Following up on last week’s post about the MBA information sessions currently being conducted on college campuses, we’d like to pass on some information about the schools’ pitches to undergraduates that we’ve received from our sources who attended the recent panel conducted at Haverford College. The invitation was extended to current students and recent graduates of the University of Pennsylvania and a number of smaller selective colleges in the Philadelphia area. As we mentioned in this blog when we first commented on this panel, the point of sessions such as this one is to get students thinking about the MBA as a viable possibility and encourage them to pursue their professional interests after graduation. Because the crowd was largely comprised of students pursuing liberal arts curricula, the panelists also tailored their approach and aimed to dispell a number of misconceptions they believed such a group might hold about business education.
1) First and foremost, the panelists stressed the relevance and applicability of the degree. Insisting that “this isn’t your parents’ MBA,” they conveyed a message that business school is for curious people who want to learn about the world and not only for those who are interested in a niche field. Not only will the theory learned in coursework illuminate the factors behind a student’s experiences to date, but it will also provide him or her with a toolbox that could be used in any industry or function. Stating that there are “no doors that are closed to you with an MBA,” the panelists emphasized the utlity of the degree and the possibilities that lay ahead.
2) Another message, not surprising given the audience, was that there is no prescribed course that aspiring MBAs need to follow to prepare for business school. The importance of making a demonstrable impact in the workplace was stressed, and those attending the session were encouraged to follow their passion and pursue whatever professional course they found most interesting, since this is the environment in which they would be most likely to flourish and excel. Speaking of the various backgrounds of students at each school and the importance of diversity among members of a class, students were told that applicants with non-profit and other nontraditional experience were just as, if not more, appealing to the admissions committee as the many bankers and consultants who apply each year.
3) The panelists took differing stances on the work experience issue. While Beth Flye of Kellogg cited the school’s belief in the importance of full-time exposure to the professional world and Wharton’s Judith Silverman commented that candidates applying directly from college are only occasionally admitted, representatives from Stanford and MIT were more welcoming of such applications. Angel Navedo of Sloan commented that it’s not common that students be admitted directly from college – this group comprised less than 10 of the school’s 350 students – Stanford’s Allison Davis reported that 3-5% of each incoming class had no full time work experience and indicated that these numbers were likely to grow in coming years. The message was that college seniors would be given due consideration and stand a chance of being admitted if they present strong records of leadership in extracurricular activities, demonstrate that they have made an impact on companies at which they have interned, have a clear conception of where they want to go and are able to make a compelling argument for pursuing an MBA at that time.
As you can see, the schools are delivering a pitch that they hope will increase application volume both in the present, by urging seniors and recent graduates only a few years out to give serious thought to applying sooner rather than later, and in the future, by reaching out to underclassmen to alert them to the MBA’s applications as they plan for their academic career and beyond.
