The Financial Times reports that a number of top business schools, including Duke, Columbia, Kellogg, and IE are combining the admissions processes for their different MBA programs, meaning that if a candidate is rejected from the Full-Time MBA, the schools can then offer a spot in the Part-Time or Executive MBA programs.

The combined admissions process will allow the schools to identify applicants whose profile is not strong enough for the Full-Time program, but can be a better fit for the school’s other MBA programs. For example, a candidate with a weak GMAT score but impressive professional experience might be more suited for an EMBA program.

Uniting the admissions process will also cut expenses and allow schools to market all their programs together so a candidate can choose which program offers the best fit. Columbia already merged the admissions process for its MBA and EMBA programs two years ago. IE boasts a new system that refers applicants rejected from its International MBA program to other programs and offers guidance in matching them to an alternate program. Using this system, 10% of candidates who applied to one program are currently studying in a different program.

At Michigan, the admissions process was unified about two years ago, and since then, 130 candidates applied to the Part-Time MBA program instead of the EMBA after the school’s admissions counselors advised them to do so.

Put Me in Business (applying in less than a year)
Put Me in Business (applying in more than a year)