Harvard Business School Dean Announces 5 New Priorities
What does this mean for you? During the interview, you will be asked to articulate why a particular school’s curriculum is a good fit for you and your professional goals. Make sure you understand the distinctions between different programs — which ones offer case-method learning, which ones offer a “mixed” teaching style, which offer greater flexibility, which have a greater range of courses available, etc.
Make sure you don’t simply repeat the obvious in your essay; telling the schools what their curriculum consists of and stating that you admire it will not win you points in the admissions process. In your application essay, you should show why and how a specific curriculum will work for you. Also remember that you are applying to business school at a time when innovation, diversity, social consciousness, and civic awareness are becoming more important. In a time like this, you definitely do not want to come across as someone just “looking to get a ticket punched.”
The bottom line. The MBA degree will continue to be an important fixture in the corporate world. Business schools are, in a sense, businesses themselves and will continue to ensure their relevance. Despite the debate about the worth of an MBA in today’s tough economic times, placement rates at the top programs are excellent this year (Tuck is nearly back to its pre-recession placement level). The MBA continues to signify to employers a knowledge of core business subjects and an ability to handle complex management issues.
Also note that the Wharton School of Business, the Yale School of Management, the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and the Berkeley Haas School of Business have recently announced plans to revamp their curriculum as well.