{"id":29282,"date":"2015-06-25T11:29:04","date_gmt":"2015-06-25T18:29:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/2015\/06\/salaries-business-school-applicants-in-china-and-more-in-mba-news\/"},"modified":"2015-06-25T11:29:04","modified_gmt":"2015-06-25T18:29:04","slug":"salaries-business-school-applicants-in-china-and-more-in-mba-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/salaries-business-school-applicants-in-china-and-more-in-mba-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Salaries, Business School Applicants in China, and More in MBA News"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"GMAT<\/a><\/p>\n

What\u2019s the best time to go to business school for the optimal salary?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

From business school admissions officers shifting their focus to applicants in China to spikes in startup-centric education and in female entrepreneurship, here\u2019s the latest in MBA news.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the \u201cright age\u201d to get your MBA?<\/b><\/h4>\n

Most aspiring MBAs apply to business school with a few years work experience under their belts\u2014though it\u2019s far from necessary. In fact, a significant number of students apply directly from college, or at least take the GMAT as undergrads.<\/p>\n

So is there an optimal age to apply?<\/p>\n

As part of its business school rankings, Bloomberg Business Week surveyed more than 10,000 people who expected to earn their MBA last year. Their findings: In your mid-20s, salary increases over every year\u2014or, salary is directly proportional to age. Makes sense,right? More experience, more money.<\/p>\n

Not too fast. Turns out that the pay advantage correlated with an increase in age plateaus rather rapidly. Salary levels stagnate in the mid-$120K range between the ages of 28-34. Check out the graph. (Bloomberg BusinessWeek<\/a>)<\/p>\n

No match for China<\/b><\/h4>\n

It probably comes as no surprise that China provides the second largest population of GMAT test takers in the world. In 2012-13, 53,005 GMATs were administered in China, over half the 90,541 figure administered in the United States.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not all. On average, Chinese test takers do far better on the GMAT than do their American counterparts\u2014as in 50 points higher. Why? They study harder.<\/p>\n

But there\u2019s even more! To increase the average GMAT scores of their students, business school admissions are increasingly seeking Chinese applicants\u2014as well as Indian applicants, who also attain higher averages. The reason? Average GMAT scores weigh heavily into MBA rankings\u2014and this is one easy way for business schools to increase theirs. (Poets & Quants<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Who not to ask for a letter of recommendation<\/b><\/h4>\n

You know that a the strongest business school applications start with a high GMAT scores and strong GPAs, but never discount other pieces of the application\u2014including your letters of recommendation. Those who write on your behalf act as convincing third party endorsements \u2026 if you pick the right references.<\/p>\n

Rec letters can hurt you if you ask the wrong people to help you out. A couple major (but easy) mistakes to avoid on this front:<\/p>\n