Kaplan Survey Findings

Good Evening

This PM, Kaplan Test Prep released the findings of our 2013 survey of business school admissions officers. Some of the findings may reflect a shift in MBA education. As you may recall, we've been conducting this survey every year since 2006 to ensure that aspiring MBAs receive the most accurate and up-to-date information on the admissions process. For the 2013 survey, 140 admissions officers from business schools across the United States were surveyed by telephone between July and September. Among those 140 are five of the top ten MBA programs, as compiled by U.S. News & World Report. Among this year's findings:

As the job market for top talent shifts from investment banks to tech firms, a Kaplan Test Prep survey shows that 54% accepted more students from STEM backgrounds (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) for the 2013-2014 cycle compared to three years ago. Traditionally, the bulk of B-school students have come from more traditional fields such as consulting, marketing and business.

Reflecting a broader change in the business school education landscape, the increased acceptance of applicants from non-traditional backgrounds comes at a time when gmat test taking volume is down and business schools are seeking new ways to attract top talent. Recent years have seen B-schools roll out a growing number of specialized master’s programs in areas like Accounting, Finance, Human Resources and Operations and an overall increase in the number of applicants to these programs. Typically, these programs place less emphasis on an applicant’s employment experience in the admissions process; Kaplan’s survey showed that only 12% of business school admissions officers cited lack of relevant work experience as the biggest “application killer,” compared with 51% who said they would reject an applicant on the basis of a low entrance exam (GMAT or GRE) score. Related data from Kaplan’s survey shows that 39% of business schools accepted more students who applied directly from college than three years ago.

You can see more results and analysis here: Kaplan Test Prep Survey Finds that Business School Matriculants May Be Starting to Look More “Big Bang Theory” And Less “Apprentice”

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