The program's greatest assets include the specialized programs, the vast and active alumni network, and concern of the faculty. The area that needs most improvement is the placement office to help students more, and to get more companies to come to campus. -- Anonymous
The University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business is just one great school in a great university. One of the reasons for me to come here was the ability to visit lectures in world class computer science and social science programs, in addition to my business school lectures. Madison is a wonderful town and the quality of life here is unprecedented by any place I have lived before -- at least in the warmer months. -- Consulting
I believe that the general MBA program at UWM is average; however, there are many niche programs, (such as the applied security analysis program that I was involved with, and the distribution management program and the Weinert entrepreneurship program), that are top notch programs. The Applied Security Analysis Program [ASAP] had its own placement process which was separate from the school's career center. The ASAP placement process was very helpful in finding a job, while the school's career center is pretty much a joke. One of the biggest complaints students have is related to the school's inability to help students find summer internships. There really is no better program for security analysts and portfolio managers in the country. The ASAP program provides real world investment experience by allowing the students to manage $13.5 million of endowment money in equity and fixed income portfolios. A huge problem with this school is the fact that there are many courses that have both graduate and undergraduate students. For example, Accounting 701, which is a graduate course, is cross-listed with accounting 301, which is an undergraduate course. The result is a class with 5-10 graduate students and 25-30 undergraduate students. Basically, a graduate level course has been turned into an undergraduate course. There are many more examples of cross listed courses. I did not come to graduate school to sit in a class with undergraduates who have very little to add to class discussion than the latest frat party, etc. I found that professors were either very good or very bad. There were exceptional professors in the Finance department, such as Jim Hodder, Jim Seward, Mark Ready, Antonio Mello, and Mark Fedenia. However, there were examples of professors that really had no business teaching at all. -- Finance
My responses to the questions regarding computer skills are somewhat biased, because I feel that my computer skills were already at a relatively high level. At the same time the availability of classes and instructors for IT in the business school (not the computer sciences department) was very limited due to the time frame involved and the competition for talent (they seemed to be short staffed due to the prime Y2K time frame). My overall experience at the UW was excellent and by far the most economical of similarly rated schools (particularly for in-state residents). I'm originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, and would have loved to go to the U of M; however, Michigan's in-state tuition is greater than UW-Madison's out-of-state tuition! My only disappointment has been the career center's contacts for anything other than the standard MBA job titles in accounting, finance, and marketing. Expected an employment agency type of assistance (high level of personalized service), which was definitely not the focus of that group (maybe my expectations are too high). -- Operations
An outstanding entrepreneurship program that exposed me to several situations. I was also impressed by some of the analytical techniques presented at school, such as SWOT analysis, break-even, conjoint analysis and developing frameworks on how to evaluate people and opportunities. -- Marketing
I should really applaud UW-Madison's niche programs. While the general MBA program is average (but improving), the niche programs are outstanding. I was a member of the Applied Security Analysis Program, and I believe the program really prepared me for a career in investment management. While I acquired many theoretical tools in class, I also acquired many practical skills in the program. This really helped me when I was interviewing for jobs. -- Finance
The reason I chose Wisconsin was specifically for its entrepreneurship track. Bob Pricer is an outstanding professor and businessperson. His knowledge and contacts in the industry are an asset that everyone in this track leaves with. The WAVE program, per se, is an outstanding opportunity. It was great to work with a biotechnology firm with cutting-edge technology trying to introduce a new product into the market. The ability to work with this company and evaluate it for potential investment by our venture fund was the best experience in the MBA program. The time spent by the fund's board of directors was invaluable for both the work on the companies being evaluated, but also for our job search, including start-up possibilities. Many schools have emphasized public market fund management, but venture capital funds need more attention
and this program is the way to go. It is the reason I came to Wisconsin, and why I believe Wisconsin has the best entrepreneurship program available. -- Finance
One thing I LOVED about my program was the ability for me to customize the MBA to meet my developmental needs. I am not a fan of cohort/lock step programs and would think it would be hard to compare more rigid programs with more flexible ones. The use of technology in our core MBA program is good/excellent, but the quality of some of our IS-specific questions is average/good. -- Information Technology
UW's niche programs are tops. No other school in the country can match the breadth of real estate courses offered. And the real estate alumni network (about 1,200 members) is unparalleled -- and extremely helpful in students' job searches. -- Anonymous
The University of Wisconsin really listens to its students and works to incorporate suggestions into policy, strategy, and curriculum. Each of the two years I have been here, there have been changes made, as part of a continuous innovative process. Also, the abundance of niche programs, such as supply chain management, applied ventures, arts administration, and marketing research to name a few, add elements of specialization that I did not find at other schools. That is where UW's strength really lies. Finally, my classmates were out to help me and encourage me...it's contagious. I never felt I had to steal notes or lie to my peers to get ahead. -- Operations
I am extremely pleased with the quality of the education I have had at the UW-Madison. I think the combination of 1) high-quality students, who genuinely care for one another and want to help each other learn and become stronger in what they do, and 2) an energetic faculty who are available outside the classroom, and 3) a responsive administration that is responsive to the concerns of students, adds up to one of the strongest programs anywhere. It was an honor and privilege to spend two of the finest years of my life with these people and I wouldn't trade it for anything. -- Operations
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