J.P. Eggers, vice dean of MBA and graduate programs and an associate professor of management and organizations at NYU Stern School of Business, says he's disappointed that Amazon withdrew its plans to build half of its new headquarters in New York City, but says the school will continue to nurture bonds with the company. Business-school leaders in Virginia, where Amazon still plans to operate, have said they hope to see the plans boost their programs.

The 2019 Prospective Students Survey Interactive Data Research Tool is now available to school professionals. Learn more at GMAC Advisor.

While employers may use business-school rankings to identify and narrow down top hires, most still make hiring decisions based on skills and talents of individual candidates, MBA market experts say.

MBA candidates should ask themselves several questions to find the right program to suit their needs, including what industry they want to work in and their motivation for pursuing a degree. Jason Garner, director of admissions at American University's Kogod School of Business in Washington, D.C., says students also need to consider a school's location relative to their interests.

Fewer students from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad sought careers in entrepreneurship this year, according to the school's placement committee. The school reported that students were offered jobs in fields such as analytics, banking and technology.

A report from the US Education Department's inspector general's office has found that the Federal Student Aid office has been lax in overseeing the companies that service approximately $1.4 trillion in federal student loans. Education Department officials disputed the report, which found servicers failed to inform borrowers of repayment options and miscalculated monthly payments.

Some college and university leaders are seeking ways to offer innovative educational alternatives to provide workforce skills as well as lifelong learning opportunities for students, writes Dan Sommer, founder and CEO of Trilogy Education. In this commentary, he highlights several initiatives around continuing education and college-business partnerships.

While some business schools struggle to attract students, top-tier schools are seeing enrollment increases, something John Byrne, editor-in-chief of Poets & Quants, calls a "flight to quality." In this commentary, Byrne presents data showing that the top 10 business schools now account for 36% of MBA enrollment as market share fell for lower- and nonranked programs.

MBA applicants seeking to enter a business school's deferred admissions program should communicate a clear vision for their future career and highlight leadership and community-building skills, writes Matt Symonds, co-director of Fortuna Admissions. In this commentary, he offers a brief review of several popular deferred MBA programs.