BY SYDNEY LAKE

THE BAKER-BERRY LIBRARY AT DARTMOUTH COLLEGE. (PHOTO BY EDUCATION IMAGES—UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP/GETTY IMAGES)

Graduates of Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business earn some of the highest base salaries of the top MBA programs in the U.S. In 2020, the average Tuck MBA candidate earned nearly $200,000 within three months of graduation—thanks to a median base salary of $150,000 plus a $30,000 signing bonus. 

Tuck base salaries have risen by almost 43% during the past decade. In 2010, the average Tuck graduate earned a $105,000 base salary plus a $25,000 signing bonus. Despite challenges brought on by the pandemic, 94% of 2020 Tuck graduates seeking a job found one within three months. 

“When I speak to our recruiting partners and companies, there is a common thread in every conversation: Today’s top organizations and firms are looking for collaborative, team-oriented, decisive leaders,” Stephen Pidgeon, the executive director of Tuck’s career services, wrote in the school’s 2020 employment report. “They are looking for the kinds of leaders that Tuck best develops.”

He adds that the rise in compensation was “driven in part” by the large share of students who pursue careers in consulting and finance. Of Tuck’s most recent graduating class, 42% went into consulting, while 21% went into finance. 

Why do so many Tuck grads go into consulting?

Pidgeon deserves credit for Tuck’s success in placing MBA students at top firms, says Namaan Mian, a director with Management Consulted, which provides preparation materials and consulting industry insights. Pidgeon, a former McKinsey & Co. consultant, has written several books on case interviewing (a pillar of most consulting job interviews) and breaking into the consulting field. 

“While his approach is a little different than ours, there’s no denying it has been successful for Tuck students,” Mian says. “Other schools have great casing cultures as well, so the biggest differentiator is definitely the in-house expertise of Tuck Career Services.”

Tuck graduates who lock down a consulting job after graduation earn $165,000, on average, which is a standard base salary at McKinsey, Bain & Co., and Boston Consulting Group (BCG), according to Mian. These three firms are the top consulting recruiters at Tuck, he adds.

The school also has the Tuck Consulting Club for students interested in careers in management, strategy health care, and organization consulting. The club hosts events that allow Tuck students to make connections with firms and offers resources to help prepare for consulting interviews. 

Pablo Segovia Smith, a 2015 Tuck graduate, wrote on a Dartmouth blog that the club was the “vehicle” that put him in touch with classmates to practice his interviews and “secure offers in two major firms.” 

“It helps that the program is smaller than competitors’, allowing students to get more one-on-one support,” Mian adds. Tuck’s MBA program typically has about 300 students, while other top programs like Harvard Business School and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvaniahave about 900 students per class.

Finance jobs have higher salaries, too

More than one-fifth of Tuck’s 2020 graduating class took jobs in the financial services industry and reported earning $200,000 right after school. Students who went into financial services reported a median base salary of $150,000 and a $50,000 signing bonus. The school hasn’t released compensation data for 2021 graduates yet.

By comparison, the average finance salary for a candidate coming directly from a bachelor’s degree program is $71,186, according to PayScale. The average salary for these positions jumps to more than $100,000 with an MBA—but Tuck grads are making double that. 

Franco Coria, a member of Tuck’s 2021 graduating class, calls the school the best place to recruit for investment banking, thanks to its “tight-knit community,” its alumni network, and its career services.

“You will not find a bigger resources-to-students ratio anywhere else,” he wrote in a Tuck 360 blog post. “This applies to any industry you want to recruit for.”

See how the schools you’re considering landed in Fortune’s rankings of the best executive, full-time, and online MBA programs.

Graduates of Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business earn some of the highest base salaries of the top MBA programs in the U.S. In 2020, the average Tuck MBA candidate earned nearly $200,000 within three months of graduation—thanks to a median base salary of $150,000 plus a $30,000 signing bonus. 

Tuck base salaries have risen by almost 43% during the past decade. In 2010, the average Tuck graduate earned a $105,000 base salary plus a $25,000 signing bonus. Despite challenges brought on by the pandemic, 94% of 2020 Tuck graduates seeking a job found one within three months. 

“When I speak to our recruiting partners and companies, there is a common thread in every conversation: Today’s top organizations and firms are looking for collaborative, team-oriented, decisive leaders,” Stephen Pidgeon, the executive director of Tuck’s career services, wrote in the school’s 2020 employment report. “They are looking for the kinds of leaders that Tuck best develops.”

He adds that the rise in compensation was “driven in part” by the large share of students who pursue careers in consulting and finance. Of Tuck’s most recent graduating class, 42% went into consulting, while 21% went into finance. 

Why do so many Tuck grads go into consulting?

Pidgeon deserves credit for Tuck’s success in placing MBA students at top firms, says Namaan Mian, a director with Management Consulted, which provides preparation materials and consulting industry insights. Pidgeon, a former McKinsey & Co. consultant, has written several books on case interviewing (a pillar of most consulting job interviews) and breaking into the consulting field. 

“While his approach is a little different than ours, there’s no denying it has been successful for Tuck students,” Mian says. “Other schools have great casing cultures as well, so the biggest differentiator is definitely the in-house expertise of Tuck Career Services.”

Tuck graduates who lock down a consulting job after graduation earn $165,000, on average, which is a standard base salary at McKinsey, Bain & Co., and Boston Consulting Group (BCG), according to Mian. These three firms are the top consulting recruiters at Tuck, he adds.

The school also has the Tuck Consulting Club for students interested in careers in management, strategy health care, and organization consulting. The club hosts events that allow Tuck students to make connections with firms and offers resources to help prepare for consulting interviews. 

Pablo Segovia Smith, a 2015 Tuck graduate, wrote on a Dartmouth blog that the club was the “vehicle” that put him in touch with classmates to practice his interviews and “secure offers in two major firms.” 

“It helps that the program is smaller than competitors’, allowing students to get more one-on-one support,” Mian adds. Tuck’s MBA program typically has about 300 students, while other top programs like Harvard Business School and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvaniahave about 900 students per class.

Finance jobs have higher salaries, too

More than one-fifth of Tuck’s 2020 graduating class took jobs in the financial services industry and reported earning $200,000 right after school. Students who went into financial services reported a median base salary of $150,000 and a $50,000 signing bonus. The school hasn’t released compensation data for 2021 graduates yet.

By comparison, the average finance salary for a candidate coming directly from a bachelor’s degree program is $71,186, according to PayScale. The average salary for these positions jumps to more than $100,000 with an MBA—but Tuck grads are making double that. 

Franco Coria, a member of Tuck’s 2021 graduating class, calls the school the best place to recruit for investment banking, thanks to its “tight-knit community,” its alumni network, and its career services.

“You will not find a bigger resources-to-students ratio anywhere else,” he wrote in a Tuck 360 blog post. “This applies to any industry you want to recruit for.”

See how the schools you’re considering landed in Fortune’s rankings of the best executive, full-time, and online MBA programs.

By Robyn Schelenz, UC Newsroom

UC Berkeley becomes the first-ever public university to top the Forbes ranking, with three other UC campuses in the top 20.

UC Berkeley ranks as the best school in the country in Forbes’ annual list of America’s Top Colleges, the first time a public university has topped the ranking since its inception in 2008. Hailing the campus as a “true engine of the American dream,” the ranking placed five other UCs in its top 50 of all universities across the country, with UCLA at No. 8, UC San Diego at No. 15, UC Davis at No. 20, UC Santa Barbara at No. 39 and UC Irvine at No. 47.

UC Berkeley beat out Yale, Princeton, Stanford and Columbia, which round out the top 5, with previous list leader Harvard at No. 8.

“Congratulations to our chancellors, students, faculty, staff and all who have made this possible,” said University of California President Michael V. Drake, M.D.

“Since our founding, University of California campuses have provided a world-class education to students of all backgrounds. From our generous financial aid programs to our hands-on research to our focus on student mentorship and growth, UC opens doors of opportunity and ensures that all of our students have the tools they need to thrive. I am thrilled to see our commitment to excellence, access and social mobility recognized in this year’s Forbes America’s Top Colleges rankings.”

The Top Colleges methodology includes measures pertaining to graduate success as well as academic excellence in its evaluation of 600 four-year schools drawn from nearly 2,700 higher education institutions in the United States. Alumni salary makes up 20 percent of the ranking; debt, return on investment, graduation rates and alumni/student leadership are weighted at 15 percent each; while retention rates and academic success, measured by receipt of prestigious fellowships and Ph.D.s, are both weighted at 10 percent.

“The times demand a ranking that accounts for inclusivity, not exclusivity, and rewarding colleges and universities that are engines of the American Dream for the many and not a privileged few,” said Christian Kreznar, assistant editor at Forbes who led Top Colleges this year. The magazine paused its college rankings last year on account of the pandemic and refreshed their methodology for this edition to meet a new goal of capturing the return students experience on one of the most significant investments in their lives.

As in the past, the rankings include private and public universities together. Among public schools exclusively, UC takes the top four spots (UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Davis, respectively) with UC Santa Barbara (No. 13), UC Irvine (No. 16), UC Santa Cruz (No. 41) and UC Riverside (No. 42) also among the top 50.

“It isn’t enough to ask which schools give the best return on investment,” Kreznar writes in an article on the development of their methodology. “It’s also important to evaluate what kind of students they educate and whether they make themselves accessible to those who can’t afford high sticker prices. Even if, like Harvard, they promise to pay full freight for the low-income applicants they accept, do they take enough disadvantaged students to make that promise meaningful?

“UC Berkeley does a much better job at this than does Harvard. At Berkeley, 27 percent of undergraduates receive federal Pell Grants, aimed at helping low- and moderate-income students pay for college. At Harvard, by contrast, the share of Pell students is just 12 percent.”

Across UC, 35 percent of undergrads receive federal Pell Grants. UC’s low-income students also receive state-funded Cal Grants and financial aid from UC itself — a generous package that covers all tuition and fees for 56 percent of UC undergraduates.

The Forbes ranking is only the latest in a series of honors for the UC system and its efforts to provide a world-class education to all Californians. UC campuses placed among the best schools in the country in Washington Monthly’s recently released rankings for contributions to the public good. UC also rated highly for social mobility in the 2021 edition of U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges rankings, in addition to its strong performances in the public university category. The New York Times has described UC as an “upward-mobility machine.”

Dorene Scala teaches third grade during summer school at Hooper Avenue School in South L.A. The school system is looking for hundreds of teachers and thousands of new employees with the Aug. 16 opening of the school year approaching.(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

BY HOWARD BLUME 

Days before the academic year starts, a well-funded hiring spree for Los Angeles schools is falling short of its goal to provide unprecedented and critical mental health and academic support as a shortage of teachers and other professionals collides with pandemic recovery goals.

The staffing ambitions of the nation’s second-largest school district have been sweeping — targeting hires to meet academic needs, mental and physical wellness and campus sanitation. And in all areas, staffing appears to be strengthened compared to pre-pandemic levels. But it’s also not what officials had hoped for — and leaders worry that important needs will not be met effectively.

Shortfalls are particularly pronounced in positions serving students most in need of academic and mental health recovery. Many teachers and counselors promised to elevate achievement and well-being of Black students haven’t been hired. Hundreds of special education and math teacher posts — the hardest to fill in normal times — are vacant. School nurses and mental health specialists are seemingly impossible to find. Half of the openings remain for school facilities and cleaning staff.

In all, the district had hoped to hire the equivalent of 4,389 full-time positions that require a professional credential for teaching or a related field. This would include librarians, principals, other administrators and counselors. Of these open slots, 2,000 — less than half — had been filled as of July 29, the most recent date for which figures are available.

Several school board members and leaders of local advocacy groups found the number of vacancies worrisome.

“There has never been a more compelling need for support services and qualified teachers for our most vulnerable students,” said Katie Braude of Speak Up. “LAUSD must find a way to meet the immediate needs of students returning from a year and a half of limited instruction.”

“The staffing shortage should NOT be another disproportionate inequitable impact on our most vulnerable students,” said Ana Ponce, executive director of Great Public Schools Now, in an email.

Board member George McKenna wanted to see disaggregated numbers geographically pinpointing the vacancies — data that were not presented to the school board at its Tuesday meeting. In his prior service as a district administrator, he became familiar and frustrated with the high vacancy and turnover rate at schools that served large numbers of low-income and minority students.

A scramble is on to fill vital positions by the Aug. 16 start of school, but if schools were to open immediately, 479 classrooms would be staffed with substitute teachers. While the district is hiring continually, the classroom vacancy number has dropped by only seven teachers in the last 12 days. One problem is that some teachers are leaving the classroom to fill other vacancies, such as for reading specialists, administrative positions and other out-of-classroom jobs, leaving their principals with last-minute openings to backfill.

Administrators described hiring efforts that include using job boards, social media, virtual job fairs, workforce centers, referrals, radio and print advertising and outreach through parent groups and labor unions.

“During these unprecedented times, we are hiring everywhere,” Chief Human Resources Officer Ileana M. Dávalos said.

Los Angeles Unified is not alone in facing a hiring crunch. Even before the pandemic, teacher retirements were outpacing new teachers.

“About half the people coming in are coming in on substandard credentials, which means we don’t have qualified replacements,” said Linda Darling-Hammond, president of the state Board of Education.

The last year saw a further uptick of teacher retirements, about 8% higher than the previous year, according to new data from the California State Teachers’ Retirement System. In L.A. Unified about 700 teachers retired, not far off from normal, according to Dávalos.

The picture is equally challenging in areas outside of teaching.

The district budget included 190 new licensed vocational nurses — as the district aims for a nurse at every campus. The number of vacancies as of Aug. 2 was 190.

Officials also had authorized the hiring of an additional 770 buildings and grounds workers and school facilities attendants — who will play a crucial role in keeping campuses sanitized as they reopen for full-time, fully packed classes for the first time since March, 2020. About half of these positions are filled.

“We knew that this was a huge and massive undertaking when we authorized these positions,” school board President Kelly Gonez said.

Particularly painful for Gonez was a lack of progress in special hiring that was supposed to benefit Black students and others with special needs. Programs for Black students were to have hired 92 counselors; so far, they’ve hired zero. Districtwide, there were supposed to have been 897 new pupil services and attendance counselors; so far 18% have been hired. Fifty mental health specialists were to have been brought on board; none have been hired yet, according to district information.The reasons are many.

Legal logistics are a problem in the case of 226 math instructional aides. The position, which does not require a teaching credential, is a new one, said Personnel Director Karla Gould. Because of that, the Personnel Commission had to write a job description and create a pay scale, which happened relatively quickly, but wasn’t completed until principals were on vacation. They returned July 30 with a new, unfamiliar position to fill. So far, none of the 226 have been hired, according to district documents.

Nurses, on the other hand, have been in short supply for years. The district would like to develop its own licensing program, but that’s in the future.

The district is prioritizing filling classroom vacancies, Dávalos said.

The teacher hiring process can be lengthy. Candidates face background checks and are scrutinized for skills and training. They interview with central office staff and principals and hiring committees.

“We will never jeopardize our hiring standards,” Dávalos said. “We are not cutting any corners.”

For once the problem has not been money. L.A. Unified is flush with more than $5billion in COVID relief aid, most of which is available for the academic and mental health needs of 465,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Whether the new staffing can be sustained over time is a separate and still-to-be-settled question.

In the meantime, the new school year presents one challenge after another, several of which were brought up by board members.

Jackie Goldberg said the district needed to make families better aware of where they could get COVID vaccines right now.

Tanya Ortiz Franklin raised concerns about a cutoff for some of the hiring. At a certain point, she said, stability might make more sense than simply shifting people around into new jobs or bringing on as many people as possible.

Her concern was echoed by Elmer Roldan, executive director of Communities In Schools of Los Angeles, a nonprofit that provides support to low-income families.

“It is imperative that LAUSD fill these vacancies within the first two weeks of schools reopening, or families may start losing faith in the district’s ability to keep children safe and effectively learning this coming school year,” Roldan said.

Board member Nick Melvoin said he’d heard reports that parents who wanted their children to remain online could not get through to the independent study program, called City of Angels. He suggested more staffing is needed there in the short term to field inquiries.

So far, 12,586 Los Angeles students have opted for online-based independent study. That program should be fully staffed by Friday — a task made easier by the number of teachers who need to — or prefer to — remain online for health reasons.

written by Julie Murphy

Brooches have made a comeback, and they’re showing up in all kinds of places that you might not expect to see them.  But how do you wear one of the chic on-trend luxury brooches without channeling a “grandma” or “Queen Elizabeth” vibe? (Unless that’s what you’re after, of course).  Our correspondent Julie Chang Murphy has the rundown on the most creative ways to style and wear a brooch right now.

brooches are back 

We know what you’re thinking: I am too young – or too cool, or too iconoclastic – to wear a brooch.

Dear reader, you couldn’t be more wrong.

It’s true that traditionally, brooches have a reputation for being formal and a bit fussy – sort of like the annual Christmas dinner at the home of the family matriarch back in the day.

Brooches have long been the perennial favorite of boss women in big corporate and government jobs, European royalty, and celebrities on the red carpet. Yep, we’re looking at you, Madeline Albright. A vintage-looking brooch would frequently appear at a wedding, and then never again be seen on the person of the bride.

But luckily for those of us who tend to be a little extra in our sartorial choices, they’re back! 

Louis Vuitton, Schiaparelli Couture, Erdem and Versace. Courtesy Photo.

That’s right. The bedazzled brooch has made a comeback on high fashion runways, including LV and Versace.

Traditionally, there were unspoken rules about how to properly wear a luxury brooch. For example, brooches were to be worn one a time. And pinned on the left to avoid getting in the way of handshakes and pecks on the cheek.

But nowadays, those rules are out the window. To keep it fresh, fashionable, fun and even a bit quirky and irreverent, just follow the lead of the creative placements you can see all over fashion editorials and the street style syndicate right now:

1. in clusters on a jacket 

2. off-the-cuff

3. on a hat

4. on pockets

5. centered on a collared shirt

6. and of course, on a scarf

They’re not just for women, either. Men can easily rock the look on their collars, lapel and tie. 

An added benefit? As we reevaluate our wardrobes in an effort to be more sustainable (not to mention, financially responsible), a brooch is a versatile way to adorn what’s already in the closet and give it an updated and elevated look.

Ahead, check out some our favorite brooches to start or add to your collection. 

the best brooches to buy right now

1. animal motifs

These wildlife inspired brooches add a touch of whimsy to your ensemble. Erdem’s gold-tone monkey brooch ($490) is embellished with faux crystals and pearl embellishments for a look that’s playful and pretty. For an exotic and worldly look, check out Iradj Moini’s exotic beetle brooch ($975) featuring crystals, citrine, turquoise and serpentine ornaments and Tiffany & Co.’s salamander brooch ($11,495) featuring emeralds, and diamonds.

On the bottom row, we love these adorable critters: an 18K white gold frog brooch ($445) featuring round brilliant diamonds, cultured pearl and sapphires, Begüm Khan’s crab ($550) decorated with white pavé-set opal crystals, and Van Cleef & Arpels butterfly brooch ($8,550) with carved mother of pearl wings and round brilliant diamonds.

2. logo mania 

An easy way to upgrade a plain white tee or blazer and make it designer? How about a brooch featuring your favorite luxury label? This Fendi plaque ($550) is the perfect shape to pin across a flap pocket. Saint Laurent’s textured YSL logo ($495) brooch design isn’t too in-your-face but still shows your fashion insider cred. Louis Vuitton x Supreme’s set of pins ($875) adds some street style to any item in your wardobe.

These classic and iconic pieces will never go out of style. Consider a vintage Chanel brooch ($545), an Hermès enamel brooch ($325), or Gucci’s glittering double G brooch ($515).

3. flowers and bows 

Embrace the femininity and elegance inherent in wearing a brooch with these florals and bows. We love the romantic look of Lanvin’s silk and crystal flower ($675) and the sweetness of this 18K yellow and white gold strawberry brooch ($2,250) featuring round brilliant center diamonds. Marni’s sculptural cotton rose ($250) pin adds a sophisticated and artistic touch.

How to style an on-trend new brooch.

We are all about Gucci’s House Web stripe bow ($450) with crystal beads. Center on the collar of a blouse for style and fierceness. Whether it’s a floppy bow with diamonds ($1,995) or a picture-perfect bow with faux pearls ($1,047), these brooches give a scarf or top instant luxury.

4. pearly pins 

Pearls are back in vogue and on brooches, it’s a perfect pairing. To keep it from looking too prim and proper, we like it styled in clusters with other pins or patches, and in unexpected places like on a cuff or jean pocket.

On the top row are three radiant and circular designs that are pure eye candy: Patou’s faux pearl circle-cross design ($262), an 18K yellow gold brooch ($4,950) featuring pear shaped emerald center with diamond and pearl halo accents, and a diamond and pearl embellished flower brooch ($1,375).

How to style an on-trend brooch.

These intriguing and creative silhouettes also showcase the organic beauty of the gorgeous pearl. Consider this regal tiara-like pin with turquoise stones ($345), a starburst of pearl and diamonds ($1,525), a nest of baroque pearls and diamonds ($2,350) and a graceful gray pearl feather ($845).

5. stone age

These brooches featuring stone and enamel elements have a a fine art museum quality about them. On the top left, this multistone brooch ($1,795) is made from free-form carved quartz and onyx and embellished with diamonds and emeralds. The next two brooches- one with a silver intaglio center ($1,695) with tourmalines and baroque pearl and Yves Saint Laurent’s  ($145) featuring resin and glass, remind us of jewelry on the fine ladies in Renaissance portraits.

How to wear and style an on-trend brooch. Courtesy Photo.

We love the funky and rhythmic composition of Marni’s wood, horn, resin and brass brooch ($145). David Webb’s glitzy Art-Deco piece ($8,595) has androgynous appeal. And this tiger eye brooch ($1,025) with a smattering of flowers is a timeless and neutral piece that works with almost anything.

how to wear a brooch

There you have it! So many ways to style an on-trend luxury brooch right now. What do you say? Are you ready to pin one on?

The shift by the second-largest U.S. district comes weeks before in-person classes are scheduled to resume.

By Lauren McCarthy

The Los Angeles Unified School District announced on Thursday that it would require all students and employees returning for in-person instruction to participate in weekly coronavirus testing.

The decision is a shift in policy for the school district, which is the second largest in the United States. The largest, in New York City, recently announced that all teachers and schools staff must be vaccinated before classes resume on Sept. 13 or be subjected to weekly testing.

Previously, the Los Angeles school district only required testing for students and staff members who were unvaccinated. Officials said that the new requirement was in accordance with the most recent guidance from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. It comes as the average number of cases in Los Angeles County has grown 119 percent from two weeks ago, according to a New York Times database.

The spread of the more contagious Delta variant has left many parents worried about what will happen when students return to class in the fall. “We believe Los Angeles Unified has the highest Covid safety standards of any public school district in the nation,” the interim superintendent, Megan K. Reilly, wrote in an email to the parents.

She urged that every eligible individual be vaccinated, calling it “the greatest protection against Covid and the Delta variant.”

Testing at Los Angeles schools will begin Aug. 2 in preparation for a return to full in-person learning on Aug. 16.

“The evidence is mounting that vaccinated individuals can be part of transmission chains,” said Dr. Anne W. Rimoin, a professor of epidemiology at the Fielding School of Public Health at the University of California, Los Angeles. “Any testing regimen that does not include vaccinated individuals is going to be incomplete and leave people at risk.”