You’ve heard about US News & World Report and Financial Times Global MBA Rankings, but did you know Financial Times also ranks business schools’ alumni network and career effectiveness? Or that QS ranks business schools worldwide according to specialization?

After updating Touch MBA’s school matching algorithm, Darren shares his top 5 “undercover” subrankings that can help you shortlist best-fit MBA programs.

Darren also shares 3 ways to shortlist business schools that could lead to a better MBA experience and investment.

Topics

• Understanding Rankings & Subrankings (0:00)
• Darren’s 5 Favorite Subrankings for MBA Applicants (7:30)
• A Process to Quickly Evaluate Schools (23:45)

Episode write-up and show notes: https://touchmba.com/undercover-mba-subrankings

Get free, personalized school selection help at Touch MBA: https://touchmba.com

“The most frustrating part I have found is the vast amount of information about schools, applications, and chances that is out there. It’s been hard to sift through all the noise and really figure out what schools are good for you and what your actual chances are.”
– Margaret, USA

Feel the same way?

Trust me, you’re not alone.

We’ve helped over 3,500 MBA applicants from 50 countries shortlist MBA programs, and hear comments like this all the time.

What if you could figure out MBA programs you’re excited about AND competitive at, that would be a great investment in your future? And do this with the least time and effort?

I’m a former MBA Admissions Director who has thought about this problem – how to make school selection easier – for the past 10 years.

I’ve also observed where applicants end up applying and attending. Why? So I could cut out any part of the research and selection process that has no utility. In other words, to save you time.

I would like to share with you the 4-step method that I believe is most effective for shortlisting best-fit MBA programs.

The best part of this method? It will give you the best chance of getting in, too.

Topics

• Introduction (0:00)
• Rankings: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (3:40)
• Step 1: Reflect on Your A, B, and C (9:25)
• Step 2: Determine Your "Must Haves" (12:10)
• Step 3: Evaluate Your Competitiveness (17:00)
• Step 4: Interact to Find Fit (22:00)
• Conclusion (24:45)

Show Notes

• How to Choose the Right MBA Programs for You: Follow these Four Steps to Find the Right Business Schools

Episode write-up and show notes: https://touchmba.com/business-school-selection-simplified

Get free, personalized school selection help at Touch MBA: https://touchmba.com

How can you make the most of your MBA experience?

After reflecting on their own MBA experiences and those of hundreds of successful grads, Adam Putterman, Northwestern MMM '19, and Bob Manfreda, Stanford GSB '19, wrote MBA Coffee Chats: Thoughtful Advice on How to Get the Most out of your MBA.

The book answers frequently asked questions from recent MBA admits, and aims to help this group have more productive coffee chats with MBAs before starting business school.

Darren invites Adam, who graduated from Northwestern's Dual Degree MBA & M.S. in Design Innovation program, to discuss how to find people to have coffee chats and what to ask. The two also discuss prioritizing time and personal growth at business school.

At Touch MBA, we're all about helping you make the best MBA investment. Although MBA Coffee Chats is intended for MBA admits, why not get a sneak preview of the best practices and big questions you'll need to answer before starting your MBA?

Questions

• Introducing Adam (0:00)
• Why MBA coffee chats? (4:30)
• How to find people and what to ask (8:20)
• Writing an MBA "to don't list" (25:45)
• Getting peer feedback (32:15)
• Adam asks Darren questions about podcasting (35:30)

About Adam

Adam Putterman is Co-Founder of Ours, a relationship wellness company. He got a dual MBA and MS in Design Innovation Degree (MMM) from Northwestern University. Before attending Kellogg, Adam got his B.S in Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis and worked for Deloitte as a consultant.

EPISODE SPONSOR: QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY'S SMITH FULL-TIME MBA

The path to your next big career move goes through Canada. The 12-month Full-time MBA program at Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business features a proven team-based, experiential curriculum — built around the exact set of skills that top employers seek. The results speak for themselves. 98% of the Class of 2021 accepted an offer for their dream role within 3 months of graduation. Listeners of the Touch MBA Podcast can receive a complimentary virtual consultation by visiting Yoursmithmba.com/touchmba.

Show Notes

• MBA Coffee Chats by Bob Manfreda and Adam Putterman
• mbacoffeechats.com

Episode write-up and show notes: https://touchmba.com/mba-coffee-chats-adam-putterman/

Get free, personalized school selection help at Touch MBA: https://touchmba.com