New option allows eligible college seniors to defer admission to Rutgers MBA Program for two years
When 22-year-old Akshaya Srivastava graduated from Georgia Tech’s aeronautical engineering program in May, he wanted to go right into an MBA program at Rutgers Business School.
But the Rutgers program requires MBA candidates to have two years of work experience, so Srivastava had to put his plans on hold. What Rutgers offered him instead was a chance to reserve a spot in the program until after he completed the work requirement.
The program, aptly named Future Leaders 2+2, allows students to apply to Rutgers Business School's Full-Time MBA Program when they’re still college seniors. Those who are admitted begin the two-year program after spending two years in the workforce.
Srivastava, who is currently employed as an engineer with Northup in Maryland, said he doesn’t think he will have any reservations about leaving the job to pursue an advanced degree. He wants to study business and combine it with his engineering knowledge so he can land a job as a project manager.
"I would have preferred to get all of my schooling out of the way,” he said, “but this is a very good option.”
Stephan Kolodiy, a senior admissions officer at Rutgers, said one of the benefits of the new program is the ability of students to go through the application process while they’re still in the academic mindset and remain on track to achieve their goal of earning an MBA.
"A lot of people think if they start working, they won’t go back to school,” Kolodiy said.
The program helps admitted students remain on track to achieve their goal of earning an MBA. For Rutgers, it’s a way of capturing young prospects and helping them to achieve their ambitions. If a student like Srivastava opted to continue working while he earned his MBA, Rutgers would give him the option of entering the Flex MBA Program.
During a recent graduate admissions fair, Kolodiy said there was a high level of interest among college seniors who had MBA ambitions. “They really liked the idea of taking their GMATs now and getting admission now,” he said.
"A lot of people think if they start working, they won’t go back to school.”
Albert Turner, assistant director of the RBS Office of Graduate Admissions, said it’s also a way of building a more diverse pipeline of candidates, which makes Rutgers more successful in diversifying its graduate programs. The most competitive candidates may have other advantages to applying as college seniors, he said.
Eligible students will be considered for scholarship money if they gain the necessary work experience and return to Rutgers to pursue an MBA in two years, Turner said.
To be considered for the program, current college seniors can select the “Future Leaders 2+2” option on the Rutgers Business School MBA admissions application.
The RBS Graduate Admissions Office plans to hold information sessions on both the Newark and New Brunswick campuses early next year for current college seniors interested in learning more about the Future Leaders 2+2 program. For questions about the program or upcoming information sessions, please contact Stephan Kolodiy, senior admissions officer: 973-353-1234 or admit@business.rutgers.edu.