An Open Door

AS WOMEN FLOCK TO LAW AND medical schools, Tuck is one of the many business schools wondering how to attract female students. Its current first-year class of 240 is only 24 percent female, in line with enrollment at other business schools.

Despite its prestige and consistent top-10 rankings in leading business publications, Tuck must convince women that business is a satisfying career; next it must sell them on the value of an M.B.A. Then comes the kicker: getting women to leave business epicenters for pastoral Hanover. Tuck's location is "our greatest strength and our greatest weakness," says Sally Jaeger, assistant dean of Tuck's M.B.A. program office.

That women are not rushing to apply to business schools doesn't surprise Tuck admissions director Kristine Laca, who earned her M.B.A. from Duke: "It has a lot to do with the average age of our entering student: 28. We need plans and perspective as a society so women don't have to choose either career or family."

In the meantime, Tuck's strategy is to attack the challenge in complementary ways, as a founding member of the Forte Foundation—an organization of 13 schools and seven corporations interested in developing businesswomen—and via its own alumnae network. It's not just a matter of getting qualified women to apply to Tuck; it's also a matter of getting them to enroll once accepted. "All the top schools are competing for the same applicant pool," says Jaeger. Typically, 45 to 60 percent of students accepted go on to enroll—one reason recruitment receptions scheduled this year in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and At- lanta will target not only potential but also accepted students. Receptions will also take place at women's colleges to promote business careers in general. Enthusiastic Tuck alumnae play important roles. 'Any time anyone can connect and share concerns, it's a very healthy exchange," says Laca. "We have many graduates who have been out anywhere from one to eight years who are very passionate."