Exclusive Admissions Interview with Kristine Laca of Tuck

Kristine Laca served as Director of Admissions at Tuck from 2003 to 2005, and is now Key Countries Representative for Latin AmericaThe relatively quick recovery of many developing countries versus the United States has changed the scenario for international MBA candidates, so we asked Kristine for her vision of Latin America.  She was kind enough to respond to our questions about the how the admissions season is shaping up in her area. Kristine has made presentations at MBA House in the past and we hope that she can stop by again soon!

1. How is this year’s applicant pool shaping up? Some say that the success of the Brazilian economy has reduced the number of applicants because people don’t want to miss local opportunities, while others say the same cause has had the opposite effect.

I believe that the Brazilian economic growth is causing more applicants to seek MBAs so that they will have the right skillsets to take advantage of future growth and opportunities. Additionally, applicants understand that Brazil will have a big role in global economic growth, so a global MBA is becoming even more important. Tuck has received a record number of applications from Brazil this year, so we are thrilled! We love Brazilian students! Currently, 5% of the first-year Tuck class is from Brazil and 12% is from Latin America, so we are looking forward to another strong Brazilian presence at Tuck next year.

2. Based on your answer above, how do you compare the post crisis scenario in Brazil with other key South American countries in terms of applicant outlook?

Fortunately, we are seeing positive economic news from many Latin American countries. The opportunities throughout the region seem very positive. Fortunately for Tuck, we have seen record application numbers from Argentina, Mexico, Peru and Colombia this year.

3. Have you seen a trend of South American Tuck MBA graduates increasingly returning to their home countries? Do you believe this trend will reverse itself if the American economy continues to recover?

We have seen an increasing number of South Americans return to Latin America for great job opportunities. For example, of the 10 Brazilians who graduated from Tuck in 2010, eight returned to Brazil, one stayed in the US and one is in Spain. We also saw a number of non-Brazilians accept jobs in Brazil. This is a very different geographic job profile than past years. I foresee this trend continuing. For example, I just spoke with McKinsey in Latin America. Tuck students were offered the largest number of McKinsey summer jobs in Latin America this year, which is great news for our Latin American students who are interested in consulting opportunities in the region. In the past, many of our Latin American students who were interested in consulting found the best opportunities in the US and Europe.

4. Many South American applicants wonder how well Admissions Officers understand their professional and educational backgrounds. I imagine that someone in your position has the role of increasing Tuck’s knowledge of local businesses and institutions so that Admissions is better informed. Can you comment on some of these actions and their effect?

Part of each admissions officer’s job is to make sure he or she is well informed about local markets from an educational and professional stand-point – especially in key countries. This is no small task as you can probably imagine. I try to play a big role in helping the our team better understand the nuances of Brazil and other Latin American markets. Our students and alums also help us clarify specific questions we may have about local schools, majors, and career progression. The good news is that there are a lot of great resources we can consult as we are reviewing application files.

5. In your opinion, what kind of role should companies like MBA House play in the admissions process?

Organizations like MBA House can bring a tremendous value to prospective MBA students in preparing them for the GMAT or GRE as well as helping them make better informed decisions about which schools to consider based on each person’s goals and interests. Additionally, MBA consultants can be a great resource for information about each school’s application process.