5 Things You Need to Know About the Consortium

It’ll come a time when you need to make a decision on which graduate school to attend. If you are like me, making this decision about which MBA program to select was a little daunting. There are so many good MBA programs out there, and of course, there was no way of applying to all of them. The application process can be exhausting (resume, essays, cover letters, recommendation letters) for each school you apply to, and it’s not cheap. In 2013, a business school application at any of the top business schools averaged about $250 per application, very expensive!

That’s how I was first introduced to The Consortium by a good friend. If you are African American, Hispanic American or Native American, then you need to know about The Consortium. The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management is a non-profit organization committed to increasing the representation of African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans in American business schools and corporate management.

Did you know that the average black undergraduate population in top-tier universities is only about 6% and that this statistic has remained relatively flat for 20 years? Even though the number of African Americans graduating college has increased, the gap between African Americans and whites has largely increased and this is why The Consortium exists – to try and close this racial gap in top tier schools.

So what do you need to know about The Consortium?

    1. Increases the representation of minority groups in MBA programs. Seriously, the organization has been in operation since 1966.
    2. Gives you access to top MBA schools. The Consortium has partnered with 18 top MBA schools; Haas School of Business, Tuck School of Business, UCLA Anderson School of Management and many others to offer immense benefits to minority groups
    3. Offers a streamlined application process. An application with The Consortium enables you to apply to up to six of their 18 member schools which of course helps you with school selection, and saves you time and money. $240 for example, will enable you to apply to four member schools which is far cheaper than the $250 per application.
    4. Offers merit-based, full tuition fellowships to top MBA candidates who have a proven record of promoting inclusion in school, in their jobs or in their personal lives.
    5. Maintains the same application cycle each year. The admissions process opens annually on August 15, with a first-round deadline on October 15 and a second-round deadline on January 5.

If you are African American, Hispanic American or Native American, then you have to check out The Consortium. During my MBA application process, I applied to Yale School of Management, Haas School of Business (Berkeley) and McCombs School of Business (Austin) and I received 1 yes and 2 waitlists. I, ultimately, attended MIT Sloan School of Management, that said, I cannot deny that The Consortium highly streamlined the application process for me!

The Consortium 2017-2018 application is still open. The first early application deadline was October 15, 2017. The second and final application deadline is coming up on January 5, 2018, so you still have some time to apply. Please visit www.cgsm.org for more information on The Consortium.

Feel free to reach out ([email protected]) if you have questions about The Consortium application process.

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