that apart from recruiting opportunity, those who graduate from higher ranking schools tend to earn more money. (Quartz)
What Harvard Business School really wants
Is your heart set on Harvard Business School, which is most decidedly NOT low ranked? One admissions consultant has outlined the leading traits that will help you stand out to the HBS admissions committee. Among them: 1) high-impact leadership, 2) service, 3) passion, 4) vision, and 5) integrity. As she explains, it’s not “What do you think?” but “What would you do?” (Business Insider)
Flipping business education
If business education is going to improve, then it’s going to require some new thinking. Specifically, it may take innovation in what’s taught in the classroom and how it’s delivered. As one Stanford MBA student put it, ‘We are talking about doing business in Silicon Valley here, so it would feel a bit strange if we were not using the most sophisticated technology.” Such innovation includes the “flipped” classroom, where students have to read and watch course materials before attending class, which is reserved exclusively for discussion. (The Financial Times)
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The post MBA News: Better Business Education Networking, Recruiting Up appeared first on Business School Insider.
