MSN has an article called The Mommy MBA describing efforts by some MBA programs to provide more flexible MBA scheduling in hopes of attracting more women.
A very interesting statistic from the article is female enrollment at full-time MBA programs hovers around 30%, while it is 49% at medical schools and 47% at law schools. Key quote on why more women are not pursuing full-time MBAs:
"The typical M.B.A. track runs a collision course with many young women's plans to start a family. Working four to five years after undergraduate school before enrolling, as many schools offering a master's in business expect, is a bridge too far for many women."
The article highlights several business schools, including Harvard, that are offering greater program flexibility to appeal to women.
While we often hear about the importance of work/life balance and job flexibility from women, we are increasingly hearing similar things from men. Gen Y men, for example, often mention work/life balance and seem very skeptical about the value of a full-time MBA.
So while these flexible MBA programs may be targeted at women, our guess is a lot men will be interested.
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