Each week we collect all the MBA news that’s fit to print and provide a quick overview of the latest updates from top business schools around the world.
Here’s your MBA News You Need digest for the week of August 26, 2019.
Duke Fuqua Updates Daytime MBA Curriculum and More
Current Daytime MBA students at the Duke Fuqua School of Business will have enhanced learning opportunities in the summer and spring based on three themes: creating common purpose, examining the transformational role of technology, and adopting a lifelong entrepreneurial mindset. Further changes to the core curriculum will take effect starting in the fall of 2020.
Over the summer, changes to the “Leadership, Ethics and Organization” course will revolve around inspiring a common purpose, and two other classes will cover the influence of technology and developing an entrepreneurial mindset. In the Spring Two term, Fuqua will be introducing a new course, “Capitalism and Common Purpose in a World of Differences.”
Senior Associate Dean Russ Morgan observed, “This is a great way to get our first-year students focused on these themes from the very beginning of their experience. As the first year progresses and they have developed greater trust and relationships, we want them going even deeper in these areas – particularly as it relates to building common purpose.”
Fuqua Dean Bill Boulding remarked, “The skills our students need to succeed in business today and what companies are looking for in talent are constantly evolving, which requires continually innovating as a school to meet those needs.”
Learn more about other enhancements, including the addition of a Technology Track for MMS: FOB students and a new Accelerated MBA program here.
UCLA Anderson Advises on Which Round to Apply
As part of the Application Insider blog series, UCLA Anderson School of Management shared insights into the timing of when MBA applicants should apply.
While applicants are encouraged to apply when they feel their application is at its best, they also provided a set of pros and cons for each round.
Applying Round 1
- Pros: Every seat in the target class size of 360 is available, as is the full amount of merit-based scholarships. It’s also a way to convey that this program is your top choice, and you will have plenty of lead time up to the beginning of the school year in 2020.
- Cons: You may feel rushed to complete key elements of your application, including essays, recommendations and tests.
Applying Round 2
- Pros: Applicants will have more time to finish essays and secure recommendations, as well as a chance to retake the GMAT/GRE or TOEFL/IELTS if necessary. More time also means a greater chance to schedule a campus visit, and get to know the program better.
- Cons: This is the most popular round to apply in, so competition is higher. If you are dinged, you may not have time to apply elsewhere.
Applying Round 3
- Pros: Given the extra time, you may be able to enhance your profile with a promotion or other achievements. You may also be able to retake a test if necessary.
- Cons: This is the most competitive round, as the number of seats available is capped. The waitlist is still open, but will already contain competitive candidates from the first two rounds.
For more on which round to apply in from UCLA Anderson, visit here.
Berkeley Haas Rounds Up Highest Paying Concentrations
Career advancement and the accompanying salary increase are popular reasons to pursue an MBA. Based on their graduating class of 2018, Berkeley Haas reported that the median starting salary across industries and functions landed at $127,571 for their 242 graduates.
A closer look at industry choices revealed the following rankings for median base salaries:
- Media and entertainment, $136,667
- Technology, $132,784
- Consulting, $312,268
- Transportation and logistics services, $126,617
- Financial services, $125,583
Berkeley Haas also took a closer look at how mean base salaries landed across function:
- Business development and strategy, $132,890
- Consulting, $129,929
- Finance, $117,952
- General management, $125,682
- Marketing, $130,825
See more rankings and how a tailored MBA program supports career advancement in the Berkeley Haas blog.
Dartmouth Tuck Class of 2021 Breaks Enrollment Records
The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth University welcomed 284 students for the Class of 2021—and they stand out for their diversity and intellectual aptitude. The new group of MBA candidates arrived on campus with an average GMAT score of 723—the highest to-date at the school. The GRE averages for the class (163 verbal, 161 quant) match last year’s all-time high. The new students also represent 45 countries by citizenship and 24 percent identify as U.S. minorities—two new records for the school. Thirty-eight percent of the Class of 2021 is international, including dual citizens and U.S. permanent residents. Tuck also maintains a strong female component, as women comprise 42 percent of the new first-year class.
For more on Tuck’s Class of 2021 profile, see their announcement.
The Best Recommender by Michigan Ross
Soojin Kwon, managing director of the full-time MBA admissions and program at Michigan Ross, took to the MBA Admissions Blog to advise applicants on choosing the best person for a letter of recommendation.
First, a recommender should be able to account for your strengths, leadership qualities, resilience and progress in a professional context. Usually, one’s current direct supervisor is the best option, and Kwon also recommends giving them six to eight weeks’ notice to develop a strong recommendation letter.
Can’t get a recommendation from your direct supervisor? Kwon says no problem: “You want to select someone who can speak in detail to the strengths you bring to your teams, and how you’ve grown in a particular role. Most of the time, that person is your direct supervisor. But we understand that sometimes that’s just not possible. In those instances, you can ask a previous supervisor or a client with whom you’ve worked closely.”
For more advice from Michigan Ross on choosing your recommender, visit the blog.
