Abstract
The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the history of the MBA admission's process, how neoliberalism both impacts and is impacted by university admissions policies, and how specific admissions devices, such as GMAT scores, effect student populations in MBA programs. The Master of Business Administration (MBA) has become the most important academic credential for those seeking to gain or retain a job in today's workforce. A decades long trend towards credentialization in the workforce, which was exacerbated by the 2007-2008 economic downturn, has greatly contributed to this trend. However, despite the importance of the degree in the workforce, certain populations, including women and international students, continue to be significantly underrepresented in certain MBA programs. To analyze a possible root cause, I have examined the effect that admissions policies have in shaping the makeup of MBA student populations. To do so, I conducted an analysis of quantitative data, to examine a specific MBA student population, and I conducted a qualitative review of the existing literature.