Comments on: Where are all the Indian business students going? http://calpolymbatrip.com/2010/india/where-are-all-the-indian-business-students-going/ The MBA Graduate Program at Cal Poly Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:20:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Frederick Peemoeller http://calpolymbatrip.com/2010/india/where-are-all-the-indian-business-students-going/#comment-17563 Frederick Peemoeller Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:59:01 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/?p=2365#comment-17563 On top of costs, it should be noted that we are going through a worldwide recession. MBA applications are at an all time high in America because of so many young professionals that have been laid off from their jobs. The shear number of applicants allows for more prestigious schools to pick higher qualified applicants than prior years, which may be making it difficult for Indian applicants to be accepted to the school of their choice. Even if they get accepted, they may not be getting enough scholarship money or funding to attend the school because it may be going to more highly qualified students in the states. On top of costs, it should be noted that we are going through a worldwide recession. MBA applications are at an all time high in America because of so many young professionals that have been laid off from their jobs. The shear number of applicants allows for more prestigious schools to pick higher qualified applicants than prior years, which may be making it difficult for Indian applicants to be accepted to the school of their choice. Even if they get accepted, they may not be getting enough scholarship money or funding to attend the school because it may be going to more highly qualified students in the states.

]]> By: Alex Thornton http://calpolymbatrip.com/2010/india/where-are-all-the-indian-business-students-going/#comment-17532 Alex Thornton Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:12:11 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/?p=2365#comment-17532 <i>"The fee in most B-schools has also increased by 50% to 100% or more in the last three years. From a return on investment perspective, MBA education is not as lucrative as it was before the economic slowdown."</i> I think this quote is key to understanding the student scarcity problem facing Indian business schools. A B-school has two primary strategies: become a cost effective learning institution or attempt to advance to "A" level status. I imagine that most of these schools are attempting to become top ranked. Naturally they are increasing student fees to pay for improvements to their universities. Of course, not everyone needs, wants, or has the grades to attend a high ranked university. Instead, becoming a cost effective university is a perfectly sound strategy. Cal Poly, for example, does not match some private institutions in reputation; but at about $15,000 a year for an accredited masters degree, Cal Poly is perhaps one of the best returns on educational investment in the country. Perhaps more B-schools should consider providing the greatest value to their students rather than focus on their rank. “The fee in most B-schools has also increased by 50% to 100% or more in the last three years. From a return on investment perspective, MBA education is not as lucrative as it was before the economic slowdown.”

I think this quote is key to understanding the student scarcity problem facing Indian business schools.

A B-school has two primary strategies: become a cost effective learning institution or attempt to advance to “A” level status.

I imagine that most of these schools are attempting to become top ranked. Naturally they are increasing student fees to pay for improvements to their universities. Of course, not everyone needs, wants, or has the grades to attend a high ranked university.

Instead, becoming a cost effective university is a perfectly sound strategy. Cal Poly, for example, does not match some private institutions in reputation; but at about $15,000 a year for an accredited masters degree, Cal Poly is perhaps one of the best returns on educational investment in the country.

Perhaps more B-schools should consider providing the greatest value to their students rather than focus on their rank.

]]> By: John Barry http://calpolymbatrip.com/2010/india/where-are-all-the-indian-business-students-going/#comment-17528 John Barry Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:53:46 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/?p=2365#comment-17528 Just because the enrollment of Indian students has declined by 13% at American business schools doesn't necessarily mean that they are choosing to no longer pursue graduate degrees in business. For a long time enrollment at many of the top 10 business schools in the country was dominated by Indian students in part due to their huge GMAT scores. Maybe as a way to diversify their programs, many of these institutions have scaled back a little on their recruitment of Indian nationals. Just because the enrollment of Indian students has declined by 13% at American business schools doesn’t necessarily mean that they are choosing to no longer pursue graduate degrees in business. For a long time enrollment at many of the top 10 business schools in the country was dominated by Indian students in part due to their huge GMAT scores. Maybe as a way to diversify their programs, many of these institutions have scaled back a little on their recruitment of Indian nationals.

]]> By: Chris Carr http://calpolymbatrip.com/2010/india/where-are-all-the-indian-business-students-going/#comment-17475 Chris Carr Tue, 02 Feb 2010 03:49:04 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/?p=2365#comment-17475 Good post. Two off-topic, but kind of related thoughts ... Your Orfalea College of Business MBA program and degree is AACSB accredited. It’s the gold standard for international business education. Did you know that less than 5 percent of all business schools in the world have this quality control stamp and blessing? India (and China) has some good b-schools to be certain, but, not many are yet AACSB accredited. They are getting there, but also have a ways to go. Not saying your Cal Poly program is perfect; we have improvements to do make. Am saying, keep in mind the the quality of other programs out there in the domestic and global market. Next, one way for each of you to build the brand of your own program and degree, and hence personal prestige and reputation is how you perform and conduct yourselves in India on a trip like this. That is, every word you say, every thing you do, the protocols you honor or dishonor, the quality of the questions you ask during your company visits, how you dress, whether you follow up with a thank you card or email to your hosts, etc., will be carefully watched and analyzed by your Indian hosts and counterparts. Whether you build and strengthen your own brand and degree there will be completely up to you. Do it right and they will remember you, Cal Poly and our United States of America in a positive light for a long time. Do it poorly, and, well, you know the rest. So if/when you see a classmate on the trip not holding the line in this regard, it's up to you (not Dr. Singh, Vicki or Neetu) to take ownership of your own brand, pull them aside, and talk to them to get them back on track. India and her people will change you for the better and positive if you open up and let them. There are some best business practices you/we can all learn from India. Have a great trip! Professor Carr Good post.

Two off-topic, but kind of related thoughts …

Your Orfalea College of Business MBA program and degree is AACSB accredited. It’s the gold standard for international business education. Did you know that less than 5 percent of all business schools in the world have this quality control stamp and blessing? India (and China) has some good b-schools to be certain, but, not many are yet AACSB accredited. They are getting there, but also have a ways to go. Not saying your Cal Poly program is perfect; we have improvements to do make. Am saying, keep in mind the the quality of other programs out there in the domestic and global market.

Next, one way for each of you to build the brand of your own program and degree, and hence personal prestige and reputation is how you perform and conduct yourselves in India on a trip like this. That is, every word you say, every thing you do, the protocols you honor or dishonor, the quality of the questions you ask during your company visits, how you dress, whether you follow up with a thank you card or email to your hosts, etc., will be carefully watched and analyzed by your Indian hosts and counterparts. Whether you build and strengthen your own brand and degree there will be completely up to you. Do it right and they will remember you, Cal Poly and our United States of America in a positive light for a long time. Do it poorly, and, well, you know the rest. So if/when you see a classmate on the trip not holding the line in this regard, it’s up to you (not Dr. Singh, Vicki or Neetu) to take ownership of your own brand, pull them aside, and talk to them to get them back on track.

India and her people will change you for the better and positive if you open up and let them. There are some best business practices you/we can all learn from India. Have a great trip!

Professor Carr

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