How to Choose a Business School Without Leaving the House

A postgraduate business major is still one of the most popular majors on campuses worldwide, with MBA programs and their many perks attracting over 800,000 candidates each year.

However, with current Covid-19 lockdown measures banning all public gatherings, including b-school open fairs, the process of choosing the right business school has become more overwhelming than ever.

Here are TopMBA’s top tips on how to choose a b-school without leaving the house.

Evaluate your commitment

There are a few things you should consider before jumping straight into research-mode.

First, think about your current career and personal commitments and ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I really want an MBA?
• Which type of MBA program (part-time, full-time, executive) would fit best into my schedule?
• Am I willing to relocate and/or attend in-campus classes or should I opt for an online course?

Once you’ve answered them, you’ll have a better idea of the program you’re looking for.

Start with rankings

MBA rankings – whether for full-time, online or executive programs – combined with the criteria you’ve already set will help you identify the unique perks and reputations of different schools around the world, allowing you to narrow down your list.

Don’t shy away from details. Looking through indicators such as the median GMAT score and the average GPA will help you get a sense of how selective the school is and how much work you need to put in your application, while the employability scores will give you an idea of what your career post-MBA might look like. Use these to choose the 10-15 schools that interest you the most.

Continue with specializations

Specializations can be another useful tool to narrow down your b-school options, especially if you already have an industry in mind.

Once you’ve chosen your area (or areas) of interest between the most popular options – Consulting, Finance, Information Management, Marketing, Operations Management, Technology and Entrepreneurship – explore the different specialization rankings and take note of the top schools. By cross-checking with your other list, you’ll be able to identify the schools you should focus on.

Do some in-depth school research

Now that you have a clearer idea of which schools you might want to apply to, you can do more in-depth research into their MBA programs on their websites.

Here are some things that you should pay attention to:

• GMAT/GRE requirements: Does the school have a particularly high median score? Is it achievable? These are key questions you should ask yourself. It’s important to be realistic and only apply if you think you have a real chance of getting accepted.
• Tuition fees and scholarships: Does the program fit into your budget and are there scholarships you can apply for? Make sure you take money into consideration when making your choice.
• The curriculum: Depending on your career goals, a school’s choice of courses and electives can be a real make-or-break – after all, only those with the right skills will advance after graduation. Most top MBA programs will have similar core courses, so it’s the electives and concentrations you should pay attention to. Are they what you need to develop your skillset?
• Employment and networking opportunities. Where have graduates landed jobs? What development opportunities does the school offer? Does it have the network you want? Make sure the programs you apply to meet these requirements. 

As you do your research, be as specific as possible in your comparisons between schools. This should help you narrow down your list to five or seven schools.

Attend virtual events

Now that you’ve got your top choices, your main focus should be meeting their representatives. While visiting campuses is a no-go during the coronavirus outbreak, many schools have already mobilized to meet applicants online.

With career fairs, discussion panels and one-on-one meetings, digital MBA events are a great way for you to interact with recruiters and gain invaluable insight on the programs and the application process. You can find our best tips on how to impress them here.

Read more about Covid-19

Coronavirus Student Hub

Everything Students Need to Know About the Novel Coronavirus

Confused About Coronavirus? Imperial College Launches Free Covid-19 Course

Wharton Offers Course on Consequences of Coronavirus Crisis

Discovering where to study

Is Postgraduate Education Still Worth It During a Global Recession?

Cambridge University: Online Only Lectures Until Summer 2021

Imperial College Business School Holds Virtual MSc Information Session

What to Consider When Comparing Universities Online

How to Choose a Business School Without Leaving the House

Comparing Virtual Tours of Top Business Schools

Why Higher Education is Still Necessary in Times of Change

How Can I Still Study Abroad?

Why Technology Can Save University Enrolment in Trying Times

QS digital events

QS Digital Events Calendar

How to Prepare For a QS Digital Event

How to Impress MBA Recruiters at Home

How to Navigate Your University Search During Covid-19

Why Aspiring Grad Students Should Attend HE Events

Coronavirus Advice for In-Person QS Events

Admissions advice

University Admissions: Coronavirus Hub

Business School Admissions: Coronavirus Hub

How Will the New Clearing Process Affect Students?

‘We’re Working to Ensure Candidate Applications Aren’t Disrupted’: Instagram Live with Imperial College Business School

Universities Changing Tuition Fees in Response to Coronavirus

How Covid-19 Is Affecting Wharton MBA Applications

Online Resources to Use in Your MBA Application

UK Government to Cap University Admissions: Will You Be Affected?

How To Defer Your University Offer In the UK

How To Defer Your University Offer In the US

How to Defer Your University Offer in Canada

How To Defer Your University Offer In Australia

Wharton Holds First Virtual Campus Tour For Students Stuck at Home

Entrance tests & exams

Six Tips to Ace the At-Home GRE and GMAT

INSEAD Accepting Applications Without the GMAT Due to Coronavirus

Can't Take TOEFL? Duolingo Might Offer Alternative

How to Take the GRE and GMAT at Home

China's National University Entrance Exam Will Go Ahead in July

Studying online

80% of UK Students Struggling Financially Due to COVID-19

Business As Usual: ESCP Replaces In-Person Project With Online Version

Why Coronavirus Will Cause an Ed-Tech Boom

Should UK Students Get A Refund For The Academic Year?

Majority of International Students Happy to Study Online

Benefits of Online Degrees, According to Students

How to Successfully Work From Home

How to Organize Your Routine When Working From Home

How to Set Up Your Home Office When Studying Your MBA

How to Stay Focused When Studying Your MBA at Home

How to Stay Engaged While Studying Online

75 Percent of Students Expect Lower Tuition Fees For Studying Online

9 Top Universities Offering Free Online Courses

Why Hybrid Teaching Might Be the Future of Online Courses

UK Students Will Pay Full Tuition Fees If Classes Remain Online, Say Government

10 Online Courses to Boost Your Business Curriculum

Life in lockdown

Quiz: Which Quarantine Cliché Are You?

Meet the Charity Helping International Students Left Homeless By COVID-19

Re-opening Businesses in COVID-19: Pros and Cons

What It’s Like Being in B-school During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Life Under Quarantine: How Coronavirus is Affecting University Students

Coronavirus: Life is Changing on Campus in the United States

25 Productive Things To Do While Social Distancing

Five Inventive Things B-School Students Can Do While Social Distancing

How to Keep Employee Morale High While Working From Home

How UK Students Can Help Out During the Coronavirus Crisis

9 Books All B-School Candidates Should Read While Social Distancing

How to Avoid Back Pain When Working From Home, According to a Chiropractor

Business School Professors Recommend Activities to Pass the Time in the Pandemic

Staying healthy

Five Ways to Look After Your Mental Health in Lockdown

How Can Students Stay Healthy At Home?

Should You Try to ‘Improve Yourself’ in Quarantine?

Fun and Unusual Ways Students are Staying Active in Quarantine

How You Can Stay Happy and Healthy While Studying at Home

Careers advice

The 'New Normal': Why Digital Skills Matter More Than Ever

The EdTech Sector Grows as Other Industries Take a Hit from the Coronavirus Crisis

Bounce Back Loans: Everything You Need to Know for Your Small Business

Staying Hopeful: MBA Grads on Job Hunting During a Recession

What Does Coronavirus Mean For The Hospitality Industry?

How to Adapt Your Small Business During a Pandemic

How to Get Hired Without Leaving the House

How 2020 Graduates Can Find Jobs Amid Coronavirus

Everything Students Need to Know About Virtual Internships

Staying Afloat: UK Small Business Owners on Adapting to a Pandemic

How My B-School Experience Is Helping Me Run a Hospital During Covid-19

Summer Internships Are Going Online

Safeguarding Talent During Coronavirus: Will Internships Go Digital?