MBA News: Inside Top-Ranked MBA Admissions

Duke Fuqua’s MBA admissions gatekeeper tells all.

When should you start networking for business school? Will the GMAT hit Havana? What really goes on behind the scenes of MBA admissions at a top-ranked school like Duke Fuqua? Keep reading to find out.

Networking early and often

It’s never too early to start networking in business school. As a matter of fact, you’d be wise to start during the MBA admissions process. Building up a solid social and professional network early on is a strong investment that can pay dividends as you look to land an exciting, well-paying, post-MBA job. A few pointers: 1) Demonstrate social media smarts. For example, tweet something like, “Excited to have visited @NYUStern today. A terrific #MBA program.” 2) Ask the MBA admissions office to connect you with one of their students who can give you an inside perspective. 3) Many top-ranked MBA programs host admissions events. Attend. Go to as many as possible to express your interest and meet people. (U.S. News & World Report)

Business school recruiting in Cuba

The recent thawing of relations between the United States and Cuba affects many different arenas: tourism, commerce—and also education. While there are currently no business schools in Cuba (which remains a one-party communist state), MBA programs have begun reaching out to the island nation for its best and brightest. One official from the Stanford Graduate School of Business says Cuban applicants are especially attractive because the country’s fully-subsidized educational system has a reputation for developing students who are strong in the math and sciences. Like all applicants to top-ranked American business schools, Cubans will have to take the GMAT or GRE. The first GRE administration to Cubans may take place as early as October. (The Wall Street Journal)

GMAT policy change

The Graduate Management Admission Council, architects of the GMAT, have just announced a major scoring policy change. Starting immediately, test takers can cancel their scores without business schools knowing they’ve ever taken the exam. Previously, the way it worked was that test takers could cancel their scores, but the fact that they took the exam was part of their permanent score reporting record. Think this is a freebie? Not exactly. The exam still costs $250 to take. The best strategy remains what we’ve long advocated—only take the exam when you feel you are ready to take it.  Another policy change: Now you can retake the test within 16 days, instead of the prior 31 days. (MBA.com)

Attracting international students

It’s no secret that the business world is more globalized than ever. So, for many aspiring MBAs, getting a feel for working internationally while still in business school is an attractive option. Which top-ranked business schools have done the best job of attracting students from beyond U.S. borders? Leading the list is Harvard Business School, followed by Wharton and Chicago Booth. (Poets & Quants)

Inside MBA admissions at Duke Fuqua

Interested in attending Duke Fuqua? Then don’t miss this interview with the business school’s assistant dean of admissions, Liz Riley Hargrove. As gatekeeper to this top-ranked MBA program, she’s seen it all: plagiarizers, people who cut and paste their essays with the name of another business school in the body—you name it. Even if Duke Fuqua isn’t for you, Hargrove’s years of experience no doubt speak to what happens at other top-ranked business schools. So, take a look behind the curtain. (Poets & Quants)

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