The booming job market coupled with the emergence of the Delta variant spells “o-p-p-o-r-t-u-n-i-t-y” for MBA applicants and those contemplating an MBA, according to Linda Abraham, president and founder of Accepted. In October Accepted conducted a survey to gauge how these two trends were affecting MBA application plans. The results based on close to 250 responses were eye-opening.
While a majority of people said that they still planned to apply to MBA programs (see chart), a notable minority (15% – 17%) decided not to apply this year due to either the Delta variant and/or the robust job market. 14.2% attributed their decision not to apply to both factors. 7.7% attributed second thoughts and doubts to both factors but are still planning to apply.
Q1: How has the booming job market affected your MBA application plans?
- I decided not to apply now because of all the professional opportunities that have developed – 15%
- I’m having second thoughts about applying, but will probably apply anyways – 14%
- No impact whatsoever. I’m applying – 71%
Q2: How has the emergence of the delta variant affected your MBA application plans?
- No impact whatsoever. I’m applying – 54%
- It’s increasing my interest in applying this cycle for an MBA – 9%
- It’s giving me pause because I’m afraid schools will return to remote learning and/or I’ll have visa problems – 20%
- As a result of the delta variant’s emergence, I have decided not to apply – 17%
What do these results mean for you?
This may be the best time to apply since the MBA application slowdown during the years 2017-19, when many applicants were accepted to programs where they may not have been admitted during the busier 2020-21 season, when application volume was higher. Linda Abraham recalls of the 2017-19 years, “We also saw more scholarship offers, and sometimes schools competed for students via scholarships. If the survey results portend a return to the ‘normal’ of 2017-19, we will see both developments again. Implications for applicants: If you are committed to applying this cycle, the potential decline in MBA application volume means you can apply to a ‘stretch’ school or two and have a greater chance of acceptance.”
Accepted consultant Esmeralda Cardenal adds, “I have been speaking to many applicants in the past weeks wondering whether they should apply in Round 2 or wait until next year. Given this data, and the potential decline of MBA applications this year, my advice would be to apply now. You still have time to put together a strong application this year. Furthermore, the economy is cyclical. As vaccination rates increase, classrooms go back to normal, and when the economy inevitably slows down once again, we will see a surge of MBA applications. I see this decline as a window of opportunity for many MBA applicants.”
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By Linda Abraham, president and founder of Accepted. Linda earned her bachelors and MBA at UCLA, and has been advising applicants since 1994 when she founded Accepted. Linda is the co-founder and first president of AIGAC. She has written or co-authored 13 e-books on the admissions process, and has been quoted by The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News, Poets & Quants, Bloomberg Businessweek, CBS News, and others. Linda is the host of Admissions Straight Talk, a podcast for graduate school applicants. Want an admissions expert help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!
Related Resources:
- MBA Admissions Advice From the Mouths of MBA Adcom Members
- School-Specific MBA Application Essay Tips
- The MBA Selectivity Index: Discover the Programs Where You are Competitive
This article originally appeared on blog.accepted.com.
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