Corona virus has the world turned upside down, but what does it mean for MBA applicants?
Until a couple weeks ago, the economy was enjoying its longest period of expansion ever. But just like 911, the great recession, and the dot-com bubble, the COVID 19 global pandemic has roiled markets and sent everyone into a tailspin. Everyone seems to be handling this brave new world in a different way.
Some are working from home and hoping they will still have a job. Others are being aggressively opportunistic by reselling hand sanitizer or toilet paper. Those applying to graduate school might be wondering how the virus might affect their run at top business schools, particularly when schools across the nation have gone to online-only instruction and admissions staff are working from home.
Deadlines may end up being extended.
MBA application deadlines are not until early fall, so it’s way too early for them to make the call, but based on the way things have been going, there’s a good chance the schools may delay at least the first round. The backlog and slowdown of productivity in the admissions offices across the country will surely have an effect on how many applications they can process and may cause schools to extend or shift the deadlines to accommodate themselves and the applicants.
Applications are likely to spike.
The Corona virus will very likely have a negative impact on employment rates, at least in the short term, but if this extends over the summer, there will likely be measurable job loss. Unemployment sends droves from the workforce back to business school, so almost overnight you can expect to see far more applications this year than you might have otherwise. Even if we experience a relatively quick return to a normal economy, because of the breadth of impact from COVID-19, the effects will become evident quickly in MBA application rates.
Obtaining transcripts and other documentation will be more challenging.
College and university staff and faculty are working from home and will therefore be far less responsive and have constraints on access to systems where historical and archived information is stored. Getting those official transcripts sent will likely encounter delays, so be patient and reach out early----even now, if you want to get everything taken care of before the deadlines begin approaching.
Consultant time will be in high demand.
A rise in applications also means a potential shortage of consultant time. If you are serious about going back, you would be wise to go ahead and reach out now to chat with your potential consultant before they max out their capacity.
To find out more about your options and how we can guide your business school application process, email us at mba@amerasiaconsulting.com or contact us via http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/contact