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Share on FacebookOne more chart on the MBA application volumes of the top American business schools: Here’s how they stacked up for the Class of 2009, which was the 2006-’07 admissions cycle – the last pre-recession MBA application season.
To make the comparisons easier, here’s the last-year chart that we presented yesterday again:
Isn’t it interesting that Chicago has been stuck in the same relative position all this time? Even though they keep coming out #1 on the BW list? We find that fascinating.
It’s also interesting that MIT has moved up so much. We hadn’t noticed a big increase in interest in MIT among Brave Supplicants but long-term trends like this are hard to catch sometimes – if we hadn’t seen the before-and-after views from these charts we never would’ve guessed that MIT had become so popular among you guys.
We still think that our first chart showing the YoY deltas and 6-year net change gives more insights into what’s going on with the individual schools. We may have more to say on this over the coming weeks.
Do you have any insights you want to share? Thoughts about the data? Or just comments on why you chose to apply to one school versus another? Please feel free to start a conversation on this – we’re curious what all of you have to offer.
One thing is pretty clear (and something I knew before looking at these charts, but this definitely validates it): BSers want to go to school in a major city. Probably because the majority of BSers currently live in a decent sized metro area and can’t imagine living in a college town.
The data doesn’t lie here: in the 06-07 application cycle the schools from MIT and to the right are all in major cities, Ross and everyone to the left, small towns.
Looking at the 11-12 data shows the same: UCLA and to the right are in major cities, Duke and to the left are small towns.
It’s not really shocking that this trend has lasted five years. It just shows that even though it’s only two years (18 months on campus due to the internship, even less if you do an international exchange for a semester) BSers put a premium the school’s immediate surroundings.
The theory that some BSers just try to get into the most prestigious program possible starts to lose water when the prestige lies in the Upper Valley of Hanover, NH. Tuck is undisputedly among the elite, yet it lags in applications due to its location scaring people off. Look at the charts: More BSers are applying to UCLA and NYU than Tuck because they’d rather be in the city of Angels or Gotham than Hanover.
One could argue that the schools on the left get less applications because they’re smaller schools, but I don’t think there’s a direct correlation between size of class and desirability.
We think you may be onto something except that we also think the same conclusions can be drawn when you analyze based solely on strength of brand. Comparatively speaking, nobody’s heard of Tuck (as in, when you ask the man on the street to name a bschool), yet everyone knows Kellogg. We think that’s a main reason behind Chicago still lagging behind. Given how much apps have been increasing from Asia, and given how much brand matters there, this has got to be at least as much a driver as the urban/rural thing you’re calling out.
Definitely agree. Kellogg and Booth are peer schools in the same metro area, yet it’s amazing how many more apps Kellogg gets. Hey, maybe it’s no coincidence since they’re #1 at marketing, they’re pretty good at marketing their MBA program(s).
Disagree re: Kellogg marketing itself; Booth’s adcom runs circles around Kellogg. That’s definitely not it.
Interesting to see that applications to Ross have dropped like a rock. I wonder why that is? Seems like schools in its range (Duke, Darden, Cornell, Anderson, Yale) should benefit at its expense medium-long term if the trend continues.
@AG, thanks for the comments. We actually see things differently. We’d disagree with the “drop like a rock” characterization re: Ross. Net loss over 5 years was ~500 apps; Columbia lost close to 3x that in one year. More importantly, this is an opportunity. *Applicants* benefit the most – less competition at a VERY good school. As we pointed out before, # apps != quality of school. These charts are by no means a proxy for comparative values.
Anyway, we expect the trend to reverse. Ross is in Michigan, right? Where unemployment went up to 14% and is still well higher than the national average (almost 8.9%, compared to 7.8% U.S. – 12/2012 http://www.milmi.org/ ). Pretty sure that’s a main causal factor here.
Thanks for the reply. I’m not sure how unemployment figures in Michigan affect applications. Is it because applicants anticipate less on campus recruiting from local firms, thus avoiding applying there? Or is it the assumption that students will flock to Ross once unemployment decreases (which also assumes that most applicants are from in state, which could definitely be true)? Because since b schools are counter cyclical, I’d expect the opposite.
Either way, I really love the analysis. Coincidentally, I was looking up these figures on BW before you started posting.
Full disclosure: I’m going to UCLA Anderson this fall. I’m hoping that applicants see we are a great alternative to other California MBA programs (Stanford, Berkeley) that are insanely hard to get into. Am also glad to see positive trends in our application and hope they continue.
“Or is it the assumption that students will flock to Ross once unemployment decreases (which also assumes that most applicants are from in state, which could definitely be true)? ”
Not quite sure I understand this – are you saying that the majority of applications to Ross are coming from people who currently live in Michigan? I have a hard time believing that’s true…
@AG, great questions – in fact we’ve written so much in response that we’re going to lay it all out in its own post soon. Short answer: Ross pulls many more local (ie Midwestern region – no, Diana, not Michigan-specific) and proportionally more domestic candidates than other schools, so yes, the regional economy is going to be a factor in the decision to apply to Ross for many. We have a LOT more to say on all this beyond that one point, so look for more of our thoughts on the subject soon! (but please don’t let that stop all of you from engaging in the conversation here!!! on Ross or any other schools and other conclusions that you’re drawing from the data)
And oh yeah: AG, congrats on the Anderson win!!! We know of a lot of very strong former BSers who are now attending, you’ll be in good company there. It’s a great school and you won’t even have to pack a parka!
EssaySnark
Ahhh yes that makes much more sense. And AG, congrats to you!
Thank you both! It was a long, hard process, but well worth it. I hired a consultant (who was worth her weight in gold) and know way too much about b school admissions now.
Eagerly anticipating your upcoming post. As you’d expect, I’m also very interested in what you think contributed to Anderson’s 22% increase in apps in 2012, why it happened, and what you expect going forward.
I mean, if you have been to Michigan and California, you have to select UCLA over Ross… the weather is so nice all the time… I think it’s extremely important you enjoy your life