Another year, another lineup of stories that give readers planning one of the most important investments in their lives the insights they need to make a well-informed choice. Once again in 2024, Poets&Quants covered everything there is to know about the world of graduate business education: the rankings, new developments in curricula and thought leadership, and most importantly: what it takes to get into the school (or schools) of your choice.

And yes: the scandals. So many scandals!

In the end, it’s about the students. Anywhere on Earth students are learning business, P&Q is there. Below find the best stories from a year full of great ones, written by a staff dedicated to the proposition that a business education is the best and most widely available ladder to a better life. Tens of thousands climb it every year, and we write about only a fraction of them — but that fraction represents hope for millions of others. Please enjoy this selection of our top stories of the year, and share!

THE BEST OF THE BEST

10 Business Schools To Watch In 2024

The Business Schools To Watch come into 2024 with momentum. They invested their time and money wisely, producing the best experiences and biggest returns. What made them stand out compared to their peer schools? More important, how will they build on their successes? The greatest satisfaction often comes from witnessing growth and change – the realization of potential. Here are the 10 business schools that positioned themselves for the biggest steps forward in the coming year.

The 100 Best & Brightest MBAs: Class Of 2024

Amin Elsheikh was living out his dream. As a young man, he imagined himself someday working for the DAL Group, the “flagship” company in his native Sudan. Operating in spaces ranging from machinery to real estate, the DAL Group hires only the best. That includes Elsheikh, who, at 24, became the company’s youngest manager in its 63-year history.

He quickly capitalized on the opportunity, leading the firm’s truck business to its highest sales in eight years. Last April, his priorities shifted to survival when Sudan plunged into civil war. Barely escaping from his home, he left behind his savings and investments – not to mention family members and his passport. He became a migrant who often traveled on foot. Over four months, he moved through three countries before finding refuge in Dubai.

MBAs To Watch: Class Of 2024

Whitner Chase doesn’t fit the MBA profile. He didn’t start in banking, consulting, or engineering. Before joining UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business in 2022, he worked for a foundation dedicated to conservation and advocacy. Among his accomplishments, he designed a grant that carved out an 8.9-million-acre national park – the largest in Australia. On a personal level, Chase describes himself as “driven by a sense of justice and a passion for nature.”

No wonder his classmates dubbed him, “Most likely to leave corporate America and become a zookeeper”.

Meet The MBA Class Of 2026: The ‘Do Anything, Be Anyone’ Cohort

In the movies, you can become anyone you want. A nerd can transform into a superhero from an insect bite or a domestic can upstage her step-sisters using magic. You just need a good heart and a can-do spirit. Business school follows a similar logic. Students may start off as underdogs. By tapping into their imaginations – and the support around them – they too can become someone extraordinary.

Next page: The uplifting stories of 2024 …