Increase in Mba Applicants

Why More People Want an M.B.A.

Within the October 1, 2015 edition of The Wall Street Journal, it is explained that the amount interest and applicants to full-time M.B.A. programs has risen over the past year. Within the article, statistics are detailed to show the amount of participants in entrance exams and applications to full time M.B.A. programs have changed this year in comparison to recent years.

On the worldwide scale it is noted that 57% of schools with full-time M.B.A. saw an increase have seen an increase in applicants over the last year. Some of this growth can be attributed to the changing of the application process at universities, which have been altered to draw more candidates. Yet another reason for the growing amount of overall applicants can be credited to the increased acceptance of the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) at schools offering M.B.A. Programs. In the past, the most widely accepted test accepted in M.B.A. applications has been the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test). With the GRE being a general test it opens the door to more applicants than those that would be taking the GMAT, a more specific test for the field of Management.

Additionally, growth can be attributed to the increasing number of students from the U.S. applying for M.B.A. programs as well as an increased number of Female applicants. For example, in comparison to last year when 65% of M.B.A. programs received more applications from International students than, this year only 51% have reported that International applicants have outnumbered those from the U.S. Yet another demographic that has seen a rise in applicants this year is the amount of Female applicants, 51% of programs have reported an increase in the past year.

In addition to the changes some programs have made regarding how students can gain admission. I believe that the rise in applications over the past year has been largely due to the amount of advancement and pay that can be gained from being awarded...