The economy slows down: business school applications go up. The economy gets moving: business school applications go down. It’s nothing extraordinary about this balancing act. Business schools noticed it evidently during the late nineties as traditionally business school-bound twenty-something opted out of business school and into dot-coms and the booming economic climate.

Here are several factors that will always have an impact on the popularity of the MBA:
1. The state of the economy-interest in getting the MBA has generally waxed and waned with economic times;

2. Trends and favorable or unfavorable press-in the 1980s, a rash of insider trading scandals in which MBAs were ensnared made the degree look smarmy and other graduate programs, notably law and medicine, look more appealing;

3. The immediacy of good professional opportunities-the collapsed dot-com boom had provided an outlet for MBAs but is barely a career path now, while the events of

4. Current recruiter demand for newly minted MBAs-do employers see the skill sets of today's MBAs bringing measurable value to their companies?

The Current State of Affairs
What happens now, when the economy is in a recession and hiring freezes and lay-offs are standard fare? Applications of B-school skyrocket. It was made for an odd time: new graduates are facing one of the toughest job markets since the early 90s while prospective students appear to be kicking down the door of business.

According to the annual  survey, 85 percent of the 55 reporting business schools saw increases in the number of applications for full-time admission. Over 59 percent of the schools saw jumps of more than 10 percent. Also a part-time program experienced increasing numbers of applicants-to the tune of 61% increase.

This quantity is shocking, especially since the increases were also impressive the previous year. Though, not all the increases can be tied to the economy. Admission competition has led many applicants to apply to more schools than they would have a few years ago. Admission resolutions can seem a lot more arbitrary simply because of the volume of applications. Security schools aren't so safe anymore.

What Does this Mean for You?
Basically, if you plan to apply to the most competitive programs this year, be prepared. A current economic decline, rise in unemployment, and the rash of dot-com failures have pushed the number of business school applications higher. You can race against a reinvigorated group of candidates who were always interested in getting the MBA but who were distracted by the opportunities offered by booming economic times.

Also you can find yourself in the company of those who hope to avoid the current lack of jobs by gaining new skills now and delaying their re-entry into the workforce. Furthermore, a growing number of international applicants have further added to the applicant pool, though international applicants now have to deal with much tougher visa requirements.

As usual, if you want to beat the odds, you'll need to develop a solid application strategy and apply to a diverse portfolio of schools.

How to Manage the Admission Process
Recognizing and getting into the business school of your choice can easily take up to a year of research and work. Advanced business school search can help you make your research more efficient by giving you direct access to the schools that fit your criteria. If you've known a group of schools that sound right for you, the business school profiles provide detailed information and help you get in touch with their admissions offices. Try to give you direct access to hundreds of online applications-the easiest and most practical way to apply today.

You can also eliminate some of the mystery about the admissions process. Look for detailed information on the ins and outs of the application process, including how admissions officers weight your criteria, what role GMAT scores and GPA play in the decision, how work experience is considered and lots more. Browse through different sites for an advice on how to craft thoughtful essays so that you stand out from the crowd as well as give you tips on how to present yourself most effectively during your interviews.