Business schools are often criticised in terms of the lack of fit between the characteristics of the graduates they produce and the needs of employers. Yet the contribution the schools make to the students' own needs is seldom considered. Using data from a large-scale survey of business graduates, students' expectations of the impact of acquiring an MBA on their careers are examined and compared with their pre-and post-school employment patterns. This suggests that the schools play an important role in improving the fit between aspirations and reality.
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