Barbara Coward In the News

Will International B-School Students Steer Clear Of The U.S. Under Trump? More Experts Weigh In

MBA 360° Admissions founder Barbara Coward: "...many people, you know, are not going to give up their dreams. It’s one thing to say that you won’t come to the States because of the current administration. But if you had an offer of admission from Stanford Graduate School of Business or Harvard Business School, would you really say ‘no’ to that? It’s not like elite business schools are like Five Guys or Starbucks with locations all over the world. There is one HBS. One GSB. One Wharton. And they happen to be in the U.S."

5 Reasons Why Trump’s Election Could Be A Good Thing For B-School Applicants

By Barbara Coward: "While many people in the United States and abroad are unhappy with the results of the 2024 presidential election, prospective business students should keep in mind that Trump intends to implement an entire program of pro-business policies that promise to benefit any student attending and graduating from a U.S. business school over the next several years.  Here are five reasons those planning to attend business school — and B-schools themselves — should embrace the second era of Trump:"

Minorities At The Leading U.S. MBA Programs: 2/3 Of The Top 30 Report Declines

"Building a diverse MBA class is “like a puzzle,” Coward says. “So it’s really tough. It always comes back to the tradeoff between being elite and also being accessible. And the fact of the matter is, there’s just not enough seats for everyone.” “I think if they can collect it, they will.”

What Do The Consulting Hiring Delays Mean For The MBA Class Of 2023?

“I would think it would be incredibly scary and disappointing,” Coward says. “I wonder how the suggestion to go on an African safari, take a painting class, or become a yoga instructor will resonate with those impacted. By the time you graduate, you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and get to work. Not sure what the best course of action would be while you’re in that waiting period, other than tapping into the freelance/gig economy, but earning money to pay off the student loans would seem to be the first priority for many. I’m especially thinking of first-generation, low-income students.”

Why Are So Many MBA Admissions Directors Resigning?

Barbara Coward, founder of the consultancy MBA 360, says the application downturn has certainly played a role in the admissions offices’ turnover. “I think it does make a statement about the market and these jobs, even at the most prestigious institutions, are pressure-cookers,” Coward writes. “Furthermore, it’s hard to ignore that domestic applications are down. So, I would make an argument that it is challenging to meet numerous strategic objectives and continue to maintain that the industry is not connecting with a segment of the population that would boost application volume. I’m sad to see all these amazing and talented people in the industry move on. So enjoyed seeing their friendly faces at our conferences.”

MBA Reading List: 13 Books To Read Before Your MBA

Adam Grant’s Give and Take offers powerful insights into how success is driven by how we interact with others. For an incoming MBA student, it’s a must-read to understand the long-term value of being a "giver"—someone who helps others without expecting immediate returns. The book can shape your approach to networking, collaboration, and leadership, helping you build meaningful relationships during the MBA and stand out as a high-impact contributor in your future career.; Recommended by Barbara Coward, MBA admissions consultant, MBA 360 Admissions

Harvard The Latest M7 Business School To Offer A Full STEM-Designated MBA

“The HBS brand is associated with case-study learning whereas GSB is well-known for its unrivaled proximity to Silicon Valley among top business schools. By adding a stronger focus on quantitative and analytical skills, HBS appears more hip and cutting edge, and is more likely to convert more dual applicants to HBS and GSB,” Barbara Coward explains.

LinkedIn Launches New MBA Ranking Focused On Graduate Careers

"I was really excited to see LinkedIn create a ranking. Today's B-school curriculum is centered on teaching students how to make data-driven decisions, so it's logical to make use of big data available through social media to create a league table for future students,” says Barbara Coward, founder of MBA 360 admissions. LinkedIn’s position as an employment-focused social media platform also gives the ranking credibility, she feels. “The admissions journey to business school often starts right here on LinkedIn. I have conversations with prospective students nearly every day on LinkedIn, and many prospective students will reach out to connect with MBA students or alums through the site. It's where the 'action' is,” she adds.

Can You Trust MBA Rankings After The Temple Dean Scandal?

On Friday March 11, 2022, a business school dean for the first time in history was sentenced to US federal prison. Moshe Porat, the former dean of Fox Business School at Temple University, received a 14-month sentence for submitting false data to a major media rankings publication that led to Fox topping a list of Online MBA programs in U.S. News and World Report for four consecutive years. This narrative of a spectacular rise and sudden downfall, coupled with themes of greed and power, sounds like a manuscript you would see on the desk of a film director in Hollywood. But it’s real life, with important lessons for candidates applying to business school.

MBA admissions consultant and expert Barbara Coward weighs in on the value of MBA rankings after the Temple dean US News & World Report rankings fraud.  

What Is A Consortium MBA?

"Plus, MBA admissions consultant Barbara Coward says that applying through the Consortium can help your application stand out from the crowd. “While it's no guarantee of being accepted, I’m sure that admissions committees take an even closer look at a candidate who applies through the Consortium. “These types of partnerships take time, effort (and, yes, money), so if a school believes it's a valuable channel for recruitment, then they pay greater attention to the pipeline it provides.”

MBA Loans: What Are The Pros And Cons?

"Taking out a student loan for your MBA can also open the door to affiliations with more prestigious educational brands," says MBA admissions consultant, Barbara Coward. 

I Want To Start My Own Business—Should I Do An MBA?

Barbara Coward, an expert MBA admissions consultant who's worked in admissions departments at Johns Hopkins University, Loyola University, Maryland, and the University of Bath. The Answer: "You’re asking an excellent question about how you know when it’s the best time to pursue an MBA. While it would be nice to have a crystal ball and the benefit of hindsight, it boils down to making a decision with the best information you have at the time. I’m struck, in particular, by your statement that you feel stuck in your career right now. To me, that’s telling in terms of your readiness. There comes a time in your career when you start seeing signals that you aren’t happy with the status quo. It sounds to me like you are at that stage. You have a clear career objective."

Navigating full-time MBAs as an early career applicant

Many traditional full-time MBA programs prefer that students have roughly five to six years of work experience when they enroll, but that will vary on an individual basis, says Barbara Coward, founder of MBA 360° Admissions Consulting.  “MBA students learn just as much from their peers as they do from their professors, which is why some work experience is typically encouraged,” Coward says.

Tips on Improving a Rejected Round One MBA Application

“It’s also conceivable that you did everything right and were thoroughly qualified, but that school didn’t choose you despite this,” says Barbara Coward, a former MBA recruiter and admissions officer who now runs the MBA 360 Admissions consulting company. “It’s time to brush yourself off, recognize what perhaps might have gone wrong and then reapply” to another school, she says. School-specific knowledge will allow you to highlight the aspects of your background that align with what a particular school values most, Coward says.

How An MBA Can Lead to Career Change

According to admissions consultant Barbara Coward, founder of MBA 360 Admissions Consulting, MBA graduates frequently enter fields that are radically different from the areas they worked in prior to business school. “I have so many examples of career pivots that would seem extraordinary,” she wrote in an email, “but really attest to the power of this degree for complete career reinvention: A Peace Corps volunteer who pivots to management consulting. A teacher who transitions to big tech. A veteran who goes into venture capital. An accountant who moves into sports marketing. A financial analyst who becomes an entrepreneur. There is no other degree that provides the launching pad to many different possibilities to chart your next career destiny. It’s incredibly empowering.”

US business schools face up to MBA shake-up

Barbara Coward, founder of MBA 360 Admissions, a consultancy, argues that employers love “a winning combo” of an undergraduate business degree and a one-year specialised masters with quantitative skills such as business analytics — a route that is cheaper for student and company alike than MBAs. But still, she admits, “I think the MBA has that status that is alluring.” 

The Ivy League battles an assault on its admissions policies

Barbara Coward, founder of MBA 360 Admissions, said: “The affirmative action decision has introduced more anxiety into the application process."

The Future of Work: Why HR Professionals Are in High Demand

By Barbara Coward: Are you considering becoming a Human Resources (HR) professional or manager? The role of today's HR manager goes well beyond hiring and firing. With the world changing rapidly due to globalisation, digitalisation and other social shifts, HR professionals need to be agile thinkers who are good at dealing with employees and can make clear-cut financial decisions and other important calls.

Organisations rely on HR staff to assist with hiring, embedding positive staff culture, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, assisting with workforce technology, helping employers to navigate employment laws and so much more. This helpful article will share all about the future of work and why HR professionals are in high demand.

Wondering if You can Make an Impact with an MBA degree? Look to COVID Crisis Response

By Barbara Coward: I will venture to say that when most people hear “MBA” they think about making money in some capacity. It’s true -- a business school degree often provides a golden ticket to a lucrative career, whether it be on Wall Street or in Silicon Valley.

Each year, I work with aspiring B-school students from all over the globe seeking such career paths, and it’s rewarding to see them ultimately fulfill their dreams -- whether it be taking on leadership roles in the finance sector or at top consulting firms.

In working with applicants from almost every continent, it was about 20 years ago that I observed a distinction between those from developed nations, and those from emerging-market countries. Applicants from developing countries almost always aspired to use their MBA degree to return and improve circumstances in their home countries. Meanwhile, First World applicants usually had their own career advancement in mind.

Recently though, I’ve observed a shift.

What No One Tells You About Choosing the Perfect MBA Program

By Barbara Coward: Considering business school and feeling overwhelmed with choices? You’re not alone. When you decide to get an MBA, one of the most challenging aspects of the process is compiling a shortlist of schools. It sounds easy enough, but are you familiar with the paradox of choice in the famous jam study?

Nearly 20 years ago, two psychologists from Columbia and Stanford University published a groundbreaking study about jams. The experiment consisted of a display table at a gourmet food store, which featured 24 different kinds of jams. On another day, customers at the same market were presented with a choice of 6 different types of jams. Contrary to conventional wisdom, people were about ten times less likely to purchase a jar of jam from the table with 24 jars. Why? Too many choices can be paralyzing.

What to Do When You’re Put on the MBA Waitlist

“I'm actually very excited when I hear that someone got on the waitlist,” says Barbara Coward, MBA admission consultant and a Top Ten LinkedIn Voice for Education for 2020. “It's a good sign! It means that you had a compelling application, but the school is not ready to make an offer at that moment.

“There can be any number of reasons, from FOMO (‘I wonder who might come around in the next round!’) to ambivalence about an aspect of the application such as grades or test scores.”

Should You Hire an Admissions Consultant?

Applying to top graduate and business schools is a competitive affair, with qualified applicants from around the world vying for just a handful of spots each year. The difference between getting accepted and not comes down to your ability to highlight your personal, academic, and professional assets in a way that sets you apart from the pack. While some candidates choose to do that on their own, many turn to admissions consultants for help.

Is working with an admissions consultant right for you?

That's what we explore in this episode of The Dominate Test Prep Podcast with the help of Barbara Coward, founder of MBA 360° Admissions Consulting. Barbara worked as an application reader at Johns Hopkins University before starting her consulting practice, so she has experience in the industry from both sides.