Firstly, why research b-schools? Before we invest in something, we do our due diligence. By joining an MBA program, you will invest your time, money and effort into it. And you will make the best out of it only if you find your MBA experience worthy. This “best” can have a different meaning for every student, so it’s important to evaluate B-schools from your criteria.
Moreover, there is the question of fit – will you fit into the culture of the b-school, will you find like-minded people there, will you find the program and the student community intellectually stimulating?
So, even if you are applying to the world’s top MBA programs, with stellar reputation and rankings,
you must research target b-schools and understand what opportunities they present for YOU and what is your fit there.For new applicants, who are just starting to look into the application process, b-school research can be mind-boggling and they may not know where to start. So, we present here, a guideline to help you conduct your research.
We would put the b-school research down to
3 categories- Academics, Professional and Community. For each one, we will share what you should research and how.
PART IWhat to Research: Academics1.
What are the different teaching methods? Some b-schools rely very heavily on the case method (HBS, Darden, IESE, LBS, IVEY), some on experiential learning (MIT, Ross, Judge), some on integrated learning (Yale), and most have a blend of all methods. It’s good to get an understanding of whether B-schools employ a specific teaching method predominantly and if that approach works for you.
2.
What are the electives and concentrations being offered? These are important as they will enable you to customize your academic experience and develop a specialization in your career path. Note that many B-schools offer concentrations with an industry focus (such as Healthcare, Real Estate, Media & Entertainment) or function focus (such as corporate finance, strategy, digital marketing, operations and supply chain management). For every MBA program of interest, you should find out which concentrations/ majors/ electives can you take, and how many concentrations can you take so you get the best out of your academic experience.
3.
How is the faculty? Related to the coursework is the faculty that teaches them. Every B-school has some
star faculty, and it will be helpful to know more about them.
4.
How is the experiential learning component in the curriculum? There may be multiple opportunities such as action labs, team-based projects, and the summer internship. Projects and Labs can be centred around focus areas such as PE/VC, social impact, entrepreneurship, healthcare analytics, marketing, finance and many more. These are excellent for gaining exposure to 1-2 different industries if you wish to test the waters before your job hunt, or for building depth in a particular industry/function which you wish to join post-MBA.
5.
How is the curriculum structured? Every B-school has a required curriculum and an elective lineup. However, there is a variation in how the academic calendar is planned. As the preparation for the summer internship starts soon after you join the MBA program, you may benefit from studying certain electives earlier in the year as they prepare you better for the internship (UCLA, Booth, Kellogg). Although this may be a small detail, but still, something to keep in mind.
6.
Can you take interdisciplinary courses outside the b-school? This is possible where the b-school is part of a larger university and there are opportunities to take courses from another college within the university.
7. Some B-schools allow for
international exchange where you can study at another B-school for a specific period. If it’s something that interests you, then look deeper into it. Also, most B-schools offer global immersion programs (check sample- Wharton, Tuck, HBS), which are experiential courses held in different countries.
How to research?1. B-school
websites have a ton of information hidden in their web pages. Scour through these. Maintain an Excel sheet and jot down whatever is of interest or what you find to be a differentiating factor. You can discuss these in more detail during your primary research.
2. Read
student blogs. Some of them are very descriptive and they can help you visualize the real deal.
3. Watch
videos posted by the b-school administration or directly by students. Almost all B-schools have
video channels and podcasts. Many b-schools hold
masterclasses– these can be recorded uploads or live sessions that are held virtually or on-campus. Sometimes masterclasses travel to your city during info sessions and MBA fairs, so be on the lookout for these and register before seats run out.
4.
Campus visits – you can sit in classes during campus visits. Sitting in a class will tell you about the quality of the discussion and how engaged are the students and how you see yourself contributing to such a class.
5. Lastly, and most important-
interact with current students and recent alumni and ask them about their experiences. Don’t ask basic questions, but use this chance to validate/ explore what you may have learnt through the b-school website and other available resources. Remember, hearing generic questions would be a put-off for anybody so ask questions where personal view matters.
Read Part 2 Below. Read Part 3 of the article here. OR come back a few days later to read it on this forum