Attracting More Women to Business School

British newspaper, The Independent, took a look at what business schools can do to increase the number of women in their classes. According to the article, MBA programs lag behind law and medical schools in their gender balance in relation to the general population. While this fall’s class has seen a 3% increase in female students, there is room for growth.

Rose Martinelli, associate dean, student recruitment and admissions, believes one reason more women aren’t in business school is “there’s a real misunderstanding about what an MBA does. We need to reach out to women still in college and help them understand what career paths are out there.”

Another reason cited is the cost. Two new fellowships at Chicago GSB are designed to make it possible for talented women to attend the school. The Robert W. Baird and Deutsche Bank Fellowships are designed to potential future women leaders in business.

The original article appeared in The Independent on August 28, 2005.

Read about the new fellowships for women at Chicago GSB.