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Leadership skills are timeless. They cut across different industries, giving you the presence and charisma needed to lead people. While it’s a skill that can be picked up in various ways, a tried-tested-and-approved way is through a Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme.
Pursuing an MBA at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management means getting a world-class education on a personal scale. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, the school’s MBA programme welcomes international students, creating a diverse global network within small classrooms. With personalised attention from expert faculty and a customisable curriculum of business fundamentals, concentrations, and specialisations, Vanderbilt MBA graduates become leaders in various industries and functions — as many as 97% of the Class of 2023 received an offer at three months post-graduation. They reported a record average base salary of US$154,052, a statement of the school’s commitment to launching your career.
The rewards are plenty for Vanderbilt MBA graduates — and getting there is seamless. The school offers personalised support from the start of your admissions process by assigning you a personal recruiting manager. You’ll get one-on-one guidance throughout the entire application period.
Opportunities to connect with current students are widely available too – a whole page on the school’s website is dedicated to Vanderbilt MBA’s Recruiting and Admissions Fellows. These students have volunteered to share their unique experiences with you, offering insight into what it is like to be a student at the school. Online events to learn more about the programme happen frequently as well, so there are plenty of chances to discover how Vanderbilt’s MBA can benefit you and your career.
Greek student Filippos Koleonidis found Vanderbilt’s students and graduates were always quick to answer him through LinkedIn. He gained insights into each student’s experience before submitting his application to the school. Since joining the programme, he’s seen his been amassing the knowledge and skills to pivot his career into investment banking.
“Whenever I had concerns during my recruiting process, I would reach out to my designated contact at the school and discuss them immediately,” says Koleonidis. “Curiosity around academics? My professors were responsive and willing to discuss one-on-one. Feeling lost amidst the recruiting frenzy? Alumni were there to provide support and answer any questions.”
Koleonidis believes this keen attention and help was key to allowing him to “hit the ground running and realise my potential as a career-switching professional. “Coming from a different country, I was oblivious to the intricacies of the recruiting process, the unwritten rules of the US workplace, and other relevant industry norms, so the perspectives my second-year classmates and peer coach had to share were invaluable,” he says.
Vanderbilt MBA’s holistic approach to the admissions process ensures that they take the time to get to know you and your unique goals. They are here to walk you through the entire application process, from research and test prep to your first day of class. Source: Vanderbilt University, Owen Graduate School of Business
International MBA students like Koleonidis have many resources they can access. The school’s dedicated website for international students covers everything you need to know about the application process, including deadlines, requirements, and the answers to frequently asked questions. It’s advisable to give the page a look, especially since it lists the different requirements – like English language exams – on a country-to-country basis.
Beyond that, the page also offers specifically for international students. As studying abroad may not be within everyone’s means, having merit-based scholarships available eases the load and allows you to fully focus on living and learning in the US.
This was the case for Cameroonian civil engineer Bryan Mufor. “I hadn’t considered studying in the US because I thought I wouldn’t be able to afford it,” he says. After speaking with friends who went to Vanderbilt and learning how they financed their education, as well as the quality of the education they received, Mufor signed up.
And he’s glad he did. Upon touching down in Nashville, he was given a warm welcome and picked up from the airport. When he found that his new apartment was lacking a bed, Mufor’s classmate readily loaned him an air mattress. Faculty members pitched in to help him decorate his new home away from home too.
“As a prospective student, I had heard about personal scale, but I really didn’t know what it meant,” says Mufor. “This level of support had never happened in any programme I had been in before. I felt supported by the community when it mattered.”
Get more insights and tips for international candidates through this webinar and apply to the Vanderbilt MBA.
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