-
Target Test Prep 20% Off Flash Sale is on! Code: FLASH20
Redeem
News From 2022 AIGAC Conference: What Is Top of Mind For Admissions Directors
This week Personal MBA Coach’s founder, Scott Edinburgh, is attending the annual Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants (AIGAC) conference. As a member of the AIGAC Board of Directors, Scott had the pleasure of meeting with admissions directors from top MBA programs including HBS, Stanford GSB, MIT Sloan, Chicago Booth, Columbia Business School, UVA Darden, Berkeley Haas, Michigan Ross, Yale SOM, London Business School and others at our annual conference.
The conference gives Personal MBA Coach a great opportunity to catch up with top schools, find out what is on their minds, discuss top MBA application trends, learn about upcoming MBA essays and gain a sneak peek into the 2022-2023 MBA application season.
Though the AIGAC conference is still going on, Personal MBA Coach would like to share some takeaways from day one where admissions directors from a few top programs including Duke Fuqua, Berkeley Haas and UVA Darden discussed what is top of mind for their programs. These themes play a role both in how candidates are evaluated and in how curriculums are being updated.
Theme #1: The Role Of Businesses In Tackling Key Societal Challenges Is Top Of Mind.
In the post-pandemic world, businesses (and business students) are expected to maximize societal value, not just company performance.
For example, Berkeley Haas Dean Ann Harrison shared how Haas students are requesting classes and content that explores the role of business in improving the environment and expanding opportunities for everyone.
Similarly, Bill Boulding, Duke Fuqua Dean and J.B. Professor, discussed how businesses are expected to play a broader role in society than ever before.
Recognizing that the role of business in society is top of mind now for many schools (though for some schools such as Yale School of Management, this has been a key consideration for many years), Personal MBA Coach advises applicants to think through how they personally have contributed – not just to business performance but to driving societal value.
MBA Applicant Takeaways: While naturally not every applicant will have an example of this, as you brainstorm essay topics, keep this theme top of mind.
Theme #2: Technology Continues To Shape Business Education.
Over the last two years, business schools devoted considerable resources to increasing the use of technology in the classroom and bringing classes online, where needed. Now, that businesses are increasingly embracing technology and virtual work, admissions directors are tasked with identifying applicants who can help businesses tackle the next set of technology-related challenges: harnessing technology while maintaining humanity.
Duke Fuqua highlighted new elective content in the areas of machine learning and artificial intelligence along with its new core course on technology integration.
Berkeley Haas Dean Ann Harrison also shared how graduate education is increasingly focused on how to embrace the digital transformation that was accelerated by the pandemic while maintaining company culture.
MBA Applicant Takeaways: Regardless of whether you aspire to work in the tech space, consider the role of technology in your future career and how you will address the broader societal issues of embracing technology and humanity simultaneously.
Theme #3: Diversity, Equity And Inclusion Remains Top Of Mind.
The role of DEI in business education was once again discussed with admissions directors at this year’s AIGAC conference.
Many programs highlighted curriculum changes that increase the focus on DEI. For example, Duke highlighted its new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion concentration that equips Fuqua students with the tools to create a diverse and inclusive workforce. Students will specifically develop a strong understanding of stereotyping and prejudice and learn business practices to support equitable hiring and promotion.
Based on Tuesday’s presentations, it is clear to Personal MBA Coach that DEI was once a specialized field of study, but it is now a prominent subject across top MBA programs and one that some business schools directly ask about in their MBA application. Personal MBA Coach would not be surprised to see more MBA essays focused on this topic in the coming cycles.
MBA Applicant Takeaways: While naturally not all applicants should write about DEI, this could be a great topic for many applicants, and Personal MBA Coach encourages all MBA hopefuls to consider how they have been inclusive throughout their careers.
Stay tuned for more takeaways from this year’s AIGAC conference including details on how to manage school interactions in the post-pandemic world.
About Personal MBA Coach:
Founded by a Wharton MBA and MIT Sloan graduate who sits on the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants Board of Directors, Personal MBA Coach has been guiding clients for 15 years and is consistently ranked #1 or #2 by leading sources including Poets & Quants.
We help clients with all aspects of the MBA application process including early planning, GMAT/GRE/EA tutoring, application strategy, school selection, essay editing, and mock interviews. Our team includes former M7 admissions directors and former M7 admissions interviewers.
Recent Articles
Archive
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009