Barbara Coward's Blog

Thanks to COVID-19, a lot of us no longer know what our life may look like in the next month, let alone a year from now. This shaky environment has caused many people to seek stability -- and for some, one way of doing so is heading back to school. Whether it be losing a job, or having more time to visualize a career shift -- MBA applications have increased. In September, the editor-in-chief of Poets and Quants wrote that applications are soaring in an article for Forbes. And since the pandemic has permeated every aspect of our world, surely it has affected the perspective of MBA admissions offices, too?

As if deciding whether to pursue an MBA wasn’t challenging enough, COVID-19 has added a dimension of uncertainty to the equation. As an admissions consultant, I find myself fielding an entirely new set of questions from prospective applicants such as: “Is hybrid worth the cost of tuition?” “How will COVID-19 affect my hiring prospects?” and “Will networking benefits be the same?” To gain some insight, I have reached out to MBA students attending top institutions this Fall to learn how COVID-19 has shaped their experiences. Whether you are still contemplating applying this Fall or you have already submitted applications, I hope their feedback will provide clarity in your decision-making process