#49 Minnesota Carlson MBA Admissions Q&A with Linh Gilles – “A Really Well Kept Secret”
“Because of our small program size, fit is extremely important. We’re trying to assess whether applicants can handle the academic rigor of program and how can they contribute to the classroom environment. And how do they position themselves well in front of our clients? So we look for students who are heavily motivated, self-aware, collaborative, and engaged with our community.”
Carlson MBA Director of Admissions Linh Gilles joined the show this week and we had a great chat about Carlson’s focus on experiential learning, the benefits of attending a smaller MBA program in Minneapolis, and how to give yourself the best chance for admissions.
We also discussed Carlson’s Enterprise program, where students work directly with corporate clients in a consulting capacity over 15-months in 4 areas: branding and marketing, management consulting, new business ventures, and funds investments. By the time students graduate, they’ll have a lot more work experience to showcase to employers.
Carlson has a strong reputation in information systems, health care & the medical industry, and entrepreneurship, along with the core business functions. The school benefits from its proximity to Minneapolis’ thriving business community, which is home to 19 of the Fortune 500 companies.
Definitely pay special attention to the admissions section of our talk. Linh’s shares a wealth of admissions tips that could help you get in to not just Carlson, but other smaller, hi touch programs that emphasize fit.
Enjoy!
Touch MBA’s Minnesota Carlson MBA Essentials
Program Highlights (2:26)
- The Carlson School founded in 1919
- 1 intake / year in Sep
- Length: 2 years
- Campus in Minneapolis, home to 19 Fortune 500 Companies, and where 95% of all industries representing business are present
- ~110 participants/intake
- Class is 25-30% international
- Rankings: #54 Financial Times 2013, #33 US News 2014, #35 Bloomberg Businessweek 2012, #53 Economist 2013
- Accredited by AACSB
- Dual Degrees / Joint Programs: MBA/MPP, MBA/MD, MBA/MHA, MBA/JD
Admissions (15:30)
- Application deadlines
- Round 1: Nov 1 (Jan 1 decision)
- Round 2: Dec 1 (Feb 15)
- Round 3: Feb 1 (Apr 15)
- Round 4: Apr 1 (Mar 15)
- 565 applications received, 248 accepted, 44% acceptance rate
- Avg GMAT: 690 (80% range 620 – 740), GRE also accepted, Avg GPA: 3.48
- Avg age: 28, Avg work experience: 4, 2 years min work experience strongly recommended
- Min TOEFL: 90-105 (internet), 600-650 (paper), IELTS: 7.0, with no section less than 6.5
- Interviews done by Admissions Committee
Financing (33:48)
- Tuition
- Full-time MBA Tuition: $45,000 / year ($34,230 for Minnesota residents)
- Recommended budget: $20,000 / year
- Scholarships
- 50% of participants awarded some form of financial aid
- Average scholarship amounts are $23,000 / year
- No additional application for scholarships
- Academic merit and work experience are 2 most important factors
Career (36:45)
- Carlson MBA – Full-time placement report 2012
- 80 companies recruit on campus, 300 companies use external job posting system
- 92% of graduates had jobs within 3 months of graduation
- Average Salary (Bonus): $101,000 ($21,500)
- Average 132% salary increase
- Top 4 regions graduates worked in: Midwest (86%), Northeast (4%), South (4%), Southwest (4%)
- Top 4 functions: Sales/Marketing (44%), Consulting (26%), Finance/Accounting (14%), General Management (6%)
- 50,000 alumni worldwide in 78 countries