Although quantifying a school’s profile certainly does not tell you everything, it can sometimes be helpful in simplifying the many differences between the various MBA programs. Each week, we bring you a chart to help you decide which of the schools’ strengths speak to you.
The size and depth of a school’s alumni base may be important to you as you seek to break into specific fields or certain regions/countries. Some MBA programs have had large classes for many years and can thus boast sizable alumni networks, whereas others may have pockets of strength in particular parts of the world or in specific industries—or can claim a smaller but more tightely knit alumni network overall. For example, Dartmouth Tuck has a smaller absolute number of alumni than most top U.S. schools but has been said to have the highest rate of annual alumni giving.
So, while the chart below shows the differences in number of alumni, many other crucial factors might determine which school’s network is best suited for you. Whether you are looking for a network with a specialized niche, a certain geographically specific alumni base, particular recruiting strengths or a highly active community, getting a sense of what each school offers post-graduation can be just as important as looking at curriculum or student life.
*According to Bloomberg Businessweek 2012