CLASS OF 2000 GRADUATE COMMENTS
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.
There are too many core courses. Many interesting classes were not available in the second year. Class participation is weighted too much on grading criteria. People are very smart here. The first year was hell, but the second year was O.K. I think finance is great here. -- Operations
I am a very happy "customer" of this MBA program. The amount of learning, my in/out salary difference, the quality of the faculty, and above all, the quality of my peers just blew me away! -- Information Technology
Without question, my experience at Krannert was well worth the time, energy, and cost. This school has given me opportunities I never would have had had I not come to this school. The professors are always willing to work with you to give you the edge you need to succeed. In many cases, they not only act as professors but become friends and mentors, which is far more valuable in my opinion. I have no regrets about coming to Krannert. In fact, I view it as one of the best decisions I ever made. -- Finance
West Lafayette is a great town for mature students with family. It provides a quiet environment and good education for children. In addition, living expenses are a fraction of what they would be in other top 25 business school towns. However, for bachelor students, the town could be considered a little slow, with very few things to do (other than bars, movies, and fast food places). Chicago is a three hour, and Indianapolis a one hour drive away, which helps, since weekend getaways can be planned. A significant advantage I found at Purdue that I did not see in other programs I applied to is that there are multiple opportunities for obtaining assistantships (in the management school as well as in any other school at Purdue), and therefore [I] reduced my TOTAL MBA tuition costs to a bare $10,000 (which could be reduced further to $8,000 with different scholarships available for MBA students). -- Operations
The Krannert experience is great value for your money. I wanted to go back to Brazil and work in industry, as opposed to consulting or financial services, and I doubt I would have had a better outcome if I had gone to a higher ranked school. I had to decline interviews because of lack of time, I was competing for jobs with graduates from top 10 schools many times, and I still got four very good offers. I doubt that companies in Brazil would pay more to a graduate from the No. 1 school than to me, because the wage structure is very strict, and MBA salaries are already very high comparatively. On top of that is the fact that I have no outstanding debt, while most top 10 graduates have about $100,000 in debt. -- Marketing
The school has an unfortunately narrow-minded vision of what an MBA should be. HEAVILY, HEAVILY, linked to a handful of companies that sometimes discourage any other smaller/more adventurous recruiting companies. Very good quantitative and analytical preparation, but too focused upon traditional manufacturing. Director of the MBA/MSM program is not an MBA/MSM and has no idea of the needs and desires of one. New dean: COSIER is great. Definite asset. School is undergoing amazing improvements...too bad for me I was a little too early. The international students in the MBA program (over 40%) are not integrated, do not contribute in class, do not get involved at all. If this could be reversed, their presence could be wonderful. Overall, school doesn't really have an identity. They've got MSMs, MSIAs, MSHRMs, Ag-Econs, and others all lumped into the "MBA" program. Therefore, you have some people who don't even know how to spell revenue, let alone know what it is, involved in discussions on mergers and acquisitions. Depressing. -- Anonymous
Coming to Purdue to get my MBA was one of the best decisions that I have ever made. This MBA program is a hot place to be for people contemplating a career in the high-tech world. I have been pleased with the e-commerce electives. Although finance was not my elective, I think that the finance professors here are among the top professors in their field. They really deserve more recognition and respect for their outstanding teaching ability. The program at Krannert is moving forward every day. With the new e-commerce/e-business option area being offered next year and the new building only a few years away, this program is only going to get better. I'm proud to say that I earned my MBA here at Krannert!! -- Consulting
Despite Krannert's ranking as a "Techno MBA," the MIS courses here were terrible. Where they were actually taught by competent instructors, the information was not current years ago. The high percentage of international students was a positive. Because of the many different ways in which business is done around the world, I found myself constantly being asked the question, "Why do you do it that way?" This forces more careful thought (no "just because" answers) and results in a better end "educational product." -- Finance
Someone once told me that the worst thing about Purdue is West Lafayette, IN and the best thing about Purdue is West Lafayette, IN. The quiet local atmosphere is not "fun" in the traditional sense, but it does force the interaction between students. We hang out at Harry's and The Pink House. We go to football and basketball games. We go on canoeing trips and into Indianapolis for dinner. No, we don't frequent fancy night clubs, but we have a great time hanging out with each other. We've had some wonderful evenings just sitting on a porch singing along with a guitar. I know everyone in my class, and I have made some great friends here. My friendships here go beyond my simple social group. I think that would have been much more difficult with the distractions of a big city. -- Marketing
I would say that achieving an MBA has brought about all the professional advantages I had hoped for prior to returning to school. I would recommend to anyone thinking of going for an MBA to return to school full-time in order to receive the full benefit of a program. -- Operations
Attending the Krannert School of Management is far and away the best decision I have ever made and has opened doors for me that I never thought possible. Krannert has been exceptionally responsive to students' concerns and holds an eye toward continuous improvement. Next fall, Krannert breaks ground on a new building that will improve the facilities, technology, access, and infrastructure of the program. -- Anonymous
Without question, my experience at Krannert was well worth the time, energy, and cost. This school has given me opportunities I never would have had had I not come to this school. The professors are always willing to work with you to give you the edge you need to succeed. In many cases, they not only act as professors but become friends and mentors, which is far more valuable in my opinion. I have no regrets about coming to Krannert. In fact, I view it as one of the best decisions I ever made. -- Finance
|
=Subscribers Only
Copyright 2001 , by The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.
MBA Insider
