Smith School of Business

-The culture at Smith is remarkable. Everyone in the cohort knows each other and people are always willing to help one another. The faculty is just outstanding. The amount of learning that has happened for me in the last couple of years has been remarkable. Also, the faculty is always extremely approachable and willing to help students with academic and career related issues.

-The school needs to attract more core employers. Right now there are very few and most of them are not desirable places to work according to students.

-Very diverse and collaborative student body. Led to enhanced class discussions and topics drawn from personal experiences. Students were very concerned with making each other better, through networking and introductions and also with classwork. Probably one of the least "cutthroat" programs I applied to other than Kenan-Flagler.

-In regards to what can make the program stronger, there are areas like career service where there can always be room for improvement, but the school is doing a great job of addressing these areas. The Smith School knew what its opportunity areas were after the last set of rankings came out and they have fully addressed those problems during my tenure. The Office of Career Services in particular, is spearheading some of the improvements at school and the student cohort has been very passionate and enthusiastic about suggesting ideas to all of our administrative departments and taking the lead on school initiatives that will help place the school as a top-tier MBA program, where it belongs.

-Smith is a small program within a huge University, so we have access to all of the amenities of a big school but the program is very close knit and familiar. We also have the proximity to Washington DC and connections with public and private companies.

-Smith School has large part-time (DC, Shady Grove and Baltimore) and executive MBA programs. Although students across programs do interact, it is often difficult because of everyone's work schedule and location. However, more opportunities to mingle with students in part-time and executive MBA programs would be valuable for full-time students.

-The school has the Mayer Fund, which is a $2.6 million student managed investment fund. Students are given the opportunity to manage a small percentage of the school's endowment and operate like a true long only mutual fund.

-The school's network is strong in the DC area, but it could be improved on the West Coast.

-Smith's blend of collaboration and entrepreneurial spirit is what makes the program unique. Additionally, College Park is inside the DC beltway; one of the best places to be searching for jobs in this economy.

-The career department was severely lacking - the assistance I received was not particularly helpful, so improving the quality of the career services would absolutely make Maryland a better program.

-The passion for collaboration is unmatched. I've worked with some of the smartest people I've ever been around and they were all eager to contribute to teams and the Maryland community.

-Expanding existing employer relationships to promote non-federal branches of these organizations would both facilitate the process for placement of our international students and offer more opportunities for those American students seeking commercial sector-facing positions.

-Every school has a unique "culture". Maryland offered a very healthy combination between competitive & collaborative. Also, the specialized programs were outstanding (for me).

-More alumni connections could be made and school should reach out to more and more alumni who could contribute significantly to the school.

-Very diverse and collaborative student body. Led to enhanced class discussions and topics drawn from personal experiences. Students were very concerned with making each other better, through networking and introductions and also with classwork. Probably one of the least "cutthroat" programs I applied to other than Kenan-Flagler.

-The school needs to attract a greater number and broader range of major employers to conduct on campus interviews. Part of this responsibility, in my view, falls to graduates of the program, who must do excellent jobs at their respective companies so as to show that Smith School students make for top quality employees. On the flip side, some of this responsibility falls to the Office of Career Services to leverage their own personal networks to attract and keep new employers.