New DePaul Startup Program Helping These Students Launch New Businesses
A new startup launch program hosted by the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center and the Founder Institute will give 19 DePaul University students the opportunity to develop a business over the next four months.
With the help of 50 mentors made up of alumni from the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business, students will meet on Tuesday evenings at the Coleman Center to work on various aspects of their business plans. The program held in collaboration with the Founder Institute, a Silicon Valley-based idea-stage accelerator that has helped develop nearly 3,000 companies.
According to the school, students were required to fill out an application and take the Founder Institute’s aptitude test, which assesses problem-solving abilities, agreeableness and openness—qualities of a successful entrepreneur. The Coleman Center also hosted a mini version of the institute’s program in fall 2018 to gauge whether it was a right fit for DePaul students.
“Accelerator programs allow students to explore an idea while they have a safety net,” says Coleman Assistant Director Abigail Ingram. “Students have access to all of the university’s resources and networks, and expertise in every possible area, so it’s one of the few times in their lives where they will be plugged into a network of PhDs and specialists as well as experiential opportunities.”
One of the alumni mentors is Jason Jacobsohn (MBA ’02), who also happens to be director of the Founder Institute’s Chicago chapter. He is an adjunct instructor at the business college, and formed the Chicago chapter of the Founder Institute in 2011.
“The entrepreneurship ecosystem at DePaul is very diverse, so we’re letting the students build whatever business they want to build,” Jacobsohn says. “They also have to be prepared every week to present to mentors so that by the time they’re done with the program, if they want to present to other stakeholders or a board, potential hires, co-founders, or investors they get really good and comfortable to present their business.”
Stanford Reigns Supreme on New Financial Times Global Ranking
INSEAD hoped to top the Financial Times MBA rankings for the third year in a row, but it wasn’t to be. The Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) gets top bragging rights this year, returning to the number-one spot it has held only once before, in 2012. INSEAD was knocked to number two, followed by the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, which held steady at number three. London Business School (LBS) reclaimed some ground this year—coming in fourth—after a rare fall last year out of the top five. Harvard Business School (HBS), meanwhile, ranked fifth, its lowest showing since 2008.
Rounding out the top 10 this year were the University of Chicago Booth School of Business at sixth (up from ninth last year); Columbia Business School at seventh (unchanged from 2017); China’s CEIBS at eighth (up from 11th); MIT Sloan School of Management at ninth (up from 13th); and UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business at 10th, (also up from 13th).
Perhaps the greatest victors of this year’s FT rankings were two-year MBA programs, which occupied nine out of the top 10 spots. More two-year programs moved up or maintained their position this year than moved down (31 compared to 21). In contrast, more one-year programs lost ground than gained this year (14 up, 21 down).
“It’s great to see the continued strength of the two-year MBA format in this year’s FT rankings, a format that allows for a truly transformational and immersive experience,” said Clear Admit Co-Founder Graham Richmond. “LBS’s move back into the top five isn’t surprising in light of the program’s continued strength in job placements, new facilities, curriculum redesign, and location at the heart of business and innovation in Europe (even as Brexit looms),” he continued. “While HBS’s position is inconsistent with Clear Admit’s Decision Wire-based data on applicant preferences, it’s the increasing gap in the FT ranking between Stanford and HBS that seems noteworthy.”
As always, the bearing a given ranking should have on your own choice of schools depends on how closely the methodology used to arrive at that ranking aligns with what you deem most important. So just how does the FT compile its list each year?
Understanding the FT Ranking Methodology
The FT ranking is based on surveys of alumni three years out from graduation, school data, and research rank. Alumni responses inform eight criteria—including average income three years after graduation and salary increase compared with pre-MBA salary. Together, these eight criteria account for 59 percent of the overall ranking. School data inform another 11 criteria—including various measures of diversity such as percentages of female and international faculty, students, and board members. Together these criteria make up another 31 percent of the ranking. The remaining 10 percent of the ranking is based on research rank, calculated according to the number of articles by full-time faculty in 50 internationally recognized journals, weighted relative to faculty size.
Record-Breaking Salaries Put Stanford GSB on Top
Stanford, which ranked second last year, managed to unseat INSEAD this year thanks in part to the record-breaking salaries reported by its alumni. The average Stanford alumnus salary three years after graduation was $214,742, up $20,000 over last year’s figures and the highest recorded since the inaugural FT ranking in 1999. Stanford grads’ average salary also represented a 114-percent gain on their pre-MBA salaries, also the highest increase among ranked schools. That a significant proportion of Stanford grads head into highly lucrative hedge fund positions helped it outdistance its rivals in this regard.
Stanford also far outdistanced its U.S. rivals in terms of the international exposure it affords its students. More than 25 percent of the latest graduating cohort did an internship abroad—compared to an average of 4 percent at ranked U.S. schools. Overall, though, Stanford ranked 32nd for international course exposure, down 14 places from last year. But in other measures of diversity, Stanford made gains, including its international faculty (41 percent), international board (25 percent), and international students (41 percent). In this last figure, too, Stanford set itself apart from its U.S. rivals, the majority of which have recruited fewer international students. Although the average proportion for ranked institutions is down by only one percentage point to 38 percent, the FT noted.
Research Scores Hold HBS, LBS Back
Both HBS and LBS saw their average salaries three years out increase by approximately $14,000—to $192,133 and $167,897 respectively. That climb helped LBS return to the top five this year, but sharp drops in each schools’ research ranks worked against them. Harvard’s research rank plummeted from third to 16th—contributing to its fall to fifth in the overall ranking. “This year’s research rank is based on articles published in 50 academic and practitioner journals by full-time faculty since January 2015, but several Harvard faculty last appeared in these publications in 2014, too long ago to count,” the FT noted. LBS, for its part, dropped from 12th to 27th in research rank.
Rice Business, Olin, Georgetown McDonough, Cornell Johnson See Big Gains
Just as two-year MBA programs fared well with regard to their one-year rivals this year, a select group of individual schools saw big gains this year over last. Rice University’s Jones School of Business jumped 19 places this year, from 64th to 45th. This surge can be attributed primarily to strong salary growth. Average salary grew from $130,189 to $139,189, contributing to a 118-percent increase over pre-MBA salary (up from 97 percent last year).
Washington University’s Olin Business School rose 18 spots, from 68th to 50th. The St. Louis school saw significant gains in average salary ($122,709) and increase over pre-MBA salary (107 percent). Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business jumped 10 spots, from 40th to 30th, thanks also in part to increased average salary, as well as improved research rank (up 10 spots to 17th) and various diversity measures. And Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management also moved 10 spots up in the ranks, from 27th to 17th, due in great part to a significant increase in its research rank, up 13 places to fourth overall.
Spain’s Schools Slip Out of Top 10
In less celebratory news, two of Spain’s top-tier business schools slid out of the FT’s upper-most ranks. IESE slipped from 10th to 11th. Though its graduates’ average salary increased year over year, the increase was slight. Moreover, it slipped seven spots in terms of percentage increase over pre-MBA salary. Research rank, too, fell by five spots over the previous year.
IE Business School, meanwhile, fell out of the ranking altogether—from eighth last year. This is because it couldn’t gather a representative sample of the school’s alumni to take part in the FT’s survey.
As always, those of us here at Clear Admit encourage prospective applicants to use a school’s performance in these and other rankings as just one of many measurements to determine the MBA program that will best fit your individual needs.
You can view the complete Financial Times 2018 Global MBA Rankings here.
This article has been edited and republished with admissions from our sister site, Clear Admit.
MBA on the Lake: Higher Learning in Chicago & Toronto
To have some type of natural source to balance out the cacophony of city life is crucial to a healthy mind. Not every major city is a concrete jungle, completely broken off from its former natural self or its surroundings. It might surprise city slickers the amount of wilderness opportunities that exist just outside their doorstep.
Take Toronto, for instance. Situated on the shoulder of Lake Ontario, Toronto is surrounded by plateaus, deep forest, ravines, and three rivers. While other Canadian cities may beg to differ, Toronto is the financial and cultural capital of the country. It has long been a hub for migration since the days of the Huron and Iroquois and houses the five largest financial institutions in Canada.
As the heart of American transportation and distribution, Chicago’s metropolitan reputation belies its abundance of natural splendors. Located at the toe of Lake Michigan, the Second City plays host to a wide array of green spaces—arboretums, nature centers, conservatories, and botanical gardens—as well as lakeside walking and biking paths.
Both Chicago and Toronto are world centers for higher education and research, yet offer resplendent surroundings to maintain a balanced state of mind. Both offer much more affordable living situations than New York or San Francisco and are highly underrated for their cultural appeal. Whichever you choose, you will find established, reliable education in your pursuit for the proper MBA. Last month, we analyzed the best part-time offerings in both metros, but let’s take a closer look at the full-time MBA options.
Our Favorite Toronto Full-Time MBA Programs
York University – Schulich School of Business
The Schulich School of Business at York University offers 18 MBA specializations. In addition to full-time programs, the school also accommodate working students with part-time programs that offer both day and evening courses. Students are also able to switch between full and part-time status during their tenure to suit their needs. In 2016, 89 percent of students were hired within three months of graduation by 140 companies. Graduates were employed with an average salary of $91,860 USD and an average signing bonus of $12,050.
McMaster University – DeGroote School of Business
DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University offers full-time and part-time options, as well as a three-year paid work term co-op schedule. Full-time applicants are required to have one year of full-time continuous managerial, professional, or technical work experience (this is where the Co-op plan can come in handy—work as you go). The school offers seven specializations and International study. About 94 percent of recent graduates were employed within six months (over the last two years) with an average starting salary of $71,930 USD.
Western University Canada – Ivey Business School
The Western University Canada Ivey Business School is technically located just outside of Toronto, in London, Ontario. The school offers a full-time program that gives students an opportunity to work with over 200 recruiters, with about 66 percent of graduates finding jobs in Canada. In 2017, 91 percent of the graduating class received a job offer by September 1. Average starting salaries were typically around $90,000 USD with an average signing bonus of $15,000. Other compensations averaged at $9,875.
CHECK THIS OUT: Kings of the North: Should You Get a Part-Time MBA in Chicago or Toronto?
University of Toronto – Rotman School of Management
Students in the Rotman School of Management full-time MBA program are offered 16 major options and more than 90 electives to allow for a very customizable experience. Between 2016 and 2017, 85 percent of full-time Rotman MBA students were employed within six months of graduation and 80 percent landed jobs just within three months. Average starting salaries were $85,000 USD with an average signing bonus of $13,500.
Ryerson University – Ted Rogers School of Management
MBA applicants at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University are given two full-time options: the Global MBA or an MBA in the Management of Technology and Innovation (MBA-MTI). Their Global MBA program strives to help their graduates “understand the global context of various industries and have the knowledge necessary to drive innovation and deliver as capable and confident leaders.” The MBA-MTI helps students “gain the skills needed to manage within companies that are focused on tech and innovation.” Last year, about 80.3 percent of graduates found employment within three months of graduation and earned an average starting salary of $89,250 USD.
Our Favorite Chicago Full-Time MBA Programs
Booth School of Business – University of Chicago
The University of Chicago Booth School of Business offers what the school calls the “world’s most flexible MBA program,” and is regarded by U.S. News & World Report as the third best full-time offering in the U.S. The curriculum consists of 20 classes—nine mandatory and 11 courses tailored to personal interest—plus a Leadership Effectiveness and Development (LEAD) program. As of September 2017, an absurd 97.1 percent of graduates reported having received full-time job offers within three months, with 95.3 percent accepted offers in that time. Average starting salaries were an impressive $125,000 with an average starting bonus of $25,000.
Kellogg School of Management – Northwestern University
The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University offers two full-time MBA variations, either to be completed in one or two years. The school’s 2017 employment report, which can be downloaded here, detailed that 94.1 percent of graduates received job offers within three months and 90.8 percent of those grads accepted job offers. The average starting salaries for graduates with three-to-five years of work experience was an unsurprisingly lavish $128,686.
Like the Booth School of Business, when comparing Chicago and Toronto programs, financial gain is clearly an advantage for those who elect to study in the U.S. However, perhaps unsurprisingly, schools like Kellogg come with a steeper tuition cost. Applicants for the One Year full-time program should expect to pay more than $133,000 for the entire program, while those in the Rotman School of Management will have to pay around $75,000 USD.
Kellstadt Graduate School of Business – DePaul University
At the DePaul University Kellstadt Graduate School of Business, students can obtain a full-time MBA with the availability of 100 courses in 20 MBA concentrations and 17 specialized Master degrees. In 2016, within six months 89 percent of surveyed graduates were employed, 14 percent being entrepreneurial, contract or freelance. Average starting salaries were about $82,200.
Liautaud Graduate School of Business – University of Illinois at Chicago
The Liautaud Graduate School of Business at the University of Illinois at Chicago full-time MBA is a 13.5 course program, with six courses designed to deepened functional business knowledge, while the remaining 7.5 are geared towards allowing students to customize their experience towards their personal career interests. They provide twelve concentrations in their MBA program.
Mendoza College of Business – Notre Dame
The Mendoza College of Business at Notre Dame University offers two traditional full-time MBA options, which can be taken in two years, or just one in a more accelerated format. According to employment statistics recently released by the business school, about 88 percent of Two-Year full-time students were given a job offer within three months of graduating, with about 86 percent of those graduates accepting the offers. Like many of the major business schools located in the Chicago metro (although, yes, Notre Dame is technically in Indiana), full-time MBA grads enjoyed a lush base salary upon employment, with an average salary of $105,000 for the Class of 2017. Median signing bonuses also ranked in the higher end of the schools on this list, coming in at around $20,000.
The Mendoza College of Business is one of the many business schools in the U.S. that has seen a dramatic shift in terms of graduates moving into the tech industry. Three industries in particular dominated when it came to employing Mendoza MBA grads: tech, financial services, and consulting. However, a slim majority (24.7 percent) joined the tech industry, enjoying salaries slightly higher than the Mendoza average, coming in at $110,000.
Quinlan School of Business – Loyola University
The Quinlan School of Business offers full-time MBA offering is one of the most affordable high-quality Chicago options out there, with the most recent full-cost of the program coming in at $73,422; comparable to many of the aforementioned Toronto programs. And unlike many of the programs on this list, Quinlan isn’t located in some quaint suburb. Rather, the school is centered right on the historic Magnificent Mile in Chicago, fully integrated into the vibrant city.
The QS World MBA Tour Is Coming To Chicago
The QS World MBA Tour will be stopping in Chicago on Wednesday, January 25, 2018.
Potential graduate school applicants attending these events will have an opportunity to connect with alumni from many of the most prestigious schools in the world, including the likes of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard Business School, the Stanford Graduates School of Business, and much more.
Details on the event website read as follows:
“The QS World MBA Tour gives you the opportunity to network with admissions directors and alumni from over 120 business schools around the globe. Our fairs feature top local and international business schools presenting a diverse range of programs to choose from and a chance to apply for a pool of exclusive MBA scholarships, totaling $7m [million]! The QS World MBA Tour takes place in 23 cities across the US and Canada; find an event in a city near you and discover the many benefits that an MBA has to offer.”
Registration and further details for the Chicago event can be found here. For those not in the metro, check out the rest of the QS World MBA Tour dates, listed below.
- Boston: Thursday, January 18, 2018 – 4:30 – 9 p.m.
- New York: Saturday, January 20, 2018 – 1:30 – 6 p.m.
- Washington DC: Tuesday, January 23, 2018 – 4:30 – 8:30 p.m.
- Chicago: Thursday, January 25, 2018 – 4:30 – 8:30 p.m.
- Los Angeles: Saturday, January 27, 2018 – 1:30 – 6 p.m.
- San Francisco: Sunday, January 28, 2018 – 1:30 – 6 p.m.
- Vancouver: Tuesday, January 30, 2018 – 4:30 – 9 p.m.
- Montreal: Thursday, February 1, 2018 – 4:30 – 9 p.m.
- Toronto: Saturday, February 3, 2018 – 1:30 – 6 p.m.
Registration and more information on the QS World MBA Tour events can be found here.
The QS World MBA Tour Is Coming To These Select Cities
There are few better opportunities to learn about the exemplary business school opportunities than at an MBA fair. And luckily, for many prospective MBA students, that opportunity will soon be arriving in their city with the QS World MBA Tour.
Northwestern Students Embrace Human-Machine Intelligence In Studies
Attention prospective MBAs: Adam Pah, clinical assistant professor of management at the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management in Chicago, has some news for you that sounds straight out of a sci-fi movie. Pah believes that “artificial intelligence and machine learning are eating software” and business students need to understand how and why. Continue reading…
