What are the specific traits you look for in candidates?
We look for candidates who have given their short and
long-term career goals careful consideration. We appreciate students who
have researched the Kelley MBA Program and understand how we can help them
achieve their career goals. We seek candidates who have had past success
working in teams and who are interested in learning within a collaborative
academic environment.
We like to see applicants with at least two years of
full-time, post-undergraduate professional work experience (our students
have an average of five years of experience). There is no particular kind of
work experience we prefer. We do, however, consider what the candidate has
accomplished in his or her work, how she has made a difference, what skills
she has developed, what management and leadership opportunities she has been
provided, and so on.
We consider how each candidate will be able to contribute to
classroom discussions and team projects based on experiences at work as well
as within the community. The Kelley MBA Program is academically challenging.
We therefore evaluate each applicant's academic record and GMAT scores
carefully to determine whether he or she has the potential to handle the
academic rigors of the curriculum.
We don't have any specific course pre-requisites, but we do
look for evidence of quantitative success either through coursework or on
the quantitative component of the GMAT. Through the application, essays,
interview results and letters of recommendation we carefully evaluate an
applicant's fit with the culture of the Kelley MBA Program.
Do you have any programs targeted to specific population groups, such as women or minorities?
From a recruitment standpoint, the Kelley MBA Program at Indiana
University offers a number of diversity opportunities. The mission of the
Kelley School of Business is to transform lives, organizations and
communities through education and research. We accomplish this by following
ten guiding principles, one of which is: to create a culture that embraces
diversity in all its many forms. The Kelley School of Business offers a
variety of clubs and activities that support and encourage diversity among
our students and the community. We are an industry leader in successful
diversity initiatives and we are proud of our heritage through Indiana
University.
Kelley is one of three founding schools of a 14-institution alliance called
the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management. Formed in 1966, the
Consortium, along with its corporate partners, strives to enhance diversity
in business education and leadership by helping reduce the
under-representation of African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native
Americans in both the member schools' enrollments and in the ranks of
management. Consortium applicants are considered for Consortium Fellowships
that cover full tuition and required fees for two years of full-time MBA
study. For an out-of-state student, that equates to more than $69,000 at the
Kelley School of Business. Currently, the Dean of the Kelley School of
Business, Daniel C. Smith, serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees for
the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management.
Each fall, the Kelley MBA Program hosts our In Focus Weekend. During a
weekend in October, the Kelley School provides the opportunity for diverse
candidates to have an interactive and up-close and personal view of the MBA
Program. Attendees meet current students, faculty, administrators, and
alumni through a variety of information sessions regarding MBA admission,
financial aid, the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, and career
opportunities, as well as panel discussions and roundtables.
Recently the Kelley School of Business MBA Program has hosted a number of
innovative events across the country dedicated to the recruitment of women.
Hosted at unique and innovative venues, we've had a lot of fun putting on
these events. For similar events in your area,
check our
listings.
Kelley is also a proud member of the Forté Foundation. The Forté Foundation
is a consortium of major corporations, top business schools and influential
non-profit organizations dedicated to substantially increasing the flow of
women into MBA programs and business networks. Each year the Kelley School
of Business MBA Program awards a number of Forté Fellowships to entering
women.
What do you think is the best way for applicants to differentiate themselves from the crowd?
Get to know us! The Kelley MBA admissions team participates in
recruitment events through most of the world. Applicants are encouraged to
attend MBA fairs, information sessions and/or receptions in their area to
learn more about the program and to meet faculty, staff and alumni. Visiting
campus is an even better way to show your interest and to learn more about
the program. It is always nice when we receive an application from someone
who we have already gotten to know through the recruitment process.
What do you advise a waitlisted candidate to do?
Waitlisted candidates are encouraged to keep in contact with the
admissions office--let us know of your continued interest. We don't rank our
waitlist. If we go to the waitlist, we take a fresh look at each
application. As a result, applicants are welcome to provide us with new or
updated information--especially information that may strengthen their
profile.
How are re-applicants viewed by Kelley and how can they be successful?
Each year we have a number of candidates who re-apply. The ones who are
most successful in the re-application process are those who carefully assess
their previous year's application, identify the less competitive aspects,
and take very specific action to remedy weaknesses. When we consider a
re-applicant we look very specifically at what the candidate has
accomplished in the past year and how he or she is a stronger candidate.
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