Following several years of declining application volume, Chinese students seem to have rekindled their interest in the masters in business administration degree. Today’s edition of China View (an online publication) includes an article about increasing GMAT test taker volume in China and greater interest in the MBA among those in the Chinese business world.
Here’s a short quote from the article:
“With the new round of business expansion in China, investment banks, consulting firms and multinationals are eager for professionals with an MBA education from a top business school.” Promising employment prospects also are behind the rise in MBA applicants.
There’s also a great article about Rose Martinelli (former Director of Admissions at Wharton and current Dean of Admissions at Chicago GSB) in the Wall Street Journal’s College Journal publication. It offers a sneak peek into the life of an MBA admissions officer, along with some tips for applicants to leading schools.
Finally, there’s a somewhat strange article in the Guardian (a publication from the UK) that suggests that business school applicants are no longer as concerned with the MBA rankings (otherwise known as “league tables” in UK-speak). What makes the article strange is that while the students surveyed did not list rankings as the driving force behind their decisions, they did list ‘reputation’ as the most important factor. Since many would argue that ranking and reputation are closely intertwined (or that rankings strongly influence reputation and vice versa), the article’s premise seems a bit flawed.
