US Admission Bells are Ringing. Why Choose an American MBA?

By Sangeet Chowfla, President & CEO of the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)

GMAC is the association of graduate business school programs, representing universities around the world. We also own and administer the GMAT exam, which is taken each year by citizens of over 190 countries as they seek to pursue the life-changing benefits of an MBA or business master’s degree. We also administer the NMAT exam in India, the Executive Assessment for EMBA students worldwide and are the premier source of research and education about candidate trends and applications across the globe. Our web portal, www.mba.com, hosts over 14 million sessions for candidates planning their journey to business school.

GMAC has been tracking survey data for decades, and the most recent data in our Geographic Trend report shows that in the 2017 testing year (June 2016-July 2017), citizens of India were the third largest national group and represented 14.3% of the total test-taking population, and of those, nearly half sent their GMAT scores to business schools in the United States. The United States remains the most sought-after destination to pursue an advanced business degree, particularly the MBA.

However, due to the current political climate in the US (such as proposed changes to visa regulations) and the advance of high-quality business school options in other parts of the world, American programs have seen a trend downward in international applicants. What does this mean to students?

Firstly, we believe you should be able to study at the destination of your choice.

Business schools rightfully place tremendous value on diversity in the classroom. Graduate business education is structured so that students learn from the experiences of one another through mechanisms such as case studies and one of the benefits of acquiring an MBA or business master’s degree is to prepare you to more effectively work in a global marketplace.  In fact, 74% of b-school alumni who responded to GMAC’s Alumni Perspectives survey agree that business school prepared them to work in culturally diverse organizations.   Plus, there is the value of the network that you build while in school – ideally one that is global and diverse in nature. GMAC believes that you should have the opportunity to enroll in the program that is the best fit for you, regardless of where that program is located.

Selecting the right business school and program is largely a matter of the choices that you make and the type of career that you want to build. Over the past 20 years, we have seen a tremendous increase in quality schools and employment opportunities for students across the globe. Clearly American business schools offer a world-class education, and others have caught up to this. That means more options for candidates as they have global choices to match their global ambitions. Every candidate makes their own choice. Do they want a largely domestic career? Regional networks? Global ambitions? Often other considerations such as immigration, temporary work to pay off loans, and the costs and duration of degrees also factor into these decisions. It is important for a candidate to understand his/her objectives first rather than simply pursue a location or brand.

Are US business schools still a good option?

The US offers a wide array of study options for a student from India, from the globally recognized brands to well-known mid-tier schools with solid placement outcomes. Regardless of the rhetoric, now may also be a unique moment to apply to these schools.

With international volume being down in the US this past application cycle, it’s reasonable to assume that some US programs will look to offer more scholarship funding to admitted international students to help support diversity in their classrooms. For example, The Yale School of Management in Connecticut recently launched a Global Leaders from India program, which will dedicate up to five merit scholarships in its full-time MBA program in the coming year to students from India. 

If fewer people from outside the US are applying to American programs, there may also be slightly less competition for seats. John Roeder, assistant dean of graduate admissions at Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business in Texas said recently, “Right now is an excellent time to be applying to US business school as an international applicant. There is less competition and more scholarship funding available.”

Will I be welcomed in the US?

When you consider studying anywhere outside your home country, there are many questions you and your family will have, with logistics to consider. In recent years, some candidates have raised the question about how welcome they will be made to feel if they choose to study in the United States.

Many schools are ramping up their international recruitment efforts, and growing partnerships with institutions outside of their home countries. Some have launched new scholarship programs. Business schools work extremely hard to keep adapting and evolving to meet the needs of students and employers, and creating welcoming, inclusive environments.   

Commentary on fewer applications received by US schools in recent years does not imply that these programs are less competitive, or that the quality of the programs has changed – you can still be assured of an extremely high-quality education, with a competitive applicant pool.  In fact, nine in 10 programs from this year’s Application Trends survey say their candidate pool is similarly or more academically qualified compared with last year.

The ability of students to study and work where they want will continue to significantly impact the growth and vitality of economies around the world. 

Where will you fit into this equation?

If you want to explore these options, I would invite you to visit mba.com and begin your candidate journey today. Know more about pursuing MBA from www.mba.com

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GMAC is the owner of the Graduate Management Admission Test® (GMAT®), the most widely used graduate business school assessment, recognized by more than 7,000 programs worldwide; the NMAT by GMAC™ exam, for entrance into graduate management programs in India, South Africa, and the Philippines, and the Executive Assessment (EA).