{"id":44764,"date":"2019-02-24T06:30:04","date_gmt":"2019-02-24T13:30:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=44764"},"modified":"2019-02-21T02:21:34","modified_gmt":"2019-02-21T09:21:34","slug":"7-ways-to-distinguish-between-similar-mba-programs-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/7-ways-to-distinguish-between-similar-mba-programs-3\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Ways to Distinguish Between Similar MBA Programs"},"content":{"rendered":"&nbsp;\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-44261\" src=\"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/7-Ways-to-Distinguish-Between-Similar-MBA-Programs.jpg\" alt=\"7 Ways to Distinguish Between Similar MBA Programs\" width=\"700\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/7-Ways-to-Distinguish-Between-Similar-MBA-Programs.jpg 700w, https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/7-Ways-to-Distinguish-Between-Similar-MBA-Programs-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\r\nSchool marketing materials\/presentations\/websites superficially sound very much the same. So how can applicants wisely research their options and discern the points of difference?\r\n\r\nWhen <a href=\"https:\/\/reports.accepted.com\/mba\/where-you-should-apply\">doing MBA research<\/a>, pay special attention to the following differentiating features:\r\n\r\n\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li><strong>Employment Profile<\/strong>\r\n<p class=\"spacing\">See where graduates find jobs. Which schools send the most grads to the companies, industries, and locations you are most interested in?<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"spacing\"><strong>Class Profile<\/strong>\r\n<p class=\"spacing\">Do you want a large class or a small, close-knit class? Do you want an urban or rural setting? Do you really want to be in a <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/mit-mba-class-profile-class-of-2020\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">class that draws over 70% of its students from engineering, business, and technical fields<\/a>? Or would you prefer to be in a class where <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gsb.stanford.edu\/programs\/mba\/admission\/class-profile\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">48% come from the social sciences and humanities<\/a>? Both MIT and Stanford provide outstanding MBA educations, but their classes have very different educational backgrounds. You may prefer one or the other.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"spacing\"><strong>Curriculum<\/strong>\r\n<p class=\"spacing\">Would you cringe at <a href=\"https:\/\/reports.accepted.com\/mba\/harvard-business-school\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Harvard\u2019s<\/a> rigid first year where everyone takes the same classes? Or would you be lost with all the options at <a href=\"https:\/\/reports.accepted.com\/mba\/chicago_booth_mba\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chicago<\/a>, which prides itself on its flexibility? Is the ability to pass out of prerequisites important to you? Do you want a lot of teacher cooperation and integration of business functions such as is provided by <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/an-interview-with-dartmouth-tucks-admissions-director-luke-pena-episode-252\/\">Tuck<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/yale-som-integrated-in-its-curriculum-with-its-university-and-to-the-world-episode-273\/\">Yale<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"spacing\"><strong>Methodology<\/strong>\r\n<p class=\"spacing\">Do you prefer a mix of methodologies? If so, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/reports.accepted.com\/mba\/get_accepted_to_wharton_webinar\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wharton<\/a>. Do you seek an emphasis on projects and hands-on learning as at <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/michigan-ross-mba-its-about-real-clear-and-teamwork-episode-271\/\">Ross<\/a>? Do you want the strict case method? Take a closer look at HBS and <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/whats-life-like-darden-mba-entrepreneur-episode-194\/\">Darden<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Clubs &amp; Extracurriculars<\/strong>\r\n<p class=\"spacing\">There are many schools out there that have imitated MIT Sloan\u2019s business plan competition, but not all programs have a social enterprise competition (HBS does). If you are interested in social enterprise, that competition may be particularly appealing. What are some of the unusual clubs at the different schools that you might be interested in? For example, almost every school will have a Marketing Club, but only some, like <a href=\"https:\/\/reports.accepted.com\/columbia_bschool_webinar\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Columbia<\/a>, will have a Luxury Goods Marketing Club. Again, if this is your interest, the existence and health of that club may be an important attraction for you.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"spacing\"><strong>Professor Research<\/strong>\r\n<p class=\"spacing\">If there is a professor or two researching the niche appealing to you, they may be the magnet pulling you to that program. Are there independent study opportunities? Do they teach MBA students? What classes?<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"spacing\"><strong>Fit <\/strong>\r\n<p class=\"spacing\">Then there is that almost indefinable quality called \u201cfit.\u201d Visit the schools you are considering to <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/determining-school-fit\/\">determine fit<\/a>. If visiting isn\u2019t feasible, talk to current students, read MBA student blogs and interviews, and follow the student body newsletters.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nUnderstanding the differences among business schools isn\u2019t easy, but it is worthwhile. Grasping these points of difference will enable you to\u00a0make more intelligent application and acceptance decisions.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<strong>Do you need help distinguishing between the different programs and determining which ones are best for you? Explore our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.accepted.com\/mba\/services\/consulting\">MBA Admissions Consulting &amp; Editing Services<\/a> and work one-on-one with an expert advisor who will help you choose the best-matched MBA programs for you and apply successfully to acceptance. Learn more here.<\/strong>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/reports.accepted.com\/mba-admissions-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-36086 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Navigate_the_MBA_Maze.jpg\" alt=\"Get your guide!\" width=\"600\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Navigate_the_MBA_Maze.jpg 600w, https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Navigate_the_MBA_Maze-300x100.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.accepted.com\/mba\/services\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-40068 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Accepted-blue-rectangle.png\" alt=\"Get accepted!\" width=\"669\" height=\"206\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Accepted-blue-rectangle.png 669w, https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Accepted-blue-rectangle-300x92.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 669px) 100vw, 669px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Related Resources:<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/reports.accepted.com\/mba\/where-you-should-apply\">Best MBA Programs: A Guide to Choosing the Right One<\/a>, a free guide<\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/harvard-stanford-wharton-whats-the-difference\/\">Harvard, Stanford, Wharton: What's the Difference?<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/focus-fit-episode-162\/\">Focus on Fit<\/a>, a podcast episode<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<em><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/7-ways-to-distinguish-between-similar-mba-programs\/\">This article<\/a> originally appeared on <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/\">blog.accepted.com<\/a>.<\/em>\r\n\r\n<em>Applying to a top b-school? The talented folks at Accepted have helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to their dream programs. Whether you are figuring out where to apply, writing your application essays, or prepping for your interviews, we are just a call (or click) away.<\/em>\r\n\r\n<em>Contact us, and get matched up with the consultant who will <a href=\"https:\/\/www.accepted.com\/mba\/services\">help you get accepted<\/a>!<\/em>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; School marketing materials\/presentations\/websites superficially sound very much the same. So how can applicants wisely research their options and discern the points of difference? When doing MBA research, pay special&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,939,775,113,243],"tags":[2171,967,296,827],"class_list":["post-44764","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mba","category-accepted","category-admission-consultants","category-applications","category-blog","tag-applying","tag-applying-to-business-school","tag-fit","tag-school-research","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44764","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44764"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44764\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44766,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44764\/revisions\/44766"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44764"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44764"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44764"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}