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2004 FULL-TIME MBA PROFILE
Georgetown University
Robert Emmett McDonough School of Business
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CLASS OF 2004 GRADUATE COMMENTS
[Recommend program to friends/colleagues?] Georgetown offered a very complete general management program, as well as the opportunity to take classes at the Law School and other schools within the D.C. consortium. Washington also offered a lot of opportunities outside the classroom. Because of our location in a major metropolitan area, I and several of my classmates were able to continue working part-time for the firms at which we interned over the summer.--Not Available
[Recommend program to friends/colleagues?] The first-year core curriculum really covered everything we needed as a basis for further specialization -- and it provided a common ground for the entire class to really become an academic and business community of its own.--Finance
[Recommend program to friends/colleagues?] Yes, a part from the things that you learn and the friends you make, Washington, D.C. is a great city. You'll have access to everything, New York City is less than four hours away, the living costs are not so high, airplane tickets are cheap, the East coast (compared to the West Coast) offers more job opportunities, and the number of organizations (World bank, for example) that have its headquarters here makes D.C. a perfect place to live.--Marketing
I would recommend Georgetown's program for its quality teaching, global perspective, and experienced, and focused alumni base that are helpful in the job market.--Investment Banking
Georgetown is a great opportunity for those who want to attend a smaller program and know exactly what they want to do. The location is fantastic, the university has many other resources, and the city has all sorts of professional and personal opportunities beyond the university.--Consulting
I routinely recommend Georgetown's program, even to friends who don't have a particular interest in business. Almost all of the teachers challenged us harder than we thought we could handle (for our ultimate benefit), there is a very high level of camaraderie and cooperation among the students, we had access to world-class speakers (including the likes of Warren Buffett, John Kerry, Paul Wolfowitz), there is a very large contingent of people interested in corporate social responsbility, students can -- and do -- take classes at Georgetown's School of Public Policy, School of Foreign Service, and Law School, and there are fantastic networking opportunities throughout the D.C. area and beyond. Georgetown's Global Integrative program in particular was truly one of the best experiences of my life, let alone the MBA program, and I think other schools are poorer for not having similar programs. I almost feel like all citizens should be required to undergo a similar experience to gain greater insight into the world beyond America's borders.--Entrepreneurship
Great community and networking opportunities exist at Georgetown, especially if you want to stay and work in the D.C. metropolitan area. The student body is supportive and friendly, and I've made friends I know I'll keep forever. The student body also hails from a variety of backgrounds, and I've met some people who have accomplished some incredible things. Curriculum was challenging and the school carries a lot of weight in the D.C. metropolitan area.--Marketing
The evironment at Georgetown was ideal for learning. In speaking with friends in other programs, Georgetown did not have the cutthroat mentality that other programs did. Professors and other students were always willing to help others. Student involvement in clubs and activities were extremely high as compared to other schools. Finally, the quality of the teaching was on par with other schools.--Finance
I recommend that candidates who wish to gain more finance and international perspectives to consider Georgetown. Georgetown is not a perfect program for people without too much experience, but could be very supportive if you have some industry background. Georgetown's career management, location, and strong alumni network around the world will help you get higher returns on your investment.--Marketing
Georgetown requires that students complete a Global Integrative program that calls for roughly two-and-a-half months of preparation in anticipation of a weeklong trip to one of five potential emerging markets. (This year's roster included Ho Chi Minh City, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, and Prague.) As I had worked in Europe and Eurasia for a considerable time, I elected to travel to Vietnam, where I and four others prepared a report on investing in the local food-processing industry. We prepared, arrived, and presented to a variety of local business and government officials on whose behalf -- and with whom we had been speaking/corresponding -- we did the project. Even I, who had worked extensively in emerging markets, was shocked by the impact and scope of the experience; some people, even MBAs, go through their entire lives without undertaking such a project, and here I was, working on such a project as part of a school field trip. In my assessment of programs prior to my application, this global integrative was one of the primary drivers in my decision to apply and matriculate to Georgetown. It serves as something akin to a thesis project, one which synthesizes so much of one's education and generates an opportunity to interact with businessmen on the frontiers of business society. Like my professional work during school, this project was key in enhancing my educational experience, providing real-life situations, issues, and deadlines through which we worked.
I worked on a consulting project with the IFC in Brazil. We put together a business plan for spending a $5 million expansionary grant from the IFC for a small company located in the Amazon region that makes a polyurethane substitute out of coconut husks and latex. The project was an amazing experience in that we learned not only more about international consulting, but also about eco-friendly products and doing business in a nontraditional environment.--Venture Capital/Private Equity
We are required to consult with a company overseas, then visit the company to complete the project and present. Five cities outside the United States are chosen, and the project lasts a total of about 10 weeks. The opportunity to work with firms (from family-owned business to MNC subsidiaries) was truly extraordinary. The true nature of business is understood as is the culture through our interaction with the employees and also local MBA students. In my case, it is safe to say you could never truly grasp how a Communist country could attempt to foster a market economy without being on the ground in Vietnam.--Consulting
I consulted for the TSA (part of the Department of Homeland Security) and for the American Chamber of Commerce in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Both projects gave me hands-on, real-world experience in using analytical skills to make concrete recommendations. My teams' reports and presentations were highly valued by the clients.--Not Available
The highlight of my Georgetown experience has been my fellow classmates. Having been in very competitive and/or individual environments previously (top undergraduate university, military, trading) it was very refreshing to be in a place where the people were friendly and always willing to work together. It made for a fun and socially enjoyable experience. However, the down side of this is that the professional level of the majority of my colleagues was average at best. In my opinion, there are not many future CEOs or managing directors coming out of Georgetown. Instead, there are a lot of career middle managers graduating from the program.--Finance
Every school says that its community is special. I thought Georgetown was not an exception in stating that this is a really special place with an exceptional sense of community. I just ignored it for the most part. Over the course of my studies, I came to realize that the administration accepted candidates very carefully to create the special bond and sense of community. We have a relatively small class (260 people). I am taking contact info of around 187 people with me. I will not hesistate to call any of these people and ask for anything in the future. I also would not mind having any of these 187 people come and crash at my place in the future -- not all at once, of course.--Investment Banking
I would definitely recommend Georgetown and, having spoken at length with friends who have had other MBA experiences, I think G'town compares very favorably to all but the top five or so schools. G'town is still getting its act together on some of the administrative things (the school made huge strides both in Admissions and in Career Services even during my time there), but that should not distract from the high quality of the education and the strong support structure provided by the larger university community. No way is G'town a second-tier business school.--Marketing
I went to all the schools that accepted me and I had the best feeling at Georgetown. Rankings only mattered when in the initial stages of the application process. If I have one recommendation -- go visit the school first, if you can even before you apply.--Finance
We had several opportuniities to work with existing companies at Georgetown. One of them, Global Integrative, was mandatory. It enhanced our learning and commitment in a remarkable way, since we were able to apply all the skills we had learned and see the results of our efforts.--Not Available
The Georgetown MBA is also unique because of its access to the Georgetown School of Foreign Service and Washington, D.C. For anyone who desires to work for a development bank, developmental consulting firm, a think tank, government consulting firms, or lobbying and policy groups, there is no better school in the country in regard to location, networking access, and well-connected professors in these fields.--Finance
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