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| MBA applications get mixed response in 2010: Survey |
| BS Reporter / New Delhi Aug 27, 2010, 02:02 IST |
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Applications to graduate management education programmes painted a mixed picture in 2010 with half of the programmes reporting an increase in application volume for the incoming 2010-2011 class while about 40 per cent reported a decline compared with 2009.
Executive MBA programmes saw the most remarkable increase at 59 per cent in the number of applications reversing a three-year decline. This was one of the highest proportions of programmes reporting increases in volume among all MBA programmes according to the latest Application Trends Survey conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) which owns the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). The survey saw participation 327 graduate business schools and faculties who submitted data for 665 graduate management programmes.
The survey revealed that after reaching a cyclical peak in 2008, more full-time two-year MBA programmes reported a downward (49 per cent) trend in application volume for 2010. Moreover, the demand for programmes aimed at mid-career professionals was particularly strong even as interest in full-time MBA programmes continued to soften.
“Part-time MBA programmes appear to be nearing the end of their recent downward cycle in application volume. The proportion of programmes reporting growth in application volume in 2010 was comparable to 2009 and about even with those reporting a decline,” said the survey.
It noted that nearly two-thirds of US full-time MBA programmes indicated that the largest number of foreign applications they received was submitted by Indi an citizens and one-fifth reported receiving the greatest number of applications from Chinese citizens. Yet, in GMAT examinsation 2010, graduate management programmes in the US received the majority of international score reports from test takers in China (62,180) followed by reports sent from test takers in India (42,507).
In GMAT examination 2010, graduate management programmes in the United States received the majority of international score reports from test takers from Asia-Pacific region.
The cyclical nature of application volume trends is not new to graduate management programme admissions. The survey explained that after several years of strong growth, the number of applications typically reaches a high point and trends down afterwards. We are witnessing slight decreases in most programmes. It appears that full-time MBA programmes have reached this turning point.
GMAC APPLICATION TRENDS SURVEY 2010
# 59% of executive MBA programmes reported an increase in number of applications
# APAC continues to be the leading source of international applicants to the US
# Application volume for full-time two-year MBA programmes down 1.8%
# 3/4th of full-time MBA programmes in APAC reported an increase in the number of applications in 2009
# Demand for programmes aimed at mid-career professionals saw a significant rise in 2010 |
“Last year, the financial crisis brought more people to seek further education. This year, as the economy picked up, the applications are more realistic—people who really intend to and are serious about pursuing postgraduate education, such as MBA,” a survey participant shared.
The downward trend, on the other hand, cannot continue indefinitely either. After a negative trend bottoms out, programmes once again see an increase in application flow. Executive MBA programmes seem to be on that positive trajectory after several years of deceleration in application growth, concluded the survey.
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