Saïd Business School

-Unlike other MBA programs, the work schedule is a bit more relaxed giving students ample amount of time to critically analyze the issues presented in assignments. Also interaction with students from other courses and the unique and calm Oxford experience is probably hard to replicate anywhere else in the world (except for in Cambridge, probably).

-The University of Oxford has a great brand name because of it's excellent research departments. What makes Said unique from other business school is the ability to integrate with other leading departments (e.g. Medicine, Social Sciences, Economics, etc.) to enrich the MBA learning experience. Only a few schools can provide this in a one-year MBA program.

-Said Business School is still a young business school with an alumni network that is currently growing but is not as strong as other MBA school. Only time will make the alumni group stronger.

-Being part of the larger University is a truly special experience, as is living abroad. The opportunity to condense the MBA into 1 year made sense for me financially and allowed me to get back to my field without letting business relationships atrophy as much as they might in 2 years. Further, an opportunity to share the experience with a truly diverse student body, with students from over 50 countries, and in which Americans are not a majority, was an interesting perspective for someone in a global business like mine.

-As a new program Oxford needs to do more to attract top students. About a third of my class were high caliber traditional business students who chose Oxford to engage the ideas in the university, another third were exceptionally bright non-traditional business students with a new interest in building new ventures (this includes the handful of Rhodes scholars in the class each year), but then the last third are students who came to Oxford because it was a brand name they knew and they couldn't get into their top choices. I think the school can continue to thrive if it works to minimize this last set, and market itself to candidates in the first two groups.

-The strength of Said is the caliber and diversity of students it attracts--across more industries than a typical business school and students more interested in being world leaders, not just rich investment bankers. The second strength is the school's ties to Oxford University -- students get to participate in the college system and attend lectures at one of the best schools in the world. There's something special about the students here, I believe they're more academically minded and open to learning for the sake of learning.

-The Careers department needs serious overhaul in the tough economic scenario. The economy can not be used as an excuse if the school wants to compete with other schools around the world, especially in the US.

-I believe the Oxford experience cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world. Being involved in something so much bigger than a simple MBA or the business school, belonging to one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world, and being able to network with so such a diverse student bodies ranging from PhD's in Chemistry, Economics, Philosophy, etc., to Nuclear physicist is just something that blows your mind. You can breathe and feel the power of Oxford everywhere you go and it is overwhelming and simply phenomenal.

-More electives could be introduced giving enough options to specialize in a particular area of interest.

-Said Business School students are fully integrated into the Oxford University Collegiate system creating an unparalleled social, academic, and professional environment. Business school students have the option of engaging in business school activities, activities at their individual colleges, and activities provided by the broader university environment (e.g., the world famous Oxford Union Debate Society).

-A stronger, better connected and well-organized careers department with close relationships with alumni of the university as a whole will make the business school stronger.

-The experience at Oxford cannot be replicated - the traditions of the university, access to world class academics in any imaginable discipline, a truly diverse student body representing over 50 countries, and accomplished classmates always willing to help. The environment is a lot more collegial and less competitive than other business schools. The onus is really on academics and on shaping the way that you think and problem solve on a day-to-day basis.

-The staff and admin recognize that the way to stay on top is to continue to change for the better. They are very open to students comments and suggestions and the incredible thing is, they actually listen to us and respond quickly. Typically the UK is more reserved when promoting themselves. The business school definitely has that attitude as well. They are trying to become more self-promoting in the sense that American schools do but humility certainly slows them down. Humility and promotion can work together and they are working to find that balance in marketing themselves to the rest of the world.

-It is one of the youngest business schools in the world located at one of the oldest institutions in the world. The one-year programme is intense but offers opportunities not available elsewhere. Teaching the students and ensuring they learn is more important to Oxford than providing a "rubber stamp MBA" and only networking opportunities to those who attend. The pomp and associated ceremonies at Oxford are not for everyone but those who attend embrace the traditions and make it truly unique.