CLASS OF 2004 GRADUATE COMMENTS
Stanford has a strong program. However, if an individual was interested in doing banking on the East Coast, I'd advise a program back east since Stanford's network is stronger on the West Coast. Additionally, Stanford is fairly liberal for a business school, very entrepreneurship-driven, and committed to social as well as business issues. Not everyone would thrive in that type of environment.--Not Available
[Recommend program to friends/colleagues?] My experience was incredible. I am a completely different and better person now -- I have grown intellectually, personally, and professionally. There are some elements that are unique to Stanford that facilitated this transformation; it's a special place.--Investment Banking
[Recommend program to friends/colleagues?] I believe that Stanford offers the best balance between top faculty, access to leaders, an intimate experience (small class size), and an ideal location.--Finance
[Recommend program to friends/colleagues?] One of the biggest advantages of Stanford is the fact that we have Silicon Valley. This is valid not only for those who want to work in high-tech, but for everybody. The smell of entrepreneurship is everywhere, and this is good not only for start-up guys, but even for those who want to work at large corporations. I think it creates people that work at a much faster speed. I think no MBA program is able of doing that.--Consulting
[Recommend program to friends/colleagues?] Stanford has been a dream come true. My classmates are remarkable and have become close friends. My professors are not only leaders in their field, they are also charismatic, caring teachers. The Career Management Center has been incredibly helpful. And when I call Stanford alumni to learn about certain industries or job leads, they are very responsive and friendly.--Marketing
I worked for a start-up chocolate company. This gave me hands-on experience in consumer goods marketing and allowed me to see what it would be like to work in a non-technology related start-up.--Consulting
I worked with a team to make real desisions for a firm in Kenya. It was for a social entrepreneurship class that I was taking. Stanford is the world leader in social innovation, so it helped give us the credibility to present to the board of directors of the company to effect change.--Consulting
We did several in-depth consulting projects for our classes. One example was helping HP refine its environmental strategy for my class in Strategic Environmental Management. We worked very closely with the top team at HP responsible for this area, and presented our results. They provided tough feedback, which was incredibly helpful, and I felt like we were able to combine the best academic and practical thinking from our class with a world-class environmental organization in the Bay Area.--Consulting
I did a marketing project for the Golden Baseball League, a new independent league started by a 2003 graduate of Stanford Business School. I not only learned a ton about the effectiveness of various marketing programs and promotions, I also was able to help a friend build his dream company.--Consulting
I did numerous projects in diverse industries from fuel cells to candy companies. I enjoyed learning about new areas and practicing what we learned in the classroom in a real-life setting.--Consulting
When I looked at MBA programs, I really felt that all the top-tier programs offered the same general basics, but that each had different areas of particular strength or expertise. I chose Stanford because I felt the program's strengths aligned well with my interests and personal culture. I wanted a program that valued general management abilities as much as it valued quantitative abilities, and Stanford really does.--Not Available
My classmates at Stanford are truly inspirational. Consistent with the culture here at Stanford, they are kind, caring, and absolute successes.--Not Available
I really think Stanford's strengths lie in its people and the size of the program. We have the highest caliber of student in a relatively intimate setting compared to other top institutions. I absolutely loved my experience and would not have wanted to go anywhere else. That's why I only applied to Stanford.--Marketing
We wrote a business plan for two PhD students in computer science. We pitched the plan to three VCs and learned what gets funded and why. It was also great to be on the pitching side of the table.--Entrepreneurship
I was able to integrate my pre-MBA work experience and academic training to help a local nonprofit improve its business operations. It was rewarding both as a learning experience and a way to contribute to the community.--Operations
My total MBA experience at Stanford was incredible and will serve me well for a lifetime. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to attend such a rich, high-caliber institution. It gave me opportunities to develop my leadership abilities and enrich my understanding of successful business management.--Not Available
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