Firstly, why research b-schools? Before we invest in something, we do our due diligence. By joining an MBA program, you will invest your time, money and effort into it. And you will make the best out of it only if you find your MBA experience worthy. This “best” can have a different meaning for every student, so it’s important to evaluate B-schools from your criteria.
Moreover, there is the question of fit – will you fit into the culture of the b-school, will you find like-minded people there, will you find the program and the student community intellectually stimulating?
So, even if you are applying to the world’s top MBA programs, with stellar reputation and rankings, you must research target b-schools and understand what opportunities they present for YOU and what is your fit there.
For new applicants, who are just starting to look into the application process, b-school research can be mind-boggling and they may not know where to start. So, we present here, a guideline to help you conduct your research.
We would put the b-school research down to 3 categories- Academics, Professional and Community. For each one, we will share what you should research and how.
What to Research: Academics
1. What are the different teaching methods? Some b-schools rely very heavily on the case method (HBS, Darden, IESE, LBS, IVEY), some on experiential learning (MIT, Ross, Judge), some on integrated learning (Yale), and most have a blend of all methods. It’s good to get an understanding of whether B-schools employ a specific teaching method predominantly and if that approach works for you.
2. What are the electives and concentrations being offered? These are important as they will enable you to customize your academic experience and develop a specialization in your career path. Note that many B-schools offer concentrations with an industry focus (such as Healthcare, Real Estate, Media & Entertainment) or function focus (such as corporate finance, strategy, digital marketing, operations and supply chain management). For every MBA program of interest, you should find out which concentrations/ majors/ electives can you take, and how many concentrations can you take so you get the best out of your academic experience.
3. Related to the coursework is the faculty that teaches them. Every B-school has some star faculty, and it will be helpful to know more about them.
4. How is the experiential learning component in the curriculum? There may be multiple opportunities such as action labs, team-based projects, and the summer internship. Projects and Labs can be centred around focus areas such as PE/VC, social impact, entrepreneurship, healthcare analytics, marketing, finance and many more. These are excellent for gaining exposure to 1-2 different industries if you wish to test the waters before your job hunt, or for building depth in a particular industry/function which you wish to join post-MBA.
5. How is the curriculum structured? Every B-school has a required curriculum and an elective lineup. However, there is a variation in how the academic calendar is planned. As the preparation for the summer internship starts soon after you join the MBA program, you may benefit from studying certain electives earlier in the year as they prepare you better for the internship (UCLA, Booth, Kellogg). Although this may be a small detail, but still, something to keep in mind.
6. Can you take interdisciplinary courses outside the b-school? This is possible where the b-school is part of a larger university and there are opportunities to take courses from another college within the university.
7. Some B-schools allow for international exchange where you can study at another B-school for a specific period. If it’s something that interests you, then look deeper into it. Also, most B-schools offer global immersion programs (check sample- Wharton, Tuck, HBS), which are experiential courses held in different countries.
How to research?
1. B-school websites have a tonne of information hidden in their web pages. Scour through these. Maintain an Excel sheet and jot down whatever is of interest or what you find to be a differentiating factor. You can discuss these in more detail during your primary research.
2. Read student blogs. Some of them are very descriptive and they can help you visualize the real deal.
3. Watch videos posted by the b-school administration or directly by students. Almost all B-schools have video channels and podcasts. Many b-schools hold masterclasses– these can be recorded uploads or live sessions that are held virtually or on-campus. Sometimes masterclasses travel to your city during info sessions and MBA fairs, so be on the lookout for these and register before seats run out.
4. Campus visits – you can sit in classes during campus visits. Sitting in a class will tell you about the quality of the discussion and how engaged are the students and how you see yourself contributing to such a class.
5. Lastly, and most important- interact with current students and recent alumni and ask them about their experiences. Don’t ask basic questions, but use this chance to validate/ explore what you may have learnt through the b-school website and other available resources. Remember, hearing generic questions would be a put-off for anybody so ask questions where personal view matters.
Read: “How to Research Business schools”
What to research: Professional benefits
The primary reason for attending business school is to better your job prospects. So, you must get a good understanding of how the b-school can help you in this aspect.
1. The best place to start your research is by checking the employment statistics. It’s a goldmine of information. You will pick up valuable insights like how many students got a placement through on-campus recruitment versus through their own efforts (this can speak to the strength of the career development cell). Other information worth evaluating would be the industry/function-wise break up of the overall job offers, the list of recruiters that hire students and of course, the salaries offered to students. Check the internship data breakup as well.
If you are an international student, you must find out if specific companies of interest, or companies in a particular industry hire international students. Sponsoring visas can be a deterrent for organizations and they may not recruit international students.
Read : “How to Use the Employment Statistics Report for Research“
2. How is the b-school’s career development cell? If you are interested in a post-MBA career in a specialized field such as healthcare, energy, fintech, social impact, analytics, finance etc., then what resources does the b-school have? Do they have a good network with the industry? Do they have dedicated staff that specializes in your field of career interest? If you are an international student and need more support in your job search, then it’s even more important to figure out how supportive and resourceful is the B-school career development cell.
3. Are there professional clubs that will be instrumental in your job search? Are they active and do they have a robust membership? Which events, workshops, and competitions do they hold that will help you in your career? Can the clubs facilitate your networking efforts?
4. Explore about industry-related conferences, career treks, speaker series and other networking events. Participating in these will help you build your professional network.
5. Does the b-school have a specialized center that will help you enhance your learning? These Centers conduct cutting-edge research and provide thought leadership. They provide academic content as well as experiential projects and professional opportunities for students.
How to Research?
1. Pick up the basic information on the career section of the b-school’s website. After this, approach students and recent alumni for direct interactions. Things may be different than how they are described on the career pages, so you will want to learn from the personal experiences of people who have recently been through the process. Reach out to professional clubs’ leaders, student ambassadors and LinkedIn connects. Ask them how supportive and resourceful is the b-school’s career development cell and how they have benefitted from it.
2. Read student blogs and watch videos posted by the b-school career development cell.
What to Research? Community
1. How supportive is the community? A larger chunk of your MBA experience will be shaped by your peers. Most activities and clubs are student-led so students need to contribute, support and uplift each other. Do you fit in with other students? Will you be able to find people similar to yourself?
2. B-schools have a vast variety of clubs -professional clubs, social clubs, cultural and affinity clubs, athletics clubs, hobbies clubs– you name it. Becoming a club member allows for interacting with like-minded people, learning new skills and making life-long friends. Moreover, every b-school wants to know either through the application essays or the interview about how you will contribute to their program, it’s a good idea to spend time understanding which clubs you can join and how you can play an active role in making the club successful.
3. Over the past few years, the words diversity and inclusion have gained centre stage in businesses and across B-schools. Diversity is measured by the following parameters- number of international students, number of countries represented, men v/s women ratio, veterans, under-represented minorities (in ethnicity), LGBTQ, partners and families on campus. Knowing more about this can matter to you, especially if you belong to a group that represents diversity- say, veterans.
How to research?
1. Student interviews, alumni chats and student blogs would be the best way to learn about the community. Reach out to as many students as you can.
2. Campus visits will allow you to meet students, hang out in more informal settings like a restaurant or a bar and get a real feel of the campus.
3. LinkedIn can be your best friend for connecting with as many students and alumni. Their responsiveness, enthusiasm about the b-school and willingness to share their experiences would be a good indicator of what the community is like.
Read more? See “Factors to Consider When Selecting Business School“