del.icio.us Tags: Business Schools, Harvard University, MIT, Sloan School of Management, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, Chicago-Kent, Darden, Tuck School, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, NYU, Stern, New York University, Carnegie Mellon University, Duke, Berkeley, Haas, University of California-Berkeley, UCLA, University of California – Los Angeles, Columbia, Kellog School, NorthWestern University
You’ve heard it time and time again — going to a top MBA program offers fundamentally different opportunities than getting just any MBA degree. But applying to multiple schools can be a daunting task, and everyone should have a backup plan in case they don’t get into their first choice. Here are some guidelines for analyzing the differences between the top programs, based on interviews with graduates of nearly 20 top US business schools.
Characteristics
The top program for liberal arts and social science majors (with as much as 50% of the class coming from those disciplines) HBS emphasizes the art of leadership.
Strengths
- Harvard brand name
- Depth of network
- Strong ties to finance, private equity and consulting
- Best for general management and communications
Weaknesses
- Lack of academic rigor, over reliance on case method
- Stereotype that students have poor analytical and quantitative skills
Suggested Backups
- Tuck
- Darden
- Michigan
MIT Sloan School of Management
Characteristics
The top program for science and engineering majors (with as much as 40% of the class from those disciplines) Sloan emphasizes an analytical, fact-based approach to management.
Strengths
- MIT brand name
- Rigorous, flexible academics
- Strong ties to finance, high tech and consulting
- Best for entrepreneurship, high tech and finance
Weaknesses
- Smaller alumni network
- Stereotype that students are too intellectual and not aggressive
Suggested Backups
- Chicago
- NYU
- Carnegie Mellon
Stanford Graduate School of Business
Characteristics
Stanford takes a balanced approach to management education, with no particular background emphasized over others, resulting in one of the more diverse classes among top business programs.
Strengths
- Stanford brand name
- Balance of qualitative and quantitive emphasis
- Strong ties to Silicon Valley, venture capital and consulting
- Best for entrepreneurship and general management
Weaknesses
- Smaller alumni network, poor ties to east coast and international recruiting
- Stereotype that students are not team players
Suggested Backups
- Berkeley
- Duke
- UCLA
Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Characteristics
The top graduate business program for undergraduate business majors (with as much as 45% of the class from those disciplines), Wharton focuses on finance and investment education.
Strengths
- Well-rounded academic program
- Strong ties to finance and consulting
- Best for finance and accounting
Weaknesses
- Weaker ties to west coast recruiting
- Stereotype that students are overly aggressive and too finance focused
Suggested Backups
- Chicago
- Columbia
- NYU
Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
Characteristics
With a balanced student body similar to Stanford, Kellogg has distinguished itself as the top MBA program for marketing and brand management.
Strengths
- Highly motivated, involved student body
- Strong ties to brand management and consulting
- Best for marketing
Weaknesses
- Lack of analytical focus
- Stereotype that students are team players but not leaders, poor quantitative skills
Suggested Backups
- Michigan
- Duke
- Tuck
Related Postings
Getting into a Top 5 MBA Program
MBA – Top American Universities Offering Financial Help
Ranking of MBA Programs – Based on Placement and Average Earnings
Technorati Tags: Business Schools, Harvard University, MIT, Sloan School of Management, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, Chicago-Kent, Darden, Tuck School, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, NYU, Stern, New York University, Carnegie Mellon University, Duke, Berkeley, Haas, University of California-Berkeley, UCLA, University of California – Los Angeles, Columbia, Kellog School, NorthWestern University
LiveJournal Tags: Business Schools, Harvard University, MIT, Sloan School of Management, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, Chicago-Kent, Darden, Tuck School, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, NYU, Stern, New York University, Carnegie Mellon University, Duke, Berkeley, Haas, University of California-Berkeley, UCLA, University of California – Los Angeles, Columbia, Kellog School, NorthWestern University
Filed under: Berkeley, Business Schools, Business Schools, Harvard University, MIT, Sloan School, Carnegie Mellon University, Chicago-Kent, Columbia, Darden, Duke, Haas, Harvard University, Kellog School, MIT, New York University, Northwestern University, NYU, Sloan School of Management, Stanford University, Stern, Tuck School, UCLA, University of California - Berkeley, University of California - Los Angeles, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School | Tagged: Berkeley, Business Management, Business Schools, Carnegie Mellon University, Chicago-Kent, Columbia, Darden, Duke, Haas, Harvard University, Kellog School, MIT, New York University, Northwestern University, NYU, Sloan School of Management, Stanford University, Stern, Tuck School, UCLA, University of California - Berkeley, University of California - Los Angeles, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School |
Leave a Reply