This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Scott Edinburgh, a Boston-based MBA admissions consultant. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I launched an admissions consulting business in 2008 — it’s a family business that I run with my sister.
We get a lot of international students, and they sometimes make up half our clients for the year. Our reach matches what many schools are seeing. There is a lot of interest from India and China, as well as growing numbers in Europe, the Middle East, and some countries in Africa. For MBA programs, most students are in their mid- to late 20s and have some years of work experience.
We offer guidance for universities in Europe and some other places, but there are still some unique features about pursuing an MBA in the US. An MBA as a course is more popular in the US than Europe and it opens up more networking opportunities, and the degree holds a bit more value. US programs are also stronger from a recruiting and job standpoint. It also comes down to where you want to establish yourself. If you want to live in the US, there’s no better way to do it than to study here.
Given the uncertainty surrounding US immigration policies, we’ve been getting questions about studying and working in the US and seeing some students apply to European schools instead. Still, there are a couple of reasons tons of students are still keen on pursuing an MBA in the US and why I recommend they apply now.
Schools are working hard to keep international students
I’m getting questions about the US being open to accepting international students and the risks of studying here.
There are over 1.1 million international students in the US right now, and they’re not all being kicked out and told to leave. There’s a lot of hesitation among some international students about their ability to show up on campus.
But what we’re seeing from talking with deans and councils is that schools are doing a lot so that they can have their international students. These students make up a large percentage of the class at top business schools. Their legal teams are quite strong, and we’ve seen a lot of court interventions to uphold the rights and opportunities for international students.
While it seems like there’s an issue now, it’s probably going to work itself out. People hesitating means there are fewer applicants, which means you’re more likely to get in.
You’re not entering the job market now
People are worried about the job market not being great, and they’re reading jobs reports that are coming out from these schools. We tell them you’re not applying to apply for a job now.
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Things are cyclical. If you’re applying to business school in 2025 and graduating in 2028, that’s three years from now. The chances are that the job market will not be in the same place three years from now.
Right now is the absolute best time to apply. This will be the best round in the span of many rounds that I’ve seen as far as acceptance rates go. The market is not great job-wise wise and you can spend that time educating yourself. You won’t be missing out on huge promotions, huge raises, and new jobs. By the time you graduate, things may start to improve.
MBAs are time-bound
The job market and political situation add an element of risk, but those who are looking to get ahead will find a way to succeed.
Students often forget that the MBA is a time-bound program, and waiting too long to apply while the situation clears up might make it too difficult to get in.
Universities prefer those in their mid- to late 20s because they are easier to place into jobs and because they want cohorts to mesh well. The median number of years of experience is five, and as you go further down the bell curve, there are just fewer and fewer spots that are available.
Unless you are in your early 20s, you could be shooting yourself in the foot by delaying by one or two years. The fear of what might happen from a policy standpoint becomes irrelevant if you don’t get into a program in a future year.
Do you have a story to share about international graduate students in the US? Contact this reporter at [email protected].
