For many people interested in pursuing an MBA, the GMAT is the first step. Men tend to score higher on the GMAT and take the test in greater numbers, so how can a female applicant stand out? The Princeton Review is offering a free Women and MBA Webinar Tuesday, July 14, from 8–9:30 p.m., which features GMAT and admissions experts who will provide advice and address test-taking strategies.
Women tend to go to medical and law schools rather than business schools. According to emba.org, the reason is that medical and law schools have more obvious career paths, because law and medicine are both professions in themselves, whereas “business” can refer to any number of fields.
Currently, only 30 percent of students currently enrolled in MBA programs are women, but that number is increasing. Some programs, such as Emory University’s Goizuetta School, are reaching out more to prospective minority and women applicants, and other MBA programs that actively recruit women offer scholarships and grants to female applicants.
Many women interviewed about their time in business school said that it was a positive experience, but to many female students, “business” is an amorphous concept that doesn’t necessarily sound appealing. Some common misconceptions and fears women have about going to business school are that they won’t be welcome by the men that are already there, there won’t be any female professors, or that they won’t have time for school, jobs, and/or a family. And of course, there’s the price tag.
In the end, if a woman really wants an MBA, she — and her loved ones — will have to make an enormous commitment, albeit one that should pay off financially and personally in the long run. But the first step is the GMAT. So join AAUW and the Princeton Review tomorrow night to learn about the test and the admissions process and to find out if business school is for you.
This post is by Alyssa Dent, summer AAUW Membership Fellow.
