In Case You Missed It: 2014’s Must-Read MBA Content

The end of one year and the beginning of another is traditionally a time of reflection; to look back and think over what has happened over the past 12 months, and to think about what we want to achieve in the 12 to come. So, as befits the season, here’s a roundup of some of the most popular articles we published in 2014, as well as a selection of some of our personal favorites, in case you missed them the first time round! You can also read our roundup of the year’s most interesting MBA news here.

January

Reading more is, no doubt, along with exercising more and finally quitting smoking, one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions out there. We thought we’d help you out at the start of year with a reading list of five new business titles. How many did you manage to read?

Managing time can be one of the most challenging aspects of preparing for the GMAT. Luckily in January, our friend Matt Sabourin (who got a 730 in case you’re wondering) was on hand to provide some invaluable advice on the topic.

January also saw the release of the second edition of the QS Distance Online MBA Rankings – for those who want to study a top program without the challenges associated with relocation.

February  

Neatly combining the last two mentioned features, in February we looked at online programs which do not require a GMAT – potentially useful for those short on time or who are not strong test takers…

One place which will definitely require a GMAT score, however, is MIT Sloan. But never fear, we spoke to the prestigious school’s director of MBA admissions to get the lowdown on who they let in.

Don’t fit the profile? Maybe you’d be better suited to a pre-experience program – but what’s the difference?

And finally, a look at the ever-so-trendy discipline of supply chain management.

March

Want to know what the best schools are in your area of expertise and intended specialization? See our infographic with the top five schools in ten disciplines.

Want to know what it’s like to launch one of Russia’s biggest e-commerce businesses after graduating from Stanford? See our interview with Maxim Faldin.

Want to know what scholarships are available for women at top schools? See our list.

Want to know why studying an MBA in IT will give you a competitive advantage? You get the idea…

April

Learning more about operations management seems to be what brings a lot of you to TopMBA.com. We aim to please, so here’s our guide to what the discipline entails.

The GMAT has always been a big player in the MBA admissions stakes. But the GRE is increasingly accepted by top schools. Should you consider it? Our infographic looks at the differences between the two.

Looking for a business role model? There are few better than Jay-Z! And now you can specialize in the rap giant with an MBA in media management.

Our events allow you to meet with some of the world’s top business schools. To offer you some insight into the admissions process at some of these schools, here is a selection of Q&As with admissions staff from around the world, gathered for the London leg of the World MBA Tour.

May

In May, the subject of ROI was quite close to our heart, with our considerations of the value of an EMBA, and also the story of a man for whom ROI means more than just improved remuneration.

But in both respects, it’s all about the job you do afterwards. Where should you work? We took a look at a list of the 12 best companies to work for after completing an MBA.

Second round application deadlines are coming up in January, and round one decisions have been made. Great if you get in, but what should you do if waitlisted? We asked admissions staff from NYU Stern and INSEAD how to deal with such a situation.

June

Early summer was all about the World Cup in Brazil. But if MBAs are generally past the point of donning the shirt and representing their country on the pitch, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a raft of opportunities for those who love the beautiful game!

If you couldn’t wait for the jogo bonito to be finito, it did seem like there were no alternatives – but luckily, there ARE alternatives to the two-year MBA.

Perhaps you stayed up late to catch a game? If so, perhaps you’ll know the feeling of giving up sleep to do everything you want to. Here’s an argument that eight hours is something of a luxury for the ambitious MBA – a blog post that certainly raised the hackles of some of our readership judging by our correspondence… 

July

July saw the launch of the first of our big research reports – The QS TopMBA.com Applicant Survey – essential beach reading for anyone who wants to know the aims and aspirations of the business leaders of the future (and here’s a quick look at what they want to study).

We welcomed Paul Bodine to the fold over the summer too – here’s his look at Stanford’s famous ‘what matters most’ admissions essay.

But wait, we hear we some of you saying – Stanford?! I don’t even know if I want to get an MBA. Pshhaaw, we say – here’s a slideshow to set you straight.

August

Back to the perennial favorite in August - $$$. Specifically, we take a look at the salary expectations of respondents to the Applicant Survey, and compare them to the actual salaries on offer as reported by employers for the QS TopMBA.com Jobs & Salary Trends Report (more on this later) as well as to their current salaries. The findings are rather interesting!

We also took the time to speak to one of a pair of Wharton professors who think that the technology behind MOOCs may spell the end for mid-ranking schools. Featuring our favorite clown analogy of the year (never fear, coulrophobics, it was the only entry).

September

Gender equality is important for us at TopMBA.com towers, so we were pleased to hear that it’s not just Jay-Z one can study, but also the equally entrepreneurial Beyoncé. We also consider, in infographic form, the differing career paths of males and females.

It emerged in September that the one-year MBA was declining in popularity, while the two-year alternative was recovering.  It also emerged that if you’re looking for preeminent thinkers, Chicago Booth is the place to be!

In another comparison of figures, we wondered how the salaries on offer for MBAs compared to the fees charged by top schools. But if the comparison isn’t favorable – Wall St is trying to redress the balance.

September also saw the release of a brand spanking new report charting how both prospective students and business schools utilize the latest trends in internet resources to respectively  garner and display information and advice on the world's top MBA programs.   

October

As we entered the cold months (for many at least!), we thought that a comprehensive review of MBA salaries and job trends might warm you up nicely – so in October we released the QS TopMBA.com Jobs & Salary Trends Report – along with some lists of where you should work and what you should do in order to make the most money.

We also took a look at which schools the women who are heading up Fortune 500 companies attended, and kicked off our exciting new series of Q&As with some of the world’s most exciting MBA employers.

October is the month in which round one admissions deadlines tend to fall – here are some tips, well in advance of October 2015, by the way, on writing a killer application.

Finally, we ran this article on business jargon up the flagpole to see who saluted...

November

November is a big month at TopMBA towers, marking as it does the release of QS's Global 200 rankings of business schools. Have a look at them here! And see who comes top in the US, the UK, the rest of Europe and Asia.

Want to know more about the top schools in Europe and the joint-top three (yep!) schools in the US? Well you can now! Just follow the links, friends.

November also saw us launch the new (and still infant) video section of TopMBA.com.

December

And last but not least, December. A month in which we asked, what IS an MBA doing selling socks dressed as a panda?

December also saw the inaugural Wharton-QS Stars awards for innovation in education take place.

New York’s two most famous schools were featured on the site in December, with NYU Stern talking to us about getting jobs in finance, while a more light-hearted take on a serious issue at Columbia caught our eye.

Finally, we took a look at the lessons to be learned by MBAs from a guy called ‘Warren Buffett’, or something like that…

Stay tuned – we plan to bring you a lot more exciting content in 2015, including some new ideas which we hope you’re going to find as exciting as we do…