The Homa Files

Two related articles caught my eye …

First, the WSJ said that “something at Wharton doesn’t add up”.

Applications to the University of Pennsylvania’s business school have declined 12% in the past four years.

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Of course, Wharton claims that they’re going after quality, not quantity.

Wharton says the decline, combined with a stronger applicant pool and a higher percentage of accepted applicants who enroll, proves that the school is doing a better job targeting candidates.

But business-school experts and b-school applicants say Wharton has lost its luster as students’ interests shift from finance to technology and entrepreneurship.

One non-applicant observed: “Wharton is typecast as the finance school … going to business school isn’t about going into the financial sector any more.”

Some admissions advisers and Wharton professors agree, saying that the school didn’t react aggressively enough when the spigot of finance jobs was turned off.

Even though applications may be down, Wharton’s brand still has drawing power … here’s proof.

According to Bloomberg …

Wharton — “the world’s oldest collegiate business school” — is partnering with Sirius XM to launch a business channel. that will feature listener call-ins to get business lessons directly from professors.

Many of the live programs, which will cover everything from equity markets to retailing, will feature live listener call-ins to get business lessons directly from professors.

The goal is to connect listeners who lack a formal business education with academics who can explain concepts clearly.

The move will create the first full-time radio station focused on business management and furthers efforts to use digital technologies to expand the role of elite universities.

The Wharton channel will be targeted at anyone from a first-time job seeker to a chief executive officer, Sirius said.

“We think the market for business knowledge is underserved … business people, especially entrepreneurs, are hungry for key advice from seasoned experts.”

“Wharton was the only school we approached … its extensive academic and alumni network will be an incredibly valuable resource for expert guest appearances on the channel.”

The move gives Wharton visibility to XM Sirius’ 25 million listeners.

The station will debut in early 2014 on channel 111 and via the Sirius XM Internet radio app.  

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This entry was posted on October 1, 2013 at 6:59 am and is filed under Business Schools, Satellite Radio & TV. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.