Harvard Business School: Learning the Future of Business

When it comes to business schools, Harvard Business School always emerges as one of the top choices for many aspiring businessmen and entrepreneurs. This is the school that is famous throughout the world and is also one of the most respected. It has produced many of the past and present leaders in business and government. Harvard Business School is in fact the choice of the best students in the world and continues to be a beacon in quality business education.

The early years, Harvard Business School is also known as the George F. Baker Foundation and is sometimes referred to as HBS. Although it is known as an institution on its own, Harvard Business School is actually one of Harvard University's graduate schools. It was founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1908, with only 59 students. Two decades later, 500 students had enrolled.

In 1927, the business school was relocated to Allston, an area that is located on the opposite side of the Charles River from the University. Although pioneering in its curriculum offerings, it took Harvard Business School four more decades to begin admitting women to its business program. Today, women form 30-35% of the students currently enrolled in business programs at Harvard.

Harvard Business School programs

Harvard Business School offers several programs for would-be business leaders. These include:

MBA Program
The MBA program offered by HBS is a full-time, two-year program. The first year is spent completing the required curriculum consisting of mandatory courses. There are two semesters per curriculum, with each semester spent focused on specific topics. On the second year, the student can choose among the subjects offered in the elective curriculum. There are about 96 courses offered as electives and students can prioritize a course depending on their preferences and the availability of the classes. As an alternative, students can choose to finish certain field studies instead of attending class.

Doctoral Program
The doctoral program offered by HBS intends to develop people and prepare them for careers as teachers and researchers. Students entering the program who do not have a masters degree in business are required to complete a minimum of 5 courses included in the curriculum for MBAs.

The doctoral program at HBS is full-time, with a required minimum of 2 years for students to stay in residence. Students are expected to spend at least 2 years completing course work and another 2 years for dissertation. The doctoral program can be completed in about 4 or 5 years.

Executive Education
Although Harvard Business School does not offer an Executive MBA, it does offer executive programs. Although these programs are non-degrees, they do award alumni status to students who complete them. These executive programs include:

The OPM or Owner/President Management Program
This part-time program is designed for entrepreneurs who own and run their businesses.

The AMP or Advanced Management Program
This program is intended for senior-level managers in companies and organizations and may be completed in just 8 weeks.

The GMP or General Management Program
This program is designed for training middle managers and may be taken part-time. It requires some courses to be completed on campus and some courses completed as part of a distance learning program.

Admissions
Harvard Business School consists of a highly diverse student population, with students coming from many countries and background. It has some of the world's most selective admissions procedures. Their 2008 class, for example, has a 15% admission rate.

To become part of the student body at Harvard Business School, an applicant must have completed one degree program at any undergraduate school accredited in the U.S. or at least the equivalent. A student must also pass the GMAT exam and complete required tests and documents. Foreign students may also be required to pass IELTS or TOEFL tests. …Read more >>

Tips on Choosing a Business School

Some people enroll in a business school just for fun, for leisure. Some say it's for experience, for others career advancement is their reason. Other professionals would say going to business schools is required for a possible job promotion. Peer pressure is also one, "My friends are enrolling in a business school so I'm going to join them too." No matter what the reason may be, choosing a business school may affect your career or lifestyle. It is imperative that we analyze the business schools first before you enroll, this will help determine your future career.

The website of The School of Management at the University of Dallas in Texas provides the Top 100 rankings of Business Schools. Business Week also features B-Schools page in their site that presents Business School Rankings and profiles. Bschool.com also gives out International Side by Side rankings of the best Business Schools. About.com can also help you in identifying top business schools for grads and undergrads. We may use the database of these sites to track down credentials if a Business School of your choice is really worth your time, money, and effort.

Before you spend money for the enrollment, isn't it wise if we will examine first the profile of the school and consider some important aspects? Here are some guidelines to light your path.


* Degree
Does the Business School your eyeing for offers a degree that you want? There are even several options whether you would like to take a 2-year or 4-year program. If the degree that you wish to take is not in the list then look for another school, don't waste your time in a school where your chosen degree is not offered.

* Cost
Can you afford the tuition fee and other possible expenses? Next thing that you will consider is the cost of your enrollment, is it worth your money? If you are really dying for that school and don't have enough budget you can apply for a part-time job for an extra income before the enrollment. In this case, you can gather more funds by saving for your tuition fee. You're lucky if you don't have a problem with the budget but it doesn't end there...

* Future
Consider the graduates of the school if they are achievers or successful in their fields. Most likely, the products of that Business School reflect the capability and excellence of the school. If you know a graduate of that school, have a little chit chat with him and get some feedback or bits of advice. After all, your goal is to obtain a brighter future right?

* Curriculum
Request for a curriculum and study it carefully. Is it broadly focused like a general program for business administration or is it narrowly focused meaning there are areas of specialization? Which program works best for you? If you are more on production, then choose a curriculum that is specialized in production.

* Facilities
Isn't it more convenient to study in a school equipped with great facilities, classrooms, libraries, and other buildings? This will add up to the school's competitiveness and degree of professionalism.

* Schedule
Does the school offer a more flexible class schedule? Does it only have one day fixed schedule? Know what is best for you. Do not choose a class schedule that overlaps your other work activities. You do not want to run in late always do you? You can only serve one master at the same time.

* Faculty
Get to know the faculty staff of the school. Are they morally upright? Are they also academically outstanding with masteral degrees and achievements in their own fields? Consider those instructors that you will encounter, are they worth your time? You should be able to learn a lot from them that will be beneficial for your growth personally and professionally. The teachers should be dedicated enough in teaching othewise you're just trashing money and wasting time on them.

* Dignity or Reputation
If you can afford to enroll in a prestigious Business School then do it. There are sites that you can visit, as mentioned a while ago, to determine the high ranking business schools. Bear in mind also that not all top-ranked Business Schools have good reputation. Enroll in a school that is and was not involved in any malicious or unethical scandals, this way the dignity and integrity of the school is preserved.

* Student Feedback
Sometimes, reading thorugh the brochures and official websites of these schools are not sufficient if you are a bit reluctant about the credentials of the school. Interview some students and get reactions from them. Based from their comments was the school good enough for you or are you not satisfied with what you heard?

There you go folks! Those are just some of the factors that you should watch out for in choosing a Business School. Keep in mind that you hold your future, no matter how perfect and how outstanding your Business School is if you don't strive for better perfromance, it will all be wasted. The abovementioned are only standards or criteria that will guide your way but in the end, it all depends on you. …Read more >>