Applying for Your MBA Through The Consortium: Best Deal in Town

Our consultants receive a lot of questions from clients about applying to MBA programs through The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management. I’ve heard myths that suggest that applying to one (or more) of the 22 Consortium schools through The Consortium’s application is disadvantageous. But as the former director at two Consortium schools, I can assure you that nothing could be further from the truth — provided you meet The Consortium’s minimum qualifications.

Though the requirements, participating schools, and corporate partners have changed over The Consortium’s 57-year history, not only is the organization the best deal in town but it also gives its members an alumni network that extends throughout the 22 member schools.

The Consortium history and mission

Initially, The Consortium provided opportunities for young African-American men to have a fair chance at rising up the corporate ladder via the MBA. Later, The Consortium added Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and women to its mix. Membership came along with the fellowship.

However, after the Supreme Court decided the Gratz v. Bollinger and Grutter v. Bollinger cases, The Consortium opened its doors to offer membership to selected applicants that further The Consortium’s mission to promote the “inclusion in global business education and leadership . . . of African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans.” Members do not need to belong to one of these groups but must demonstrate the mission through community and professional action and impact. Thus, membership is no longer race based but rather mission driven. Applicants must also demonstrate the ability to succeed in a Consortium member school’s MBA program.

Consortium member benefits

Like the undergraduate Common App, candidates can apply to up to six schools with only one application for a fraction of the cost that the candidate would incur by applying to each school separately. The Consortium membership grants the candidate access to the orientation and corporate partners. Many members receive internship offers before the start of school.

To summarize the benefits:

1. Applicants can use a single application for up to six schools at one low cost.
   
2. Members gain access to a vast alumni network of 22 schools, including mentorship from among the approximately 9,000 Consortium alumni (formal or informal).
   
3. Students gain access to corporate sponsors at orientation if selected as a member.
   
4. If selected as a fellow, students receive full tuition and a stipend.

READ: The Consortium Application: Tips for Your CGSM Essays >>

Consortium member schools

Consortium Member School	Average GMAT Score (Class of 2024)	Average Undergraduate GPA (Class of 2024)
Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business	702	3.33
Columbia University, Columbia Business School	729	3.60
Cornell University, Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management	710	3.30
Dartmouth College, Tuck School of Business	726	3.52
Emory University, Goizueta Business School	700	3.38
Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business	697	3.29
Indiana University-Bloomington, Kelley School of Business	685	3.38
New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business	733	3.62
Indiana University-Bloomington, Kelley School of Business	685	3.38
New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business	733	3.62
Rice University, Jones Graduate School of Business	702	3.43
Stanford University, Stanford Graduate School of Business	737	3.76
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan-Flagler Business School	706	3.43
The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business	706	3.48
University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business	729	3.64
University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA Anderson School of Management	711	NA*
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Michigan Ross School of Business	720	3.50
University of Rochester, Simon Business School	NA*	NA*
University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business	732	3.58
University of Virginia, Darden School of Business	720	3.51
University of Washington, Foster School of Business	710 [median]	3.4 [median]
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin School of Business	665	3.40
Washington University in St. Louis, Olin Business School	670	3.40

* School’s class profile presents a score/GPA range rather than an average.

To learn more about applying through The Consortium, please contact me for a consultation.

By Natalie Grinblatt, the former admissions dean/director at three top business schools. Natalie has reviewed more than 70,000 applications, interviewed more than 2,500 candidates, and trained nearly 700 admissions directors and alumni volunteers to select outstanding candidates for admission. Her clients gain admission to top programs, including those at Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, MIT, Cornell, Columbia, Berkeley, Chicago, Northwestern, and NYU. Natalie holds an MBA from Michigan Ross. Want Natalie to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

• Top MBA Application Essay Questions: How to Answer Them Right
• The Consortium Application: Tips for Your CGSM Essays [2022 – 2023]
• What the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management Can Do for MBA Applicants – podcast episode 395