Stanford GSB Reports 5-Point Slide In GMATs

Stanford University Graduate School of Business – Ethan Baron photo

27% OF THE INCOMING GSB STUDENTS COME WITH FINANCE BACKGROUNDS

When it came to the pre-MBA work backgrounds of incoming students, there were a few notable changes. MBA students who had worked in the technology industry rose two points to 17% this year, from 15% a year earlier, while students with work backgrounds in government, education and nonprofits picked up two points as well, reaching 10% of this year’s class, from 8% last year.

Generally, though, there were few changes in the mix. The largest single group of students–27%, exactly the same as last year–had worked in finance, with 21% from firms in investment management, private equity, and venture capital and the remaining 6% from financial services. Consultants account for 19% of the class, same as last year. Some 7% of the Class of 2020 had worked in consumer products and services, while 4% each are from the healthcare industry as well as the arts, media and entertainment sector.

Students with experience in clean tech, energy and environmental consulting comprise 3% of the class, while 3% come from manufacturing and 2% hail from the military. Both manufacturing and military students fell a single percentage point from last year.

DON’T MISS: STANFORD’S MBA GATEKEEPER ON A ‘HEARTBREAKING’ APPLICANT MYTH or MEET STANFORD’S CLASS OF 2019