Top 10 Business Schools That Are The Toughest to Get Into

Article provided by The Princeton Review
(From MSN Encarta)

You can’t be scared of a little competition, but these schools might give you a reason to sweat it a bit. The Princeton Review examined institutional data at the nation’s best 296 business schools and found that these 10 business schools were the toughest to get into. How competitive admission is at the business schools you’re considering is influenced by a number of factors including the average undergraduate GPA of the entering class, average GMAT score, and the percentage of accepted and matriculated students. You’ll find typical responses from admissions officers in the profiles of each school below. Rankings are listed in order, with No. 1 being the toughest.

1. Stanford University (Stanford, Calif.)
The top criteria for admission are "intellectual vitality," "demonstrated leadership potential" and "personal qualities and contributions" -- Stanford looks for community leaders, so the "impact [you made] on [your] workplace" matters much more than your job responsibilities. The GSB admissions office says that candidates should not include academic recommendations unless they reflect work experience (as a T.A. or research assistant, for example). Students report a broad range of GMAT scores, with a median of 720 (the GRE is also acceptable in some cases), and a median TOEFL score of 283.

Students who considered Stanford University also looked at Harvard University.

2. Harvard University (Cambridge, Mass.)
A "reputation as the best business program in the country" makes Harvard Business School one of the top prizes in the M.B.A. admissions sweepstakes. Applicants lucky enough to gain admission here rarely decide to go elsewhere. The school’s full-time-only program is relatively large; approximately 900 students enter the program each year. Academic ability, leadership experience and unique personal characteristics all figure prominently into the admissions decision.

Students who considered Harvard University also looked at Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University.

3. Columbia University (New York)
The admissions department at Columbia notes, "Columbia Business School selects applicants from varied business and other backgrounds who have the potential to become successful global leaders. Their common denominators are a record of achievement, demonstrated leadership and the ability to work as members of a team." The school also reports, "By design, efforts are made to admit students who add different perspectives to the learning experience." Admission to the program is extremely competitive.

Students who considered Columbia University also looked at Harvard University, Stanford University and the University of Pennsylvania.

4. University of California -- Berkeley (Berkeley, Calif.)
When looking at applicants to Haas graduate programs, the school considers all of the following in determining admissions status: "demonstration of quantitative ability; quality of work experience, including depth and breadth of responsibilities; opportunities to demonstrate leadership, etc.; strength of letters of recommendation; depth and breadth of extracurricular and community involvement; and strength of short answer and essays, including articulation of clear focus and goals."

Students who considered University of California -- Berkeley also looked at Columbia University, Harvard University, New York University, Northwestern University, Stanford University, University of California -- Los Angeles and the University of Pennsylvania.

5. University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)
Wharton is among the most selective M.B.A. programs in the country. On average, the school receives between seven and 10 applications for each available slot. The school’s Web site notes that "approximately 75 to 80 percent of all applicants are qualified for admission." Applicants are evaluated holistically by at least three members of the admissions committee. All prior academic experience, including graduate work and certifications, is considered. GMAT scores also figure into the decision. Quality of professional experiences, career choices and stated goals for entering the program are all carefully reviewed. Committee members also look for evidence of leadership, interpersonal skills, entrepreneurial spirit and good citizenship.

Students who considered University of Pennsylvania also looked at Harvard University, Stanford University and Columbia University.

6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, Mass.)
Completed applications to the MIT Sloan M.B.A. program include a cover letter, two letters of recommendation, post-secondary transcripts (self-reported prior to interview; if called for an interview, applicants must provide official transcripts), a current résumé, four personal essays, supplemental information and GMAT or GRE scores. The school requires additional materials from applicants to the entrepreneurship program, the leaders for manufacturing program and the biomedical enterprise program. The nature of the program favors candidates with strong quantitative and analytical skills, as well as those with strong personal attributes including leadership, teamwork and ability to make decisions and pursue goals.

Students who considered Massachusetts Institute of Technology also looked at Columbia University, Dartmouth College, Yale University and University of Pennsylvania.

7. Yale University (New Haven, Conn.)
The admissions committee at Yale University School of Management seeks accomplished students with highly diverse professional and academic experience. Recently admitted students come from a range of backgrounds, including such unlikely fields as jewelry design, athletics, medicine, nonprofit organizations and the performing arts. The school does not publish any specific admissions standards; however, the class of 2008 had an average GMAT score of 701 and an average college GPA of 3.4.

Students who considered Yale University also looked at Harvard University and University of Pennsylvania.

8. New York University
NYU’s admission’s committee strives to create a business school community that is as vibrant and diverse as New York City itself. In addition to having a strong academic background, Stern students are leaders in a wide range of fields, bringing diverse expertise and experiences to the program. The entering class of 2008 numbers just over 400 and boasts an average undergraduate GPA of 3.4. The class’s average GMAT score was 700, with a range of 640–750.

Students who considered New York University also looked at Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania and University of Chicago.

9. University of Michigan -- Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Applications to the University of Michigan M.B.A. program must include undergraduate transcripts, GMAT test scores (on average, successful applicants score 700), TOEFL test scores (for international students), letters of recommendation, a personal statement and a résumé. The school also looks at an applicant’s record of success, clarity of goals, and management and leadership potential. The program does require previous work experience and, though not required, interviews are "highly recommended." There are many minority recruitment efforts, such as the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, Robert F. Toigo fellowships in finance, the National Society of Hispanic M.B.A.s conference, the National Black M.B.A. conference and many more.

Students who considered University of Michigan -- Ann Arbor also looked at Duke University, Northwestern University, University of Chicago and the University of Pennsylvania.

10. Dartmouth College (Hanover, N.H.)
Like many other schools, Tuck wants to know that you love it for what it is, not only for what it can do for you; show that you have researched the school thoroughly. The class of 2009 reports an average GPA of 3.5 and GMAT score of 713.

Students who considered Dartmouth College also looked at Columbia University, Harvard University, Northwestern University, Stanford University and the University of Pennsylvania.

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Jimmy Low
P/S: Believe in yourself and your potential, and live your MBA Dream!