Editor's Note: BusinessWeek collected graduate comments in 2000 during its ranking of full-time MBA programs. The next ranking is scheduled for fall, 2002.
The MBA has fully met my objective of broadening my horizons and giving me generalist knowledge of business administration. However, in my opinion, the value of an MBA, at least in The Netherlands, is compromised by two factors. First, the value of an MBA is depreciated by a proliferation of second-tier courses, and compared to the U.S., employers are less inclined to discriminate as to the quality of institutions. This has to do with the Dutch tradition of equality in education. Second, both in education and career development, the emphasis is on specialist knowledge rather than on generalist qualities. Apart from investment banks and consultancy firms, recruiters at European business schools are mainly U.S. multinationals. Acceptance of the unique value of an MBA still has a long way to go, in Europe in general and in The Netherlands in particular. --Anonymous
I took the information-systems itinerary that did not allow me to take any electives. --Anonymous
I would absolutely repeat this experience, and I would recommend it to all my friends, even if the starting for me was quite tough! --Consulting
I believe my school's program has areas to improve, but in general, I am quite satisfied with the things offered, and I would have picked this school again if I were given another chance. I would rate it 7.5 on an overall basis. --Anonymous
I would do it again. The "real world" experience I am leaving now cannot even be compared to the intensity and sweet sweat of months lived at Bocconi. This was like a different life: brisk and exciting, something you always remember and will never live again. --Marketing
Darden needs to find a better balance between workload and extracurricular activities in the first year. Also, even though there were many activities to enhance students' understanding of other cultures and international exposure, most of the students were not interested. Sometimes the students were even rude to international students in class. --Marketing
My MBA experience was great. --Consulting
Amazing experience, only a bit expensive in terms of personal relationships, not being paid for 16 months. Highly recommend it for ambitious individuals both as a learning experience and as a valuable tool for career advancement. --Consulting
The MBA should have helped me more in developing soft skills useful to survive in the real world. Namely being tougher and more dynamic. The environment was so friendly that I forgot I need to be more aggressive in business. --Consulting
The school did not leverage the outstanding knowledge of some professors and focused on less-relevant subjects taught by inexperienced, unknowledgeable, MBA-level professors. Too many political matters influence the course design. --Consulting
Most of all, the MBA is a life experience, working with different people of different countries, with various previous experiences. One of my classmates was a priest! Great experience. --Consulting
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Copyright 2001 , by The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.
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