Business school leaders encourage women to dress and act like they're in control.
Female MBA candidates may have a harder time finding camaraderie and a network that reflects their perspective. There are fewer women applying to business school, according to recent research.
The proportion of women applicants this year decreased compared with 2012 levels in five different kinds of MBA programs, according to the 2013 application trends survey from the Graduate Management Admission Council. The applicant pool for a master's in management, for example, had 53 percent women in 2012, but in 2013 that number dipped to 49 percent.
The proportion of women applicants this year decreased compared with 2012 levels in five different kinds of MBA programs, according to the 2013 application trends survey from the Graduate Management Admission Council. The applicant pool for a master's in management, for example, had 53 percent women in 2012, but in 2013 that number dipped to 49 percent.
1. Raise your hand:
Women often hesitate to talk right away during a class discussion, but should push themselves to speak up sooner, says Amy Hillman, dean of the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.
They can "start raising their hand before they've fully formulated what they're going to say," says Hillman. "It gets you in the game a lot quicker."
They can "start raising their hand before they've fully formulated what they're going to say," says Hillman. "It gets you in the game a lot quicker."
2. Speak with authority: Women must abandon negative qualifying statements, says Daria Burke, founder and CEO of Black MBA Women. Starting a response with, "This might be a dumb question, but ... " or "I don't know if this is right" detracts from the quality of the message, she says. "People will trust you more and be more inclined to listen if you are more confident and doing it without that apology," say Burke, a graduate of the Stern School of Business at New York University.
3. Look like you mean business:
3. Look like you mean business:
Dressing in a professional manner can help women communicate that they want to be taken seriously, Burke says.
"Don't wear anything that you wouldn't wear in front of your coworkers," she says, adding that short skirts and tight clothing may leave people with the wrong impression. "People will remember that and it makes a huge difference when people talk to you."
"Don't wear anything that you wouldn't wear in front of your coworkers," she says, adding that short skirts and tight clothing may leave people with the wrong impression. "People will remember that and it makes a huge difference when people talk to you."
4. Talk with professors: Burke recalls frequently seeing male business school classmates in conversation with professors after class. She urges women to get to know their teachers so that in class these same professors will call on them.
A close relationship with professors can also be beneficial after business school, she says. "You have those champions as you advance your career."
A close relationship with professors can also be beneficial after business school, she says. "You have those champions as you advance your career."
Source: http://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools/articles/2013/10/15/4-ways-women-can-thrive-in-business-school?page=2
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