Go big, they’ll say. Go to the city. New York City, Los Angeles, London, Paris. That’s where the action is. There’s always something new and something to do. It’s people and possibilities — every company, industry, culture, and perspective imaginable. Here, you can be at the center — and the rest of the world comes to you. That means who you are and what you do matter.
Variety and opportunity — those are the selling points of city living. Amid the masses, you can shed the past and be who you are. That’s not so easy in a smaller venue. You can’t just blend in there; you’re expected to play a part. In college towns like Bloomington, Charlottesville, and Hanover, you slow down. Life is more deliberate and reflective. You rarely see their landmarks on television — and not everything is at your fingertips.
That can be a hard sell for some — and paradise for many more.
ALWAYS SOMETHING TO DO IN ITHACA
Take Ithaca in upstate New York. The heart of the Finger Lakes Region, Ithaca is home to Cornell University — and 150 waterfalls. You can dine on Maxie’s world-famous jambalaya and oysters or take in an off-Broadway production of Naomi Wallace at the Hangar Theatre. That doesn’t count hiking along the rapids and gorges that garnish Buttermilk Falls State Park. No, you won’t find skyscrapers towering over Cayuga Lake. That doesn’t mean it is a remote spot that doesn’t draw employers, opportunities, and talent to the Johnson Graduate School of Management.
“Ithaca is located in upstate New York, four hours away from New York City, admits Heidi Xu, a 2021 MBA grad who joined the Amazon team. “However, the school has fantastic resources for students. For example, with the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island, where our students can go to take an Intensive in Digital Marketing or Fintech Intensive, which includes working on projects for clients from well-known companies. Moreover, Cornell alumni are extremely connected to the school. Perhaps it’s the upstate New York winters that make their Cornell experience unforgettable; they are very committed to paying it forward. Our Cornell alumni are always just an email or phone call away.”
Stefy Smith spent three years in Ithaca, earning a dual MBA and Master’s in Public Administration. Now a program manager at Apple, the 2021 grad describes Ithaca as a place where there’s always plenty to do. “The Annual Chili Cook-Off and the Apple Harvest Festival are two of my favorite events, but I’ve gone to several music concerts, dance recitals, poetry readings, and other fun activities.”
“TRUST THE PROCESS”
Small towns don’t attract top employers or provide fun diversions can be considered one myth encountered by MBAs during the recruiting process. Ask most MBAs from Darden, Fuqua, or Mendoza and you’ll hear the same line: there is never enough time and always something happening. That’s not to say the usual MBA myths don’t contain a kernel of truth. Northwestern Kellogg, for example, has earned its reputation as a “marketing school.” That moniker overshadows the program being world-class elite in areas like marketing and entrepreneurship too. In fact, school myths — even if true — sometimes obscures the benefits of their philosophical approach. That is case with the IESE Business School, whose reputation for academic rigor might scare off dilettantes. For Marc-Olivier Granger, a 2021 grad, IESE’s demands were necessary to elevate him into a management consulting role at BCG.
“Talking with friends from other business schools, I saw a clear difference on how the programs are built,” he tells P&Q. “The first year of the MBA at IESE is very challenging with essentially 3 cases per day, 5 days a week. It adds up to about 4,000 pages of reading. Add on top of the academics the time spent on recruiting and extracurricular activities and you get very busy very fast. However, after having been through that first year and reflecting back, I can definitely say that all that effort pays off. Coming from a non-business background, my learning curve was steep and the academic rigor of IESE allowed me to become a full 360-degree manager now. When we started the MBA, we were told by faculty and students, to “trust the process” and I’m glad I did.
What are the biggest myths surrounding MBA programs like Stanford, Chicago Booth, MIT Sloan, and others? As part of P&Q’s Best & Brightest MBA nomination process, we asked top MBAs to share the biggest myths about their schools — and the amount of truth they contain. From Berkeley being a “hippie” school to New York schools lacking community, here are what MBAs think about the biggest myths surrounding their schools.
Myth: Columbia Business School was very sharp-elbowed.
Reality: This couldn’t be farther from the truth. We, as peers, are competitive, ambitious, and driven, absolutely. But CBS students are those things while genuinely wanting those around them to succeed as well. My classmates are incredibly supportive, push each other to bring our best selves to the experience, and will always do what they can to lift each other up and help each other out—whether it’s with an accounting problem set, interview prep, casing, or finding your voice.
Olivia Mell, Columbia Business School
Myth: Ross is situated in a very small town that can get very boring in the winters.
Reality: Although Ann Arbor is a small little city, it is one of the coziest places to live in. It has something for every kind of person. From river walking to rock climbing, from a quick 45-minute drive to Detroit to a four-hour road trip to some of the most amazing skiing resorts, Ann Arbor has access to a wide and exciting range of outdoor life. At the heart of it all, Michigan Ross provides ample opportunities for students to engage and thrive in this all-rounded experience through its clubs and social events. Contrary to popular belief, the winters open up a range of new activities that we Wolverines look forward to every year.
Neha Tadichetty, University of Michigan (Ross)
Myth: Wisconsin is just a party school. There is nothing else for me to do as an MBA in Madison.
Reality: The Wisconsin MBA student experience is full of unique life experiences. To be sure, as a program, we embrace Badger Spirit on game day. Aside from that and in addition to academic life, being a Wisconsin MBA means summer evenings sitting next to Lake Mendota at the Terrace, playing sand volleyball at parks in Madison, browsing the Madison Farmer’s Market, engaging in the Polar Plunge, listening to classical music concerts on Capital Square, and taking trips abroad. I hope the diversity of experiences in our program shows through in these essay responses.
Michael Turco, University of Wisconsin
Myth: Darden is a consulting school or general management school.
Reality: While Darden excels at building those skill sets, at its core, Darden prepares you to become a strategic thinker and an ethical leader. These traits transcend any particular career path, and it’s no surprise that Darden has a stellar track record placing student in technology, finance, marketing, and entrepreneurial careers. While there are many skills you can “learn on the job”, you will leave Darden confident in your ability to attack any problem and to do so in an ethical manner.
Harsha Gummagatta, University of Virginia (Darden)
Myth: Students here don’t have the same opportunities at Arizona State as those from a top ten program.
Reality: In my experience, that wasn’t the case. I was able to earn my way to the final rounds and receive offers from top companies where the other candidates were all from top ten programs. The same was true for Adobe, where I was offered the ability to extend my internship, lead analytics for my team, and receive a full-time offer.
Daniel Valdez, Arizona State (W. P. Carey)
Myth: There are a lot of British people in the class.
Reality: Despite the school being in London, the British contingent is actually really small. In a way, this added to the quality of my experience because it meant that I met more of a diverse range of people outside of my normal circles.
Adekolapo Agbede, London Business School
Myth: There is nothing to do here because we literally go to school in the cornfields surrounding Bloomington.
Reality: This fortunately cannot be further from the truth. The wide variety of international food options, abundance of tailgating and variety of outdoor activities make Bloomington the perfect place for two years. I am SO thankful I went to school in a college town because of the close bonds I have made with my classmates. When I talk to friends at other MBA programs, they always talk about how disconnected they feel because there are too many people in their program. Some of my other friends go to school in big cities and because they are all spread out, they end up never really feeling at home in their programs. Coupled together, Kelley and Bloomington foster an environment for MBA students to not only achieve professional success but form lifelong relationships.
Justin M. Speller, Indiana University (Kelley)
Myth: UCLA MBAs are too laid back.
Reality: People may think of UCLA Anderson as a place that is not driven by professional ambitions. They may think of us as a bunch of surfers, volleyballers, and hikers. In fact, we punch well above our weight in consulting, investment banking, big tech, venture capital, and other MBA careers – we just happen to crush our professional ambitions while also surfing, v-balling, and hiking.
Parth Chauhan, UCLA (Anderson)
Myth: Vanderbilt Owen’s “Personal Scale” is a disadvantage.
Reality: In the application process, I kept hearing about “personal scale” and how the experience at Owen had a much more unique and personal touch when compared to other programs. As I finish my second year, I can confirm this “personal scale” myth to be a reality. During my application process, students and staff were more than willing to make time for me and to make sure my questions were answered. Later as a student, I was blown away by second-year student engagement. Older students from my healthcare concentration pulled me aside to make sure I understood the timeline for recruiting within the healthcare industry, and they initiated reviews of my resume and cover letters. The Owen community is truly interested in the success of every student, and the program has more than lived up to the “personal scale” myth.
Kenneth Barnes, Vanderbilt University (Owen)
Myth: National University of Singapore is all academics.
Reality: Whenever I talked to prospective students, they would often express concerns about the academics. While the rigorous curriculum forms an integral part of The NUS MBA programme, equal emphasis is also given to experiential learning and holistic development. Students are given countless opportunities to enhance their leadership skills (via the NUS MBA Students’ Council), gain industry exposure (via the MBA Consulting Project, networking sessions), and immerse themselves in the global business environment (via study trips and exchange programmes). Academics is just 50% of the MBA experience.
Maria Katrina Volante, National University of Singapore
Next Page: Stanford GSB, Chicago Booth, MIT Sloan, and more…
Class of 2020 MBAs from Stanford Graduate School of Business. Stanford photo
Myth: Stanford specializes in “soft skills” and entrepreneurship,
Reality: I was surprised to see how rigorously the school also delivered training on technical topics. For example, in the advanced version of the required Data and Decision-Making course, I learned how to design, run, and interpret several approaches to machine learning. And when you consider the plethora of engineering courses “across the street,” the Stanford MBA experience can be about as technical as you’d like!
Austin Ward, Stanford GSB
Myth: IMD is all academics.
Reality: The biggest myth about IMD is that it is a very academically inclined institute. Here, people say, classes, infinite readings and assignments take up most of your time leaving little time for interacting with colleagues, networking with alumni, and taking trips to enjoy the scenic views of Switzerland.
What I discovered was quite different.
While academics obviously are front-and-center in the MBA course, there are projects that not only give you a chance to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds, but also allow for interaction with people outside the MBA program, much like a real-life situation. We collaborated with students from UNIL for our Innovation Lab, PhDs from EPFL for the start-up project, and a med-tech startup from Denmark for the international consulting project. The MBA program is fairly front-loaded, so there is time during the latter part of the year to indulge in a few trips — both for business and pleasure before the job search starts in all earnest. All in all, the program is well balanced to spend time honing important business skills, both inside and outside the classroom.
Ruchi Senthil, IMD Business School
Myth: Finance is an afterthought at Yale SOM.
Reality: SOM has always been known for its strength in the nonprofit sector. Despite this, Consulting and Finance have risen to become the top two industries where SOM MBAs enter after business school. Being someone that wanted to do Investment Banking while picking the schools to apply to, I almost did not consider SOM! However, after I did, I came to find out the hidden jewel that the Finance Club is at getting 80%+ students into Investment Banking out of a 40-person IB class every year.
Adhi Murali, Yale SOM
Myth: Smeal is too small, with each class limited to 60 people.
Reality: Honestly, having a smaller class size has created more significant connections than a class of a few hundred. Everyone knows each other and what they are looking to get out of the MBA, and with that, it is like having 60 career advisors. My fellow classmates have flagged job posts that they knew I would be interested in and even spoke on my behalf to potential employers and networking contacts. This deeper level of connection also makes it easier to talk with notable alumni of the program because they are accustomed to helping their fellow Smeal MBAs. I think the quality dramatically makes up for the lack of quantity.
Andrew J. Marshall, Penn State (Smeal)
Myth: NYU Stern lacks community because we are located in New York.
Reality: I hear this from prospective students that I speak with and it’s something I also believed prior to starting. That’s definitely far from the truth. As someone who was based in NYC before my MBA, I was shocked by how naturally I immersed myself in the Stern community. You immediately find a sense of community with those whom you recruit with and with your Block (cohort of students that you take two core classes with). Additionally, the professional, affinity, and social clubs are all very active and host a variety of really fun events that bring the community together.
Melanie Gonzalez, New York University (Stern)
Myth: Being a Catholic university means that there is a lot of religious influence in the classroom and culture,
Reality: I haven’t found that to be the case at all. Instead, as Dean Cremers often says, there is an underlying focus on “Small C” catholic social teachings, universal principles such as community focus, and creating a sense of purpose. Mendoza certainly pushes students to consider implications of business decisions not just on the bottom line but on a broader scale of people and planet. This is something I’ve really appreciated and enjoyed.
Nicole Brunning, Notre Dame (Mendoza)
Myth: Boothies have a reputation for being highly quantitative, the nerds of the business school world.
Reality: Based on my experience, there is an element of truth in this: Boothies excel at nerdy jokes and R willing to simply stata when they need more data. (I’m sorry, I just had to.) However, Boothies aren’t all about the numbers; one of the most popular classes is Interpersonal Dynamics, where we uncover more about ourselves, our feelings, and our relationships with others. Boothies also love to socialize, as any Thursday night around Chicago (pre-COVID) would prove.
Theodore Lim, University of Chicago (Booth)
Myth: North Carolina and Duke Hate Each Other
Reality: A big myth is that our basketball-fueled rivalry with Duke discourages cooperation between our two programs. While the famous Duke-UNC rivalry does ignite a healthy amount of competition (and accompanying bragging rights), it does not preclude the two institutions from collaborating and partnering on important causes and academic endeavors.
The Center for the Business of Health is a great example of this partnership. It has brought together renowned experts, staff, and students from UNC and Duke to collaborate, discuss and promote solutions to healthcare’s numerous challenges, such as health inequities and women in leadership. When friends and family ask me about my sentiments for Duke, I always remember the famous words of my UNC Kenan-Flagler classmate, Dan Morgan: “We can be friends with Duke…except during basketball season.”
Aditi Paul, University of North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)
Myth: Nobody reads the cases in the second year.
Reality: I am not sure if we are a different class because of the pandemic. However, my perception is that people are more involved in classes and they actively participate and engage in discussions. I think the fact that we experienced online classes made us more aware of how lucky we are to be able to attend classes in person since summer 2020. Also, I found that classes in the second year are much more interesting. Because professors are teaching parts of their research, they tend to bring more speakers and more interesting case studies.
Tanya De Andres Duran, IESE Business School
Myth: There is nothing going on at Tuck as it’s in the middle of nowhere.
Reality: Yes, it can be easy to assume it is isolated given its distance to metropolitan cities. However, it shocks me every day there there is so much to do in the Upper Valley and at school. I’ve never been as busy as I am at Tuck, whether I’m participating in faculty chats, meeting with classmates, taking adventures in nearby national parks, trying out local restaurants and breweries, or enjoying any of the area’s other numerous activities to do.
Teo Gonzalez, Dartmouth College (Tuck)
Myth: Haas suffers from liberal “hippie” group think.
Reality: While there are some values that most Haasies share in common, I would argue that the Haas class is actually much more diverse in thought than some may assume from UC Berkeley’s reputation. In fact, it is not uncommon for Haasies to have heated debates in the classroom or even on Slack about the right way to handle different controversial national and local issues. That said, I have overall been impressed with the ability of my peers to disagree without personally attacking one another for these different beliefs.
Corrine Marquardt, UC Berkeley (Haas)
Myth: HEC Paris is located in Paris.
Reality: A common joke at HEC Paris is in the title itself; HEC Paris is not in Paris. It’s on the outskirts of the city, just south of Versailles.
Emric Navarre, HEC Paris
Myth: Everyone is super quantitative at MIT Sloan.
Reality: In my experience my classmates are equal parts poet and equal parts quant. The incredible thing about Sloan is that you can come here with no quantitative experience and the professors and classes are equipped to bring you up to speed if that is something you wish to spend time on. I came in with no real finance background and I’m headed into an investment banking career after school. I credit my generous professors and classmates who helped me learn.
Riana Shah, MIT (Sloan)
Myth: Scheller is all about technology and engineering.
Reality: People assume that fewer companies recruit for roles outside of tech and that MBA classrooms are packed full with engineers throwing crazy equations on the whiteboard. While I come from tech and my core team did have two engineers who would do that (and I love them for it), the MBA program is built by good people from diverse backgrounds (I’m an anthropology undergrad major). A wide variety of companies also recruit Scheller students for a breadth of functions—from the top four consulting firms to operations to supply chain. The school has a reputation across industries for quality of work and culture, and attending Scheller gives you a bounty of opportunities, not limitations.
Amanda Grupp, Georgia Tech (Scheller)
Next Page: INSEAD, Wharton School, Northwestern Kellogg, Chicago Booth, and More.
INSEAD’s full-time MBA students
Myth: INSEAD caters to consulting careers.
Reality: I think that some applicants carry a notion that INSEAD is a consulting-based business school. I believe that it just so happens that the major consulting firms love INSEADers and the candidates have a good success rate. However, the amount of learning, available resources, clubs, and the diversity of the backgrounds of my classmates show me that almost any path I wish is possible. The alumni network is MASSIVE and incredibly friendly as well.
I, myself, have been engaged with start-up workshops and events, as well as big tech happenings. Some of my classmates are geared towards real estate, luxury goods, social impact, healthcare, education technology, and many others — despite having a different prior background. The variety of opportunities at INSEAD is very diverse and I can only assume it would be the same after graduation.
Broderic Dytoc, INSEAD
Myth: Kellogg is a marketing school.
Reality: That was very quickly proven wrong to me. What I realized is that the marketing-focus Kellogg is known for is actually a huge strength, shaping our curriculum to be focused on understanding the customer and using that to make strong business decisions. That mindset helps in any function or industry, which is clearly proven as my peers successfully recruit across a multitude of industries, including consulting, tech, retail, PE/VC, and healthcare.
For example, my class had 18 students who accepted an internship at Google, one of the largest by numbers in my summer cohort. Entrepreneurship is also so strong, with a large percentage of my class being successfully recruited at both part-time and full-time at startups. I, myself, worked for 9+ months at a healthcare technology startup in Chicago part-time during my first year. The resources at Kellogg are fantastic across so many sectors. The classes teach you how to sell your ideas, how to code, and how to create inspiring team cultures. They even offer a three-part new venture series on how to develop and launch a venture. As a result, Kellogg provides robust programming to push us. For any aspiring business school students, I would highly recommend you do your research and speak to students before believing any myths.
Malvi Hemani, Northwestern University (Kellogg)
Myth: Darden is in the middle of nowhere.
Reality: Whether that’s true or false is all a matter of interpretation. Charlottesville is a small city (yes, it is a city!) in rural Central Virginia. We have access to some of the most amazing outdoor experiences, from boating on the James River to hiking and camping in Shenandoah National Park. The easy access to nature does make you feel protected from the hustle and bustle of more populated areas, in the most comforting and wonderful way. On the days where you want some culture or good food, Charlottesville has you covered too. Coming from Boston, I had high expectations for culinary options and am very pleasantly surprised to admit that the restaurant scene here rivals some of the best places in Boston. Charlottesville is home to a number of arts festivals, including my favorite, the Virginia Film Festival, ensuring a continually rotating selection of things to do and experience. And if Charlottesville ever feels too small, Richmond is a quick hour drive away or you can catch a 2.5 hour Amtrak to DC right from downtown Charlottesville.
Katie Cech, University of Virginia (Darden)
Myth: HEC Paris is a 100% French school.
Reality: It is located in France, yes, and it certainly has a French side to it. With the international diversity both in terms of its academic staff and student body, you’re learning much more than just French perspectives. The Associate Dean of the MBA Programs is from Italy, the MBA’s Communications Director is from the US, all but a few of our professors came from outside of France and 92% of our classmates are international. You are really gaining a global perspective throughout your time at HEC. I came to learn more about France but I also have a more profound understanding of different parts of the world.
Emric Navarre, HEC Paris
Myth: Wharton is a cut-throat finance school.
Reality: This simply couldn’t be farther from the truth. It’s true – the finance curriculum is top-notch, but other programs in tech, entrepreneurship, and marketing are equally exciting. The school has put in a ton of effort over the past few years building out pitch competitions and speaker series on leadership that often get overlooked.
Teddy Shih, Wharton School
Myth: Carlson is located in an area with limited career opportunities.
Reality: That couldn’t be further from the truth. The Minneapolis metropolitan area is home to more than 17 Fortune 500 companies spanning across all industries. Furthermore, nearly all of the headquarters located here are Minnesota companies that have grown into a Fortune 500 company.
Kevin Bubolz, University of Minnesota (Carlson)
Myth: Fuqua is the “nice” business school.
Reality: That seems to come with the connotation that we, as Fuquans, may be less competitive or less ambitious than MBA candidates at other schools. There’s no question that we prioritize kindness (often referred to in Fuqua parlance as “decency”). In every facet of my MBA – academic, career, social – I’ve only found proof that Fuquans dream big, are committed to making a difference for those around them and work hard to generate results.
I think about the consulting and banking recruits who have worked tirelessly to prepare each other for interviews they are vying for. I saw classmates celebrate each other’s successes, as if they were their own. I think about the bold founders coming out of our Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. I think about the brave student leaders who coordinate Daring Dialogues to educate their peers on topics that many find difficult, speaking on some of the most vulnerable experiences of their lives and backgrounds in front of hundreds so others might learn. I’ve witnessed a community committed to driving toward real change, but also a group of people who are happy to see others get the credit, as long as the change gets made.
Mike Treiser, Duke University (Fuqua)
Myth: People think of Booth as theoretical, data-driven and quantitative.
Reality: That is true. But what‘s underrated is Booth’s strength in soft skill education and real life application.
We have so many classes and resources that help students to become more self-aware and more skilled at dealing with people. I personally have taken three soft skill focused classes, and found them to be extremely helpful. I do plan to take more. Take as many as you can is popular advice we received from alums. One particular class I am really excited about is Interpersonal Dynamics. It offers a small and safe environment for students to share vulnerability and grow to be a more empathetic and effective communicator.
In terms of linking theories with real life, besides many lab courses that put students in the field to solve a real problem, our professors are industry practitioners and well-connected in their fields. They share first-hand insight on how theory got applied to real-life situations. They also bring in industry leaders who normally can only be seen on TV to talk with us about their life lessons and thought process. I had the opportunity to listen to Ben Bernanke, Marvin King, Byron Trott, Bethany Mclean, Christie Hefner, and many others. I found hearing their wisdom of life super valuable and learned how class materials can be applied to solve real problems with big consequences. I wouldn’t have access to these great leaders without Booth.
Xiangshi Guan, University of Chicago (Booth)
Myth: People think that my school only consists of those from a certain demographic: Caucasians from wealthy family backgrounds.
Reality: I can say that is not true. I am an SMU student and one who works with admissions as a Cox Ambassador as well as being the president of a minority organization. I have seen just how much progress SMU has made and continues to make as it works to bring students of diverse backgrounds and nationalities into SMU. I can also see the strides SMU has made in ensuring that not only is its environment a diverse one but that it is also an inclusive one. I can take my class as a pure example: I have classmates from all over the world including Asia, Africa, Europe, and North and South America. I can truly say that SMU is not only working towards diversity, but more importantly towards inclusivity and making this university a top-tier learning environment for everyone.
Stacy C. Tubonemi, Southern Methodist University (Cox)
Myth: IMD is unrelenting.
Reality: Before I joined IMD, every alumnus I met was talking about how intense the program is. Unfortunately, and luckily, it is. The first module at IMD was tough by design: new relationships, new dynamics, new tasks, new knowledge were poured on us. Not to mention, we were continually finding the balance between reading the endless cases and attending parties. Prioritization is the key to survival.
Yet, the toughness is tremendously valuable. We acquired a solid foundation of economics and corporate finance. We quickly developed a common language to discuss business strategy and valuation. We exposed our true selves to our teammates under pressure and started gathering data points on ourselves unconsciously. I feel grateful for the toughness and what I learned.
Haichen Liu, IMD
Myth: You’re “stuck” in the Midwest if you come to WashU Olin.
Reality: There is no shortage of opportunities for WashU Olin students. If a student remains in the Midwest, it’s because it’s their decision to do so, not because they are forced due to lack of opportunities. I’ll be moving to New York City upon graduating and have already connected with many alumni there. More classmates than not have accepted jobs on both coasts and in the South than the Midwest.
Kendra Kelly, Washington University (Olin)
Myth: Everyone comes to Foster so they can work in tech.
Reality: While we’re fortunate to have tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft in our backyard, Foster sends graduates to top organizations in a wide array of industries including consulting, CPG, investment banking, etc. The Foster experience prepares students to work at McKinsey just as much as Google.
Brian Wright, University of Washington (Foster)
Myth: UC Berkeley is not a military-friendly environment as an institution.
Reality: My experience at Haas has been overwhelmingly positive. During my first year, my classmates surprised student veterans with hand-written cards on Veterans Day, which I appreciated. The Haas Vets Club is also very active on campus and engages the broader community with outreach programs, including webinars and online physical training sessions.
Olaséni Bello, UC Berkeley (Haas)
Myth: The Smith MBA program is too small.
Reality: There is strength in the size of Smith’s MBA program. Being small fosters a community in which students support each other academically, professionally, and as individuals in a meaningful way. It allows students to build long-lasting relationships and creates a tight-knit alumni network. Our closeness ensures no one is left behind, and we can work to ensure every student has access to needed resources. In the midst of the transition to online learning, Smith’s size allowed the MBA Association and the administration to ensure every student had the opportunity to connect or to seek additional support. Our size allowed us to move with agility in the response to a completely unprecedented crisis and to provide real-time feedback to faculty and administration about learning in a virtual environment.
Virginia Pierrie, University of Maryland (Smith)
Myth: Mays’ Texas location means many MBA graduates will begin their careers with large oil companies.
Reality: While that is certainly an option for those who wish to pursue that industry, I was surprised to learn that the two largest hiring industries out of the program were technology and consulting, which aligned with industries I was interested in exploring. The program draws people from all across the country and the world, with a variety of backgrounds that are much more diverse than one industry associated with the school’s location.
Nicole Streifert, Texas A&M (Mays)
Myth: Tepper’s primary strength is its analytical focus.
Reality: While I did come to the school for its analytical focus, I have been delighted by all I’ve learned from the organizational behavior and business communications professors, as well as the Accelerate Leadership Center coaches. As an MBA, it is always beneficial to understand how to dig into the data, but strong communication and a deep understanding of power structures will be what enable you to advance your data-driven strategies within an organization. I’ve taken as many organizational behavior classes as will fit in my schedule and meet with my leadership coach on a regular basis. I cannot express enough gratitude for all I have learned in those classes and sessions.
Priya Gupta, Carnegie Mellon (Tepper)
Myth: Mendoza lacks diversity.
Reality: Unfortunately, the legend is, in fact, true with regards to being ethnically diverse. However, my cohort comes from very diverse backgrounds, including anthropology, military service, medicine, and the arts. The majority of students is pivoting their careers and need a business degree to launch them into their next opportunity. My classmates’ diverse backgrounds make classroom discussions much more engaging. I am more comfortable asking questions in class as many students have a similar nonexistent corporate experience. Learning about my classmate’s work history has made me a more well-rounded professional and helped widen my perspective on the world. Though there is not much racial diversity within the Mendoza School of Business, there is diversity in other ways.
Molly Lawrence, Notre Dame (Mendoza)
Myth: More than being the “Harry Potter for adults,” some perceive Cambridge as a place reserved solely for those who enjoy a life of wealth and prestige.
Reality: It couldn’t be further from the truth that Cambridge students come from great privilege who have neither experienced any form of struggle nor had to strive for anything other than good grades. Everyone in my school has overcome a mountain of some sort. This overcoming has made each person brilliant and positively developed the characters of very well-intentioned people. I have yet to meet someone who is not interested in understanding someone who may be different or having meaningful discussions on how we can contribute to the enhancement of this world.
Toni Thorne, Cambridge Judge
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