MBA Insider: Admissions Q&A April 13, 2009, 2:19PM EST

Illinois: Admissions Q&A

MBA Admissions Director Jackie Wilson describes the ideal Illinois applicant and the school's advantages, including a new high-tech building

Jackie Wilson
Illinois

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It's green, pristine, and an MBA-making machine. The $60 million Business Instructional Facility at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, an earth-friendly building designed by Illinois graduate Cesar Pelli, is the new home to graduate business students—and to Jackie Wilson, director of admissions at the College of Business.

With full-time MBA enrollment of less than 200 for the two-year program, Illinois is one of the smaller programs around, giving it an intimate feel, and with total tuition costs of about $60,000 it's also one of least expensive programs in the BusinessWeek rankings. Graduates earn about $90,000 a year, putting the program on par with several top-tier schools.

Wilson, in an interview with BusinessWeek's Mandy Oaklander, elaborates on the process of finding future MBA leaders with skill sets that match those of the College of Business. An edited excerpt of the conversation follows.

Illinois' graduating class size of 100 students is relatively small compared with other business schools. What do you get out of a small class size that you don't get at other top schools?

What we can give to our students with a small class size is a personal touch. They get to know their professors, and their professors get to know them very well. If a student is not in class, a professor is certainly going to notice. There's more camaraderie among students. Also, those students who may not be able to take on leadership roles in a large program can in a small program where those opportunities are available to them.

Schools often mention that they are looking for a certain quality of work experience, not necessarily a certain quantity. What about a candidate's work experience will impress an Illinois admissions officer?

What we're going to look at is where they started and where they are now. We look at progression: promotions that they've had and more responsibilities that they've taken on in their years of service. We know that in the very beginning they're at the learning stage, but by the time they have two or three years of experience they should be taking on more responsibility and more leadership. We like to see that reflected in their essays as well as in the letters of recommendation from their supervisors.

Is there a typical GMAT score?

There isn't. When we look at an application we view it holistically. Someone who may have a very high GMAT may not fit what we would like to have in our program. On the other side of the spectrum, someone who may not score well on standardized tests may have terrific work experience, interpersonal skills, and communication. There is something beyond just looking at a score.

How is the application looked at holistically?

First of all, when an application comes in and is complete, it goes through two reads, and those who are strong enough get an interview. The first reader looks at it in terms of the quantitative parts: the GMAT, the TOEFL, and the GPA. But they also have to look at it qualitatively and think about it in these terms: Has this person gone above and beyond? Do they show leadership? Is there something outside of work that they're involved in, like community service? Also, we look for diversity in what they like to do and what they're strong in. We don't want all business students, and we don't want all engineering students. We would like to have a cross-section from all areas, from agriculture to the fine arts to business.

Speaking of diversity, almost half of the class of 2010—45%—is comprised of international students. What strides are you taking to ensure the already high diversity of your class?

I think we maintain diversity through the review process of the applications and in the mandatory interview process. As you can see, our percentage of women is up considerably compared to many of our sister schools.