Market Trends: the Right Time to Get an MBA
Amidst the faltering economy, business school applications and investments have soared in the past two years. While employment security is down and the job market is tight, many business executives are taking advantage of the downturn to invest in their careers.
Many career-minded individuals are opting to strengthen their professional profile while the economy is preparing its recovery. According to GMAC’s 2008 report on MBA application trends, between 62% and 79% of Full-Time programs in Europe and the United States have increased application volumes. Part-Time, and Distance Learning MBA programs also have experienced a greater total applications. Meanwhile, company investments in top-level Executive MBA programs for their employees have stagnated.
"Despite (or perhaps because of) the recession, we have seen not only an increase in the number of applications for our Full-time MBA this year, in particular applications from the UK and Europe which are up 60 per cent, but also an increase in the quality," reports Séan Rickard, Director of Admissions at the Cranfield School of Management.
In general, the return on investment is high for candidates who earn their MBA at top international business schools. The latest GMAC Alumni Survey shows that a graduate business education yields impressive returns: 80% of MBA graduates who attained a new job after graduation indicated they “could not have obtained that job without a graduate management degree.”
Helping Candidates to Choose the Right MBA
On the Access MBA Tour, qualified professionals are given the chance to meet with business school representatives in private One-to-One meetings and small group workshops. In addition, Access MBA advisors at the event help orient candidates towards the business schools that match their criteria. This personalized orientation and the individualized discussions with Admissions Officers differentiate Access MBA from other MBA fair organizers. “The One-to-One meetings are proven to advance candidates in their decision-making process during the event. This is more valuable than basing an MBA program choice on brochures or rankings” says Christophe Coutat, Founder of the Access MBA Tour in 2004.
“We are convinced of the value of the Access MBA 1-2-1 events as we are consistently presented with high-quality candidates who fit our programme and our recruitment goals; many more than we would normally meet at a traditional fair event and with better profiles and motivation,”
Event attendees
The Access MBA Tour is a targeted event focused on high quality, personalised services for MBA candidates. Candidates who match school’s admissions criteria are selected for One-to-One meetings and small group workshops. Qualified candidates are English-speaking individuals with at least 3 years of professional experience and hold a Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent.
Participating Schools
The ACCESS MBA Tour includes over 100 prestigious business schools that are accredited and internationally ranked.
Practical Information
- Monday, September 21st 2009 from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Hyatt Regency Hotel, Alfred Rouleau 4th Floor Meeting Room
- Information and registration online at www.accessmba.com
About Access MBA
The Tour organizes approximately 40 One-to-One events per year in more than 30 cities worldwide.
Access MBA is a project of the Advent Group, a Paris-based communications agency that coordinates educational and recruiting events throughout Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas.
Press Contacts:
Carolyn Gonglefski, Event and Communications Director
Tel : +33 1 43 41 32 06 – email: carolyn@accessmba.com
