We often get the question if an MBA makes sense for engineers and how engineers can stand apart in their applications from the many others like them who are applying to business school. To answer the question and more, we’re speaking to an admission consultant, several students, and a couple of deans about engineers and business schools. Which business schools typically like the engineers? How should applicants with engineering backgrounds present themselves to schools, especially if they’re a self-described ‘stereotypical engineer’? What should applicants with engineering backgrounds emphasize on their applications? Listen in to our guests and their recommendations for a successful application process for engineering applicants.

Our very own MBA PodTV host Mia Saini moderates an admissions panel on "How to be admitted to a Top MBA" at Access MBA in New York. Mia investigates those topics swimming around in your head on MBA admissions. Learn the value add of an MBA, the best time to apply, and the biggest mistakes candidates make when writing essays, studying for the GMAT, and in the MBA interview.

The buzz in business right now is ‘triple bottom line’: people, planet, profit. Sustainability issues have made it into the consciousness of business leaders and they need MBAs who understand how to incorporate the issues into the decision making process. Demand exists but how exactly does the global green movement translate into GREEN, as in competitive salaries, for business school grads? Today’s show will focus on real-life career opportunities for Green MBAs: which companies are hiring, where the growth will come from in the green movement, what the long-term career prospects for Green MBA grads are and what you should to do prepare yourself for a sustainable career.

Strong young military leaders often make the successful leap to Corporate America, with the MBA providing the tools. In this show you will hear from more than a dozen deans, soldiers, students and experts about the military-friendly schools, how to find available benefits, you’ll learn about the resources and the challenges. In our companion show, Military MBA: From the Military to Corporate America: Fitting In you will hear how to make the adjustment from the battlefield to the campus to the boardroom. Learn how you can make the transition to build a career of a lifetime by building on your military strengths.

Our very own MBA PodTV host Mia Saini moderates an admissions panel on "How to be admitted to a Top MBA" at Access MBA in New York. Mia investigates those topics swimming around in your head on MBA admissions. Learn the value add of an MBA, the best time to apply, and the biggest mistakes candidates make when writing essays, studying for the GMAT, and in the MBA interview.

MBA Podcaster host Bob O'Keefe takes a look inside The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania uncovering must-know application strategies with co-author of "Your MBA Game Plan" and Veritas Prep MBA Admissions Research Director, Scott Shrum. Also joining in on the admissions conversation is a Wharton admissions director and alumnus and a Wharton Class of 2010 student. We’ll cover the topics of what type of candidate makes for an ‘ideal’ Wharton student, how you should approach the essays and application for Wharton to what life is like on campus. Turn up the volume because you won't want to miss this!

MBA Podcaster host Bob O'Keefe takes you on a journey to the Silicon Valley to Stanford Graduate School of Business. With an acceptance rate less than 10%, Stanford is considered one of the most selective business schools when it comes to choosing candidates. Bob sits down with Linda Abraham of Accepted.com to find out what Stanford is looking for and uncover strategies on tackling Stanford's application and essays. You will also hear from several Stanford MBA graduates as to why Stanford was the right pick for them and what they learned along the way.

MBA PodTV host Mia Saini takes you to her stomping ground, Harvard Business School. Mia draws from her own experiences of applying to and getting into HBS. She also gets advice from current HBS students, an HBS admissions board member and an admissions consultant. Learn about the HBS curriculum, the case method, and tips on preparing your application.

MBA PodTV host Mia Saini hunts down great GMAT study tips and discovers how much you can improve from your first practice test, as well as what to do the night before and the day of the test. Learn about GMAT's computer adaptive method from a GMAC rep (Graduate Management Admission Council) and find out how b-school admissions directors evaluate your score.

Joint degree programs are proliferating and one of the most popular are the programs offering to join a graduate business degree (MBA) with a law degree (JD) for a joint JD/MBA. More and more schools are offering these combined programs in response to strong student demand driven by the potential for substantial savings of time and money. We talk to the experts to find out what the real value of these programs are, when a dual degree makes the most sense for a student, the procedures and standards for admission, what the academic challenges are, and we get the latest information about post-graduate career opportunities.

In a 2008 Kaplan survey of 250 MBA admissions officers, 55% said that the GMAT is the most important factor on the business school application. Over 90% said it's one of the top 2 most important factors. Research shows that every 10 point increase in your GMAT score correlates to another $5K in your starting salary after business school. Why? Higher scores help you to gain admission into more competitive, higher-ranked MBA programs, which in turn brings more job opportunities and higher salaries. Prepping for the GMAT can have a big payoff.

That's great if you did well on the GMAT. But how should you respond to a GMAT score that's lower than you want or need to get into the program of your choice? We'll talk to schools, an admissions consultant, the company that created the GMAT, and a first-year student who overcame his low score to get into his top choice about what the GMAT does - and doesn't - mean to the various players in the MBA admissions process.

On today's show, we bring you coverage of a live event, “MBA Admissions and the New World Order”. How is the "new world order" affecting business schools? Has the MBA curriculum changed as a result of the economic downturn? How are schools coping with the economy? Panelists also answered audience questions about the panel topic, as well as general questions about their programs, admissions, and career prospects for graduates.

The June 30th panel took place at the University Club in San Francisco. It was hosted by the Harvard Club of San Francisco and the University Club. The capacity crowd included MBA grads from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, Harvard Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, and the Wharton School, as well as potential MBA applicants. The panel was moderated by Betsy Massar, Founder and CEO of Master Admissions.

It's amazing how many business school applicants make avoidable application mistakes and it's unfortunate that these avoidable mistakes can result in your application being immediately rejected. You have one chance to get it right. We've interviewed 3 deans of admission at leading business schools and 2 admission consultants to help you avoid common "Application Pitfalls".

Are you thinking about using an MBA to change careers? In business school they’ll call you a career switcher and you’ll find that you aren’t alone. Up to 90% of MBA candidates consider switching careers during their time on campus. Within just one or two years you can learn the skills and gain the context you need to launch into a new direction. This time we’ll take you through the process that you’d experience through the career management center at business school. You’ll learn how to make your past experiences relevant to future employers, how to update your resume and network your way into new opportunities. You’ll hear from the heads of career management from four top MBA programs.

Salaries for MBA grads, especially those in the traditionally highly-paid sectors of investment banking and private equity, is a topic of great interest in any economy. It's a given that the finance industry is not the easiest place to find a job at the moment. But for those few MBA grads savvy enough to land a job, what kinds of salaries can they expect? How is the recession affecting MBA grads' salaries in finance jobs, on and off Wall Street? And most importantly, what can you do to land yourself a job in investment banking or private equity in this economic climate?

International exposure is becoming an important calling card in this highly competitive economic climate. Since the name of the game is to set yourself apart, whether you’re applying to MBA programs or hitting the job market, global experience divides you from the pack. Other reasons are time and cost. European schools typically offer an alternative M.B.A. program that is shorter than those in the U.S. Less time in school means less tuition to pay, though it does put you back out on a tough job market sooner. On today’s show, The MBA Tour's International Schools stop in San Francisco. MBA Podcaster's Catherine Girardeau sat in on the event at San Francisco’s Hyatt Regency. Representatives from eight business schools from Europe, Latin America and Asia were on hand for informal, roundtable discussions with about a hundred prospective applicants.

Let’s face it: getting into the MBA program of your choice isn’t easy. This may be especially true for younger people with less work experience, or would-be applicants with liberal arts or science backgrounds ­ valid pursuits, but not directly linked in an admissions director’s mind to making someone B-school ready. In this show, we’ll talk with some experts - program administrators, a professor, and a student ­ to hear their advice for non-business majors about getting some coursework under their belts before applying for or entering an MBA program.

Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School is a top European Management School, with campuses in Gent and Leuven, Belgium, and St-Petersburg, Russia. Being the autonomous Management School of Gent University and K.U. Leuven, the School also has important international alliances with universities and business schools all over the world, such as Peking University in China and Amsterdam Business School in the Netherlands. In recent years, the School has been steadily climbing the international rankings in the Financial Times and the Economist, up to reaching the top 10 in the FT European Business School rankings.

The single stand-alone, objective statistic in your application that will be used by the admissions committee to compare you to every other applicant is the score you get on your GMAT -- the Graduate Management Admission Test. The pressure is on to get the best GMAT scores you possibly can as there is an unprecedented increase of MBA school candidates. You can improve your GMAT test-taking skills – we’ve got tips from the experts who run the specialty classes helping thousands of students get higher scores every year. Listen to hear what they have to say about how you can improve your score anywhere from a year in advance all the way to the day of ‘test day’.

MBAs are feeling the employment squeeze from a tightening economy. This makes the summer internship, taken between the first and second year of your MBA program, an even more crucial step toward the ultimate goal of landing full-time employment with the company of your choice. On today's show, Landing Your Ideal Summer Internship, we'll talk with a former MBA student with an unusual story to tell; the career development director from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business; and representatives from Microsoft and Vanguard with tips on what they offer and how you can prepare for those interviews, internships, and ultimately, land a fulltime job.

This week we bring you an episode of PBS's production CEO EXCHANGE. Taped in front of a live audience of MBA students at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, you will hear two CEOs who are leading their venerable companies into the modern era. At General Electric, Jeff Immelt continues to put a charge into the Most Admired Company in the United States while making infrastructure and environmental solutions the new engines for growth. Irene Rosenfeld has fresh ideas in store as the new Big Cheese at Kraft Foods, where she is expanding markets for classic brands like Velveeta, Jell-O, Oreos and Oscar Mayer, while developing new lines of healthy and read-to-eat packaged foods. Two CEOs dedicated to improving lifestyles around the globe. Listen in as we bring the dialogue directly to you.

The Africans at Microsoft diversity group recently assembled a panel of experts to talk about earning and making the best of an MBA degree. The panel is a candid discussion with business school admissions and career services people, current students and MBA graduates on a range of topics. Speakers included representatives from some of the best schools in the country, including Harvard Business School; Sloan School of Management at MIT; UC Berkeley; University of Washington; Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern and Wharton, among others. The panel, hosted at Microsoft’s corporate headquarters in Redmond, WA, had over 200 attendees from around the world including employees of Microsoft, Boeing, and Coastal Carolina University. Listen in as we bring the event to you.

Located in the vibrant Mediterranean city of Barcelona, Spain, the ESADE MBA is a unique and challenging experience which will have a lifelong impact on your career and professional development. Their innovative Full Time MBA opens a world of new opportunities and offers you the ability to customise your MBA experience in 12, 15 or 18 months depending on the objectives you place yourself.

Visit the ESADE website at www.esade.edu/mba to find out more but ESADE also encourages you to meet them in person by attending one of their on- and/or off-campus events!

It's official - the U.S. economy is in a recession, and economists predict it's going to get worse before it gets better. With the job market tightening, large companies and even entire industries that used to snap up MBAs as soon as they graduated are instead laying off workers or even shutting down entirely. Meanwhile the tough times are steering more applicants towards business school. What does this all mean to currently enrolled MBA students, MBA applicants, and freshly-minted MBAs? Listen as we ask the experts for advice on what you can do to help navigate your career and application during these tougher times.

Earn your MBA in two years through Penn State's online MBA program. The iMBA is designed for managers who have work experience in fields such as business, engineering, health care, and technology, and seek to advance their careers in the global economic environment. Cutting-edge business strategies and practical business knowledge are incorporated into the iMBA program. The curriculum integrates content across functional areas — linking management, marketing, finance, accounting, and operations — through innovative courses and 2 residency experiences. You can immediately apply advanced business concepts to help solve challenges facing you or your company.

Whether you’re just starting to think about applying for an MBA or if you’re almost ready to mail in those applications, you likely have many questions about the choices you have to make before you eventually find the perfect school. Fulltime or part-time MBA program? eMBA? iMBA? Europe or the US? A name school or not? How are your GMAT scores? Leadership abilities? Are you unique enough? In this show, we have rounded up five top authors of books that address the admissions process to help you tackle the process from start to finish. They have one thing in common, they all say there is no perfect candidate. And they all have ideas to help you get into your chosen school.

Join us as we travel to business schools across the country and around the world to bring you an in-depth profile of life and times on campus. This time we travel to Chicago to spend a week at University of Chicago. Listen in as we meet with current students, admission's officers, the dean and others.

We are the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. Since 1898, we have produced ideas and leaders that shape the world of business. Our rigorous, discipline-based approach to business education transforms our students into confident, effective, respected business leaders prepared to face the toughest challenges. Visit University of Chicago GSB Day in the Life here.

Think you need to quit your job and relocate in order to pursue an MBA? Think again. Many top-flight business schools are offering fully-accredited MBA programs either partially or completely online. These programs offer management professionals the chance to continue their career development while earning an MBA. The online and "hybrid" MBA degree programs we look at in this podcast require varying amounts of team-based, online work and actual face time with fellow students and program faculty. On today's show, four representatives from four very different online or "hybrid" MBA programs talk about how their programs are designed, and what kinds of people make up the student body.

At the Carlson School of Management, business education exists at the intersection of theory and practice and has a key role in finding solutions to real-life business challenges. We approach business education from a global perspective. International study isn't just an expectation of our students -- it's part of our culture. In fact, few schools can match our level of student participation in study abroad programs. Coupled with our Enterprise programs we offer an unparalleled opportunity for MBA students to apply classroom theories to real-world business with student-led venture capital, brand and marketing management, funds management, and consulting businesses.

Are you ever too old to go for your MBA? If you’re feeling like the clock is ticking and you’re over thirty-five… this show is for you. You may already have a healthy salary but a nagging feeling that you can do better and move higher up the corporate ladder. Is it worth going back to the classroom this far down the road? We will get advice from so-called older MBA’s, directors of MBA and EMBA programs, and an expert job-seeker.

Wharton was founded in 1881 as the first collegiate business school, and that spirit of innovation still drives the school today. Wharton offers a distinctively collaborative MBA experience, unparalleled academic and career resources, and a commitment to learning and personal growth. Wharton professors create the new ideas that are transforming businesses and governments around the world and they bring that cutting-edge knowledge into the classroom, so Wharton MBAs take the lead in innovating the new ideas of the future.

To get into a Top 10 MBA program you need sky-high GMAT scores, a perfect GPA from an Ivy League school, fluency in five languages, a Nobel prize, and have already started your own successful company. Well, not quite. Though it may seem that way, the top schools are not full of super heroes. They want to know who you are as a person, how you have overcome obstacles, and why you want that top-tier degree. Getting that prized acceptance letter from one of the best programs can be daunting, but with some great application advice it is more attainable than you may think. After all, someone has to fill those classroom chairs. Why not you? We talk to three admissions directors and one author to get their tips and insights on applying to Top 10 schools.

Ever dreamed of studying under the business experts whose names you read in the papers and see on the news? Lots of MBA programs have "star professors" on their staff rosters. But what's it like to work with them in the classroom? On this edition of MBA Podcaster, you'll learn what to look for in MBA faculty. Most MBA applicants do not put a high priority on researching the faculty at schools where they are applying. A bit of homework in this area can pay off with a match to a school that's a great fit for you.

Hawaii Pacific University's Master of Arts in Organizational Change (MA/OC) emphasizes the management, design, implementation, and application of such change methods as continuous improvement and performance management. Students learn how to design innovations for organizational culture change, as well as how to implement an actual program of change in an organization. Forty-two semester hours of graduate work are required to complete the program.

Please visit http://www.hpu.edu/maoc for more information.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could get your MBA in one year instead of the traditional two years? You’d save time, probably some money and get back to work faster. But before you decide, you should know a one year MBA is not for everyone. Who is a good candidate for a one year program? What do schools look for in a candidate that will make them successful? What’s the difference between a one year program and a two year program? We talk to those responsible for admissions from some of the top one-year programs about what to expect from a 1 year program during school and after graduation.

Listen in on an Admission Panel with top business schools around the country. Admissions Directors from NYU Stern, Columbia and Wharton will field questions on a range of topics, all with one goal in mind: how you can beat the odds and gain admittance to their schools.

There's been an uptick of MBA applications and that means more competition. As more candidates are vying for the same number of seats at business schools, more applicants are unfortunately getting rejected. Some schools encourage you to reapply while others don't. This time, we'll learn from admissions officers about the re-application process, where you can find feedback, and how you can recover from rejection and re-energize your application to get accepted next time.

So you’re thinking about applying to business school? It’s never too early to start building a strong application. Our guests will help you with the process by telling you the top things you can do now to help you get in next year. Find out when you should start studying for the GMAT and how many times you should plan to take the exam, when is the best time to visit the schools and narrow your list of choices and what you can do now to address weaknesses in your application such as low undergraduate grades or a potentially low GMAT score. Then when you’ve finally finished the application our guests will tell you when is the best time to submit. Get ready to launch your MBA Admission Strategic Plan!

The growing awareness of pollution, global warming, and rising sea levels is creating a stir in business education. “Green” courses have been added to curriculums and sustainable development programs are rising in popularity. Join us as we explore new opportunities in the Green Industry, how schools are reacting to the environmental crises, and how Green MBAs are leading the way for change on campuses.

Join us as we travel to business schools across the country and around the world to bring you an in-depth profile of life and times on campus. This time we travel to Washington, DC to spend a week with students from the OneMBA Program. Listen in as we meet with students, alumni and faculty from UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School and its OneMBA partner schools: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, RSM Erasmus University (Netherlands), EGADE – Tecnologico de Monterrey (Mexico), and FGV-EAESP (Brazil).

Five top-ranked business schools from around the world joined together in 2002 to create the OneMBA Program. OneMBA is the only global executive MBA program designed by five schools on four continents.

Click here to visit the OneMBA website, and Click here to visit UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School’s MBA for Executives website.

If you’ve got your eye on moving into a management position you’re probably seriously considering getting an MBA. Knowing that a business school degree will take a significant amount of time and money, you’re probably wondering if it’s a good move. Do Business Schools prepare good managers? That’s the question we explore today and in this show we will hear from a student, a professor, a recruiter and an author – to guide you to the right answer.

According to recent compensation surveys, MBA salaries are on the rise. That’s good news for MBAs. In 2007, GMAC reported the average MBA starting salary ranged between $80 - $85,000. Many factors influence how much you’ll actually make. Years of experience, location, industry, function, and region are just a few things that can significantly raise or lower your MBA salary. Join us as we explore MBA salaries, how to properly determine how much you can earn, and how to have realistic salary expectations. You’ll hear from GMAC, TopMBA.com, Payscale.com, and MBA career management directors.

Business school applicants have been lining up to take the GMAT since 1954. This year it’s your turn. To help you prepare, we have interviewed the various test preparation companies to hear what they have to offer. They’ll discuss the different types of courses they offer from traditional classroom courses to private tutoring and online courses. Each company will have the opportunity to explain how they are unique and what makes them stand out. Listen and learn which option is best for you.

Join us as we travel to business schools across the country and around the world to bring you an in-depth profile of life and times on campus. This time we travel to Hawai'i to spend a week at Hawai'i Pacific University. Listen in as we meet with current students, admission's officers, the dean and others.

HPU's full-time MBA program provides ample opportunity for students to immerse themselves in a dynamic learning environment for two exciting years. For students without a business degree, this 24-month format makes it possible to complete the necessary prerequisites and transition directly into the MBA program. If you have already completed your undergraduate business degree or satisfied all of the prerequisites, you can shorten the two-year program to only 18 months. Click here to visit the Hawai'i Pacific University website.

Graduating from a top MBA program can mean a higher salary, wider name recognition, and greater career opportunities. Doors open and you have a certain level of pre-existing credibility. That's also why top schools are tough to get into; everyone wants it. If you're reaching for a top MBA program, we have 10 great tips on getting you in. On our show are two admissions directors from top MBA programs and an admission’s consultant.

Join us as we travel to business schools across the country and around the world to bring you an in-depth profile of life and times on campus. This time we travel to Michigan to spend a week at Stephen M. Ross School of Business. Listen in as we meet with current students in Ross's various MBA programs, admission's officers, the dean and others.

The Ross School of Business is known for unique programming that develops leadership through action-based learning. Ross MBA students are challenged to apply their skills and develop new ones in team-based multidisciplinary projects. They work with peers and faculty in real time for real stakes for real companies in locations around the world. By building bridges between the classroom experience and real organizational settings, the Ross School seeks to teach leadership not just by example, but by practice, as well. Click here to visit the Ross website.

With MBA-related websites, articles, blogs, rankings, organizations, events, books and podcasts, there is a wealth of information out there on business school. This time, we’re going to highlight just a few resources that can help you in your application process. You’ll hear about The MBA Tour, QS World MBA Tour, Forte Forums as well as business school guides by the Princeton Review and Clear Admit. You’ll learn what makes each unique and how best to utilize these resources.

It’s been a wide-held notion that in order to get the most out of an MBA education you need at least a few years of working experience. Business schools compounded the theory by favoring candidates with solid work experience and turning out classes with an average age in the late twenties. Recently however, some top schools have been bucking the trend by reaching out to younger applicants in an effort to diversify their classes and attract fresh graduates before they become established in their careers. We’ll hear from these schools and understand the benefits of getting an MBA at a younger age.

Join us as we travel to business schools across the country and around the world to bring you an in-depth profile of life and times on campus. This time we travel to the Netherlands to spend a week at RSM Erasmus, one of Europe's top-rated business schools. Listen in as we meet with current students in Erasmus's various MBA programs, admission's officers, the dean and others.

The RSM Erasmus University International Full-time MBA Programme focuses on conducting "business beyond borders". Highly-ranked and triple-accredited, the RSM MBA is driven by academic curiosity, critical reflection and a strong focus on social issues and social engagement. Inspired by the needs of today's constantly evolving society, we are a business school where knowledge and society meet, as well as a market place where information, ideas and experiences can be exchanged, debated and discussed.

Admissions deadlines are fast approaching but you don’t want to rush to the finish line. Your goal is to build the best possible application package. That means covering all your bases. Have you written essays that are full of detail and free of errors? Properly addressed your weaknesses? Exhibited leadership skills and potential? This time, we want to help you create the killer application, one that will leave a lasting impression. You’ll hear directly from top MBA admissions directors on what they look for in candidates and you’ll get several tips from an author of a guide on MBA applications.

Get ready to think hard, dig deep and do a little soul searching: you’re about to tackle your MBA application essays. The essay section is the single most important part of your entire application which you can control. So put the test scores and the GPA aside and think about how you can convince the admission’s committee that you deserve a spot on their campus. Our guests will tell you where to begin, what to focus on and how to address any weaknesses in your application such as a low GMAT score or weak GPA. You’ll also learn how to prep the people you chose to write your letters of recommendation so that they are consistent with your essays and add to the overall image you’re building of yourself.

UCLA Anderson School of Management, established in 1935, is regarded among the very best business schools in the world. UCLA Anderson faculty are ranked #1 in "Intellectual Capital" by BusinessWeek and are renowned for their teaching excellence and research in advancing management thinking. Each year, UCLA Anderson provides management education to more than 1,600 students enrolled in MBA, Executive MBA, Fully-Employed MBA and doctoral programs, and to more than 2,000 professional managers through executive education programs. Combining highly selective admissions, varied and innovative learning programs, and a world-wide network of 35,000 alumni, UCLA Anderson develops and prepares global leaders.

All reputable admission consultants claim to be mentors and coaches to applicants rather than essay-writers who will write & complete your application from start to finish. But how do you determine if a consultant is right for you and your application needs? How do you differentiate between the many consultants in the marketplace and the various services they offer? Can a consultant really help you? Based on listener questions and feedback, we are reviewing four admission consulting companies to give you an idea of the range of costs, services and objectives you can expect. If you're thinking about using an admission consultant or coach, listen as we ask the questions you'll want to ask before spending the money.

UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School features a team-based curriculum with a global perspective that prepares students to be leaders in today's business world. The top-ranked MBA programs include a full-time program and three executive MBA formats (Evening, Weekend, Global OneMBA). Follow Mike Kunigonis, a manager from Corning Cable Systems, during a typical weekend at UNC Kenan-Flagler. On this Friday, he is attending elective courses during his second year of the Weekend Program. Along the way, you'll hear from faculty and staff members talking about the differences among the Weekend, Evening and OneMBA Programs.

If you’re thinking of applying to business school this year, now is the time to get started. You still have enough time to study and prep for the GMAT exam, draft several versions of your essay questions, visit a few top choice schools and ask for letters of recommendation from your allies. But where do you begin and what else should you be preparing for now so that you’re not scrambling to polish your application at the last minute? Find out all you need to know from our expert guests.

After receiving a number of MBA related questions from our listeners, we went out to find the answers. This time, we answer questions on MBA salaries, career options, courses to take to prepare for business school, and much more. Join us as we hear from GMAC (The Graduate Management Admission Council), an admission’s director, career development directors, and an admission consultant.

The Graduate Management Admission Test, or GMAT®, is the single most dreaded part of the business school application process. Everyone has heard the stories and myths surrounding the exam. Listen in as we interview the experts in the field, including the test administrators, and dispel many popular notions about the exam, including the notion that the first 10 questions on the test are most critical and determine your overall score. The deans also weigh in on their view of how important the GMAT® score is relative to all other factors when evaluating your application. Finally, we hear from various test prep service companies on how they can help translate ‘mastery of the material into success on exam day’.

Every MBA program has strengths in certain areas. Some schools have a renowned finance faculty, other schools are known for entrepreneurship or general management. By exploring a school's MBA concentrations, you'll get a sense of a program's strengths. In Part III of our series on MBA Tracks, we explore MBA specialties in Accounting, Human Resource Management, Operations and Supply Chain Management. Our guests include professors and directors of top ranked programs in these fields. Visit our website for Part I and Part II, which cover other popular MBA Tracks and Concentrations.

Most soon-to-be MBAs haven't seen the inside of a classroom for at least a couple of years. Basic skills like algebra and statistics have gone to the wayside as emails and PowerPoints have taken over. Students arrive on campus and are immediately confronted with core courses including accounting, statistics, economics and finance and many struggle through this first year, falling behind in the demanding curriculum. Don't start your MBA off on the wrong foot, hear what the deans have to say about the core quantitative all incoming MBAs are required to know and learn how you can prepare now so you’ll hit the ground running when you get to campus.

Focusing your MBA education on a particular concentration can have several benefits. It can fill in gaps in work history, give you expertise in a field, and help you break into a specific industry. In Part I of our series on MBA Tracks, we learned that there’s a difference between just taking an elective course to actually specializing your MBA degree. In Part II, we explore four more popular tracks in non-profit management, marketing, real estate and health care. We’ll talk to the heads of well-established MBA programs in these fields. Listen for Part III as well where we discuss Accounting, Human Resources, Operations Management/ Supply Chain Management, Sports & Media/Entertainment Management.

If you’re applying for a MBA program or if you’re midstream, you’re likely doing a lot of reading. However, there are some books that you must to read to enhance your candidacy and career prospects. In this show we will hear from students, consultants and authors to guide you to the perfect books that will help round out your skills and open your mind to new paths.

Waitlist purgatory: it’s a place no MBA applicant wants to end up. What should you do now? Some say you need to continually update the school with your recent developments, more letters of recommendation and a visit to the admission committee, meanwhile the school tells you not to send anything unless there’s been a significant change in your application. We’ll explore where you should go from here and what you can do to help get you off the waitlist and onto the accepted list.

Landing the best summer internship possible is of huge importance for first-year MBA students. It’s often referred to as the “12-week interview” since an internship can lead to your next full-time job. Every MBA student is encouraged to get a summer internship and competition is tough. This time, we will explore what to look for in an internship, what it can do for you, and how to find and choose the best one. We speak to two career management directors from top MBA programs, a student who’s made a summer experience into his next career move, and a recruiter at a top consulting company.

More business schools are crafting specialized curriculums that are giving students a targeted approach to their education and careers. You can get an MBA in finance, global management, technology, real estate, or health-care, just to name a few. This time we'll explore four top MBA programs with concentrations in entrepreneurship, finance, technology and general management. We’ll find out how a specialized curriculum can play a big role in shaping your future goals. Also listen for Part II which will cover healthcare management, non-profits, marketing and real estate and Part III covering accounting, human resources, operations/supply chain management, sports and media/entertainment management.

If you’re on your way to enrolling in an MBA program, or already there now, chances are you would like words of advice on from those who’ve been there, done it and went on to succeed. Listen in as we get advice from our varied guests on everything from getting in, thriving while on campus and success beyond graduation.

The GMAT score is one of the essential pieces of an application for most full-time MBA programs. But many Executive MBA programs are quietly removing it from the admissions criteria. This time, we’ll explore why more than half of BusinessWeek’s top 25 Executive MBA programs don’t have a GMAT requirement. We’ll also find out if you can apply for a waiver even at the schools where the GMAT is required for admission. Listen in as we talk to the heads of three top executive MBA programs.

MBA Podcaster has teamed up with the Graduate Management Admission Council® to bring you an extensive series of MBAs in the working world. GMAC has brought together recruiters from the top consulting firms around the world to get the perspective on opportunities in the field for MBA graduates. This week, we bring you Part I& II: employment opportunities in the consulting field, including the skills and knowledge that recruiters look for, and a discussion about the interview process. You’ll learn about opportunities that exist for MBAs in this field and how to position yourself to take advantage of the highly prestigious consulting industry. Click on "transcriptions" to hear Part III of this series, which discusses employment outlook trends for MBAs in the consulting industry.

Back to school after years on the job means lectures, homework and exams while also juggling campus activities and a job search. For those students who are starting their MBA shortly after getting their undergraduate degree they may not have enough “real-world” experience to hit the ground running in their first year. We'll give you tips how to navigate through your first year successfully; from refreshing your quantitative skills to getting an internship and setting the course for a successful graduation.

If you’re younger than the average business school student but want to get an MBA now, you could start applying. Top programs are reaching out to applicants with little work experience. We’ll explore some things you can do to compensate for a short resume, what the admissions committee will be looking for in young candidates, and what being young is actually like on campus.

Interested in a career abroad? An MBA in international management could be your best bet. You’ll gain foreign language skills, be exposed to a culturally broad curriculum and make worldwide contacts. We’ll explore some global career opportunities and look into a U.S.-based global MBA programs.

You want to pursue your MBA but you have so much going on in your life. How can you balance your dreams with your responsibilities – of a family, the finances and the often frenetic pace? In this show we will talk to real people who are doing just that – find out what they’ve learned – and get their advice to keep your juggling to a minimum.

Listen in as we cover everything you need to know about applying and getting your MBA. We are covering all the bases from picking the right schools to apply to, calculating your ROI, improving your GMAT score, tackling the essay questions, nailing the interview, deciding on a school, what to do before you hit campus, and how to launch your career upon graduation. No stone is left unturned in your pursuit to an MBA!

You are pursuing your MBA for a purpose, to land the perfect job or enhance your career. How do you turn your dreams into reality? We’ll examine the recruitment process so you can seamlessly land the job that is perfect for you. Our guests will explain how to proceed down the MBA track so that upon graduation you’ll have your choice of opportunities to launch or enhance your career.

Application deadlines for many business schools are just around the corner. As the countdown begins, we'll learn how to best plan out the months, weeks, and days before you hit submit. We'll talk about when you should approach your recommenders, if it's too late to study for the GMAT, where you should be in the essay writing process and you'll also learn about the common mistakes applicants make when pressed to meet the deadline. This time, we'll hear from three MBA admissions consultants.

The number of underrepresented minorities and women in business school is significantly low compared to other professional degree programs such as medical and law schools. Join us as we learn what schools are doing to attract more minority students, why more aren’t pursuing MBAs, why recruiters are looking to hire minority MBAs, and hear about the various scholarships available.

Each year the world becomes a smaller place as multinational organizations expand into new territories and link together people from all over the world. Learn how you can capitalize on this evolution in the business world by going overseas for your MBA. Whether you’re thinking of going abroad for one semester or for your entire MBA program we’ll show you how to make it work. We’ll show you how to understand if this option makes sense for you, what to look for in an international school and how to prepare yourself for both the MBA program and your career beyond.

In this day and age of reoccurring corporate scandals and government-mandated reporting procedures we're exploring what business schools are doing to educate their students on the ethical responsibility of corporate leadership. We'll learn why ethically-led businesses make economic sense and how business schools are getting the message across to the next generation of leaders.

Getting your MBA costs time and money. You want to make sure that the return on your investment makes sense and that you will recoup your investment in a reasonable time period. Join us as we show you how to calculate your “return on investment” (ROI), why it’s an important figure by which to compare schools and whether “average” schools are worth the investment.

With so many business schools and specialty programs, how do you decide which school is right for you? Part of your decision will be based on where you think you’ll get accepted but there is more to consider than just average test scores and undergraduate GPAs. In this episode we’ll explore the various aspects you should consider when deciding on where to apply including the schools’ recruiter relationships, teaching styles and educational philosophies as well as accreditation and location. Our guests will give you specific recommendations on what you should look for in a business school as you compile your list of potential MBA programs.

Hot off the press: this year’s business school application essay questions have recently been released for all applicants to pursue. All over the world prospective MBA applicants begin tapping at the keyboard and searching for the right words that will get them into school and farther down their career path. This week's show looks at how to make your application essay sing. Learn how to approach the school’s applications, dissect the essay questions and build a strategy to perfect your response. We talk to application consultants and admissions directors to get the inside scoop on what makes for a good essay and what to generally avoid while crafting your essay.

Everywhere you look you can find a new set of MBA rankings. Some offer ratings of full-time, part-time and executive programs, others rank schools based on their ROI and average salaries while others focus on specialties such as finance, marketing and entrepreneurship. We’ll dig into the ratings and find out which ratings list is most appropriate for each set of criteria and which schools top the different lists.

MBA Podcaster has teamed up with the Graduate Management Admission Council to bring you an extensive series of MBAs in the working world. Just a few weeks ago in San Francisco GMAC brought together recruiters from the top high tech companies around the world to get the perspective on opportunities in the field for MBA graduates. This week we bring you Part Three: Job Opportunities in High Tech. You'll learn from leading tech company recruiters how to position yourself to get an interview, ace your interview and make a place for yourself in high tech.

You’ve been working hard, moving up the ranks and you’re making a good salary. At this point do you need take time out of your career and spend a significant amount of money to get your MBA? Or maybe you are being recruited for positions that are typically held by MBAs and the job offer is lucrative. Are you hurting your long-term career objectives by taking the job before you have your master’s degree? We’ll pose these questions and more to recruiters, experts and others.

MBA Podcaster has teamed up with the Graduate Management Admission Council to bring you an extensive series of MBAs in the working world. Just a few weeks ago in San Francisco GMAC brought together recruiters from the top high tech companies around the world to get the perspective on opportunities in the field for MBA graduates. This week we bring you Part Two: How to Win an Offer in the High Tech Industry and What to Expect When You Get There. You'll learn from leading tech company recruiters how to position yourself to get an interview, ace your interview and make a place for yourself in high tech.

Thinking about heading to the U.S. for your Master’s in Business Administration? With hundreds of competitive schools to choose from, and a robust hiring economy, many international students have directed their school-searching efforts to the U.S. In addition, many U.S. schools actively recruit international students in an attempt to round out their classes and offer a global perspective to the MBA education. Pursuing an MBA in the U.S. as an international student has its own set of considerations to take into account. Listen in as we discuss the topic with experts in the field.

MBA Podcaster has teamed up with the Graduate Management Admission Council® to bring you an extensive series of MBAs in the working world. Just a few weeks ago in San Francisco, GMAC brought together recruiters from the top high tech companies around the world to get the perspective on opportunities in the field for MBA graduates. This week, we bring you Part One: Positioning Yourself for a Career in High Tech. You’ll learn about opportunities that exist for MBAs in this field and how to position yourself to take advantage of the rapidly growing high tech industry.