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 university needs to focus more on the full-time program, rather than the part-time program, as central to the MBA experience. The offshoot programs, such as the part-time, MS/MIS, and EMBA, which seem to be more important to the administration, will improve as the legitimacy and ranking of the full-time program improves. --Investment Banking
Boston University's School of Management building is a new state-of-the-art structure that surpasses all of the other schools I visited before applying. The main difference between B.U. and top-10 B-schools is the strength of the alumni network and career offices. I think that the academics are very close. Some of the classes that I took were much harder than the equivalent ones taught at Harvard and Stanford. I know this after speaking with friends there. --Anonymous
I have no doubt that B.U. deserves a high ranking based on the talents of the students enrolled. Unfortunately, the school has inadequate networking and alumni support. The career center is marginal at best. In spite of the school's efforts, until we can get alumni support and more students receiving offers from top employers, there is little the school can do to change the situation, especially with Harvard and Sloan in the same market. I am fully confident that I possess the talent of a Harvard or Sloan graduate but still have yet to receive a job offer. Is Business Week hiring? --Finance
Boston University would be one of the best schools is the U.S. if there was a better social atmosphere in the school. It is far too easy to go through the two years of the MBA and come out with no real friends -- only lots of acquaintances. The clubs are poor, and because of the workload, nobody is keen to initiate any social, charity [programs], or other events. Sport and other student activities are almost nonexistent. At BU, it's a life of go to class, then rush home to get the next paper ready. Most people rarely hang out on campus. Overall B.U. is academically sound; the Graduate School of Management has a beautiful building. Sadly, however, there is not much fun at BU, and many people leave without the expected "fond memories." I believe that this is why its national ranking has been so poor in recent years. Student learn a lot but have NO HAPPY TIMES. --Operations
I will be a graduate of the dual-degree MBA and MS/MIS program at Boston University Graduate School of Management. This program has successfully integrated the generalist principles of the MBA program into the more technology-savvy MIS program. Summer internships are replaced with 10-month-long information-technology and e-commerce projects that student teams work on. I am extremely satisfied with the course curriculum, as well as the access to an extensive and diverse alumni base from the dual-degree program. --Consulting
Best decision that I have made! --Finance
The School of Management at Boston University is a solid MBA program. The professors, for the most part, are at the top of their fields; the building is new; and the quality of students is getting better each year. I really feel that this school is going up fast. --Nonprofit
Boston University is aggressively pursuing the winning trifecta of a b-school program: acquiring students, training students, and distributing students. We boast a global student body, which adds to the case discussions [in classes]. Our teaching is top-rate, and the facilities have computer access, making them technologically advanced. We work well in teams (because you have to!) and think cross-functionally. Our biggest challenge is distribution. Recent changes in the career center should vastly improve this chronic area of dissatisfaction. --Marketing
Since I entered the Hariri building for the first time, there have been a lot of changes. Things are changing for the better. It is very easy to see the downsides of things [at the school], but to be honest, this school has made a lot of progress and is aiming to do much more in the future. I am proud of being a part of this huge and invaluable community. --Anonymous
Overall my classmates and professors were excellent. I enjoyed going to class, and I learned so much that I am sure it will be very helpful in my professional life, especially e-business. The career center improved so much from my first year to my second, and made an outstanding effort to satisfy students' needs, and to increase the number of employers. --Finance
Boston University's MBA, MS/MIS, as well as its public and nonprofit management programs, are well-kept secrets. The material that is taught here is leading-edge. I am very lucky and privileged to have attended the school. I am in touch with professors at the school and will [return to B.U. to] recruit on-campus for my company. From my experience at work, I know that what we learned at B.U.'s program is extremely special. I did my undergraduate [degree] at Harvard, and after that experience, I especially enjoyed and appreciated BU's program. The professors are down-to-earth and accessible. The b-school has a real learning environment. --Consulting
I thought that the B.U. MBA was a great experience. I also wish that the school got more recognition so better firms (consulting, VC, and Investment banks) recruited at the school. The program is top-notch. --Venture Capital/Private Equity
Boston University's MBA program is definitely up-and-coming. It has some issues to work out, relevant to its current curriculum, but the talent of professors is definitely there and growing. Based on the school's name/reputation, its new School of Management facility, and ability to attract top-name professors, BU stands to compete with many of the higher-ranked MBA programs. --Entrepreneurship
The MBA experience was very productive for me. Boston University is a great school that is now facing many interesting and positive changes. I think the Graduate School of Management is transforming itself in such a way that its MBA program will provide students with the necessary tools to face the new challenges posed by the ever-changing and demanding job market. --Finance
This business degree has taught me to look at problems from a global perspective. The long-term picture, strategy, and the underlying goal definition is extremely important for success. Unfortunately, I have also realized that in today's business world, though they look at grades and [grade point average] for the first job, the degree and grade only helps for the first job. And that is what I have paid for in money and in years of school. After the first job, the three letters MBA are just a certification of completed years of study. The rest is experience. --Consulting
Boston University is making great strides to become a leading business school. The MBA building houses some of the latest technology and it is fully utilized. Once employers realize that B.U. graduates are second to none, recruiting efforts will flourish. --Finance
My experience at Boston University was extremely rich. The program was very intense, especially in the first two semesters. I simply did not have time to breathe. The school's facilities are amazing. The faculty in turn is very dedicated and committed to improving the program constantly. The career center has improved tremendously since the new assistant dean took office. She's been doing a terrific job. It is amazing the excellent jobs people could get. --Consulting
Boston University's Graduate School of Management was a wonderful experience, particularly the school's cross-functional leaning, and management-as-a-system philosophy. I was impressed with the [administration's] responsiveness to student feedback: quickly making adjustments, updating and adding courses, and creating an improved student community. The interactions with local companies were invaluable, particularly for courses such as Product Design & Development and e-commerce & Marketing. --Marketing
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