General
News items that we think are relevant and potentially of interest to MBA applicants and anyone interested in business school.
Published: January 10, 2019
Fridays from the Frontline: Microsoft Women in Tech Challenge 2018
Fridays from the Frontline
Last year’s cryptocurrency explosion brought to the forefront a fact that can no longer be negotiated in the business school community: the divide between tech and business has all but been erased. Prospective business school students now demand programs that equip them with the hard skills necessary to deal with cutting-edge biztech issues and firmly embed them in the tech community. So, it’s perfectly reasonable to expect that business schools will adapt their curricula to ensure that MBAs can bridge the gap once they enter the job market.
Cambridge’s Judge Business School recently hosted the Microsoft-sponsored Women in Tech Challenge, which brought together Management, MBA, and math students to address real-world issues. Cambridge’s Maria Zarate reports.
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Published: January 3, 2019
Published: January 1, 2019
Why Finding the School with the Right Culture Matters
Sponsored Content For UNC Kenan-Flagler alumna Norra Jabbour (MBA ’14), landing a job with Goldman Sachs is at the top of her list of greatest professional achievements. Norra Jabbour (UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA ’14) “I never thought I’d have the opportunity to work at a place like this,” says Jabbour, a private wealth advisor in the investment management division at Goldman Sachs. She advises high net-worth clients, nonprofits and institutions on asset management items, investment advice and financial planning. Before she went into finance, basketball was a big part of her life, first as a player in high
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Published: January 1, 2019
Fisher College of Business Transforms MBA Experience at Ohio State
Sponsored Content The Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business is transforming its Master of Business Administration programs. The college just completed a comprehensive redesign of the Full-Time MBA program, which takes advantage of Fisher’s strong relationships with employers and recruiters to cultivate career competencies sought by organizations. “Continuous innovation is a priority which is explicitly highlighted in the college’s strategic plan. This innovation guides our approach to how all of our programs are delivered,” said Anil K. Makhija, dean and John W. Berry, Sr. Chair in Business at Fisher. The program offers students an experience designed to be
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Published: December 30, 2018
Real Humans of Rochester Simon’s MBA Class of 2020
The University of Rochester’s Simon Business School has risen to prominence recently as the first U.S. business school to receive STEM designation for its full-time MBA program. Alongside a STEM-designated option, Simon places emphasis on experiential learning. Students are required to take a project-based consulting course, during which they work in teams with a company on a business project, applying the tools they have learned in the classroom in real-life situations. Simon offers 10 specializations arranged in three tracks: Finance, Marketing and Consulting. Students also have the option to round off their education with a minor in six
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Published: December 27, 2018
Getting the Most Out of Your MBA Networking at Cornell Johnson
Sponsored Content If you want to get the most out of your Cornell SC Johnson Graduate School of Management MBA program, then networking needs to play a key role in your experience. The good news is that the school offers a range of opportunities and advice for making the making the most of every person you meet. From attending multi-school events to participating in partner organizations, there are a multitude of ways to network with a highly diverse group of people. Judi Byers, the Executive Director of Admissions & Financial Aid, talks about how Cornell Johnson
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Published: December 27, 2018
Fridays from the Frontline: 6 Reflections on My First Year
First-year MBA students often get so wrapped up in the hoopla of class and campus life that they neglect to see the big picture—including the fact that they’re in the frame. There’s been a lot of digital ink spilled on these pages about the assorted networking and internship opportunities embedded in the business school experience, but one aspect that goes overlooked is self-care.
Swati Tiwari MBA '19 took to the Fuqua blog to touch upon these issues and more, sharing six major takeaways from her first year of business school.
The following post has been republished in its entirety from its original source, the Duke Fuqua Blog.
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Published: December 20, 2018
Fridays from the Frontline: This Time for Africa: LBS Students in Johannesburg
The week-long Global Business Experience (GBE) is one of London Business School’s major selling points, offering MBA students an opportunity to immerse themselves in the business cultures of Israel, India, China, Peru, Myanmar, South Africa, or Brazil.
According to LBS, GBEs consist of “faculty briefings, guest speakers, site visits, workshops, panels, company visits and opportunities to engage with local LBS alumni in the region.”
The South African GBE is centered around the role that entrepreneurial micro-businesses play in economic growth. LBS students “work with a micro-entrepreneur on a challenge facing their business in an important emerging market. Develop an understanding of the process of growth and transformation, as well as the constraints and opportunities that surround them.”
Current MBA student Amy Dobbin '19 took to the LBS blog to unpack her recent GBE in Johannesburg.
The following post has been republished in its entirety from its original source, the LBS Student and Admissions Blog.
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Published: December 19, 2018
Duke Fuqua Talks MBA Networking that Actually Works
Sponsored Content We love to meet new people and expand our personal network, but we know it’s not always easy. That’s why we talked to Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business to determine how the school can help. Whether it’s by attending a multi-school event or meeting a diverse set of students in the classroom, Duke Fuqua is all about helping you build an MBA network that actually works for you now and in the future. Read what Allison Jamison, the Assistant Dean of Admissions, has to say about taking advantage of your MBA network. Allison Jamison, Duke Fuqua’s
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Published: December 18, 2018
Professors Talk About the Holiday Toy Battle Sans Toys “R” Us
What’s a Christmas without Toys "R" Us? How are all those parents and kids going to find their perfect toy?
While this year might mark the first Christmas season without Toys "R" Us, there’s no need to panic. Many stores and outlets have already rushed to fill in the gap left by the toy store’s bankruptcy filing. Amazon sent out holiday toy catalogs to millions of customers, and Walmart and Target also have plenty of toys to fill in the gap for families. Most surprising, Toys "R" Us itself isn’t entirely out of the running, yet. In October, the brand decided not to liquidate all of its assets and instead has partnered with Kroger to create pop-up stores inside the supermarket called, “Geoffrey’s Toy Box.”
To figure out what all this means, Wharton School marketing professor Barbara Kahn got together with Mark A. Cohen, the director of retail studies at Columbia Business School, to talk about Christmas without Toys "R" Us.
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Published: December 18, 2018
Advice on MBA Networking from UC Berkeley Haas
Sponsored Content Networking is vital for every MBA student and applicant, and at the University of California-Berkeley Haas School of Business, the school does whatever it can to help. From offering a myriad of networking opportunities to focusing on creating diverse classrooms, UC Berkeley Haas ensures that before, during, and after your MBA you have connections that will last you a lifetime. Liz Rosenberg, Senior Associate Director of Full-time MBA Admissions at Berkeley Haas Here’s what Senior Associate Director of Full-time MBA Admissions Liz Rosenberg had to say about networking and diversity at Berkeley Haas.
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Published: December 16, 2018
Real Humans of Cambridge Judge’s MBA Class of 2019
Cambridge University is an institution steeped in history. Stephen Hawking, Charles Darwin, Sylvia Plath, and Isaac Newton have walked across its quads and sat in its halls. So it's no wonder that the business school ad com looks for candidates who are "intelligent, curious, and energetic, and keen to contribute to our community, as well as achieve great things for themselves." Before we introduce five students who met the criteria, let's take a closer look at the school and its Class of 2019.
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Published: December 16, 2018
Using Social Media to Help Your B-School Application: Advice from Admissions Directors
If you’re an MBA candidate, you should know that there’s more to an MBA application than the forms you fill out and the essays you write. In this age of social media, what you post online can have repercussions in the admissions process and on your future career.
Admissions offices at leading business schools know that most applicants maintain an online presence and will sometimes check to see what they’re posting. We recently discussed this very issue in our article, Social Media in MBA Admissions: Can Your Twitter Feed Derail Your B-School Dreams?, which focused on the results of a Kaplan Test Prep survey that reported that 40 percent of admissions officers have visited an applicant’s social media page.
So, the question becomes: “How can I make sure that my social media works for me and not against me?” We put this question to admissions officers at some of top b-schools around the country including Cornell’s Johnson Graduate School of Management, University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business, University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, and Emory’s Goizueta Business School.
While this is a re-post from one year ago, these tips hold true today. Find out what they had to say to MBA candidates with regard to their social media presence:
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Published: December 13, 2018
Real Humans of Oxford Saïd’s MBA Class of 2019
As HQ for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, Oxford has long held a place in the global imagination as the image of elite British education. While Oxford Saïd Business School is a relatively new addition to the Oxford ranks, it has quickly made a significant contribution to the legacy of the institution in its short 22-year existence. In fact, The Economist currently ranks Oxford Saïd as the UK’s top MBA program. Over the course of the yearlong program, Oxford Saïd MBA students will develop the skills they need to thrive as corporate executives through team projects, workshops, seminars, and lectures. Students acquire and
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Published: December 13, 2018
Fridays from the Frontline: Olin Alum Roams into Global Scavenger Hunt Success
While working as a Quantitative Associate Analyst at Allstate in the greater Chicago area, Harding was also putting 50 hours per week into a scavenger hunt app.
Let’s Roam co-founder Mike Harding took to the Olin Blog to discuss the origin of his scavenger hunt tour company, which re-imagines “the way people explore and connect, at home and abroad” through custom hunts that foster team-building.
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Published: December 12, 2018
UVA Darden Admissions Explains How to Be an MBA Networking Genius
Sponsored Content You’ve decided to apply for an MBA program, great! Now what? Now, you start networking right away. At UVA Darden School of Business, the earlier you start building your network the better. Your network will be invaluable throughout your MBA career and beyond, as long as you take advantage of every opportunity. The good news is that UVA Darden has many unique MBA networking possibilities, all of which will help you create a diverse set of connections that will see you through life. Executive Director of Admissions and Financial Aid To gain insight
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Published: December 11, 2018
Take Your MBA Networking to the Next Level with NYU Stern
Sponsored Content At the NYU Stern School of Business, networking is a great way to get to know a school, the MBA program, the admissions team, the application process, and prepare for your future. That’s why it’s so vital that you meet and engage with as many people as possible in as diverse of an environment as possible. The good news is that NYU Stern has many unique opportunities set up to make networking as an MBA student a breeze. Check out MBA Admissions Director Lauren Calio’s recommendations for MBA networking at NYU Stern. Lauren
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Published: December 9, 2018
Real Humans of UCLA Anderson’s MBA Class of 2020
At the UCLA Anderson School of Management, the collaborative curriculum gives students the skills to achieve their goals while the Career Management Center provides one-on-one coaching and access to top-level executives and businesses to help students make a smooth, successful transition into the professional world. Of the 3,423 people who applied to be a part of the supportive program, 360 matriculated in the Class of 2020. Altogether, the new class averaged 719 on the GMAT and the 80 percent range fell between 680 and 750. Their middle-80 percent undergraduate GPA range landed at 3.2 to 3.8. A quarter
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Published: December 6, 2018
Fridays from the Frontline: To Do Or Not To Do: The Intensive Language Program – That Is The Question
One of INSEAD’s major selling points is its language policy, which requires that students speak English fluently and moderately well in a second language. By the time the program wraps, INSEAD MBAs must be able to speak a “third, commercially useful, language at A2 'Basic' level in order to graduate.”
Since languages play such an integral role in an INSEAD education, it may come as no surprise that the school offers intensive language courses in both Spanish and French. Current MBA student Rada Keratirags ‘19J took to the INSEAD MBA Experience blog to review the intensive French course offered by INSEAD training partner FL&C in Fontainebleau.
The following post has been republished in its entirety from its original source, the INSEAD MBA Experience Blog.
To Do Or Not To Do: The Intensive Language Program – That Is The Question
Rada Keratirags, MBA’19J
A 26-year-old auditor-turned-consultant from Bangkok, Thailand. Travelling has always been my passion, and documenting it—both by photography and keeping a diary—comes naturally to me. And here I'd like to share my INSEAD journey with you.
I believe a lot of people wonder about this. In fact, I owe a 19D a thorough review of the intensive language program.
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Published: December 5, 2018
Real Humans of the Georgetown McDonough MBA Class of 2020
As a global hub for politics, business, tech, and nonprofit organizations alike, Washington, D.C., is one of the major selling points for prospective Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business students. Students also laud the close-knit community of the MBA program, and how second-year students are always at the ready for any and all questions from new candidates. In this edition of Real Humans, we’re going to meet five new students who chose McDonough for different reasons, but found the same sense of community. We start with a snapshot of the new class. The 271 students who enrolled
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Published: December 5, 2018
Got Your MBA? Here’s How You Can Save Money on Your Student Loan after Graduation
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Apply for refinancing now” and “save over $20,000* through refinancing
As an international MBA graduate you worked hard to get into the right school, get the MBA to set you apart from your peers, and then to land the job you’ve always dreamed of.
You’re on track to a lucrative professional career. The catch? You likely spent thousands to get where you are. And now you’ve got years worth of student debt holding you back from starting the life you want.
The answer seems simple: just refinance your student loan. But unfortunately, for immigrants living and working in a new home country, your refinance options are going to be limited. Your domestic peers have opportunities to suit their needs but you’ve been held back because of your visa status.
Fortunately that’s about to change. You can save thousands of dollars by refinancing your student loan with the introduction of international lenders like Prodigy Finance. International lenders are focused on breaking down the traditional challenges of cross-border lending to give more people the opportunity to access financial independence.
How refinancing your international student loan can save you money
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Published: December 4, 2018
Network Like an MBA Boss with Advice from Michigan Ross
Sponsored Content Attending a multi-school event to learn more about potential MBA programs is a great start for gathering information. Even better is using that opportunity to build your MBA network. But that’s just the start of your networking experience at Michigan University’s Ross School of Business. The school offers a variety of events, clubs, organizations, and opportunities to meet new people, expand your viewpoint, and build your network for the future. The key is to take advantage of everything that’s available. Diana Economy, Michigan Ross’s Director of Full-Time MBA Admissions To get an idea
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Published: December 3, 2018
Discover How Yale SOM Makes MBA Networking a Dream Come True
Sponsored Content If you’re an MBA candidate, you probably know that networking is vital to your experience. You’ve probably even started to consider what events you’ll attend and what classes you’ll sign up for once you start school to help build your network. But did you know that you can start your network before you even apply? At least that’s what the Yale School of Management recommends. There’s no time like the present to start building a diverse network of contacts that will help you throughout the MBA applications process, during your MBA program, and beyond.
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Published: December 2, 2018
Real Humans of Dartmouth Tuck’s MBA Class of 2020
We are pleased to continue our Real Humans series with a snapshot of the Class of 2020 at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business. Situated in Hanover, New Hampshire, Tuck stands out from its peer schools for offering only a full-time MBA program, though students may pursue joint or dual degrees in conjunction with Dartmouth and other leading universities. Once again, the Tuck class matriculated with impressive and diverse experiences. Compared to the Class of 2019, the average GMAT score has stayed consistent at 722 and the average GPA has dropped only slightly to 3.49. Tuck also continues
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Published: November 29, 2018
Fridays from the Frontline: Top 5 Spots for Chicago Booth Coffee Chats
Peer-to-peer mentorship is an integral part of the MBA experience that often gets overlooked in favor of other kinds of networking. Chicago Booth understands that the connections its students make among peers will serve them well during their MBA stint, their careers, and beyond.
This is why Chicago Booth facilitates “Coffee Chats,” or informal hangs for first-years to pick the brains of second-years about recruiting, internships, and their Booth experiences. Current Booth student Aliy Markowski MBA ’19 offers her personal recommendations for the best coffee spots in Hyde Park that cater especially well to these unique meet-ups.
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