Student Diversity
By Jessica Pupillo
While women and certain minorities currently remain under-represented at graduate business schools, MBA programs across the country are increasingly committed to diversifying their student populations in order to meet the growing demands of executive recruiters.
On average, women accounted for 29 percent of students in BusinessWeek's 2004 Top 30 MBA Schools, and under-represented minorities accounted for ten percent of students. Minorities commonly under-represented in MBA programs include African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans.
Student Organizations Provide Support, Inspiration
Columbia Business School at Columbia University in New York City has received accolades for having one of the highest rates of female enrollees - 36 percent of the student body. Also, at 20 percent of the population, the school has double the average number of minorities enrolled.
'Our students are understanding the need for a heterogeneous population at school,' says Amanda Carlson, associate director of MBA admissions at Columbia. 'We're looking for heterogeneous students in terms of business background, religion, race.'
One of the ways Columbia encourages this culture of diversity is through its support of networking and mentorship programs for women and minorities, Carlson says. At Columbia, students have formed organizations for a variety of ethnic groups, such as Arab, African American, Hispanic, and Korean.
The school also houses the Columbia Women in Business organization. CWIB hosts conferences open to prospective students, current students, and alumni. Attendees network and go to sessions and panels on topics unique to them.
Women sometimes get discouraged because female role modes are lacking in business, says Elissa Ellis, executive director of Forté Foundation, a consortium of corporations, business schools, and organizations dedicated to promoting women in business leadership roles. These conferences help women personally connect with fellow students, prospective employers, and mentors, Ellis says.
Under-represented minorities are also in search of mentors and networking opportunities. Hispanic students benefit from the support of a college Hispanic business student association, says Ana Herrera-Malone, marketing and development director of the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA).
'We've been working with schools to make sure they talk about organizations like ours that support students throughout their master's degree program,' Herrera-Malone says. NSHMBA also hosts conferences for current and prospective MBA students.
New Focus for Admissions
In an effort to diversify its student body, the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan is revisiting its recruitment efforts. In addition to staffing an admissions officer who works remotely to connect with potential female and minority students, the school is also taking a closer look at GMAT scores, says Tim Hayes, director of admissions and financial aid.
'Under-represented applicants don't seem to score as well on standardized tests,' Hayes says. 'Our experience is that the GMAT is just one measure of how successful a person might be. Generally, however, these students perform well in the program.'
The number of women and minorities enrolled at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business is following an upward trend. The 2005 admitted class is 13 percent under-represented minority students and 30 percent female, up from six and 28 percent, respectively, two years ago.
Overcoming Financial Challenges
Business school recruiters, especially at public institutions, have found that women and minorities are wary of investing in an MBA.
'Women are sensitive to walking away from employment and incurring debt,' Ellis says.
'Hispanics tend to think twice before going to MBA school,' Herrera-Malone says. 'They worry there's no surety of getting a better job.'
While enrollment has been relatively flat at full-time MBA programs, the number of women and minorities applying for part-time programs is significantly increasing, according to the Graduate Management Admission Council 2004 Application Trends Survey. Read the survey results online at www.gmac.com.
Part-time programs allow students to remain employed while they pursue their MBA.
Rachel Mefford enrolled in an evening MBA program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Despite receiving free tuition in exchange for working as a graduate assistant, the 2003 MBA graduate remained concerned about debt.
'The evening program allowed me to intern during the day, gaining experience and helping to pay my living expenses,' Mefford says. Mefford was also able to complete her MBA program in a year and a half, minimizing the period when she was not working full-time.
Recognizing the financial sensitivity of women and minorities, schools and organizations offer financial assistance to under-represented students. NSHMBA, for example, awards $750,000 in scholarships each year. Forté Foundation has given away $2 million in scholarships.
Other organizations, listed above offer scholarships, fellowships, and financial aid.
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Laura Tolic
NSHMBA San Antonio Chapter President
Women in MBA Programs
'Statistics are beginning to substantiate assessments that reflect the higher percentages of women pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees. Greater numbers of Hispanic women are turning to their entrepreneurial tendencies rather than dealing with 'glass ceiling' barriers found in corporate America. Pursing an MBA will save an entrepreneur some long roads to reaching the same end. Women pursuing an MBA should not forget to seek accomplished role models to provide inspiration and guidance during their MBA studies. The playing field is wide-open!'
Networking Events
'For prospective MBA students, NSHMBA offers Web-based virtual Destination MBA programs on a national level and chapter-based Destination MBA events, with featured speakers and universities, on a local level. For current MBA students and professionals, NSHMBA offers chapter-based professional development events on a local level and the broader reaching National Conference, which is a three-day event that provides students networking opportunities to meet many of the highest-ranking Hispanics in corporate America. For more information, visit www.nshmba.org/conference.asp.' | |
About the writer
Jessica Pupillo is a freelance writer and communications specialist for the Ritenour School District in St. Louis, Missouri.
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