Boston University’s School of Management reported an overall 99 percent increase in the number of applicants to its MBA program as the second deadline for applications passed. That number has dropped from the initial 120 percent increase seen in first round of applications, but administrators say they are far from upset.
“You never expect to be 100 percent,” SMG Graduate Admissions Assistant Dean Hayden Estrada said.
Estrada, who entered the position in March, said the national number of applicants for MBA programs has been “soft” or decreasing.
“This has been a rebound year for most schools, incredibly so for us,” Estrada said. “I don’t know what the future holds for MBA programs. It certainly looks better this year than it did last year.”
SMG is one of the few colleges to offer an MS-MBA dual degree, which combines Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees. Estrada said SMG Dean Louis Lataif calls this a “next generation MBA.” The MS-MBA integrates techniques students can apply to use technology to its full potential.
“If you don’t understand technology today, you don’t understand business,” he said.
SMG graduate student Brooks Fornhofft said the unique dual degrees offered by the program contributed to the increase in applicants.
“That’s not what I’m enrolled in,” he said, “but I think that was imperative in the future of the program. I think it drew some really high-caliber people here.”
Estrada also pointed out SMG’s unique focus on “the art of business” or the human side of business that involves things employers cannot measure.
“What we really feel is differentiating us from other programs is our focus on systematic management,” he said.
Estrada noted that most students at other business schools graduate with specialties of expertise.
“Our students develop the ability to look at the entire picture,” he said.
SMG Student Union representative Ashan Walpita said the statistics were a reflection of the college’s growing reputation and its hands-on approach to business.
“We’ve got a different, more practical atmosphere than other business schools,” the SMG freshman said. “It gives you a lot of practical knowledge, it’s not as theory based.”
Second-year graduate student Nicole Logsdon said she chose SMG for its location and reputation.
“I think [the reason for the increase in applicants] is good promotion by the school itself and good performance by the students,” she said. “It’s a cycle … students perform well, which makes more companies interested in them, and the more companies are interested the more the reputation increases.”
However, some students say they believe reputation had little to do with the increase.
“I think there’s a big increase in graduate school applicants in general,” first-year law student Brett Church, who recently applied to SMG, said. “I’d like to say there’s something special about the program.”
Second-year graduate student Namrata Gupta said the MS-MBA program drew her to BU, and she doubts the increased applicants will affect the school’s reputation.
“Who cares about the number of people who apply?” she said.
Walpita said he was optimistic about the increase in student enrollment and how it will benefit the college’s future.
“The increase in MBA applicants is certainly going to help the undergraduate and the school as a whole,” he said.
Estrada said the success may be in part because of a recently launched advertising campaign.
“We’ve been more aggressive in this office,” he said, “and I think this shows that we’re really getting a response from people.”
Estrada said his office intends to continue to focus on marketing and customer satisfaction.
“Boston University has an under-tapped reputation out there,” he said. “There are so many great things going on here and it’s our job to make sure people hear about them.”