Marshall USC –

University of Southern California Marshall School of Business

USC’s Marshall School of Business gives students both the fundamentals needed for success in any business career and opportunities to prepare themselves for leadership in specialized fields. Students spend their first year at Marshall on core business courses, and in their second year branch out to electives suitable to their particular career interests. Students have over 20 MBA degree concentrations to choose from, including entertainment, entrepreneurship, technology commercialization, and e-business, as well as more traditional disciplines such as marketing and finance, operations management, and strategic management.

Students can also pursue one of over a dozen dual degrees. Marshall is especially noted for its innovative programs in international business study. Its PRIME (Pacific Rim Education) program takes classes to Asia and Latin America for an on-the-ground orientation to the economic, social, and cultural dynamics that impact business in those regions. In addition, USC has agreements with over two dozen foreign institutions that allow MBA students to study abroad or pursue summer study and research. Aspiring MBAs who cannot make the commitment to two years of full-time study can still gain a business education at USC, through Marshall’s part-time, IBEAR (an accelerated one-year program), and executive MBA programs.

Below is the three-page transcript of our interview with Keith Vaughn, Director of Admissions for the MBA Program.

What new changes are occurring on campus and how is Marshall evolving?

Dean Yash Gupta began his stewardship at the USC Marshall School of Business on July 1, 2004. Under his leadership the curriculum is being reviewed, our relationships with corporations and alumni are receiving a great deal of attention, and building facilities are expected to expand and grow.

What general advice would you like applicants considering the Marshall School of Business’s MBA to know?

Applicants should be assured that the USC Marshall MBA program is committed to excellence in research and teaching as well as continuing to seek bright and ambitious students from around the globe to expand its international alumni network.

When do you encourage applicants to apply?

We have four deadlines in our admissions cycle: Dec 1, Jan 15, Feb 15, Apr 1. We encourage applicants to apply when they are best prepared. There is a recommended deadline, January 15^th, for international students and for fellowship consideration. Our final deadline is April 1^st.

What are the specific characteristics you target in the applications to help you identify ‘best fit’ candidates?

The “best fit” characteristics in an application are derived from the research and preparation that an applicant undergoes prior to submitting his or her paperwork. The size and location of our program allow us to send all of our MBA students abroad for international exposure as a mandatory part of their education in the PRIME class.

What should applicants most heavily emphasize in their work experience?

Applicants should be aware that the quality of their work experience is more important than the length or duration in a particular career field. They should also be able to bridge their past work history to their future desired career goals. The ability to demonstrate both teamwork and success in their past work experience is also helpful

How important is a GMAT score and what advice do you have for applicants who struggled with this exam?

Applicants should present a score that is reflective of their best efforts on this exam. Applicants who fall below this range need to highlight other strengths in their application such as demonstrated leadership, teamwork and work experience.

What was the GMAT score range for admitted applicants last year?

Our 80^th percentile range was 640-730. Our median score has been 690 for the past two entering classes.

How important is the interview in the admissions process and what specific applicant traits are you using the interview to gauge?

Though interviews are not required, they are a welcome opportunity for both the applicant and for the school to share information that is not readily obtained from an application or from a brochure. The interview should be prepared for like a job interview. We attempt to assess presentation skills, leadership traits, and self-confidence as well as energy and enthusiasm.

What types of questions should applicants expect to be asked in the interview?

Applicants should be prepared to address questions about their motivation, influential mentors, past experiences and future goals. They should also be well versed on their resumes.

Are these interviews conducted blind or is the applicant’s file reviewed beforehand?

Interviews are by invitation only, so that we do have an opportunity to review the file beforehand.

How helpful do applicants generally find a campus visit?

A campus visit has proven to be very helpful to our entering classes. Campus visits provide applicants with the opportunity not only to see the facilities but to also engage with the current students and faculty.

Do you have any special instructions or advice for applicants who wish to visit the business school’s campus?

Applicants should contact the admissions office prior to visiting at 213-740-7846. Prior notification allows us to set up a class visit and arrange a tour with our student MBA Ambassadors.

Does your Admissions Department provide profile feedback for individuals considering the MBA program?

We provide on campus information sessions throughout the academic year for applicants to visit our campus, meet our students and sit in on an MBA class. For people who are unsuccessful in the admissions process, we provide feedback in the fall for those interested in reapplying to our program.

How are re-applicants viewed by Marshall and what do they need to do to be successful the second time around?

Reapplications are viewed positively. We expect that our feedback after the last application allow reapplicants to better present themselves in the subsequent attempt for admission into our program.

Describe how the financial aid process works and what admitted students can expect in terms of scholarships, assistantships, and loan guarantees.

No additional application is necessary for financial consideration. All applicants are considered for merit-based fellowships that assist them with the cost of tuition. There is also additional aid in the second-year that can be applied for in the form of assistantships and fellowships. In addition, most of our students also assume loans to help with the cost of attending the MBA program

Could you talk about the activities occurring in Career Services at your school?

A new director in Career Services, Peter Giuliani, was recently hired in the fall 2004. His efforts to enhance the visibility of our program with recruiters are already underway.

What specifically should IT applicants do to differentiate themselves in their applications?

IT students typically present strong technical skills in an MBA program. Aside from demonstrating strength in this one area, they should also highlight broader dimensions such as an ability to lead others and good teamwork skills.

Can you briefly describe the housing situation for your students?

Most of our students live in communities within a 10-15 mile radius of the school. There is on-campus housing for graduate students which some of our international students utilize. The preferred housing for most students are the beach communities of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Santa Monica.

What would you say distinguishes the Marshall School of Business and its students?

Our location in Los Angeles is one of the most distinctive features of our program. Our students are strong team players with solid fundamental skills in areas of finance, marketing, operations, consulting, etc. They are also well equipped to communicate and work with diverse populations after experiencing the PRIME class at the end of the first year.

How does this year’s application pool compare to the previous year’s? How about the demographic make up of the applicant pool?

Last year’s applications dropped by about 15% from the previous year. The quality of the applicant pool was still quite strong but fewer applications were received from both India and China. We recently joined with Forte to help increase the number of women in our applicant pool and we are a member of the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management to assist us with the recruitment of other underrepresented populations in our MBA program.