LSE Launches Three New Business Masters Programs For Fall 2017

If you’ve scored 640 on the GMAT, by many indications, you have done well. A 640 on the GMAT means that you have outscored the majority of test-takers, coming in at the 68th percentile. This bodes well if you are interested in applying to a decent MBA program.

Not long ago, an MBA degree was regarded by many people as a passport to a lucrative professional job in a field such as investment banking or strategy consulting. While many students still pursue these career paths, a growing portion of them are looking for purpose as well as profit in their jobs.  In fact, making a positive social or environmental impact has overtaken pay and other perks as the top reasons MBA students pursue their career, according to an often-cited survey by Bain & Company, which, ironically, is a consultancy firm.  Curriculum changes are underway as business schools respond to the corporate social responsibility (CSR) revolution. Schools have been criticized for their apparent role in the global financial crisis and for focusing too heavily on maximizing shareholder return. Today many top MBA programs include an impact-related module, such as impact investing or social entrepreneurship.  The career opportunities in this field have flourished. CSR was previously something many companies merely paid lip service to, but they are making “impact” a fundamental piece of their business plans. There are now 2,655 certified “B Corporations”, or firms that verify their high social and environmental performance, across 150 industries and 60 countries, including the ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s and the social media company Hootsuite.  Picking the right program, however, is crucial. So we’ve ranked the best MBAs for social or environmental impact, below. 

The politics of global business is becoming even more important as we witness the dismantling of the global post-war era, with the rise of neo-nationalism and protectionism in a multi-polar world. The current uncertainty has prompted business schools to launch or bolster MBA modules that help students get to grips with geopolitics.

If you’re applying for MBA programs, having a 720 GMAT score is a great asset. This means that you’ve scored better than most candidates who take the test. These are the 10 MBA programs you should be looking at.