Ashridge Business School Management Education
WCW Question:
1. What are the principal techniques and methods does your institution use to recruit the next incoming class?
Ashridge Answer:
Ashridge regularly holds 'MBA in a day' events where potential participants can experience the full and part time programmes for themselves. Ashridge advertises in various global business publications and participates in the MBA World Tour programme.
WCW Question:
2. Who reads the applications once they arrive at the business school?
Are students involved in this process?
Is it an individual or Board decision?
Ashridge Answer:
The admissions manager in the first instance, followed by the intake director. An interview is then arranged. The final decision rests with the relevant intake director.
WCW Question:
3. How would you describe the decision making process?
Ashridge Answer:
Ashridge MBA participants are selected on the basis of the business experience they can bring onto the programme as well as the reasons for doing the MBA and what they hope to get out of it.
WCW Question:
4. What criteria are used to evaluate good prospective candidates?
Ashridge Answer:
As above - answer 3
WCW Question:
5. How important are GMAT & TOEFL scores?
Ashridge Answer:
The minimum score for GMAT is 550. For the full time programme it is compulsory. The part time programme uses internal Ashridge tests. There is no limit on the number of times these can be sat. All participants must have a good level of English.
WCW Question:
6. Is there a minimum needed before a candidate should consider applying?
Does it matter how many times a candidate sit these exams?
Ashridge Answer:
There is no limit on the number of times these can be sat. All participants must have a good level of English.
WCW Question:
7. Does the school expect particular profiles from international students?
Ashridge Answer:
High standard of English and significant international business experience.
WCW Question:
8. How many international exchange programmes do you operate?
How and why were these partners chosen?
Ashridge Answer:
Common to both the full and part time Ashridge MBA programmes is the International Study Week. The week includes visits to successful companies outside the UK, country and economic briefings, a series of informative sessions given by local speakers and a live case study. Study week locations have included Budapest, Vienna, the Czech Republic, South Africa and China.
WCW Question:
9. What is the breakdown in diversity according to geographic region?
Does the school employ a quota system?
Ashridge Answer:
In the full time programme, approximately 50 per cent of participants are from the UK, with other 50 per cent from around the world. In the part time programmes, it is approximately 66 per cent UK and 33 per cent international.
WCW Question:
10. What is the male/ female ratio?
Ashridge Answer:
25:75
WCW Question:
11. How many years of professional experience does the school prefer applicants to have?
Ashridge Answer:
Five years.
WCW Question:
12. What are the professional backgrounds of the students who are accepted?
Ashridge Answer:
Ashridge MBA participants come from a wide range of backgrounds, both private and public sector, UK and overseas.
WCW Question:
13. What is the percentage breakdown of industry sectors, which the students seek to enter?
Ashridge Answer:
Ashridge MBA graduates have entered/re-entered a number of industry sectors including consulting, pharmaceuticals, finance, engineering, IT and retail. A number of graduates have gone on to establish their own businesses.
WCW Question:
14. How would the administration describe the strengths of the school?
What makes the programme unique when compared with other programmes?
Ashridge Answer:
Ashridge works with over 6,000 executives worldwide each year. Our faculty bring in-depth industry experience, latest management practice, informed insights and real commitment to learning, which feeds directly into MBA.
The Ashridge MBA is special in several ways:
World-class reputation. As a provider of executive education, Ashridge is consistently ranked within the top 3 in the UK and the top 50 in the world1. Ashridge is one of the 1% of schools worldwide2 to achieve triple accreditation from AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB; the UK, European and American accreditation bodies for quality MBA programmes.
Focus on application. The 'live' consulting project, which is part of the MBA, goes beyond theory by giving you the opportunity to put into practice all that you have learned by delivering a strategic consulting assignment to a business client. The international study week is also designed to consolidate learning, by giving you direct experience of the complex issues faced by businesses in an emerging market. The programme is delivered by a dedicated faculty who are practising business professionals and/or consultants.
Small group sizes. This ensures you benefit from individual attention. You should expect an interactive style of learning. Classroom sessions are highly participative, favouring an exchange of ideas and information to enrich peer group learning. Ashridge MBA participants have significant professional experience, forming one of the most experienced student cohorts in the business school world.
Innovative curriculum. The Ashridge full-time MBA takes a thematic and integrated rather than a functional approach to management.
Range of learning methods. We recognise that experienced managers learn best in a variety of ways, not only by traditional lecture-style teaching, but also through 'learning by doing'. Ashridge does not rely on any one pedagogical tool, such as the case study method. We use faculty input, facilitated discussions, experiential learning, psychometric instruments, one-to-one feedback, e-learning, live case studies, simulations, personal coaching, guest speakers, self managed learning and organisational visits.
Unique learning environment. Ashridge is special. We think it is the world's best campus, a stunning learning environment steeped in history, containing some of the best teaching facilities a business school can provide.
WCW Question:
15. How would the current students describe the school and the programme?
Are they content with the career services department?
Ashridge Answer:
The Ashridge MBA programmes are consistently ranked highly in a number of rankings. For example, it is number one in the world for salary growth (Economist Intelligence Unit MBA Rankings 2005).The part time MBA is ranked as one of the top 10 European MBAs by the Financial Times (Oct 2004).
This success derives from the belief that personal and career development is intricately combined. Consequently, the objective at Ashridge is not only to help full-time MBA participants find employment on completion of their MBA studies but to provide all participants with the necessary knowledge, skills and tools to realise their potential as future leaders and develop a lifelong framework for career and personal progress.
This is achieved by providing a comprehensive personal and career development programme combined with practical company experience, personalised 1-2-1 coaching, regular career events with experts from the recruitment industry and alumni and an extensive range of career resources.
WCW Question:
16. Who are the major recruiters on campus?
Ashridge Answer:
n/a
WCW Question:
17. What guidelines should candidates adhere to for the essays? 'Do's & Don'ts'
Ashridge Answer:
Candidates should think carefully about which leader they admire and discuss the behaviours/characteristics that define successful leadership.
WCW Question:
18. How important is it to stay within the designated word limit?
Ashridge Answer:
It is important that the essay stays within the word limit. We are looking for clarity and brevity.
WCW Question:
19. What role do the 'Letters of Recommendation' play?
Ashridge Answer:
Two letters, at least one from a senior colleague need to be presented.
WCW Question:
20. What is the function of an interview at your school, and what role does it play in the admissions process?
Ashridge Answer:
The interview is a compulsory element of the entry criteria. It can be done at Ashridge or by telephone if the candidate is not located in the UK. Given Ashridge chooses no more than 25 students for each cohort, it is important that we get to know participants. The interview is one of the most important parts of the selection criteria. It is an informal meeting primarily to find out about the candidate's business background, why they want to do an Ashridge MBA, what they feel they will bring to the programme and in return what they feel they will gain from it.
WCW Question:
21. Are there unofficial / official quotas allocated by country or region?
Ashridge Answer:
Given class sizes are small, we look to recruit students from a variety of countries, sectors and backgrounds.
WCW Question:
22. Does your school have 'rolling' admissions or admissions 'rounds'? When is the best period for a candidate to apply? Are candidates penalized for applying in the last round?
Ashridge Answer:
Ashridge has rolling admissions and candidates can apply at any time. Candidates are not penalized for applying in the last round.
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