Also in response to the pandemic, travel and gathering restrictions, and consulate closures,\u00a0many business schools have extended their application cycles<\/a>. In doing so they are both responding to applicant concerns and needs while also trying to ensure that they have diverse and full classes when the 2020-21 academic year starts. There are also many concerns about employment outcomes for this year\u2019s graduating class.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The letter was sent to\u00a0U.S. News & World Report<\/em>,the\u00a0Financial Times<\/em>,\u00a0Bloomberg Businessweek<\/em>,\u00a0The Economist<\/em>,\u00a0Forbes<\/em>, and\u00a0QS<\/em>.The MBA organizations conveyed concern over the impact that the coronavirus pandemic would have on key markers used to rank MBA programs.\u00a0U.S. News\u00a0<\/em>responded that it is reviewing its policies.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n No timeframe was suggested in the request, but they would like to \u201cprovide business schools worldwide the opportunity to rebound in these tumultuous circumstances,\u201d which could lead to a year-long suspension of rankings. It is very unlikely that ranking institutions will wait that long to publish their next list.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n According to Linda Abraham, founder and CEO of Accepted, schools probably believe that the data that will come out of this application cycle isn\u2019t representative or helpful to future applicants. \u201cRankings force schools to make those numbers public unless all the schools refuse to provide data to the rankings,\u201d she says. \u201cClearly the schools don\u2019t want those numbers known and don\u2019t want to be ranked on traditional metrics.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Linda discusses whether the rankings themselves are cause for concern, since all of the schools are in the same situation relative to one another. She does not feel that the rankings will change radically. \u201cHowever, the stats that the rankings publicize and upon which the different rankings are based could change dramatically. Perhaps schools fear significant drops of 10, 20, or 30 points in the average GMAT score for the class entering in 2020. Perhaps a .2 or more drop in average GPA. Acceptance rates could climb.\u00a0International diversity<\/a>, certainly in the U.S., is likely to take a nosedive.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A silver lining and benefit of a \u201cno-ranking\u201d cycle or at least round is that it frees the MBA programs to focus more on other qualities and qualifications in an application.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The fact that the GMAT, AACSB, and EFMD have written this letter reflects how important the various rankings are to graduate business education. It is, according to Linda, \u201ca profound acknowledgment of rankings\u2019 influence on application decisions as to whether and where to apply to business schools. Let\u2019s face it. Schools are wrestling with a new, difficult financial reality, the need to completely change their delivery method for an unknown period of time, health concerns, possible lawsuits, and myriad of other issues.\u201d You still have time to apply to an MBA program in R3.\u00a0Work one-on-one with one of our MBA admissions consultants<\/a>\u00a0and GET ACCEPTED!<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n For 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more.\u00a0Want an MBA admissions expert\u00a0to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Related Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This article<\/a>\u00a0originally appeared on\u00a0blog.accepted.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n 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><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"Is](\"https:\/\/cdn2.hubspot.net\/hubfs\/58291\/hub_generated\/resized\/2de43478-9828-4a33-9443-cd74d01659ca.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHow long will the postponement be?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Why do these organizations want to stop rankings?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
It\u2019s a tough time for business schools. Their representative organizations are asking for a little breathing room while trying to prevent applicants from making decisions based on misleading information.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n