Sloan Fellows: A Breed Apart At MIT, Stanford & London

LBS has one of the most diverse programs – 81% of the Sloan Fellows are international

LBS has one of the most diverse programs – 81% of the Sloan Fellows are international. The curriculum across all three schools also focuses on leadership development more than traditional MBA programs. “Hard skills are attainable in many great universities around the world were people might seek in an MBA program. What we really do right from the beginning is focus on the individual – it is a leadership development program,” MIT’s Sacca says. The school’s Sloan Fellows participate in a leadership assessment exercise before they even arrive, where they work one-on-one with faculty to analyze the results of  personal peer, client and manager reviews.  Stanford also grooms Fellows’ leadership capabilities through a co-curricular program that combines seminars, group projects, trips and speakers.

The three programs also emphasize global perspectives.  All of them require at least one trip and offer additional travel options for students looking to get hands-on experience and connections in other parts of the world.  For instance, MIT Sloan Fellows visit San Francisco and Silicon Valley, New York City and an international destination as part of the program.

‘WE’RE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO WILL PUSH THE STATUS QUO ASIDE’

There’s also an expectation that students and alumni will effect change. Fellows are selected as the next generation of movers and shakers. As Sacca puts it, “We’re looking for people who will push the status quo aside and say I know this is the way it has been done, but I think there’s a better way.”

Fellows from London Business School and Stanford graduate with a Master of Science degree. MIT’s Sloan Fellows choose between a Master of Science in Management, a Master of Science in Management Technology or a Master of Science in Business Administration – the MS degrees require a thesis, whereas the MBA does not.  Sacca says the majority of MIT’s Sloan Fellows opt for the MBA because it’s more recognizable in the marketplace and requires less explanation.

Stanford’s Sloan Fellows program has the most women, who make up 23% of the current class

MIT’s program is the largest of the three, with 120 students, compared with Stanford’s 81 students and LBS’ 52 students.  It’s also the most expensive.  The incoming class of Sloan Fellows at MIT will pay $126,500 in tuition, nearly $15,000 more than Stanford Fellows and roughly $47,500 more than LBS Fellows.  It may be worth noting that MIT’s tuition includes the cost for its international trip and lodging for the domestic trips.

LBS boasts the most experienced cohort – its students bring an average of 16 years to the table, and the school recommends a minimum of 12 years of experience to apply.  LBS is also the most diverse, 81% of its students are international, compared with 77% at Stanford and 75% at MIT.