{"id":45094,"date":"2019-04-05T06:00:18","date_gmt":"2019-04-05T13:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=45094"},"modified":"2019-04-07T07:53:18","modified_gmt":"2019-04-07T14:53:18","slug":"do-mba-rankings-matter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/do-mba-rankings-matter\/","title":{"rendered":"Do MBA Rankings Matter?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\"Do\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve defined your goals and assessed your qualifications. Now it\u2019s time to move on to the program research stage of the MBA admissions process. There is a sea of information out there: rankings, books, MBA program websites, MBA fairs, Poets & Quants<\/a><\/em>, student and adcom blogs, school open houses, your neighbor\u2019s sister\u2019s boyfriend\u2019s dad \u2013 the list goes on and on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where do the rankings fit in?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve read our blog, attended our webinars, read our admissions guides<\/a>, etc., you know we caution against relying exclusively and uncritically on rankings to decide where to apply (so that means no \u201cI\u2019m just going to apply to the top 5\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, here we\u2019re going to suggest the opposite: use the rankings\u2026at the beginning of this research phase, because they are<\/em> helpful at the start. But don\u2019t stop with the rankings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6 steps to using the rankings to your advantage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Below you\u2019ll find 6 key steps for doing MBA program research in a way that a) yields meaningful<\/em> info for decision-making and list-making, and b) is efficient and focused \u2013 conserving and respecting your precious time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Look at rankings<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

With your competitive profile in mind, look at several broad MBA rankings. Determine what levels\/ranges of programs for which you\u2019re competitive generally (taking into account reasonable reaches, on-pars, and maybe safeties). Note the plural \u2013 rankings \u2013 as each has its idiosyncrasies (U.S. News<\/em><\/a>, Financial Times<\/em><\/a>, Bloomberg Businessweek<\/em>, etc.). Sometimes a program will be below or above your target competitive range, but it still might make sense to apply for some reason (in the following steps you\u2019ll gain the additional info needed to make this decision).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: Talk to people<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

At this point it\u2019s good to start talking to people with MBA experience \u2013 colleagues, friends, mentors, etc. \u2013 and add a qualitative dimension to the above step. Ask about their impressions and experiences, and assess how their views align (or not) with what you gleaned from the rankings vis-\u00e0-vis competitive fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"View<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Step 3: Search industry\/function-specific rankings<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Research industry- and\/or function-specific rankings in your area(s) of interest. Identify programs from these rankings that overlap with those from Step 1 (and factoring in any learning from Step 2).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There may be programs in your competitive range that do meet your academic needs but don\u2019t<\/em> show up on specialization rankings (e.g., Kellogg isn\u2019t known as a finance school but offers much in this area and might be great for someone in PE who will be doing a lot of managing; Columbia<\/a> doesn\u2019t often appear on entrepreneurship rankings but is quite strong in it). So indulge in some unstructured exploring, to \u201csee what you might see.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 4: Start digging deeper<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Go to the source \u2013 the websites of programs that interest you. Look for specifics that you care about (structure of curriculum, flexibility, appealing concentrations, students from a given industry or geographic region, placement strengths, etc.). Listen to your gut as well as your objective response; does it feel<\/em> like a good fit? Remember, you can keep the rankings info in mind as you look deeper into your target programs. For example, check the schools\u2019 average GMAT and GRE scores \u2013 are your scores within range<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 5: Go to MBA fairs and visit schools<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

What better way to understand your fit with a school than to see the students, professors, and administrators in action? You will get the most out of MBA fairs and school information sessions at this point in your research, after you already have a good idea of what each program offers and how you\u2019d fit in competitively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you can swing it, a school visit<\/a> will really help you get the vibe of the schools you\u2019re considering. A school may seem perfect to you on paper, but if you step on campus and feel like a fish out of water, you may disqualify the program (though, be sure you\u2019re giving it a fair chance). On the other hand, if you visit a school that you were iffy about and immediately \u201cclick\u201d with the school, that\u2019s a great sign that a program that may not have seemed like \u201cthe one\u201d should become a top contender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 6 \u2013 Put the puzzle pieces together<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re narrowing and refining a list. Now it\u2019s time to focus more on adcom and student blog posts, searching the web for articles and information, and attending school information sessions, and of course, continuing to talk to people with MBA program experience and insight. You should now have a finalized or near-finalized list of programs to apply to<\/a>. You can continue refining the list and deciding on other programs to add later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOTE:<\/strong> This is a guideline, not a rigid process. Always<\/em> stay open to discovery \u2013 maybe you\u2019ll come across a school in a blog or a respected colleague suggests a program you hadn\u2019t considered. Maybe you thought you wanted to stay in the U.S. but were seduced by INSEAD<\/a>\u2026 Who doesn\u2019t love a pleasant surprise?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 ways you should NOT use the MBA rankings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The most important thing you need to remember is that while the rankings are useful, they do not offer you a complete picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So now I\u2019d like to present you with the other side of the story \u2013 the rankings\u2019 limitations. Blinding yourself to the rankings\u2019 flaws could lead to an expensive, time-consuming mistake: choosing the wrong MBA program for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n