07 June 2006

Stanford Dean Discusses Admissions to American Business Schools

USINFO Webchat transcript, June 7

Robert Joss, dean of the Stanford Graduate School of Business, discusses the role of international students within the university, the application process for graduate programs in business administration and U.S. business schools' strategies for keeping competitive in the international education system in a USINFO webchat.

Following is the transcript:

(begin transcript)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of International Information Programs
USINFO Webchat Transcript

International Students in American Business Schools

Guest:     Robert Joss
Date:       June 7, 2006
Time:      11:30-12:30 p.m. EDT (1530-1630 GMT)

Robert Joss:  Greetings From the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. I am eager to answer your questions today as best I can. Thank you for your interest in management education in America.

   - Bob Joss

USINFO WEBCHAT MODERATOR:  Hello from Washington. Dean Joss will begin to answer your questions soon. Please take a look at our electronic journal on higher education in the U.S.

QUESTION [Dr. Ali Al-Hail]:  As an international Fulbright visiting scholar to U.S. universities, so many of my students in the Arab World manifested to me their wishes to do their MBA in U.S. universities. However, they have expressed to me a number of worrying issues to them e.g., it's hard for Arab students from some Arab countries to be granted a visa to the U.S. since 9\11. Don't you think it's unfair to mix education with terror?

The other issue is the cost. Is there any possibilities to match up the cost for a MBA degree according to the economic status of the country a student comes from, or according to the economic status of the student herself\himself? After all as much as education is a business project it's also a human project.

Is it possible for a MBA graduate to be recruited in the U.S.? What are the limits and expectations? My students really, want to be aware of this.

ANSWER [Robert Joss]:  Of course it is not fair to mix education with security issues, and as a school, we don't; but every student who wants to study in this country -- as is true in almost every other country -- will have to obtain a student visa to study in the county. America is not exceptional in this regard.

Graduate education is expensive. It is costly to deliver. Fortunately, many students are eligible for financial assistance, so I would encourage interested students to investigate the availability of such aid as a way to ameliorate the cost of studying in this country.

Finally, yes, it is possible to be recruited in the U.S. -- but this will also require the graduate to obtain the necessary work visa in order to remain in the country. It is best to investigate the feasibility of such a visa with a prospective employer during the interview process.

Q [Dr. Inan-ul-Haque]:  In the developing world (south of equator) not all MBA's find jobs.  Would you subscribe to the view that a degree in IT holds better prospects for landing a job?

A:  My view is that the world has many, many more management jobs than it has IT jobs -- so I believe the MBA, as a degree which covers a basic and broad body of knowledge relevant to general management -- is probably better at generating job prospects over the long run. Perhaps the difficulty you have seen is due more to employer unfamiliarity with what the applicant actually can do for that employer. Even though you have a degree, you still have to demonstrate to an employer that you can add sufficient value to the business to warrant their hiring you.

Q [Guzel]:  Hello Mr. R. Joss, I am a teacher of English. I have been teaching for more than 9 years. The reason I'm telling this is that I was offered a job which was very simple at first sight, but later I realized that the knowing language itself was not enough. During my work I faced lots of problems and misunderstandings with my partners. So I ended up by quiting my job. I tried to take several business classes, but my salary was very low.

Well, my question is does your school offer any financial aid for foreign students? If yes, how can we apply for it?

Thank you for your time.  Truly, Guzel

A:  You are right that knowing a language is not enough -- one needs to know a culture and much more about the industry and business which interests you. You need to understand the economics of the business, and what it takes for that business to be successful.

Our school does offer financial aid, and about three-fourths of all our students receive some amount of financial aid. Many American business schools have some type of financial aid, and you should investigate that when applying to any school. But first you have to gain admission to the school, then you can investigate the availability of financial aid.

Q [Sandel]:  I wonder if students from Moldova are eligible for this program?

A:  Yes, students from all over the world are eligible to apply to American universities to study management and business.

Q [Sandel]:  And how can I participate to this program? Where I have to submit the necessary documentation.

Are the MBA courses provided with scholarships?

A:  You need to apply to each University separately. Decide first which University program might best meet your needs. Each University that has a business school (and there are hundreds of them in America) maintains a website where you can learn all about that program. There are also some general websites, such as the one maintained by the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) which provide summarized information about many, many schools. Once you have selected a few schools of possible interest to you, then you can investigate whether they have scholarship funds available.

Q [Jacek]:  I took an MBA a long time ago. We had many interesting classes and talked about many interesting things, but on the test always were equations. People do what is rewarded. Not many people bothered with the high sounding concepts. They worked to the math. Has that changed?

A:  In business, both broad concepts as well as mathematical skills are important; so both are important in MBA programs as well. Statistics and analysis are very important in business. Critical variables need to be measured and tracked. A business can't succeed without numbers. But the broader concepts of strategy -- how to compete -- are equally important. We test for both!

Q [Jacek]:  What undergraduate degree do you feel is most helpful for an MBA?

A:  We admit people to Stanford with a tremendous diversity of undergraduate degrees. I would find it difficult to specify any one as "most helpful." Our most common undergraduate degree holders come from engineering and economics -- which tells you what the applicants think is useful. But business people everywhere tell me liberal arts, humanities, philosophy, psychology are just as important as economics and engineering or basic sciences or mathematics.

The most helpful thing is for an undergraduate to develop sound analytical thinking and good communication skills, and to learn how to apply them in everyday work and study.

Q [Kristi]:  Hello, I am currently ICT student in the UK, but I was always interested in studying in the USA -- but never got the chance because there were always some criteria I didn't fulfill -- for example college student or certified student and more.

My question would be if there is some possibility fro anyone to study in the USA who will undertake some test and pass? I think this would really help many students or young people willing to learn...

Thank you very much.  Kind regards, Kristin, Slovakia

A:  For our school, you need to have an undergraduate college education. But there would be many opportunities in the USA to study which do not require an undergraduate degree. You would have to explore those through your own research. Fortunately, the internet makes this easier to do than ever before. Good luck.

Q [Elizabeth]:  As an overseas educational advisor, we see a great many students that do not yet have work experience, but are still interested in pursuing an MBA program, what other experiences could be considered relevant that are outside the scope of practical work experience?

A:  At Stanford we are open to admit students right out of an undergraduate program. But we do look for experience, because experience helps us to evaluate what the applicant is capable of doing by seeing what he or she has actually done -- and not just what the applicant knows or says he or she can do. Experience can be gained and demonstrated in many settings -- not just in a work environment. Within school, there are many opportunities for leadership and organizational experience. In extra-curricular activities, student government, housing associations, summer jobs, part-time work -- there are many opportunities to demonstrate the acceptance of responsibility, the application of knowledge to problem-solving, and the ability to influence others.

Q [Jacek]:  Following up my other questions. My undergrad is history. I have found that very useful in my management career. BUT when I applied for jobs just after my MBA none of the recruiters even wanted to hear about it. It seems to me that the skills you need to get a job and the skills you need to do a good job five years later are sometimes not compatible. How do you address that at Stanford?

A:  I believe history is very useful as an undergraduate preparation for business school, and we always have history majors within our program. I also have found in business that having historical perspective is extremely valuable in doing a good job. So I agree with you, and I am surprised you have found recruiters to be so disinterested.

It is true that the skills you need for your first job out of school are often different from the skills you will likely need five or more years later. We address this at Stanford by focusing on learning how to think for yourself and learning how to continue learning (especially learning from on-the-job experience) throughout your professional life. We do this by emphasizing the foundations and functions of business, so that our students take away solid theories, frameworks, and analytical techniques of life-lasting value. Then to help with that first job, we offer workshops and coaching in preparing for interviews, which focus on those skills that are important to that first job within an organization.

Q [Elizabeth]:  Since I advise students, I get questions about different graduate programs in business. How would you contrast the MBA degree with other graduate business programs? Students can often find more research assistantships available in other business programs such as MA or MS. Many students from Southeastern Europe find funding opportunities in these other degree programs. I would like to have an expert opinion on how to explain these different programs and what students can expect to gain from them. Thanks.

A:  I think any graduate study in business and management is very helpful to future career satisfaction. I would certainly want to pursue a professional career with this knowledge rather than without! The important thing is to acquire familiarity with the body of knowledge that informs one about the critical areas -- about economies, markets, organizations, individuals within organizations, and the critical issues involved in the effective performance of organizations. This could be an MBA program like ours, but it could also be attainable within an MA or MS program. Unfortunately, I don't have enough familiarity with the programs you mention, but my advice would be to investigate just what is covered and whether a student will obtain the necessary breadth and depth of knowledge to prepare for managerial life.

WEBCHAT MODERATOR:  Dean Joss, there are still a few questions on the top of the page. The new ones came in below, but don't miss the others. Thanks.

Robert Joss:  I think we have finished all the questions?

My thanks to everyone for participating today, and for your excellent questions. I hope you will pursue your interest in management education. Our world depends on managed organizations to deliver all our goods and services -- both public and private. The performance of these organizations is the responsibility of its managers, and the profession of management is indeed a noble and important calling.

    - Bob Joss

Q [Elizabeth]:  What is your philosophy on the MBA rankings? I see students that are so caught up in this. I just cannot help but believe that there is too much focus on the rankings.

A:  I agree with you -- there is too much focus on rankings. The key is to find the school that is best for you, the applicant; not what some publication thinks. It is your education and your professional career, so think for yourself about which school and program can prepare you best for what you hope to pursue.

WEBCHAT MODERATOR:  Dean Joss, thank you for your time. It looks like you have done almost all the questions. You can make a final comment anytime you like. The transcript and story will be available on our Webchat Station. You can use the story, transcripts or links in any way you want. It is all public domain. Thanks again.

(end transcript)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)