Business School Applications Seem to Be on the Downswing
A recent August 12, 2010 report from Bloomberg Businessweek reveals applications to business school have started to slow after three consecutive years of growth. Notes Graduate Management Admissions Council spokesman Sam Silverstein, "...the boom in applications appears to be softening."
Leading MBA programs such as the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania have reported downturns in applications in 2010. Many experts and officials from MBA programs believe the economy and overall recovery is to blame. As the economy stabilizes, not as many individuals rush to MBA programs. "We are really normalizing to the level of applications we experienced before the events of the past two years," says Ankur Kumar, Deputy Director of MBA Admissions at the Wharton School.
Although many of the top 30 business schools saw a general decline in applications, a number of universities are still seeing a glut of applications. The following schools reported application increases in 2010:
- Duke University's Fuqua School of Business: Up 21 percent
- Washington University's Olin Business School: Up 26 percent
- Harvard Business School: Up 5 percent
Universities that experienced an upswing in applications attribute the increase to various factors such as school ranking, new global strategies, lower application fees, and easier application processes.
