How to Create a Competitive Admissions Application
Students decide to enroll in an MBA program for multiple reasons. Some students seek the knowledge needed to progress their careers, while others look to gain the skills to build a successful new business. Whatever the reason, the process begins with doing the proper research to find out which program is best for the student. The Economist says, “Finding the right school is not just about looking at rankings, or choosing one considered as “prestigious.” The key to making the right choice is, understanding why you want to take an MBA, and what you expect it to do for you.”
Wherever you start your search, the last step will be to complete the application process for the program or programs you choose. The application process varies by schools but typically includes completing the actual program application, the submission of required documents, such as GMAT scores and undergraduate transcripts, letters of recommendation, a copy of their professional resume and often, a statement of purpose and sometimes an admissions interview.
Entrepreneurship MBA Grows in Popularity
Entrepreneurship has become an increasingly popular concentration among MBA students who are interested in starting their own businesses as well as those who are hoping to develop innovative business ideas. According to The Independent, “in the past big employers might have been reluctant to hire MBA graduates with significant entrepreneurship coursework for fear that the new recruits would use the job to learn the ropes before leaving to start ventures of their own, today’s large firms are increasingly recognising that innovation and entrepreneurial skills are vital to enable them to compete.”
TopMBA.com explains that completing an MBA in Entrepreneurship has been a controversial decision. “For some, the degree will be a huge help in building a professional network, seeking venture capital and building a successful startup. It also affords you a rare chance to fail in a safe environment, whereas a failed venture outside of a business school environment can be devastating.”
Popularity of Sustainable Business MBA Grows
Many MBA programs now offer concentrations and curriculum that focus on sustainable business. Corporations are now required to be more environmentally conscious than ever before. A sustainable business MBA can help professionals gain the knowledge that is needed to operate and create successful environmentally conscious businesses. According to thebestschools.org, “The MBA in Sustainability degree equips business professionals to help companies and organizations achieve profitability while maintaining environmental responsibility.”
These MBA programs, often called “Green MBAs,” teach students the skills necessary for earning profits through methods that reduce harm to the environment and society. Not only do these programs help students learn how to run environmentally sustainable businesses, but many also teach corporate social responsibility.
The Sustainable Business Institute explains that corporate sustainability is important because, “private and public business choices enormously impact the quality of life in our communities.” The Institute also explains that, “Effectively managing our business footprint addresses current market dynamics while ensuring a better quality of life for future generations. The bottom line is sustainable business practices make good business sense. Corporate sustainability offers a compelling return on investment by driving innovation, managing risk, and improving stakeholder relations.”
New Haas Course Studies Crowdfunding
UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business has joined with the Fung Institute for Engineering Leadership to create CrowdBerkeley. CrowdBerkeley will focus on teaching and understanding the power of crowdfunding. The course will provide a premier hub of education, research, and learning engagement on all topics related to crowdfunding. Throughout the course, students will learn how to raise equity without traditional investors, create credit and loan models without brick-and-mortar lenders and understand the implications of new currencies.
CrowdBerkeley is led by the faculty director of the College of Engineering’s Fung Institute for Engineering Leadership, Lee Fleming, assistant professor Adair Morse, Berkeley-Haas Finance Group, Professor Laura D’Andrea Tyson, director of the Haas School’s Institute for Business and Social Impact, Dr. Richard Swart, who has joined IBSI as a Scholar in Residence and the Berkeley-Haas Center for Social Sector Leadership.
Davis Ranked for Best Quality of Education
Graduateprograms.com has ranked the UC Davis Graduate School of Management no. 21 in the top 25 business schools that offer the best quality of education. For the data, GraduatePrograms.com surveyed over 10,000 current and former business school students about their programs to find which places offer the best quality of education.
The best quality of education was based on the schools where students have access to relevant, interesting, and challenging courses taught by qualified professors. Students ranked their schools on a scale from 1 to 10. The scores for each school were averaged together to come up with the final ranking score.
Haas Welcomes Belden Inc. CEO as Commencement Speaker
John Stroup, CEO of networking and connectivity giant Belden Inc., will speak at the Haas School of Business commencement ceremony for MBA students. Stroup is a Haas alumnus and has served as president and CEO of Belden since 2005. Belden Inc. is a $2.5 billion Fortune 1000 company that designs and manufactures cables, connectors, servers and routers.
The Haas School set a policy a few years ago to invite the school’s most distinguished alumni to speak at the commencement ceremonies to honor Berkeley-Haas alumni who have demonstrated innovative leadership and can speak to the benefits of Haas culture in their careers. The Full-Time and Evening and Weekend MBA commencement ceremony will be held May 22 at the Greek Theatre.
