Sign in with Google
Sign in with Apple
Stanford GSB introduces two new questions for applicants.
From new essay questions for Stanford GSB applicants to the elusive billion-dollar startups founded by alumni of top MBA programs—check out what’s happening on the business school landscape.
“Unicorns” produced by top MBA programs
Just half a dozen of the world’s top MBA programs have produced a combined total of 40 “unicorn”—startups valued at or above $1 billion. You can probably imagine why they’re called unicorns… they are something of a rarity. Topping the list is Stanford GSB, whose alumni have produced 11 separate billion-dollar ideas. Similarly, Harvard Business School graduates lay claim to having started ten unicorns that have raised $2.9 billion. If we expand the list, you’d find the top 25 MBA programs have created unicorn startups, collectively raising nearly $63 billion. All of this success comes as business school graduates slowly move away from corporate careers. Data shows that 36% of MBAs who graduated from top-ranked programs have founded startups. (BusinessBecause)
Business school applicants booming
The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the organization that writes the GMAT, just released some remarkable figures. MBA programs are experiencing the highest U.S. applicant volume since 2009. According to GMAC, 59% of business schools said that American applicants to full-time, two-year programs increased during 2014. Prospective MBA students from the United States still only constitute 45% of the total applicant pool for American business schools though. In some good news for prospective students’ bank accounts, GMAC also finds that employers are more likely to fund online MBAs for their employees than they were in 2014. (Bloomberg Businessweek)
Getting in at Kelley
Bloomington, Indiana is a legendary college town. A great city, plus great athletics, can make for a wonderful undergraduate experience—but what about aspiring MBAs? Luckily, Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business offers an outstanding program. In this article, the school’s admissions director describes how he and his team evaluate the more than 1,200 prospective students who apply every year and how they decide on who will fill the 185 slots in each incoming class. “We’re really looking at what [applicants are] able to contribute, what they want to take advantage of, and the degree to which we’re going to be able to help them achieve their career goals.” he says. (Poets & Quants)
Female applicants make strides
There are more women enrolled in college than men, and the gender ratio among medical and law students is nearly equal. So what the heck is the matter with business schools, where male students continue to heavily outnumber female students? The good news is that things are slowly changing. Recently released data from top-ranked U.S. business schools shows that many MBA programs have made significant strides in enrolling more women, with many top MBA programs boasting a female student population of more than 40%. “In the past two years this issue has gone from being on the radar of deans to being a priority,” says Elissa Sangster, the executive director at the Forté Foundation, a non-profit whose goal is to increase enrollment among women. (The Financial Times)
Stanford GSB essays
Despite some well-publicized drama within the school’s administration (as we discussed in earlier blog posts), Stanford GSB remains a top MBA program, among the most competitive in the country. With its physical proximity to Silicon Valley, it’s a perfect jumping off point to get work in the tech world. In addition demanding a sterling GMAT score and outstanding GPA, Stanford GSB is also keen on learning about you as a person. That’s why they’re asking two open-ended question that applicants must answer in just 1,150 words: “What matters most to you, and why?” and “Why Stanford? Enlighten us on how earning your MBA at Stanford will enable you to realize your ambitions.” We warned you they were open-ended! Read this article to get some insight into answering the new questions. (Business Insider)
Ready to kick your business school candidacy into shape? Challenge yourself to our free 20-minute GMAT workout.
The post Top MBA Programs Fuel “Unicorn” Startups appeared first on Business School Insider.
