-- The biggest challenges institutions face are attracting more, better-
qualified candidates, and supporting cultural diversity in their student
bodies. Among desired changes that admissions officers would like to see in
their applicant pool, diversity ranks first (87%), while 57 percent of
respondents would like to see a larger applicant pool at their
institutions.
-- The number of international applicants to leading U.S. business
schools has increased over the past five years. Ninety-four percent of
responding admissions officers report a moderate to significant increase in
international applicants during the last five admissions cycles. Currently,
the average ratio of American student applicants to international student
applicants is 59:41, with the two countries (outside of North America)
sending the most students to respondents' schools being India and China.
-- The number of admits straight out of undergraduate studies is on the
rise. Despite the fact that 63 percent of respondents say professional
experience is the most important factor in student selection, almost half
(47%) report that the number of admits straight out of college has
significantly or moderately increased compared to five years ago.
-- Careless errors ranked as the top faux pas committed by students
during the application process. Inconsistency between institutional choice
and students' educational objectives and ambitions ranked second, and the
inclusion of unrequested items and inappropriate interview conduct tie for
the third most commonly witnessed application blunder.
-- Admissions officers view students that enlist the assistance of
admissions consultants neutrally. While seven percent of respondents said
that they view applicants who use admissions consultants positively, 80
percent view such students neutrally. In general, most admissions officers
feel that admissions consultants help students identify the programs with
which they fit best and clarify their career goals.
-- Admissions officers anticipate changes in the student application
process in coming years. Most respondents believe the student application
process will include more face-to-face or telephone interviews in the next
five years (60%). While over half of admissions officers foresee the
application process becoming less complex (53%), another forty percent
predict the application process will become increasingly intricate in the
coming years.
"These survey results confirm the fact that admission into a leading
business school is attainable for anyone with a compelling background, and
that there is no single definition of a 'typical' MBA student," explains
Scott Shrum, director of MBA admissions research at Veritas Prep and
co-author of "Your MBA Game Plan: Proven Strategies for Getting Into the
Top Business Schools." "While many people believe they would be out of
place in a competitive MBA program, admissions officers from top programs
have reinforced the fact that applicants should not refrain from applying
simply because they think they don't fit the mold."
For additional information on the results of the admissions officer
research or to inquire about Veritas Prep's GMAT prep and MBA admissions
consulting services, visit http://www.veritasprep.com or call
1 (800) 925-7737.
About Veritas Prep
Veritas Prep is a leading GMAT
prep and admissions
consulting provider offering effective programs to help students
improve GMAT scores and gain admission to the world's best graduate
schools. Founded in 2002 by graduates of the Yale School of Management,
Veritas Prep offers live GMAT prep instruction in more than 70 cities
worldwide, as well as interactive online courses. In addition to the most
comprehensive GMAT prep courses available, Veritas Prep offers
industry-leading admissions counseling and advising services to applicants
seeking admission to the most competitive MBA programs and law schools.
Contact Information: Contact: Lisa Weiner 303 433 7020