Academics

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

MBA programs are enormously varied in structure—full v. part time; entry requirements, classroom v. online, specialized v. general—and in reputation or admissions standards.  Thus, it is very difficult to summarize them or give advice to undergraduates who may at some later time want to earn an MBA.  Pretty much any motivated person can find an MBA program that will accept them and provide a solid education, but getting in to a top program with the kind of international reputation that will lead to interviews with top corporations is much, much more competitive.  

It is the norm for good quality MBA programs not to admit students directly out of undergraduate schools.  Rather, they look for three or more years of successful business experience, making the average age of an entering student something like 27.  Because of this delayed entry, it is much harder for us to track former Lake Forest College students who eventually complete the MBA.  That said, LFC students have been successful at some of the top programs in the country, like Northwestern and the University of Chicago. 

For information on MBA programs, see the MBA Program Information Site (http://www.mbainfo.com) or MBA.com (http://www.mba.com/mba/).  Another good source is http://eco5.comWeb site; click on “Uni rankings” (http://www.eco5.com/en/?unirankings) then on  “Master and PhD Programs” or “MBA Rankings.” 

Most MBA programs require that you take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).   For information, click the “Take the GMAT” tab at MBA.com  (http://www.mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT).