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 program here at Michigan State was excellent, but I felt that the real value was in the placement center. In the past, Michigan State and its graduates have relied on a steady stream of jobs in the automotive industry -- but things have changed in East Lansing. I was very impressed by the breadth of companies interviewing -- and hiring Broad MBAs. A lot of MBA programs have intelligent, motivated students, but it's very often the degree to which students can demonstrate those traits for recruiters that matters most. Helen Dashney and her team in the MBA placement center spent countless hours with me, getting me the right contacts, preparing me for interviews, and counseling me on salary negotiations. I recently accepted a position with one of the companies I targeted. Needless to say, I am very impressed by their dedication and the quality of their work. --Consulting
The placement office was incredible. They worked with me and my classmates from the first day of orientation through the entire job search process. --Operations
Michigan State University's MBA program exceeded my expectations by providing me with the tools and experiences that I needed to address the ever changing global marketplace. The school's smaller size allows the program to address the individual needs of every student and enforce the quick change management to address the timely market evolutions to promote future students that are well versed and trained to hit the ground running immediately after graduation. The model that the administration has designed will undoubtedly allow the program to climb in the national rankings each year, soon higher rated schools will be trying to model their larger, less agile and less responsive models to the Eli Broad School of Management's program. --Anonymous
The Broad program has been a great experience for me. Administrators and professors have been proactive in changing the program to meet the needs of students and businesses in our constantly changing world. The school stresses both quantitative and qualitative skills and I believe through the refining of my skills, I have the skills to compete in today's business world. --Finance
As a biology major with experience in only the sciences within pharmaceutical industry, I felt that MSU provided a comfortable place to learn. Students were EXTREMELY friendly and helpful. There was no cutthroat attitude at MSU. This was a feature I was promised...and it turned out to be true. That way, I was able to really focus on learning and not outscoring my peers or being outscored by them. With only 130 students a year, it's an intimate enough environment that almost every face and name are at least recognizable. Additionally, I would like to add that the career placement and planning department was terrific. They were DEEPLY committed to helping find internships and jobs, providing terrific advice from their varied and deep experiences, and being friendly and approachable - a feature I've found lacking in other similar departments. --Marketing
My experience at Michigan State has far exceeded my expectations. The admissions staff brought in a great mix of students from different cultures, nationalities, backgrounds, and races. The diversity greatly enhanced my learning experience. The faculty and staff were competent, fair, and accessible. By far the hardest working person on campus is Helen Dashney in the placement center. Michigan State offers the complete package: a challenging academic curriculum, entertaining and competitive athletics, and a full and exciting social life. My time at MSU was wonderful and I will always cherish the memories. --Operations
I believe that Michigan State's MBA program is excellent. The faculty is knowledgeable about current trends in business. But the point that really makes MSU stand out is the small size of the program and interaction between students and faculty. I would not have had as much personal attention at a larger program. --Finance
I enjoyed my time here at MSU. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful, and guided me through many choices I had to make while I was here. I was able to achieve the exact goal I had when I got here...to get a job at a marketing job at a large technology company. In addition, I now feel confident that I will be able to someday start a business on my own and be an effective leader. I am glad I came to a school that wasn't in the "top 10." I don't think my experience has been any less valuable compared to other MBA students from Carnegie Mellon, Indiana, Michigan, Berkeley, etc. I've made friends and contacts I'll have for the rest of my life. I've learned more about finance and human resources than I ever expected, and I now have a solid background on which to build the rest of my career. --Marketing
MSU MBA administrators are dedicated to being responsive to us and providing a high level of quality in the program. The combination of student diversity (age, experience, and national origin), great teaching, outstanding placement services, and reasonable tuition (plus a generous merit-based financial aid program) have made my Michigan State MBA experience an excellent value and a most memorable experience. --Marketing
The students really took the initiative to promote global citizenship as a part of the MBA experience. In our first year participating, MSU won the 1999 MBA Food Fight, collecting more than 57,900 lbs. of food (beating all other top MBA programs including Wharton, Michigan, Stanford, Harvard, U Chicago, NYU....)! We were able to donate the food to the local food bank as well as winning and donating $10,000 to the charities of our choice. We also hold annual charity auction (2nd annual this year) where the faculty and staff donate various items (dinners, golf outing, self-defense lessons) and the students bid for them. We raised more than $4,000 this year and donated to the American Red Cross. We also participate in Habitat for Humanity projects during the weekends.
All of this shows that our two-year MBA training is not solely focused on how to maximize shareholder value, but also on how to be great global citizens. Definitely an MBA program aimed at the value conscience professionals. I received a full scholarship that included a graduate assistantship and monthly stipend. Essentially, I received my MBA education without any money coming out of my bank account! The great thing is that I am not the limited lucky few. Many students (my perception is more than 1/3) received some form of scholarship and assistantship. --Human Resources
The dean does not have a relationship with the students or the faculty. He does not know what goes on in the program. Michigan State has some diversity issue, the faculty as well as the students are not sensitive to other cultures and races. --Finance
MSU has a great deal of potential if it begins to focus on teaching, learning, and expectations. When students have a problem with a professor, the administration sometimes eventually addresses the problem, but not until the class is over. The technology marketing concentration will greatly improve the marketing department's standing, but it has actually hampered the ability for current traditional marketing students to secure employment outside of Ford and General Motors. --Marketing
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