Business schools are offering incentives and teaming with nonprofits as they strive to close the persistent gender gap in MBA programs. "If we can get more women to come into business school, that's a way to build the pipeline to effect change longer term," said Ellen Taaffe, director of women's leadership programs at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

The GMAC Admissions Institute for New Professionals (AINP) is a continuously evolving program designed to equip those new to admissions with the knowledge and networks they need to be successful in their careers. Register now.

More MBA graduates are moving toward careers with technology companies such as Google and Amazon instead of banks and Wall Street following the financial crisis a decade ago, some recruiters and business-school officials say. Data from the Graduate Management Admission Council show 20% of MBA graduates worked in finance in 2008, but now 13% work in finance, with tech employment rising from 12% to 17% over that time span.

Francisco Veloso, dean of Imperial College Business School, says UK business schools may need to change their pay structure for leaders and top faculty if a current debate on academic leadership pay focuses on them. A potential controversy could lead to business schools relying less on full-time professors and hiring more part-time business professionals to teach courses, Veloso notes.

MBA students at the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business soon will spend more time on core courses as well as a second semester of accounting and finance. The change is aimed at creating "a well-rounded program," says professor and curriculum committee member Gareth James.

Women of color are underrepresented in higher education and make only 67 cents on the dollar, compared with white men in academia, according to a recent report from the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources. Chandra Childers, a senior research scientist at the Institute for Women's Policy Research, says the inequities will continue if changes aren't made.

With no floor vote scheduled on a bill that would reauthorize the Higher Education Act in the US House, some observers say the measure may not come up for a vote this year. Some higher-education groups, veterans' groups and student leaders have expressed opposition to the measure.

Business schools must adapt to incorporate financial-technology courses into their curricula, writes HEC Paris visiting professor Co-Pierre Georg. This includes collaboration with crypto experts and providing students hands-on experiences.

Some career counselors and education consultants say MBA applicants should do their homework and clearly define what they want from an MBA. Students especially interested in engineering careers, or in studying abroad, should ensure that the program they choose will boost their career, the experts advise.