The benefits of a top tier Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree are clear. In addition to the skill update and salary boost of adding an MBA, top MBA programs also give you access to networking opportunities and an instantly-recognizable brand.
What are considered top tier MBA programs? MBA ranking lists may vary, but there’s definitely a core group of elite business school MBA programs that you should target if you want to hit the stratosphere. Your Harvard Business School, Kellogg School of Management or Yale School of Management kind of scene.
Our team at The MBA Exchange has been there. After decades of experience in MBA admissions, we know the terms and conditions of grad school success. Let us introduce you to the top tier and guide you in evaluating MBA programs that could be right for you.
What are considered top tier MBA programs?
There are a lot of MBA programs out there, but only a few make the top tier. Lists of top 5 business schools often include Booth at the University of Chicago, Harvard Business School, The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern.
Expanding out a little from this elite group, but still firmly in the top tier of international business schools, are programs like Columbia, Cornell Johnson, Berkeley Haas and the Yale School of Management.
Depending on your background and career goals, you might decide to target top 5, top 10 or top 25 MBA programs. Or, maybe you want to spread out your applications, targeting a few safety schools, and taking a risk on a few reaches that might just pay off big.
How do you choose MBA programs to apply for?
At a certain point, an MBA program’s ranking is just a number. It also doesn’t indicate anything about culture fit and other key metrics that ensure you’ll thrive after matriculation. So, what should you look at when it comes to evaluating MBA programs for your own wishlist?
Your field
Your past and present work experience, as well as your career goals, are one factor that should steer your choice of MBA programs.
If you’re looking to rise in fields like consulting, finance and entrepreneurship, a top MBA might be what you need to succeed. If business analytics or corporate leadership are skills you need, top MBA programs can give you that training, and more. And, having an MBA puts you on a path toward a future potential executive role in most industries.
Your personality
You need to feel engaged, supported and at-home in your graduate program. Personality fit makes a big difference when it comes to picking the right b-school for you. Campus visits and faculty or alumni contacts are great ways to figure out where you can thrive with the vibe.
It’s hard to shine when you aren’t well-supported by your program. When it comes to evaluating potential MBA programs for you, consider the balance between the benefits of a prestigious program name and full-time MBA or part-time MBA programs that really fit your life and goals. The University of Pittsburgh Katz and other institutions offer top-rated online MBA programs, another possibility for you to look into if you need a more flexible MBA experience.
Your candidacy
Even the biggest dreams need a foundation. Your overall MBA candidacy and MBA application materials play a determinative role when it comes to finding your level in the top tier of international business schools. How is your GMAT or GRE score? What about your GPA?
While your stats do circumscribe the limits of your candidacy to some extent, you also have a lot of control when it comes to shaping your application and self-presentation. And, test scores can improve with the right GMAT prep and tutoring! The team at The MBA Exchange specialize in supporting candidates world-wide to hone and shape the kinds of applications that make top MBA programs a possible reality for you.
What are top-tier MBA programs looking for?
Top MBA programs like Harvard Business School have their pick from each year’s field of applicants. Acceptance rates aren’t very high. They can pretty much name their terms!
Looking at your candidacy from adcoms’ point of view can be a good way to find your place in the business school world, as well as to optimize your candidacy for more ambitious moves. As adcoms at top MBA programs accept students for next year’s incoming class, they’re typically looking for qualities and qualifications such as:
- Strong GMAT score and GPA stats, indicating brilliance, discipline and academic skill
- Professional experience that shows your potential as a leader or innovator
- Co-curriculars and volunteer roles that demonstrate an active, well-rounded personality and community membership
- Career goals in line with opportunities available through top tier schools
- Professional, articulate self-presentation in written material and interviews
Admissions officials want to ensure that admitted MBA students will be exciting contributors to the program, bringing new ideas and energy to the class. If you’re aiming for top MBA programs, your admissions materials need to show that you’re that student!
When it comes to the task of evaluating which MBA programs are right for you, consider how well you fit the profile of a top tier MBA candidate, as well as where you’ll be able to build the skills and resume for future success.
For experienced and knowledgeable support with this admittedly pretty Herculean task, contact the admissions consulting experts at The MBA Exchange. We can help you find your fit, as well as assisting you with polishing your profile and application materials for admission to top MBA programs. Start with your free profile evaluation now.
