To the extent that any sort of MBA ranking is valuable for purposes of school selection, I have suggested some ways to make school selection decisions both for those who have been admitted to multiple programs and those considering which MBA programs to apply to.
I am well aware that applicants don’t simply make selection choices on the basis of salary, but I think evaluating programs on this basis is one important consideration. For other considerations, please see School Selection: Where to apply? Where to go?
FOR ADMITS:
School Selection Strategy for Those Admitted to Multiple Programs: Go to the highest salary ranked program if you want to obtain the most market value.
FOR THOSE CONSIDERING WHICH SCHOOLS TO APPLY TO:
School Application Selection Strategy Based on Salary/Acceptance Rate Approach: Simply compare salaries to rates of admission for the programs you are interested in applying to.
1. Apply to the highest ranked programs you think you can get it into.
2. Find bargains: Schools with a high salary and a high rate of admission.
3. Avoid application to schools with a relatively low admissions rates and lower salaries.
4. Caveat emptor. Don’t assume schools are necessarily reporting salary data with 100% accuracy.
School Selection Strategy for Those Considering Staying Local versus Going for a Globally Recognized Brand: If you are deciding between going to your local MBA program instead of moving to a new city and/or country, look closely at the expected post-MBA salary rates to determine which programs are worth moving for.
1. If you are planning on studying in the US and/or Europe and are a non-resident, assume the real possibility, based on present economic circumstances, that you will likely need to return to your home country because of tightened visa restrictions and limited job opportunities.
2. If your objective is stay in your present locality, closely scrutinize whether the higher-ranked, but non-local option will actually prove to be of significant benefit to you in the future. For example, an MBA alumni network that consists of a large number of local graduates may be worth significantly more to you than association with a prestigious internationally famous brand if you intend to stay local.
3. If your professional objectives are global, you will likely benefit much more from an MBA with global brand value rather than a program with local brand value even if the post-MBA salaries are not significantly different.
-Adam Markus
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