The thirteenth to fifteenth spots in the 2008 Business Week MBA school rankings were snagged by the Leonard N. Stern School of Business, Anderson School, and Kelley School of Business, respectively. Below are brief profiles of these business schools so you can see why they made it to the top 15 of Business Week’s MBA school rankings.
Leonard N. Stern School of Business (New York University)
The Leonard N. Stern School of Business, or more oftenly called NYU Stern, was established in 1900 and is located in NYU’s Washington Square Campus. NYU Stern used to be the NYU undergraduate School of Commerce, Accounts, and Finance until the graduate business program was launched in 1916 to accommodate part-time and full-time students. When Stern gave a $30 million donation to improve the undergraduate school’s facilities, the name of the school was changed to Leonard N. Stern School of Business. NYU Stern offers a wide range of programs to keep up with the trends and demands of the business industry. Interested applicants are advised to visit the school’s official website and fill up the online application form to jumpstart the application process.
The Anderson School of Management was established in 1935 as one of the professional schools of the University of California, Los Angeles. The school currently offers MBA, PhD, and executive MBA programs, as well as a masteral degree in financial engineering. Other programs offered at the Anderson School of Management are the UCLA-NUS Global Executive MBA program, Global Access program, Management Development programs, Management Communication programs, and the Riordan programs. Interested applicants are advised to visit the school’s official website for detailed information on course and program offerings and to download and accomplish the online application form.
Established in 1920 under the name School of Commerce and Finance, the Kelley School of Business is one of the academic units of Indiana University. The school was renamed to Kelley School of Business in 1997 when E.W. Kelley gave $23 million to develop and improve the school. The Kelley School of Business currently offers undergraduate and doctoral programs, full-time and online MBA degrees, executive education, and specialized masteral degrees. For those interested in applying to the Kelley School of Business, make sure to visit the school’s official website and fill up the online application form.
The schools that snagged the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth spots in Business Week’s 2008 Best MBA Program rankings were Darden Graduate School of Business, Kenan-Flagler Business School, and Cox School of Business, respectively. Below are brief profiles of these business schools, including their history and application procedures.
Darden Graduate School of Business
The University of Virginia was established in March 1825 to provide a venue for people who want to learn about the arts, philosophy, law, medicine, foreign languages, and science. Among the university’s first scholars was world-famous writer and poet, Edgar Allan Poe. One of the branches of the University of Virginia is the Darden Graduate School of Business, which offers programs and degrees such as MBA, MBA for Executives, PhD degrees, and executive education. The school also offers joint degrees such as JD-MBA, MBA-MA in East Asian Studies, and MBA-MA in Government or Foreign Affairs. Interested applicants are advised to visit the school’s official website, where they can also download and fill up the online application form.
The Kenan-Flagler Business School was established in 1919 as the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill’s Department of Commerce under the College of Arts. In 1991, the department’s name was changed to Kenan-Flagler Business School after philanthropists Mary Lily Kenan Flagler and her husband donated a huge sum to improve and develop the school. Today, the Kenan-Flagler Business School is among the recognized business schools that offer MBA degrees, executive MBAs, executive education, masteral degree in accounting, and doctorates. Information on how to apply to UNC Kenan-Flagler, as well as the admission requirements, can be found at the school’s official website.
The Cox School of Business was established in 1920 as the Department of Commerce at the Southern Methodist University. However, it was only in 1941, when the Board of Trustees established the department as a separate entity from the university, and made it into the School of Business Administration. In 1978, the school was renamed Cox School of Business in honor of businessman Edwin L. Cox. The school offers part-time, full time, and professional MBA degrees, as well as master of science programs including MSA (accounting), MSM (management), and MSIE (entrepreneurship). Applicants are advised to visit the school’s official website to get more information on application requirements and procedures.
Columbia Business School, Fuqua School of Business, and MIT Sloan School of Management landed on the seventh, eighth, and ninth spots in Business Week’s 2008 MBA school rankings. Below are brief profiles of the three schools, as well as information on their application procedures.
Columbia Business School
Columbia Business School was established in 1916, and has since been producing graduates who have gone on to become leading businessmen and entrepreneurs in the US. Columbia has a highly diverse student body, 40% of which is representative of different countries all over the globe. The school offers executive education, doctorate programs, and MBA degree programs. Columbia Business School also boasts of a faculty composed of business practitioners, and advisers and consultants to business leaders around the world. Those interested in applying to Columbia can visit the school’s official website to download and fill up the online application form.
Fuqua School of Business (Duke University)
Founded in 1924 by James Buchanan Duke, Duke University used to be an expansion of Trinity College. The establishment of the university was made possible by the Duke Endowment foundation. In 1969, the Fuqua School of Business was established as the business school branch of Duke University. Today, the Fuqua School of Business is recognized as a business school that offers one of the country’s top programs for doctorates, executive education, MBA degrees, and joint degrees. To apply to the Fuqua School of Business, visit the school’s official website and download the online application form.
MIT Sloan School of Management
MIT Sloan School of Management was established in 1914 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school was originially an engineering administration curriculum under the MIT Department of Economics and Statistics before it was recognized as a separate business school entity that offered executive education and programs such as Master of Finance, MBA degree programs, and PhD and undergraduate programs. Interested applicants may contact the school’s admissions office for more information or visit the school’s official website to download the online application form.
Business Week’s 2008 MBA School rankings put The Haas School of Business, Johnson Graduate School of Management, and Tuck School of Business at the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth places. Below are quick overviews of the schools, with information on notable alumni and application procedures.
Haas School of Business (University of California – Berkeley)
Berkeley graduate and businessman Arthur Rodgers was the one who initiated the idea of establishing a business school branch for the University of California – Berkeley. Rodgers mentioned this idea in his 1883 commencement address, and was realized in a span of less than 15 years. The Haas School of Business offers programs and degrees such as part-time and full-time MBA degrees, PhD, undergraduate and executive programs, non-degree programs, and Masters in Financial Engineering. Interested applicants may contact the school’s admissions office for more information and complete the application form found at the school’s website.
Johnson Graduate School of Management (Cornell University)
The Johnson Graduate School of Management was established in 1946, and offers MBA, PhD, and executive MBA programs. The school also offers graduate and undergraduate degrees with MBA programs. The school’s list of notable alumni include Irene Rosenfeld of Kraft Foods, Inc., Nancy Schlichting of Henry Ford Health System, Daniel Hesse of Sprint Nextel Corp., Robert Ramin of National Aquarium, and Kyung-Bae Suh of AmorePacific Corp. Interested applicants may visit the school’s website to download and fill up the online application form.
Tuck School of Business (Dartmouth College)
The Tuck School of Business was established in 1900 and is the business school branch of Dartmouth College. Unlike other business schools, Tuck only offers a full-time MBA program to better assist and support their students. Aside from the full-time MBA program, Tuck also offers the undergraduate Tuck Business Bridge Program and executive education programs. Included in the school’s list of notable alumni are Colin Kenny, Quentin L. Kopp, Mark Byrne, Anne Sullivan, John Jacquemin, and Philip J. Moss. Applicants are advised to visit the admissions page at the school’s official website to get more information on application requirements and procedures.
Taking time to choose which business school to go to is essential if you want to get the best MBA education. So to help you choose a business school, below are profiles of the three business schools that snagged the top spots in the 2008 US MBA school rankings by Business Week:
Established in 1908, Harvard Business School or HBS is among the oldest existing MBA schools in the US. HBS is known for the high quality of its management education which it has maintained throughout the years. As of December 2008, the number of living HBS alumni falls at 42,012, including HBS deans Jay O. Light and John H. McArthur. McArthur is the Senior Advisor to the President of the World Bank, and has held that position since 1996. Light, on the other hand, is the current dean of HBS and is the director of Ford Foundation’s Investment and Financial Policies. For more information on application process and requirements, visit the school’s official website and check out the online application system.
Kellogg School of Management [NorthwesternUniversity]
The Kellogg School of Management was established in 1908, and has since been successful in producing business and industry leaders from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Aside from undergraduate and doctoral programs, Kellogg also offers executive education and several types of MBA programs including part-time, full-time, and executive MBA programs. For those planning on applying to Kellogg, make sure you visit the school’s official website to get more information on the admissions process and application requirements. There you can also download the application form according to your chosen MBA program, and process your application online.
University of Chicago Booth School of Business
The Booth School of Business was founded in 1898, and has produced Nobel laureates and leading businessmen along the likes of James Kilts, who is responsible for turning Gillette, Kraft, and Nabisco into profitable, world-renowned companies. Those planning on pursuing an MBA education at Chicago Booth can choose among the PhD, executive, and MBA programs offered by the school. The programs also provide students with the option of taking evening, full-time, or weekend classes. More information on the program offerings, as well as application forms, can be found and requested at the school’s official website.
Business Week’s 2008 Best MBA Programs listing puts Wharton School, Ross School of Business, and Stanford Business School at the fourth, fifth, and sixth spot, respectively. Below are brief overviews of these three MBA schools which include notable lecturers and alumni and application procedures:
Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania)
Wharton was founded in 1881 by philanthropist and industrialist Joseph Wharton with the aim of making liberal education in the field of business available to those who want to study it. Wharton School is composed of 11 academic departments and more than 25 research centers and research initiatives. Wharton is often cited as the world’s first collegiate business school, and is recognized for their diverse and competent faculty. The school offers undergraduate programs, executive education, and MBA and PhD degrees. Interested applicants can visit the school’s website and fill up the online application form to apply to Wharton.
Ross School of Business (University of Michigan)
The Ross School of Business was established in 1924 as the School of Business Administration, and used the Tappan Hall as the school’s main center. As the years progressed, the department extended its scope of programs offered as well as its land territory. In 2004, a school alumnus named Stephen M. Ross donated $100 million to the development of the school. This kind act was recognized by the school’s Board of Regents by renaming the School of Business Administration after Ross. Ross offers executive education, doctorates, and MBA degrees. Interested applicants can visit the school’s official website to download the application form and get the complete listing of course and program offerings.
Stanford Graduate School of Business was established in 1924 as part of former president Herbert Hoover’s initiative to keep the best West Coast students from going to the East Coast to pursue business studies. Stanford GSB is proud to have a team of recognized and competent lecturers for their faculty, which includes three Nobel laureates. The school is also recognized for the education and training they provide at the Center for Global Business and the Economy, Center for Leadership Development and Research, Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, and the Center for Social Innovation. For more information about the school and to apply to Stanford GSB, visit the school’s website and fill up the online application form which you can download from the site.
There are different MBA programs to choose from each program has benefits for a certain group of people. An example of this is an MBA program that offers night classes. Night classes cater to the special needs of working professionals. Still, there are some disadvantages in pursuing an MBA night program. The following are just some of the pros and cons that you need to consider:
*Benefits
If you enroll in an MBA night program, you then get a chance to pursue your study and career at the same time. Through an MBA night program, you can find a regular daytime job without worrying about any conflict with your schedule in an MBA school. You will also have free weekends that you can spend with your friends or family. Another good thing about enrolling in an MBA night program is that it broadens your chances of gaining knowledge about various industries as many students in night classes come from different industries.
* Disadvantages
One of the disadvantages of enrolling in an MBA night program is that you may have a difficult time adjusting to your classes, especially if you have a low level of alertness at night. As a consequence, this may limit your productivity. Another problem with an MBA night program is that you can’t afford to do any overtime in case you haven’t finished doing your office work. Because of this, you will be put into a position where you have to choose what to prioritize– your studies or your career?
So before you start writing your MBA personal statement for an MBA night program, be sure that this is the best option for you. Are you one of those people who are most active at night? Or can you can easily adjust for the night schedule? Once you’re certain that an MBA night program is the one for you, then you should start preparing everything you need, including a good schedule.
Photo Credit : winkyintheuk
If you want to enroll in an MBA program to have specialized knowledge in the field of business, there are various MBA specializations for you to choose from. Here’s a shortlist of MBA specializations that can help you climb the career ladder:
* Finance
Courses in this specialization include advanced financial management topics, final strategies, investment analysis, international finance, and ethical issues and standards. Finance specialization is best if you would like to pursue a career as a financial analyst, financial consultant, general manager, investor relations manager, or corporate finance manager.
* Marketing
This specialization offers courses such as marketing strategy, market planning, marketing research, marketing communication, and buyer motivation and behavior. In this specialization, case studies on marketing products and services are often conducted. Some positions that are best for those with marketing specializations are distribution manager, sales manager, account manager, general manager, retail manager, and top-level executive positions.
* International Business
If you are interested in dealing with people from different cultural backgrounds or simply want to be familiar with various business models used in the different parts of the globe, you may opt for International Business specialization. Some courses under this specialization includes international marketing, international finance, and cross-cultural management.
* Accounting
Specializing in accounting will enable you to pursue a career as an auditor, a controller, an accounting information systems manager, or a corporate accounting manager. Some of the courses offered in accounting are real estate taxation, business taxation, accounting information system, and auditing.
When you apply in any of these specializations, you have to write an MBA personal statement. In your MBA personal statement, you may write about personal qualities that make you a strong candidate to for any of the specialized program. It is also important that you write a clear, concise, and attention-grabbing MBA personal statement to increase your changes of getting admitted to the MBA program. Don’t forget to state your reasons in choosing a particular specialization.
Photo Credit : naama
There are many career ladders to success. But one sure way to get there is through an MBA program. With an MBA degree, you have better chances of building a successful career. An MBA program will hone skills that are needed to qualify for higher positions. Because your choice of an MBA program will greatly affect your future, you should decide carefully which program to choose. It would better for you to set goals before you even write your MBA personal statement. The following are some of the factors in choosing the right MBA program for you:
* Why you want to pursue an MBA program
This means you have to ask yourself about your motivations in pursuing an MBA program. You have to determine if you are just going to shift from your current career or you are going to improve your career opportunities. You must also determine if your goal is to acquire more knowledge in the field or qualify for a promotion.
* What structure of MBA program will suit your needs
There are various programs to choose from; you have to determine the structure of the program that can meet your needs. You may opt for a program that gives hands-on experience to students or choose a program that caters to distance learning. You may also choose to specialize on areas such as production and manufacturing, human resource, and executive programs. Other than these, you can choose between a full-time and a part-time MBA program.
* How to deal with your financial status
It would be an advantage to enroll in an MBA school with established reputation. This MBA school , however, may impose higher tuition. But if you are determined to pursue your MBA program despite the expenses, you may apply for private scholarship programs or ask for financial aid from the MBA school. You may do the the latter by explaining your financial status in your MBA personal statement.
If you have already made up your mind on which MBA program to pursue, you may now start contemplating about the MBA personal statement you have top submit. This MBA personal statement should be engaging enough to increase the odds of getting admitted to a degree program.
Photo Credit : Nic’s events
