A Dearth of Data: Business Schools Seek to Address Social Impact—But How Are They Measuring Their Progress?

The Financial Times recently shined a light on the relative lack of meaningful data on business schools’ social impact initiatives. Without such data, they report, it is difficult for the schools to analyze, benchmark, and improve upon their efforts. Still, the Times acknowledges signs of progress in current aggregated reporting efforts. These may help move the business school community towards a more focused discussion on the outcomes of sustainability and social impact initiatives. 

Two organizations, Responsible Research for Business and Management (RRBM) and the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) have taken a lead in calling upon business schools to update their curriculums to equip future leaders to take on climate change, inequality, and other societal and environmental challenges, reports the Times. The RRBM and others, including the Financial Times itself, have recently led competitions that highlight strong individual examples of ESG courses and research. The PMRE requests regular reports from members, although the responses are not easily measurable or comparable between schools. 

In September 2022, the Association to Advance the Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), a nonprofit organization that provides trustworthy accreditation, published its first outcomes-based report on business schools’ initiatives mapped to the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. The AACSB noted that just 74 schools, predominantly in the U.S. and the U.K., submitted reports, and few went beyond describing activities. Most submitted initiatives focused on quality education, decent work and economic growth, and gender equality. The AACSB described the report to the Financial Times by saying, “Schools are quite immature in their societal impact plans. Most…are just figuring out the areas in which they want to concentrate their efforts.” They continued, “[They] need to progress beyond a list of service activities.”

In contrast to other countries, in the U.K. all universities must provide case studies and research papers to demonstrate their actions and impact to the Research Excellence Framework (REF), reports the Times. The REF then provides an external assessment of each submission and assigns a grade to the universities based on the “originality, significance, and [rigor]” of the initiatives. However, critics of the REF note that the time and resources used for reporting social impact might be better spent on pursuing social impact. 

As we blogged in January, environmental and social conscientiousness is indeed becoming a bigger part of business school curriculums. This is necessary in part because corporations themselves value these things more and more, and students must understand the modern work culture. "Profit, equity, sustainability, and inclusion must co-exist," Federico Frattini, dean at MIP Politecnico di Milano told BusinessBecause. New reports bolster the importance of schools addressing social issues on campus too, lowering their carbon footprint and caring for students' mental health. 

BusinessBecause interviewed 17 business school deans about the key trends they expected would influence business education in 2022. The deans noted that, among other trends, climate change and social issues will play an important role in the future of MBA education. Specifically, they pointed to the need for schools to update their curriculums to better reflect businesses’ expanding views on creating value and the importance of considering their own operational sustainability.

Related:  MBA Curriculums Expand to Include Content in Environmental and Social Conscientiousness

In-House Lawyers who Attended Top-Ranked Schools Report Higher Compensation

It is well-documented that attending a top law school provides the best return on investment. A recent survey confirmed in-house lawyers who attended a top 20 law program reported earnings significantly higher than those who did not. 

The study, sponsored by the Association of Corporate Counsel and consulting firm Empsight, collected over 2,000 responses from in-house legal professionals. Respondents with a law degree from a U.S. News top 20-ranked school garnered 25 percent more in base salary and 41 percent more in total cash compensation, compared to other lawyers. 

The survey also called out other factors associated with higher compensation: 

• Legal specialty: Base salaries for lawyers in IP/patent litigation, entertainment, and licensing/royalty practices tended to land above the median salary, whereas those in insurance, government relations, and risk management typically fell below the median. 

• Firm experience: Lawyers who gained experience at firms prior to moving in-house earned salaries 20 percent higher than those who went directly in-house after graduation (a less common career trajectory). Less than one-fifth of respondents, 17 percent, went directly to in-house work after law school. 

• Years of work experience: Lawyers who graduated prior to 2000 have salaries that are 45 percent higher and total cash compensation that is 86 percent higher than those lawyers who graduated after 2010.

The survey also collected data on non-compensation benefits. The majority of respondents, 79 percent, reported that their employer offers remote work options. Just under two-thirds, 64 percent, take advantage of the offering by working a hybrid schedule. Twenty-four percent reported that they work fully remote. 

Study Finds Perseverance the Most Common Theme of the AMCAS W&A Entries of Highly Successful Medical Students

Earlier this year, researchers Joseph M. Maciuba, Yating Teng, Matthew Pflipsen, Mary A. Andrews, and Steven J. Durning published findings from early research into the qualitative differences in the AMCAS applications of medical students identified as high performing (via entry into a medical school honor society) and low performing (referred for administrative action). The study’s scope included 61 students who graduated from the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, MD from 2017 to 2019. 

The researchers found significant differences in the AMCAS Work and Activities submissions: 

• Among the high performing students, seven themes emerged frequently in their Work and Activities submissions: teamwork, altruism, success in a practiced activity, wisdom, passion, entrepreneurship, and perseverance. High performers, on average, referenced the themes 7.86 times per application as compared to the low performers’ 3.81 times. 

• High performers also showcased a more diverse array of themes within their applications than low performers. On average high performers referenced 4.5 different themes in their applications, while low performers averaged 2.5.

• The most notable differences between high and low performers occurred in use of “perseverance.” Fifty five percent of high performers referenced the trait (19 percent of low performers). 

• 73 percent of high performers included a reference to their success in a practiced activity (38 percent of low performers). 

• Among low performing students, common themes emerged as well: Witnessing teamwork (taking a passive versus an active role in a team environment), describing a future event (event that has not yet occurred), and embellishing an achievement.

Preliminary Reports Show Significant Increases for MBA Class of 2022 Starting Salaries

According to Fortune Education, preliminary MBA employment outcome reports for the class of 2022 show that MBA graduates’ salaries “are surging.”

New York University (Stern) announced earlier this week that median base salaries increased to $170,000, up $15,000 from last year. Average total compensation for 2022 graduates, including signing bonuses (median $35,000), averaged $196,143. This is an 8 percent uptick from 2021. Similarly, University of Virginia (Darden) reported last month that 2022 graduates obtained a record-breaking median base salary of $175,000, an increase of 21 percent from 2021. And, at Vanderbilt University, Owen graduates garnered a median base salary of $135,000, an all-time high, coupled with a median signing bonus of $30,000, which equated to a 12 percent increase from 2021.

Representatives from MBA Career Management offices noted that 2022 graduates reaped the benefits of a tight and competitive labor market. “The fiercest competition in the labor market is for ‘top talent,’ and consulting firms are competing for this top talent not just between themselves, but also more broadly versus Silicon Valley, Wall Street, and traditional corporate America,” said Namaan Mian, Chief Operating Officer of Management Consulted, when interviewed previously by Fortune Education.

The Law School Application—Letters of Recommendation

Recommendation letters are not going to make or break your candidacy for law school—ninety-nine percent of the time, applicant’s rec letters are filled with glowing reviews of their academic abilities and potential. But, if done right, a letter of recommendation can reinforce and expand upon key themes presented in other application components like your resume, personal statement, and essays.

Here are some actions to take to make sure this happens:

Select the Best Recommenders

Most schools require two letters of recommendation and will accept up to three or four. At least two should come from academic sources (professor, teacher’s assistant, advisor) who can speak to your ability to thrive in a challenging academic environment. You may also submit letters of recommendation from nonacademic sources, for example a coach, professional manager, or volunteer coordinator. Of course, you will want to choose those you know will sing your praises, but also who can back up their claims (with specific examples) on your abilities in the areas of intellectual curiosity, problem solving, critical thinking, integrity, and perseverance. Don’t ask your family friend who is a Senator or Judge to submit a recommendation letter because you think his/her title will impress admissions committees. Save requests to contacts with significant influence at a specific school (say, they're donors or members of the board) for letters of support, which they can send separately from your application to the Dean of the law school. 

Take a Strategic Viewpoint

If your personal statement is anchored in a story that shows the reader your critical thinking and persuasion skills on a significant project, one of your recommenders could provide additional insight on this project in their letter. And remember, if one of your letters of recommendation further emphasizes your academic potential, the second should focus on other qualities, such as your ability to thrive in a collaborative environment. Furthermore, if you see gaps in your application, you may want to speak with one of your recommenders who could address them in his or her letter and share how you’ve grown from specific challenges. 

Set Your Recommenders Up for Success

Give your recommenders enough time to meet your request. We suggest at least eight weeks prior to submission. It is also helpful to give each one a short portfolio of information, which should include:

• School names and submission date(s)

• Method for recommendation submission (e.g., LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service)

• Background information (academic, professional) and your future career goals

• Illustrative anecdotes from your work with this recommender, with particular emphasis on the following topics: analytical/critical thinking, writing/presentation skills, leadership, teamwork, personal characteristics you want to highlight (e.g., determination, intellectual curiosity), and your ability to grow from feedback.

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m not very close with any of my professors, but have a great relationship with the volunteer manager at the legal aid clinic. Can I use her as a reference?

Law schools specifically look for recommendation letters to provide insight into a candidate’s ability to thrive in a challenging academic environment. You will need to have at least one reference from an academic source. Even if you aren’t close, providing specific examples from class discussions and course work will allow the professor to speak directly to the quality of your work.

Check with the law school, but most will accept supplemental recommendations. So you can also request a recommendation letter from your volunteer manager.

I’ve been out of school and working for a while now. Can I have my current supervisor write one of my recommendation letters?

Yes, if you have been out of school and working for a few years, you may ask your supervisor to complete a letter of recommendation. But you still must ensure you have one academic reference.  

The law school requires two recommendations, but will accept up to four. Do I need to submit four?

You do not need to submit the maximum number. Carefully consider the perspective and anecdotes that each of your potential recommenders could share. Pare down the number if you feel any of your recommenders will provide overlapping views of your abilities. However, if you have four strong relationships and each recommender can provide a unique view of your skills and character, then feel free to submit them all.

What if my recommender asks me, the applicant, to write the letter?

If a potential recommender puts you in a tough spot and only agrees to submit a letter that you’ve written, it is best to move on. It is often obvious to schools when an applicant has crafted the copy because of similarities in voice to other application components.

The Medical School Application: Sending an Update Letter

The autumn is often a waiting game for medical school applicants. You will wait for interview invitations and admissions decisions. It can be excruciating! But there’s more to do. You can begin writing your update letters. If you haven’t heard anything from a school for six weeks (after submitting your application or interviewing) or you’ve been waitlisted, you will want to send them a letter that includes recent career or academic updates since submitting your application, reiterates your interest in the program with specifics, and makes the yield protection statement where applicable (if admitted, I will attend). Below, we have provided additional guidelines:

• Confirm that the school accepts update letters, as some admissions committees do not. Once confirmed, address your letter to the Dean of Admissions or the Admissions Director, rather than “To Whom It May Concern.” 

• Ensure that your updates are significant enough to merit communication. Examples of sound updates include: 

  • Publications: You contributed to a research article accepted for publication, authored an article published in a regional or national magazine or journal, or were interviewed for a published article

  • Professional Development: You presented at a national/regional conference, played a major role in organizing/executing the conference, just finished a successful project, or received a promotion with additional responsibility at work in a related field

  • Awards/Recognition: You received a prestigious award (e.g., Phi Beta Kappa), fellowship (Fulbright), or other honor 

  • Extracurricular Achievements: You took on a leadership position in a club/organization, significantly expanded the scale or reach of a club/organization, started a club/organization (not previously noted in your application), or a club/organization you lead received an honor or award

  • Significant positive changes to your GPA

• In crafting your letter, take the opportunity to tie your updates back to the school’s offerings as another way to reiterate your interest in the program. If you presented a research paper at a national conference, you may mention, by name, the school’s professors who are engaging in similar research efforts. 

• Keep the tone formal and the writing crisp. Your update letters deserve the same detailed review as your personal statement and secondary essays. 

• The length should run no longer than a page. 

• Do not send more than two letters per admissions cycle. 

Dean of Yale Law School Responds to Judge’s Ban on Hiring Yale Law Clerks

By way of a public letter to alumni of Yale Law, Dean Heather Gerken defended the school’s approach to free speech and the “free and unfettered exchange of ideas” on campus. She outlined recent actions the school has taken to promote free speech, which, she notes, while readily apparent to students, faculty, and staff, they should also be known to the broader community. The institutional actions listed include the hiring of a new Dean of Students to support student discourse, disagreement, and resolution, revisions to the disciplinary code that prohibit secret recordings that discourage free expression, as well as the provision of free speech resources and a physical space to encourage students to meet and discuss disagreements face-to-face.

The letter comes on the heels of—but does not specifically reference—Judge James Ho’s (5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals) public announcement that he will no longer hire clerks from Yale law due to its “cancel culture.” In his declaration, he called out incidents in which conservative speakers were disrupted when speaking at Yale. "Cancellations and disruptions seem to occur with special frequency," he said. Judge Ho also called on other judges to join him. Currently, U.S. Circuit Judge Elizabeth Branch is the only one to do so publicly. According to Reuters, over a half-dozen Republican-appointed federal district and appeals court judges have voiced that they have either no plans to join the boycott or that they actively oppose it. Ho’s fellow 5th Circuit Judge Jerry Smith, a Reagan appointee and Yale Alumni, responded to the ban in writing. “I regularly (and recently) have had Yale clerks who, consistently, are extremely talented and performed spectacularly in upholding the rule of law and supporting toleration for diverse viewpoints,” he wrote. “Instead of boycotting, I hope to receive even more Yale applications from qualified men and women, not only this year but in future years.”

Trends in Business School: Happiness, Purpose, and Self-Awareness

MIT Sloan recently announced that it will offer their MBA students a course on happiness. It’s good timing. Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace 2022 report found that only 21 percent of employees feel engaged at work and, while just a third of employees reported to be thriving, a full 19 percent said they were “miserable.” MIT’s course, titled Pursuing Happiness and a Meaningful Life, will explore research findings on happiness and purpose, and provide students with self-assessment surveys, introspective weekly exercises, and guest speakers. Robert Pozen, MIT Sloan Senior Lecturer, says it will teach students to, “enhance their own happiness by changing their behaviors.”

MIT is the latest among prestigious MBA programs to offer courses focused on soft skills and emotional-awareness. Earlier this year, the Wall Street Journal published a profile of Harvard’s in-demand course offering titled Leadership and Happiness. The course, pitched and designed by Arthur Brooks, an HBS Professor, social scientist, and writer behind The Atlantic’s “How to Build a Life” series, contends that happiness is a byproduct of decision-making, not of chance. That good leaders must know how to cultivate happiness for themselves and their teams. His ideas resonate. Although the class has doubled in size from its original 72 students over the past two years, it still has a waiting list.  

At Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, students can take Organizational Behavior 374: Interpersonal Dynamics, better known as “touchy feely.” The course focuses on self-awareness as a key to effective and productive communications and relationships. Yale’s School of Management offers students a course titled Mastering Influence and Persuasion, which provides them with the means to more authentically persuade and motivate others. University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School allows students to apply for a six-week program, “P3: Purpose Passion and Principles,” in which participants take a structured approach to considering and defining what success and happiness looks like for them. 

The wide-spread existence of these courses within the most prestigious MBA programs is a clear indication that the business world’s valuation of soft skills and emotional intelligence is increasing. There is real value in learning to find purpose and joy, and helping others to find it too.

Survey Finds Majority of Summer Associates Felt Law Firm Cared About their Mental Health

Summer associates surveyed by American Lawyer expressed positive feedback on their work experiences in the 2022 Summer Associates Satisfaction Survey. Over 5,400 associates responded to the survey, which asked questions on a range of topics including partner access and mentorship, associate interactions, interest in the work, and firms’ alignment with their own goals and self-image. Based on average scores across the categories, American Lawyer ranked the 2022 best firms for summer associates:

1. Blank Rome, 5.0 (tie)

1. Duane Morris, 5.0 (tie)

3. Kramer Levin, 4.993

4. Paul Hastings, 4.980

5. O’Melveny & Myers, 4.997

6. Stroock, 4.956

7. Allen & Overy, 4.944

8. Day Pitney, 4.935

9. Proskauer Rose, 4.929

10. Akin Gump, 4.915

The majority of the law firms received high ratings and nearly 90 percent of third year respondents said that they would accept an offer from their summer firm for full-time employment. Just under three-quarters of respondents said that they expected to have a career at their law firm. The survey also asked summer associates to rank their concerns. Alongside work-life balance, mental health and emotional well-being emerged as key priorities for respondents. Many summer associates felt that their firms adequately addressed those concerns and almost three-quarters said that they felt that their firm genuinely cared about their mental health. 

AMCAS Work & Activities Section: Hobbies

Hobbies. They are not a make or break component of the medical school (and later, residency) application, but they are an opportunity to provide the admissions committee with a view of the person beyond the test scores. Hobbies are also an effective way to demonstrate how you will add to the diversity of the incoming class, showcase qualities you will need as a medical student/physician, and/or provide insight into how you may relieve stress during medical school. 

Within the AMCAS application, hobbies belong in the Work & Activities section under the extracurriculars category. Applicants can provide up to four experiences under each category type, with a 700 character (with spaces) count, unless the experience is designated “most meaningful” (requires an additional 1,325 characters with spaces). 

Below are our guidelines for adding hobbies to your AMCAS application:

• Be current. If you played the trumpet in the high school band, but haven’t picked it up since then, consider what hobbies are more relevant to your life now. What do you turn to for fun, and what do you see yourself doing for stress relief in medical school?

• Be specific in your description. Provide a sense of how often, and how long you have been pursuing the hobby, as well as what the hobby entails. It’s great that you love to read, do yoga, and travel, but so do many others. In what unique ways have you engaged with your interests? Did you launch a monthly book club for discussing the NYT best sellers? Write book reviews for the school paper? Did you gain a yoga teaching certification or take part in a unique yoga retreat? Do you travel to particular destinations or participate in medical experiences abroad?

• State how your hobby has impacted your personal growth. Did an experience within your hobby contribute to a change in your perspective or influence your decision to apply to medical school? What attributes have you developed through your hobby that will benefit you as a medical student and physician (resilience, effective communication and collaboration skills, empathy, the ability to thrive in a diverse environment, etc.)? 

• When possible, provide an experience or milestone that differentiates your involvement in the hobby. Many people play an instrument, but fewer start a quartet or play in the university band. Many people enjoy running or fitness, fewer run the NY marathon to support a favorite cause/organization or start a running club. Providing the specific way(s) that you’ve engaged with your hobby will demonstrate to the admissions committee what you may offer to your incoming class. 

MBA Interviews: When the Interview Requires More than an Interview

To get to know applicants better, MBA programs such as Harvard and MIT will ask interview participants to submit additional materials.

Harvard Business School—Post-Interview Reflections

Within 24 hours of the interview, candidates are required to submit a written reflection through Harvard Business School’s online application system. The submission is not a formal essay. Rather, it should be written similarly to a post-meeting summary one would write to a colleague or supervisor at work.

Shortly after instituting the Post-Interview Reflection, Harvard’s Admissions Blog described the exercise as a real-world practicum, as well as a chance to get students’ opinions regarding their interviews. Professionals routinely need to send emails summarizing meetings and offering assessments. Their ability to do this well is critical for workplace success.

Your Strategy: Be genuine and think critically about the interview. What were the highlights? What could have gone better? Were there remaining “gaps” after your interview, and if so, how do you wish you could have addressed those? The post-interview reflection is an opportunity for you to demonstrate real-world critical thinking and writing skills, as well as offer any information that you feel you did not adequately explain in the interview. In other words, Harvard is not expecting your most polished product, but rather a thoughtful assessment of your interview coupled with a compelling communication. As such, this piece should not be crafted prior to the interview, adapted from another essay, or used as additional resume space. You may, however, want to take some time immediately after your interview to make notes on areas that you’ll want to include in your submission. Then give yourself a bit of reflection time prior to producing your final product. You’ll want to make the most of this final opportunity to show the admissions committee who you are and how you think.

MIT Sloan—Pre-Interview Essay Submission

Those invited to interview at Sloan will be asked to answer the following questions:

• The mission of the MIT Sloan School of Management is to develop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and to generate ideas that advance management practice. We believe that a commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and well-being is a key component of both principled leadership and sound management practice. In 250 words or less, please describe a time when you contributed toward making a work environment or organization more welcoming, inclusive, and diverse.

• We are interested in learning more about how you use data to make decisions and analyze results. Please select one of the following prompts to respond to:

  • Please select an existing data visualization and in 250 words or less explain why it matters to you. The data visualization should be uploaded as a PDF. Examples may come from current events, a business analysis, or personal research.

  • In 250 words or less, please describe a recent data driven decision you had to make, and include one slide presenting your analysis. The slide may include a data visualization example and should present data used in a professional context. Your slide must be uploaded as a PDF.

The interview process is about getting to know applicants more thoroughly. The first question provides you with an opportunity to not only demonstrate that your values match those of MIT Sloan, but that you are willing to proactively work to put those values into action during your business school tenure. The second question allows you to submit proof of your analytical skills and showcase your comfort working with data and using it to drive decision-making.

Your Strategy: Your response to the first question should examine how you will demonstrate leadership in creating a diverse environment and promoting wellbeing among your peers. Focus on a specific example from your past professional experience to demonstrate your ability to cultivate a positive culture. Use the SAR (Situation, Action, Response) model. Spend about 20 percent of your response on the situation, and the remaining 80 percent on the actions you took and what resulted/what you learned. And be sure to clearly link the perspective you gained from this experience to what you hope to accomplish at Sloan.

In the second question, you will want to demonstrate your comfort with using data to tell a story, draw conclusions, and make decisions. If you opt to share a data visualization, clearly state the reasoning for the data visualization, the story or hypothesis you are looking to understand via the data, and why it is meaningful to you. You may want to visit the MIT Data Visualization project page to see current research projects, and gather inspiration. If you opt to submit a professional power point slide showing a data-based decision, ensure that your slide is simple, easy to read, and clearly describes your analysis, assumptions, and conclusions. Then, use your supplemental essay to expand upon each of these areas including the sources of the data, why you analyzed it in the way that you did (and, if applicable, why you did not use other analysis methods), the basis for your assumptions, and how you came to the conclusion that you did (including additional data that would help you to confirm your decision).

Non-Profit Pilots Innovative Law School Funding Model to Alleviate Student Debt Burdens and Promote Career Choice for Graduates

Stanford Law School recently announced it would begin piloting a new tuition financing method for law school students in partnership with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit called The Flywheel Fund for Career Choice. In an effort to alleviate student debt concerns and allow for students to have greater choice in seeking out legal careers, the Flywheel fund has created safeguards around repayments for both lower and higher-income earners.

The pilot program, set to commence this fall, will include up to 20 Fellows who are current students at Stanford Law and have not yet committed to employment post-graduation. The Fellows will receive up to $170,000 up-front to pay for law school tuition and fees, which will be funded by philanthropic donations to the organization. Repayment will begin when the Fellows start their chosen employment post-graduation.

The terms of the pilot program include the following:

• A 12-year payment term, with a maximum of 18 years.

• Fellows will not pay anything until they have started employment (no payments will be requested during any period of unemployment post-graduation).

• Repayment is tied to income, with special consideration given to both low and high-income earners. For Fellows earning less than $100,000 per year, Stanford has agreed to cover all payments. For those earning between $100,000 and $115,000, Stanford will cover partial payments. A cap is also in place for those who opt to take high-income positions, ensuring that payments are never out-sized. The cap is placed at $225,000 per year/$18,750 per month, and Fellows will not be asked to pay a percentage of their income beyond that level.

• Fellows will never need to repay more than they would have if the Fellow had taken out a Grad PLUS Loan at the rate in effect at the time they entered into the pilot program.

• Fellows will also take part in ongoing research on the various factors, including debt, that go into shaping their career selection decisions.

 “We believe this new model for financing a legal education can alleviate financial pressure, encourage students to pursue alternative careers more quickly after graduation, improve our LRAP [Loan Repayment Assistance Program] program, and have a ‘greater good effect’ in terms of helping to finance the legal education of future students at Stanford Law School,” said Frank Brucato, Senior Associate Dean for Administration and the CFO at Stanford Law School.

Are you a Premedical Student with a Nonscience Major? Check Out These Schools.

All premedical students are required to take prerequisites in life sciences before applying to medical school. But the humanities also offer valuable preparation for prospective physicians. In the fall of 2020, about 12 percent of the entering students in the U.S. News top 10 programs in research (11.9 percent) and primary care (11.4 percent) came from a social sciences/humanities background. And, in the fall of 2021, ten schools boasted entering classes with a significant proportion of social sciences/humanities undergraduates (see chart below). If you are a premedical student in the social sciences/humanities, you may want to consider one of these schools.  

Additionally, in your applications and interviews to other schools, be sure to articulate the value of your social sciences/humanities background. A study from 2014 found that while medical students with undergraduate degrees in the humanities maintain consistent academic performance with those from science majors, they also tended to show “…better empathy and communication skills, and a more patient-centered outlook.” Similarly, Rishi Goyal, MD, PhD, and Director of the Medicine, Literature, and Society major at Columbia University, argues that college is an ideal time for exposure to the humanities. “It’s a great time to capture students, to help them develop different parts of the brain,” he said. “It’s more difficult to do that in medical school. Students are already so busy, and it’s harder to convince them at that point that memorizing the Krebs cycle is not as important as holding a patient’s hand or talking to them in their same language.” 

Related blogs:

• Narrative Medicine Helps Physicians Gain Empathy, Make Connections, and Accept Difficult Experiences

• Covid Crisis Brings Attention to the Need for Humanities in Medical School Curriculum

The Wharton Interview: Excel in the Team Based Discussion

An invitation to Wharton’s Team Based Discussion can be as nerve-wracking as it is exciting. But with preparation and the proper mind-set, it can be an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your ability to think on your feet, respond under pressure, and collaborate with others. 

To ace the interview, consider the following tips:

1. Prepare thoroughly. After you receive the scenario, create a proposal and know it inside and out. Practice your presentation, out loud. Present in front of a mirror, or to a live-audience of friends. Be sure that you feel confident about your ability to present your idea in a relaxed way, showcasing how you thought through the exercise. While you don’t want to memorize your presentation word-for-word or sound overly rehearsed, you do want to be able to describe your idea in an articulate way. 

2. Anticipate questions and think through possible responses. Consider what questions may arise from your teammates about your proposal and write out responses to them. The more people you can share your idea with and collect questions from, the better. After working with an idea for a long period, it will become harder and harder to poke holes in it. Let your friends, co-workers, or parents help you with this process.

To begin, ask yourself the following questions:

• What are the benefits of your proposal for students? For Wharton?

• What are the risks of your proposal?

• What assumptions are you making?

3. Be able to articulate the “why?” behind all the components of your proposal, as well as the “why not?” for other potential possibilities. This is important because (most likely) your proposal will not be selected. However, if you can find other students who have a similar “why?” as the foundation of their ideas, it will help you to collaborate with them and contribute to the discussion.

4. Be a team player. We cannot stress this enough. While there is an aspect of competition to the interview, the Team Based Discussion is an opportunity to show your collaborative nature. Don’t try to “win” by pressuring the group to select your proposal or taking up all of the air time. Instead, demonstrate how you will fit into the MBA community by being inclusive and showing curiosity, humility, and adaptability. Articulate your thought process clearly, be positive and encouraging of others’ ideas, continue to move the group forward by summarizing ideas, and question respectfully. Remember that the point of the exercise is to drive towards a strong team outcome; the better the team interacts together, the better all of you will look individually.

5. Set yourself up for a professional virtual appearance, as Wharton will once again facilitate the Team Based Discussion using a virtual format.

• Understand the platform that you’ll be using; if it’s new to you, download the platform and practice with a friend or family member to gain some comfort prior to your interview. 

• Opt for a clean, uncluttered background or select a plain virtual background (forget the beach, mountains, or the Golden Gate bridge). 

• Place a light in front of you so that your face is clearly visible on the screen (backlighting will result in shadows). You may want to take a test run with a friend or family member around the same time of day as your interview to confirm that they are able to see you clearly (this will ensure any natural light in the room isn’t casting shadows).

• If possible, ask others in your home to log out of any high-bandwidth activities during the time of your interview, or consider hardwiring your computer into the internet. You may also want to perform an internet speed test (you can find via google).

6. Day-of tips: 

• Wear a business suit.

• Make your notes available, but do not read them directly or rely on them for more than a memory trigger. It helps to use a larger font, with key words bolded so that you can find your reference quickly.

• Pace yourself when speaking. (When nerves hit, people tend to speak more quickly.) Use hand gestures to emphasize your points, and make eye contact as much as possible with the other attendees. 

• Stay calm in the event of a tough question. Collect yourself by taking a deep breath or a sip of water. Don’t feel the need to launch into a response prior to gathering your thoughts.

• As much as possible, relax and try to enjoy the experience. This will be representative of the dynamic you’ll live in for the next two years. Ensure it feels right to you.

Related blog: How to Approach Wharton’s Essays

Almost Half of Young Lawyers Express Willingness to Leave Employers for Greater Flexibility

A divide between newer and more experienced lawyers is emerging in the wake of Covid. Earlier this week, the American Bar Association (ABA) released its 2022 Practice Forward report, which showed that almost half (44 percent) of lawyers with ten years of experience or less would be willing to leave their current employer for one that offers more remote work. Just 13 percent of those with 41+ years of experience said they would leave.

The report, published with the purpose of gaining an understanding of the “new normal” that legal professionals and employers face post-pandemic, includes survey responses from nearly 2,000 ABA members working in jobs requiring a law degree. 

Three-quarters of respondents expressed a willingness to work in the office any time their employer asks (81 percent of men and 68 percent of women), but the strong majority of all respondents—nine in ten—reported that remote work either improved, or did not adversely affect, their work’s quality. Women were more likely to report that their work metrics (work quality, productivity, billable hours) improved.

Almost half, 47 percent, of respondents said that remote work positively impacted their ability to balance work and family obligations. Among women, 56 percent felt that it improved their ability to find balance. Just over a quarter of respondents, 27 percent, reported that remote work increased the quality of their mental health while the majority noted that it had no impact (57 percent). Almost half of survey respondents noted that remote/hybrid work diminished the quality of their relationships with co-workers, and 61 percent said that it decreased their professional network. 

The report’s findings demonstrate that, in order to retain a younger generation of lawyers, firms and legal employers must create remote/hybrid work policies that are nuanced and cater to individuals’ needs rather than mandating one-size-fits-all policies.  

Despite Stress and Burnout, Most Students Feel that Medical School Prepared Them Well for Board Exams and Residency

In Medscape’s 2022 Medical Student Lifestyle report, which included responses from over 2,000 medical students, many respondents reported experiencing burnout: 37 percent of students reported occasional burnout, while a full third of respondents (33 percent) reported frequent burnout, and 12 percent reported constant burnout. And while 37 percent said that they rarely or never experience doubt about becoming a doctor, many said they did experience doubt sometimes (44 percent), frequently (15 percent), or constantly (4 percent).

Despite many medical students experiencing stress and even doubt, most reported feeling that their medical schools prepared them for the future. The majority of students (64 percent) noted that they felt prepared or very prepared for the USMLE, with half favoring the move to a pass/fail format for the test. Just over two-thirds of students, 67 percent, reported satisfaction with the relationships they formed with their professors. And 59 percent reported feeling prepared or very prepared for residency, with that proportion increasing to 75 percent among fourth year respondents. 

Many students also reported that they found meaning during the pandemic. Over one-third of respondents, 39 percent, reported that Covid reinforced or strongly reinforced their drive to become a doctor. In terms of specialty selection, 24 percent noted that Covid slightly or somewhat influenced their specialty choice, and 12 percent said that Covid influenced or strongly influenced their selection of a specialty. The majority of students (54 percent) said that they felt satisfied or very satisfied with how their medical school handled Covid. 

Pilot Testing Underway for the Updated, Skills-Based Bar Exam

Students currently applying to law school will be the first to experience the Next Gen Bar exam, which is slated to roll out in 2026. The updated exam will test skills identified as necessary for entry into the legal profession, will cover eight subjects, as opposed to the current exam’s twelve, and will use computers for administration, rather than the current practice of pencil and paper. The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE), which oversees the bar, will continue to administer the exam twice per year. 

The exam is currently still in development with the NCBE finalizing the content scope outline for the test. The initial draft of the scope content was provided for comment in the spring of this year and stakeholders including bar examiners, judges, law school deans, faculty, and administrators, law students, admissions officers, and attorneys provided almost 400 comments. The NCBE has also started to pilot test item sets. The item sets, which are groupings of test questions based on a legal scenario or procedural issue, will ask exam-takers to perform one or more legal skills. Item sets are designed to gauge both a test-taker’s knowledge of legal doctrine, as well as their proficiency in applying the requisite legal skill(s). The NCBE will use the pilot testing to gain insight into the role that resources play in assisting test-takers, as well as the proper method to grade response items within item sets for reliable and accurate scoring. 

To learn more, visit the NCBE Next Gen Bar exam site. 

Top Ten Tips. MBA Behavioral Interviews

If you’ve been invited to interview at any or all of the schools on your list, congratulations! Now, it is time to begin preparing. See below for a list of our top ten interview tips:

1. Upon receiving the invitation, schedule the interview as soon as possible. This will enable you to avoid scheduling conflicts and select the time of day when you have the most energy and the fewest distractions. 

2. Read all you can about the program, and follow them on social media to stay abreast of their latest announcements, research findings, and other content. If possible, schedule an in-person visit prior to the interview, which often will include a tour, class observation, and lunch with current students. Talk to current or former students already in your network to gain insight on the interview process and other aspects of their MBA experience. 

3. Review your application and think through how you will succinctly, yet cohesively, explain your path to this point. What have been some of your most meaningful experiences that reinforced your interest in the study of business? You will likely receive some introductory question(s), which will require a three-minute elevator-pitch response, as well as several others that will require you to back up claims you make about your abilities in the areas of innovation, leadership, and teamwork with specific examples from your professional life. 

4. Convince them that their program is at the perfect intersection of where you’ve been and where you want to go. Be sure you can speak about specific courses, professors, case competitions, experiential learning opportunities, etc. that interest you most.  And explain why, citing some of your past experiences and/or future goals.  Remember, depth is better than breadth.  We would rather you explain at length one or two specifics that really set the program apart for you, than briefly mention seven to ten.

5. Prepare to weave into your responses what you will be able to offer the school. Make it clear how your experiences and interests, personal and professional, will benefit the school and create a stronger, more diverse MBA class and alumni base.

6. Think through your biggest career successes and failures, and consider what you learned from both. When answering a question about one of your failures, spend only 20 percent of the response on the situation and mistake. The rest of your response should be devoted to the actions you took to gain a better understanding and improve, and what you learned as a result.

7. Determine if there are any red flags in your application and, if so, craft a response that addresses the issue without making excuses. For example, if asked about the ‘C’ you received in Calculus your sophomore year, discuss what you have done to improve your quantitative ability since then, and make mention of those specific areas in your transcript and post-baccalaureate experience that are more indicative of your ability to compete in a rigorous academic environment.  

8. Stay current on domestic and international news. The Economist is wonderful, one of our favorite publications. You will also want to be aware of any news related to your current company, industry, and desired career path as these are great areas from which your interviewer may draw questions.  Setting up Google alerts for key phrases related to your company and industry will also help ensure you’re up to date.

9. Prepare three questions, which demonstrate your knowledge of and enthusiasm for the program, to ask the interviewer at the end of your session.

10. Compose a hand-written thank you note and snail mail it to your interviewer. In the note, thank them for their time, reiterate your interest in the school with specifics, make note of something memorable you spoke about during the interview, and, if applicable, make the yield protection statement (If admitted, I will attend.).

Let’s Talk About CASPer. Medical School Admissions

To gauge an applicant’s ability to critically evaluate a complex scenario and employ sound judgment and effective communication skills, a growing number of allopathic medical schools (currently, more than 40) have turned to CASPer. 

What in the world is CASPer?

CASPer (Computer-based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics) is a situational judgment test that a school might ask you to take before interview season. As of 2022, it takes between 100 to 120 minutes to complete. The test presents you with 15 scenarios and follow-up questions about them. Some of the scenarios will be about real-life experiences that you've had. (These Qs are similar to Secondary prompts and interview questions.) Other scenarios will ask you to take on a role. For example: "You're a store manager and someone is trying to return something without a receipt." The CASPer raters use your answers to assess your empathy, ethics, self-awareness, motivation, teamwork, and communication skills, among other qualities. 

The test is presented in two sections—a typed response section and a video response section. The exact length of and balance between these sections has changed from year to year, but this is what it is like right now. 

In the typed response section, there are three written and six video-based scenarios. You'll have five minutes to answer three questions about each in writing. (If you finish early, you can hit the submit button; your answers will automatically submit at the five-minute mark whether you're finished answering or not.) Focus on content over perfect grammar. The raters know this is tightly timed and they want to see your personality and critical thinking more than a flawless polish. After you've answered five scenarios, you'll have the option of taking a five-minute break. Take it. There's no pausing this party once it's started. At the end of the section, there will be another optional ten-minute break. Take it—you might need some of that time to prepare for the next section.

In the video response section, you'll be presented with two written scenarios and four video-based scenarios. For each, you will respond by video. You'll be asked three questions and give a one-minute video response to each. At the one-minute mark, your video will automatically upload. Altus Assessments, which owns CASPer, notes that many applicants run over their video answer time and it's not a big deal. If it happens, let it go, and reset your brain for the next prompt. Being calm and collected in the next video is going to make more of a statement than your "oops."

Are my CASPer results going to keep me out of med school?

Not every school requires the test, and it alone is not used to weed out prospective students. It's more like a school is lining up who you presented in your application next to who you appear to be according to CASPer. They're looking for great disparities between these two things. For example, if your application showed you as a modern-day saint, and your CASPer score for empathy was middling at best, that's a little interesting. Maybe you're a person who checked off a list of the right things to do before medical school and you're not actually aligned with the school's values. An introverted applicant who is shy in their interview could benefit from a strong CASPer score that shows they have the other qualities needed to be a top student and doctor.

A complete practice test is available, as is a sample test for video answers only. Your answers won't be reviewed by anyone at Altus. This is just so you can get used to the test's format. The takealtus.com website has information about other ways to prepare for your test day.

MBA Program Announcements Roundup

We’ve rounded up and summarized the most recent MBA program announcements below. 

• Duke’s Fuqua School of Business announced this week that its MBA degree has received a STEM designation. Prior to receiving the designation, the school’s MBA offered a STEM-designated second degree in Management Science and Technology Management (MSTeM). “We had been one of the first schools to offer a STEM second major or second degree for a certain series of courses that a student would take,” says Shari Hubert, Associate Dean for Admissions at Fuqua. “But now the entire MBA program is STEM-qualifying, which, for our students, is really game-changing because it gives them that additional two years of OPT, depending on the job that they take.”

• NYU Stern announced the establishment of the Chao-Hon Chen Institute for Global Real Estate Finance, which is funded by a $20 million gift from alumni and board member, Charles C.Y. Chen. The institute will facilitate research, immersive learning, and industry interactions in real estate and the built environment, as well as fund annual scholarships for undergraduate and MBA students studying real estate. 

• Columbia University announced that it will offer a Global Executive MBA starting in May 2023. The program will take a hybrid format, relying predominantly on virtual instruction, with only about a quarter of the 22-month long program expected to take place in an in-person residential format. The content will be geared towards experienced professionals who have about ten years of professional experience and five years of management experience. 

• Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business announced a new online MBA degree, available in August 2023. The program will include two in-person campus visits, but the large majority will be offered through synchronous and asynchronous virtual classes. This MBA will be the school’s third online degree offering, which currently consists of specialized masters programs in finance and business analytics. “More and more MBA programs and business schools are moving toward online degrees,” says Prashant Malaviya, Senior Associate Dean of MBA programs at McDonough. “We have two right now. Both of them have done well. So we know the model works, that there are students who are interested in this—and we also have a nobler goal, which is to increase access to the Georgetown education outside of the DMV region.”

• UVA Darden’s first cohort of part-time MBA students based in Washington, D.C. kicked off classes at its Rosslyn, VA campus last month. The program is designed for working individuals in the DC area and is self-paced with students obtaining their MBA in between 28 and 48 months. “A part-time program adds flexibility and optionality to the MBA,” explains Yael Grushka-Cockayne, Senior Associate Dean for Professional Degree Programs at Darden.  “It allows some students who in the past couldn’t take the time off to have an MBA experience.”