Women’s Enrollment in MBA Programs Continues to Climb

MBA matriculation is inching closer to gender parity. According to new data released by the Forte Foundation and reported by the Wall Street Journal, women make up 42 percent of 2023 MBA enrollees. This is up slightly from last year’s 41 percent and up significantly from 34 percent in 2013.

Five MBA programs did achieve gender parity: George Washington University’s School of Business, Oxford Said, Johns Hopkins Carey, U Penn Wharton, and Penn State Smeal. An additional 15 programs came close with women making up at least 44 percent of total enrollees. Among this group are some of the world’s most prestigious MBA programs. They include Northwestern Kellogg (48 percent), Stanford GSB (46 percent), MIT Sloan (46 percent), and Harvard Business School (45 percent).

Notably, two of the five programs that achieved gender parity, Oxford Said and Penn State Smeal, are one-year programs. Administrators from both schools told the WSJ that this shorter time commitment appeals to women, particularly those who carry family responsibilities.

Programs with the Highest Percentage of Female Matriculants (Fall 2023):

• George Washington University (65 percent)

• Oxford University-Saïd (51 percent)

• Johns Hopkins University-Carey (51 percent)

• University of Pennsylvania-Wharton (50 percent)

• Penn State University-Smeal (50 percent)

• University of Rochester-Simon (49 percent)

• University of Toronto-Rotman (49 percent)

• Northwestern University-Kellogg (48 percent)

• University of Washington-Foster (47 percent)

• Stanford Graduate School of Business (46 percent)

• Queen's University-Smith (46 percent)

• MIT-Sloan (46 percent)

• Duke University-Fuqua (45 percent)

• Harvard Business School (45 percent)

• Alliance Manchester School of Business (45 percent)

• Arizona State University-W. P. Carey (44 percent)

• Columbia Business School (44 percent)

• Dartmouth-Tuck (44 percent)

• ESADE (44 percent)

• Michigan State University-Broad (44 percent)

More MBA Programs Offer Admissions Accommodations to Laid Off Tech Workers

A number of business schools are joining Northwestern’s Kellogg in offering special admissions accommodations to the tens of thousands of recently laid off tech workers. 

MIT Sloan will extend its Round Two deadline from January 18th to February 23rd for recently laid off tech employees. Applicants will still need to submit the full application, including GMAT/GRE scores. 

Indiana Kelley is offering laid off employees an application fee waiver, and highlights that they offer GMAT/GRE waivers to all applicants (in any round) with a strong past academic record that includes the successful completion of quantitative coursework. Upcoming application deadlines are January 5th, March 1st, and April 15th.

UC-Berkeley Haas is offering any applicant who has been laid off in the past six months (regardless of industry/location) an application fee waiver for the full-time MBA program, as well as an extension for the Round Two application deadline from January 5th to February 2nd. 

NYU Stern announced that it will waive entrance exams for the one-year Andre Koo Technology and Entrepreneurship MBA program (May 2023 start). Upcoming application deadlines are January 15th and February 15th.

Related: Kellogg Waives Standardized Test Requirement for Laid-off Tech Employees

MBA Interviews: When the Interview Requires More than an Interview

To get to know applicants better, MBA programs such as Harvard and MIT will ask interview participants to submit additional materials.

Harvard Business School—Post-Interview Reflections

Within 24 hours of the interview, candidates are required to submit a written reflection through Harvard Business School’s online application system. The submission is not a formal essay. Rather, it should be written similarly to a post-meeting summary one would write to a colleague or supervisor at work.

Shortly after instituting the Post-Interview Reflection, Harvard’s Admissions Blog described the exercise as a real-world practicum, as well as a chance to get students’ opinions regarding their interviews. Professionals routinely need to send emails summarizing meetings and offering assessments. Their ability to do this well is critical for workplace success.

Your Strategy: Be genuine and think critically about the interview. What were the highlights? What could have gone better? Were there remaining “gaps” after your interview, and if so, how do you wish you could have addressed those? The post-interview reflection is an opportunity for you to demonstrate real-world critical thinking and writing skills, as well as offer any information that you feel you did not adequately explain in the interview. In other words, Harvard is not expecting your most polished product, but rather a thoughtful assessment of your interview coupled with a compelling communication. As such, this piece should not be crafted prior to the interview, adapted from another essay, or used as additional resume space. You may, however, want to take some time immediately after your interview to make notes on areas that you’ll want to include in your submission. Then give yourself a bit of reflection time prior to producing your final product. You’ll want to make the most of this final opportunity to show the admissions committee who you are and how you think.

MIT Sloan—Pre-Interview Essay Submission

Those invited to interview at Sloan will be asked to answer the following questions:

• The mission of the MIT Sloan School of Management is to develop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and to generate ideas that advance management practice. We believe that a commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and well-being is a key component of both principled leadership and sound management practice. In 250 words or less, please describe a time when you contributed toward making a work environment or organization more welcoming, inclusive, and diverse.

• We are interested in learning more about how you use data to make decisions and analyze results. Please select one of the following prompts to respond to:

  • Please select an existing data visualization and in 250 words or less explain why it matters to you. The data visualization should be uploaded as a PDF. Examples may come from current events, a business analysis, or personal research.

  • In 250 words or less, please describe a recent data driven decision you had to make, and include one slide presenting your analysis. The slide may include a data visualization example and should present data used in a professional context. Your slide must be uploaded as a PDF.

The interview process is about getting to know applicants more thoroughly. The first question provides you with an opportunity to not only demonstrate that your values match those of MIT Sloan, but that you are willing to proactively work to put those values into action during your business school tenure. The second question allows you to submit proof of your analytical skills and showcase your comfort working with data and using it to drive decision-making.

Your Strategy: Your response to the first question should examine how you will demonstrate leadership in creating a diverse environment and promoting wellbeing among your peers. Focus on a specific example from your past professional experience to demonstrate your ability to cultivate a positive culture. Use the SAR (Situation, Action, Response) model. Spend about 20 percent of your response on the situation, and the remaining 80 percent on the actions you took and what resulted/what you learned. And be sure to clearly link the perspective you gained from this experience to what you hope to accomplish at Sloan.

In the second question, you will want to demonstrate your comfort with using data to tell a story, draw conclusions, and make decisions. If you opt to share a data visualization, clearly state the reasoning for the data visualization, the story or hypothesis you are looking to understand via the data, and why it is meaningful to you. You may want to visit the MIT Data Visualization project page to see current research projects, and gather inspiration. If you opt to submit a professional power point slide showing a data-based decision, ensure that your slide is simple, easy to read, and clearly describes your analysis, assumptions, and conclusions. Then, use your supplemental essay to expand upon each of these areas including the sources of the data, why you analyzed it in the way that you did (and, if applicable, why you did not use other analysis methods), the basis for your assumptions, and how you came to the conclusion that you did (including additional data that would help you to confirm your decision).

How to Approach the MIT Sloan Essays

Like most leading business schools, MIT Sloan looks for applicants who demonstrate intellectual curiosity and a collaborative spirit, and who continue to refine their abilities in leadership and innovation. Sloan also places an emphasis on action. The admissions office wants “do-ers,” particularly those who eschew the status quo, welcome challenges, and approach obstacles with an inventive mindset. 

The Sloan application allows you the opportunity to demonstrate these qualities through your resume, a video essay, an optional short answer response, and a cover letter. While your resume will provide an overview of your life from the start of college, your video, short answer response, and cover letter will be your most meaningful opportunities to give the reader a view into the person and professional behind your most meaningful experiences and accomplishments. 

Optional Short Answer Question: Applicants are invited to expand on their background by responding to the following optional 250-word short answer question: How has the world you come from shaped who you are today? For example, your family, culture, community, all help to shape aspects of your identity. Please use this opportunity if you would like to share more about your background.

While this question is optional, we recommend that you respond because it gives you the chance to add personal context to your application. Begin your brainstorm by thinking through the many influences in your life—your family, culture(s) including those resulting from your heritage, religion, city where you grew up, etc., and/or important relationships from within or outside your community. Within this context, consider meaningful experiences that prompted significant evolutions in your perspective—you know, those “ah-ha!” moments without which you would be a different student, professional, and/or person today. For some, these are treasured memories. For others they are moments of growth spurred by discomfort, resilience, or trauma. 

Because your space is limited, it is best to choose one experience you believe will show the reader who you are. What did you feel…say… think… do? Use tactical descriptors to pull the reader in. After you engage the reader in a compelling anecdote, spend the remainder of your word count on self-reflection. How did this experience influence your path? What did you learn and how have you incorporated this perspective into your life? 

Cover Letter: MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic. We are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world. We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative — true doers. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity and respect passion.

Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA program. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more professional examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to the Admissions Committee (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation).

Anchor this cover letter in experiences from your full-time post-baccalaureate professional life, because what you’ve already done, learned, and achieved is far more important than what you haven’t—what you say you want to do in the future. Select a max of two experiences that you can discuss in depth. These experiences should each demonstrate more than one of the qualifications listed in the prompt (e.g., creativity, leadership, innovation, teamwork, and/or ability to grow and learn from failure). Show the reader how specific projects, interactions, and/or challenges influenced you and the formation of your goals. 

Then, transition into what you have yet to learn, and why a Sloan MBA is your next step. Prove to them that their program is the perfect intersection between where you’ve been and where you want to go. Which courses, professors, experiential learning opportunities, etc. are most interesting to you? Choose two or three that differentiate Sloan from other business schools you’re considering and explain why you’re so eager to engage and participate. Once the reader has taken the trip to your past and better understands you as a professional, your proposed path forward as part of the Sloan community will resonate more deeply. 

Related:

Your MBA Application. Acing the Video Essay

How to Approach the Harvard Business School Essay

How to Approach Wharton’s Essays

How to Approach Columbia’s Essays

Your MBA Application. Acing the Video Essay

The video essay is an excellent opportunity for the admissions committee to put a face and personality with your application. And it is important to prepare so you can make a compelling first impression. We have some tips to help you ace the video essays for Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, the Yale School of Management, and MIT Sloan. 

• Minimize background distractions. Select a place with a strong internet connection and a plain, uncluttered background. Allow the admissions committee to focus on what you’re saying by minimizing any distractions in the background—this includes pets, roommates, or loud noises. 

• Set the lights. You’ll want to place a light in front of you so that your face is clearly visible on the screen (backlighting will result in shadows). Take a test run with a friend or family member to confirm that they are able to see you clearly.

• Dress professionally. Put your best foot forward by dressing professionally, similar to how you would dress for an in-person interview. 

• Prepare, but don’t script yourself. You’ll want the admissions committee see the real you. Think strategically about the points you want to highlight in each video, but don’t memorize a script. 

• Note your pace. When nerves hit, people tend to speak more quickly. Practice delivering interview responses out loud and time them. You will have up to one minute for each response at Kellogg, and between 60-90 seconds for Yale.

Kellogg School of Management

Kellogg asks applicants to respond to several short video essay questions, in order to exhibit their personality and what they can bring to the MBA community. The question responses are optional, and the three question topics are available in advance. Video responses are due within 96 hours of submitting your application. 

Video essay 1: Please introduce yourself to the admissions committee. Consider this your opportunity to share what you would want your future Kellogg classmates and our admissions committee to know about you. What makes you, you?

Video essay 2: What path are you interested in pursuing, how will you get there, and why is this program right for you? This is an intentionally broad question so you can answer honestly and meaningfully. We want to know why you’re pursuing an MBA and why you’re choosing a particular Kellogg Full-Time Program.

Video essay 3: This question will be based on a challenge you've faced and what you've learned from it.

Kellogg states that the video essay questions are “designed to bring to life the person we have learned about on paper.” Student culture is a key focus in Kellogg’s admissions efforts, and they want to get to know applicants as fully as possible to ensure they construct a close-knit and collaborative class. This is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your values, interests, creative thinking ability, and goals, rather than worrying too much about the “correct” or expected response.  

Your Strategy: Prior to participating in the video essay, review your application (your goals, especially, must be consistent with what you’ve already submitted) and think through the video essay topics. How will Kellogg help you achieve your goals? Think about specific professors, classes, and experiential learning opportunities. How will you highlight your personality and background to the admissions committee? What characteristics and qualities will you bring to the class? What unique experiences can you offer? How can you expand upon your application materials? Bullet out key points that you’d like to make for each question topic, and practice your responses, keeping a close eye on your time. Kellogg provides practice questions that will help you to get comfortable with the format and technology, and we recommend taking advantage of this. 

From the Admissions Office: Full-Time MBA Application Series: the Video Essays

Yale School of Management

Yale asks applicants to respond to several short video essay questions, in order to exhibit their personality, grasp of the English language, and ability to think under pressure. The questions are provided after the application is submitted, and each applicant receives a set of randomized interview questions. 

Yale is looking to gauge your communication skills and your ability to think on your feet. 

Your Strategy: Prior to participating in the video essay, review your submitted application and prepare yourself to speak on how your personal goals and interests align with Yale’s MBA program. You should also review standard interview questions, and think through anecdotes from your academic and professional experiences that can be used to respond to different question types. Yale provides practice questions that will help you get comfortable with the format and technology, and we recommend taking advantage of this. Take note of the time restrictions. 

From the Admissions Office: Video Questions: Designed to set you up for success

MIT Sloan

Sloan requests applicants provide a 60-second video statement introducing themselves to their future classmates. They want to further understand your presence, passions, and interests. It is important to note that the video will only be used during the admissions process and will not actually be shown to your future classmates.

Your Strategy: Familiarize yourself with the Sloan values and culture (see bullets listed below), and take the time to clearly link your own values, passions, and goals with those of the greater Sloan community. 

• Leadership and an ability to inspire others 

• A collaborative spirit and focus on community

• Intellectual curiosity and analytical strength 

• Creativity to generate new solutions to existing challenges 

• Growth in both professional and personal endeavors 

• Drive, determination, and authenticity

You will also want to showcase your personality and the qualities that make you unique. The Admissions Committee should gain a clear understanding of why you want to attend the school and what you will bring to your class. 

Create an outline of ideas and practice delivering the content aloud. Consider also how you can best incorporate personality into your submission. This video type is the exception to our advice on using a plain, uncluttered background. If you have a location or background that will help you tell your story, go for it. Finally, take advantage of the fact that you can record the video as many times as you want.

From the Admissions Office: The 60-second video

MBA Interviews: When the Interview Requires More than an Interview

To get to know applicants better, some MBA programs will ask interview participants to submit additional materials or participate in supplementary activities. We have profiled a few of these exercises below to provide you with additional insight. 

1.       Harvard Business School, Post-Interview Reflections

Description: Within 24 hours of the interview, candidates are required to submit a written reflection through Harvard Business School’s online application system. The submission is not a formal essay. Rather, it should be written similarly to a post-meeting summary one would write to a colleague or supervisor at work.  

Rationale:  Shortly after instituting the Post-Interview Reflection, Harvard’s Admission Blog described the exercise as a chance to both get students’ opinions regarding their interviews, as well as a real-world practicum. Professionals routinely need to send emails summarizing meetings and offering assessments and their ability to do this well is critical for workplace success.

Your Strategy: Be genuine and think critically about the interview. What were the highlights? What could have gone better? Were there remaining “gaps” after your interview, and if so, how do you wish you could have addressed these? The post-interview reflection is an opportunity for you to demonstrate real-world critical thinking and writing skills, as well as offer any information that you feel you did not adequately explain in the interview. In other words, Harvard is not expecting your most polished product, but rather a thoughtful assessment of your interview coupled with a compelling communication. As such, this piece should not be crafted prior to the interview, adapted from another essay, or used as additional resume space. However, you may want to take some time immediately after your interview to make notes on areas that you’ll want to include in your submission. Then give yourself a bit of reflection time prior to producing your final product. You’ll want to make the most of this final opportunity to show the admissions committee who you are and how you think.

2.       MIT Sloan, Pre-Interview Essay Submission

Description: Those invited to interview at Sloan will be asked to answer the following question: The mission of the MIT Sloan School of Management is to develop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and to generate ideas that advance management practice. We believe that a commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and well-being is a key component of both principled leadership and sound management practice. In 250 words or less, please describe how you, as a member of the MIT Sloan community, would work to create a campus that is welcoming, inclusive and increasingly diverse. 

Rationale: The interview process is about getting to know applicants more thoroughly. This is a chance to not only demonstrate that your values match those of MIT Sloan, but that you are willing to proactively work to put those values into action during your business school tenure.

Your Strategy: Your response to this question should go beyond what clubs and extracurricular activities you will participate in at Sloan. Rather, it should examine how you will demonstrate leadership in creating a diverse environment and promoting wellbeing among your peers. Using examples from your past leadership experiences, demonstrate your ability to cultivate a positive culture. And be sure to clearly link the perspective you gained from these experiences to what you hope to accomplish at Sloan. 

3.       Northwestern Kellogg, Video Essay

Description: In responding to several short video essay questions, Kellogg’s video essay allows you to further demonstrate what you will bring to the community in an interactive way.

Rationale: Kellogg states that the video essay questions are “designed to bring to life the person we have learned about on paper.” Student culture is a key focus in Kellogg’s admissions efforts, and they want to get to know applicants as fully as possible to ensure they construct a close-knit and collaborative class. As such, this is an opportunity to showcase your personality, values, interests, and goals rather than worrying too much about the “correct” or expected response. 

Your Strategy: While the video essay may feel uncomfortable at first, it is an excellent opportunity to allow the admissions committee to know you better. Kellogg provides practice questions that will help you to get comfortable with the format and the technology, and we recommend taking advantage of this. Prior to the video essay, review your submitted application and think through your personal goals and interests and how those align with Kellogg. While you do not want to look scripted in your responses, you do want to be prepared, which will help you to relax and show your personality.

4.       University of Michigan Ross, Team Experience 2.0

Description: Those invited to interview at Ross will also be invited to participate in the Team Experience 2.0. In this exercise, teams are tasked with developing a business challenge and solution using random words. Then, they are required to present the case to an evaluator, who will ask each group a follow-up question based on the solution they present.

Rationale: The Ross Admissions Committee says that the goal of the exercise is to assess how an applicant can contribute to and problem-solve as a team-member in real-time. This exercise will mimic the format of most business school group work and will demonstrate to the admissions committee your ability to lead, collaborate, and contribute to a group’s shared goal.  

Your Strategy: As you take part in the Team Experience 2.0, you will want to consistently show your leadership and collaboration abilities. This includes ensuring that all members of the team are participating, celebrating and enhancing good ideas, kindly but productively questioning your teammates, and ultimately encouraging the group towards a decision. Similar to the Wharton Team Based Discussion, you will succeed to the extent that your team succeeds. As such, do not become overly competitive or domineering in the discourse. Instead, look for the ways in which you can help your team to determine the best solution.