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The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) conducts the annual Application Trends Survey (ATS) of business school admissions offices around the world to offer timely insights into the demand for graduate management education (GME). This survey aids admissions, recruitment, and marketing professionals in understanding the candidate pipeline and informing their future strategies. This report focuses on global demand for GME and analyzes differences by programs and regions for the 2020-2021 admissions season (incoming class of 2021). This survey data was collected between July 8 and August 23, 2021, and garnered responses from 967 programs at 269 business schools worldwide. Among the findings: (1) Global demand for graduate management education sustained at the elevated levels of 2020 with variations by program and region; (2) As compared to 2020, more programs report growth in applications from international candidates; and (3) More full-time two-year MBA programs report growth in applications from women candidates. [Report development contributions were provided by: Alexandria Williams, Sabrina White, Maite Salazar, and Tacoma Williams. For the 2020 report, see ED611220.]

This white paper, "Understanding Underrepresented Populations in the Business School Pipeline," examines the shifting US racial and ethnic demographics and projected growth among US minority populations and the challenges--and incentives--these developments pose for US business schools to increase the opportunities for minority students to participate in a graduate management education. Historically, many US underrepresented populations (URP), particularly African Americans and Hispanic Americans, have had disproportionately small representation in the business school pipeline. There are no easy solutions to changing these dynamics and smarter, more customized approaches to recruiting these prospective students will be required of business schools to bring more of these students through their doors.