UNDERGRADUATE Profiles Publish Date 2/26/09

College of William and Mary

Mason School of Business

Getting In

PROGRAM BASICS

The Mason School of Business, The College of William and Mary

Tyler Hall
P.O. Box 8795
Williamsburg , Virginia 23185

Public Institution

Web site

http://mason.wm.edu/undergraduate

Program e-mail address:

undergraduate@mason.wm.edu

Program telephone number:

(757) 221-2910

AACSB accredited:

Yes

Accreditation other than AACSB:

none

Year in which the undergraduate business program was founded:

1968

Length of entire institution:

Four Year

Business program length:

Two Year

Degrees offered:

Degree/Program Name:
BBA / Accounting
BBA / Finance
BBA / Marketing
BBA / Process Management and Consulting

PROGRAM COSTS

Annual Tuition (Resident):

$ 10,246

Annual Tuition (Non-Resident)

$ 29,326

Cost per academic credit (resident)

$ 225

Cost per academic credit (non-resident)

$ 840

Required fees

$ 2,078

Books:

$ 1,000

Room and board:

$ 7,910

ENROLLMENT

Full-time undergraduate business student enrollment:

454

Part-time undergraduate business student enrollment:

Distance undergraduate business student enrollment:

Total College enrollment for 2008-09:

7,892

ADMISSIONS

Minimum SAT score for entire college on 1600 scale:

n/a

Minimum ACT score for entire college:

n/a

Minimum high school GPA for entire college:

n/a

Interviews for entire college:

Not required

Additional application requirements for entire college:

Common application; Secondary school report with HS transcript and counselor recommendation letter; Mid-year secondary school report; TOEFL or IELTS test results (international only); Financial Certification Form with certified bank statement (international only); official report of standardized test scores (not required for transfers that have been out 5+ years; official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended (transfers); official GED or high school transcript (transfers). OR refer to Web: http://www.wm.edu/admission/undergraduateadmission/admissionprocess/applicationrequirements/index.php

Upcoming application deadlines for entire college:

Semester: Early Decision -F 09
Deadline: 11-01-2008
Semester: Reg Decision - F 09
Deadline: 01-01-2009
Semester: Transfers for F 09
Deadline: 2-15-2009
Semester: Transfers for Sp 10
Deadline: 11-15-2009

Freshmen admitted into business program:

Percentage of business students admitted as freshmen:

0 %

Are the freshman admits to the business program required to complete pre-business courses before beginning upper-lever courses in the junior year?

Internal transfers handled by:

Separate application

Minimum requirements for business program:

Entrance exam requirement other than SAT/ACT for business program:

Interview to enter business program:

Not offered

Additional application requirements for freshman admits:

N/A

Minimum college GPA for internal business program transfers:

2.0

Additional requirements for internal transfers:

Most students (both majors and minors) enter the program in the fall semester of junior year, typically applying during the spring semester of sophomore year for admission the following fall. We also accept applications in the fall semester for admission in the upcoming spring semester. Early admission is available for students studying abroad in the semester immediately before entering the business program. Prerequisite coursework includes introductory courses in Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Statistics, Calculus and Accounting. Please visit our website for more info on admissions requirements and details prerequisite coursework: mason.wm.edu/bba

Total number of full-time applications for entire college:

11,636

International applicants, entire college, 2008-09:

3 %

Female applicants, entire college, 2008-09:

63 %

Selectivity--applicants admitted to undergraduate business program, 2008-09:

34 %

Yield -- applicants enrolled in undergraduate business program, 2008-09:

35 %

Relative Importance of Application Elements:

Secondary School Record:

Very Important

Class Rank:

Very Important

Talent/Ability:

Very Important

Interview:

Considered

Extracurricular Activities:

Very Important

Character/Personal Abilities:

Very Important

Application Essay:

Very Important

Work Experience:

Considered

SAT/ACT Scores:

Very Important

Recommendations:

Very Important

High School GPA:

Very Important

Admissions program managed by:

The business program office

Total undergraduate business program applicants, 2008-09:

311

Applicants enrolled in undergrad business program 2008-2009:

96 %

Applicants admitted to undergraduate business program, 2008-09:

76 %

CLASS PROFILE

Class Profile:

Female: 43 %
International : 6 %

Entering students by age:

Mean: 21
Median: 20

Citizenship of Entering Students

U.S.: 93 %
Canada: 0 %
Other countries: 6 %
Unknown: 1 %

Percentage of US citizens in entering class who are:

African American: 4 %
Asian American: 11 %
Hispanic or Latino American: 4 %
Native American: 1 %
White (Non-Hispanic): 64 %
Chose not to report: 0 %
Other: 16 %

Entering students from the following region:

Northeast: 13 %
Mid-Atlantic: 73 %
South: 5 %
Southwest: 4 %
Midwest : 4 %
West: 1 %
Possessions and territories: 0 %

SAT Scores for full-time entering business students on 1600 scale:

Mean: 1317
Median: 1340

SAT middle 50% range on 1600 scale:

From: 1,260
To: 1,400

ACT Scores for full-time entering business students:

Mean: 28
Median: 29

ACT middle 50% range:

From: 26
To: 31

Percent of Students Who Were In:

Top 10% of high school class

73 %

Top 25% of high school class:

87 %

HS GPA of 3.75 or higher

65 %

HS GPA of 3.5 to 3.74:

22 %

FINANCIAL AID

Financial aid handled by:

Central financial aid office at the university

Institutional scholarship money distributed to undergraduate business students in previous academic year:

$ 1,647,679

Institutional scholarship money to be distributed to undergraduate business students in current academic year:

$ 1,813,082

Scholarships awarded to students in the business program based on:

A combination of need and merit

Other scholarship considerations:

FAFSA

Students receiving institutional scholarships for 2008-09 academic year:

34 %

Undergraduate business students with full-tuition scholarships 2008-09:

10 %

Percentage of institutional scholarship money distributed to business students based on merit, 2008-09 year:

50 %

Percentage of institutional scholarship money distributed to business students based on need, 2008-09:

50 %

School offers guaranteed loans:

Financial aid web site

http://www.wm.edu/admission/financialaid/?svr=web

Academics & Lifestyle

PROGRAM BASICS

Business students who graduate within four years:

97 %

Business students who graduate within 6 years:

99 %

Freshman retention rate:

94 %

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Credit hours required for graduation:

Degree: BBA
Hours: 120

Other degree requirements:

Prerequisite coursework in Economics, Statistics, Calculus and Accounting. Core Coursework. 23 hours of business coursework, including courses in Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Information Systems, Operations Mgmt, Business Law, Organizational Behavior, and Strategic Management. Major requirements. At least 12 hours of coursework in one of the following major fields: Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Process Management & Consulting. Detailed course requirements available at mason.wm.edu/bba

ACADEMICS

Average class size in required business courses:

Average class size in business electives:

Average class size in non-business electives required for admission to business program:

Class size:

Classes with fewer than 20 students: 13 %
Classes with 21 to 50 students: 86 %
Classes with more than 50 students: 1 %

CURRICULUM

Number of elective courses available in business program:

Electives added current year:

Research Seminar in Sustainable Commerce
Advanced Portfolio Management
Global Business Analysis in Southeast Asia
Social History of Advertising
Service Quality & Marketing

Year of the last major change to the business program's core curriculum:

2001

Leading areas of study:

Accounting

Consulting

Finance

Marketing

Other

Process Management

Special programs for business students:

Each business major develops an individual program of study that uniquely addresses their particular interests. Many students include study abroad, a secondary area of business study, or interdisciplinary study in Arts and Sciences. Our International Emphasis option allows business majors to internationalize their degree by integrating study abroad experience(s) with business coursework. Specialized opportunities in 08-09 include research seminar in sustainable commerce, faculty-student research grants, social history of advertising, and advanced portfolio management.

Business program offers work study or co-op opportunities:

Business program offers study abroad opportunities:

Yes

Study abroad program description:

The Mason School of Business aspires to have every business undergraduate study abroad. Our curriculum has been designed to allow students to study abroad in the spring of their 2nd or 3rd year. We also offer an early admission option for students studying abroad in the semester immediately before entering the business program. A wide variety of study abroad destinations are available, of varying lengths. We offer a summer business study program in Budapest, Hungary, a three-week winter break experience in Southeast Asia, and often offer spring break study abroad experiences. We also have an exchange relationship with the Manchester Business School in England and a partnership with the American Business School in Paris. Please visit our website for more info: mason.wm.edu/bba.

Volunteer work and community service opportunities:

Yes

Volunteer opportunities description:

For the last two years, our business program has offered a service learning experience of outreach to an elementary school in Cambodia. Read our blog and see our video at: http://mason.wm.edu/Mason/Programs/Undergraduate+Business/Our+Community/Making+a+Difference/ Many business students also volunteer through the College’s Office of Volunteer Services: http://www.wm.edu/studentactivities/osvs/

Business clubs and extracurricular activities:

American Marketing Association
Finance Academy
Gibbs Accounting Society
Mason Entrepreneurship Club
Net Impact

FACULTY

Faculty:

Full-time faculty : 40
Adjuncts and visiting faculty: 7
Permanent/tenured professors: 27
Percentage of permanent/tenured professors who are women: 11
Percentage of permanent/tenured professors who are underrepresented minorities: 11
Percentage of permanent/tenured professors who are also members of company boards of directors or of advisors: 15
Percentage of permanent/tenured professors who are business owners: 44

STUDENT LIFE

Largest on-campus organizations for business students:

American Marketing Association
Beta Gamma Sigma
Finance Academy
Gibbs Accounting Society
Net Impact

Freshmen are required to live on campus:

Yes

Business students are grouped in learning communities:

TECHNOLOGY

Wireless network available:

Yes

Technological improvements made in the last three years:

The College of William & Mary has been recognized for its extensive use of wireless networking throughout its campus, both indoors and out. The College’s student laptop initiative, combined with the wide availability of wireless and wired networking, ensures that all students are connected to their faculty, each other and the numerous technology-based resources available on campus, particularly at the Mason School of Business’ new home, Alan B. Miller Hall, which opens for the Fall 2009 semester. Expected technologies for Miller Hall include highly-effective teaching and display technologies in all classrooms, lecture capture technology, video teleconferencing, a state-of-the-art Financial Markets classroom/lab, and extensive business research databases available through the school’s Business Library.

Trading laboratory available:

Alumni Affairs & Careers

ALUMNI

Total number of undergraduate business program graduates since inception:

7,306

Total living alumni:

6,911

Percent of alumni who gave, 2007-08 academic year:

30 %

Mean alumni gift 2007-08:

$ 1,211

Median alumni gift, 2007-08:

$ 100

Single donation in excess of $10 million in 2007-08?

Prominent alumni:

Name: Paul Saville
Title: CEO, NVR Inc.
Name: H. Thomas Watkins
Title: CEO, Human Genome Sciences
Name: C. Larry Pope
Title: CEO, Smithfiled Foods

CAREER SERVICES

Percent of 2008 graduates who provided employment information:

61 %

Seeking full-time employment in business: 80 %
Not Seeking full-time employment in business: 20 %

Number of companies recruiting undergraduate students on campus in previous academic year:

108

Companies that posted full-time job offers/positions on school job boards, previous academic year:

568

Other activities and services provided for business majors:

Workshops: Resume Reviews, Interviewing, Internship Search Strategies, Mock Interviews. Programs: Career Exploration Series, Personal Branding Symposium, Consulting Symposium, From DoG Street to Wall Street Symposium, Etiquette Training, On-Campus Interviewing, Corporate Information Sessions, Roundtable Lunches w/ Alumni, Wall St. Program in NYC, Marketing Immersion in NYC, Consulting Immersion in DC, Accounting Immersion in NYC, Mason Career Bound, Road to Richmond Career Series.

Job offer results, 2008 graduates:

Received first job offer by graduation: 83 %
Received first job offer in three months following graduation: 14 %
Received first job offer more than 3 months after graduation: 3 %
Did not report having received a job offer: 0 %
Accepted first job offer by graduation: 79 %
Accepted first job offer in three months following graduation: 13 %
Accepted first job offer more than 3 months after graduation: 0 %
Did not report having accepted a job offer: 8 %

Top hiring firms:

Booz Allen Hamilton
Deloitte Touche Tomatsu
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
KPMG LLP
Ernst & Young
Deutsche Bank AG
Goldman Sachs Group

Navigant Consulting
Capital One
CGI
FTI Consulting
Kenesis Consulting
Teach for America
Cambridge Associates
Accenture

Graduate compensation:

Mean base salary: $ 49,685
Median base salary: $ 52,500
Mean signing bonus: $ 5,057
Median signing bonus: $ 5,000

Grads accepted jobs in following functional areas:

Consulting: 24 %
Finance/Accounting: 52 %
General Management: 4 %
Human Resources: 0 %
Management Information Systems: 4 %
Marketing/Sales: 8 %
Operations/Production: 0 %
Logistics/Transportation: 1 %
Other: 7 %

Grads accepted jobs in following industries:

Accounting: 27 %
Consumer Products/Retail: 4 %
Consulting Services: 29 %
Financial Services: 24 %
Government/Education: 4 %
Pharma/Biotech/Health: 0 %
Manufacturing: 1 %
Media/Entertainment: 2 %
Petroleum/Energy: 0 %
Real Estate: 1 %
Sports/Leisure: 4 %
Technology/Science: 1 %
Non-Profit: 1 %
Transportation: 0 %
Utilities: 1 %
Other: 1 %

Percentage of job acceptances, US and Canada:

US: 100 %
Canada: 0 %

Grads accepted jobs in the following US regions:

Northeast: 20 %
Mid-Atlantic: 69 %
Midwest: 3 %
South: 8 %
Southwest: 0 %
West: 0 %
US Possessions/Territories: 0 %

Number of companies recruiting interns on-campus, 2007-08 academic year:

Internship postings on job boards, previous academic year:

Top internship recruiters, 2007-08:

McKinsey & Company
Deloitte Touche Tomatsu
Deutsche Bank AG
Merrill Lynch
Ernst & Young

FTI Consulting
Northrup Grumman
Alvarez & Marsal
CGI Federal
Deloitte Consulting
Goodman & Company
Lockheed Martin
Marriott
Northwestern Mutual
Yount, Hyde & Barbour

Percentage of internships that were paid, previous academic year

79 %

Mean internship compensation per week:

$ 824

Median internship compensation per week:

$ 600

Average internship, in weeks:

Graduate Comments

Everyone's grades here are earned. There is no such thing as an easy A in any of the classes.

Students have the ability to create a space for their interests. I am interested in environmental sustainability and the business school worked with me to integrate such programs for other undergraduates.

Of all the classes taken at the Mason School of Business the weak links seem to be Finance and Business Law. The professors for these courses do not seem to be able to communicate their subject to the students and lack a sense of caring whether the students grasp the information or not. Other professors are passionate about their work and have real experience to back that passion and their teaching skills.

Some studies show that teaching ethics is integral in preventing poor decisions later in a business career. I feel that the W&M community, with the nations oldest Honor System, embraces a sense of integrity in all around life. These values are brought into the classroom by every student. This level of trust allows the student-professor relationship to develop in a way impossible to achieve simply by teaching ethics.

Our business school works very closely with the career center on campus, and they push very heavily to make sure that every senior business major has a plan and has what they need to accomplish that plan. I met my recruiter from the firm I'll be working for next year at the freshman year career fair, and through the career center maintained a relationship with her which gave me an in this year.

Student organizations within the business-school need to be more independent of the business school administration. Micromanagement by the business school office staff limits clubs from achieving full potential. It also prevents student organizations to represent the STUDENT interest; instead, it has become a vehicle for administration to represent its interests through semi-coercive measures. A leadership position/student organization should not solely exist to execute various demands from the administration. It should exist to represent student interests, develop professional behavior and encourage leadership. Being in a leadership position for these student organizations really taught us how to work under an incompetent boss; I'm not sure if that's really what they are trying to accomplish.

The undergraduate program does a great job of incorporating successful elements from the MBA program. I also really appreciate that as an undergraduate student, I have the opportunity to take classes taught by graduate professors. The business program has been difficult at times; both in terms of work load and the difficulty of the work, but the hardest classes that I have had to take have left me very confident in my ability to deliver an excellent product to an employer.

The foundations semester (the first semester in the business school) is a really great tool for students to adjust to their major classes. It also allows students to get a feel for different business classes to help open our minds to different majors we would like to choose. It also teaches teamwork especially during simulation week when we work together with our groups to create and maintain a business in competition with other groups.

The case study focus of certain classes, teaches us to think beyond the facts of the case and think about the bigger picture. It also allows us the look at the real world implications of decisions made by management, and the future implications of current actions. Our teachers use cases to build on the material in our textbooks, and they also will relate the subjects to the current events. Students from this year on will also have the added advantage of a strong understanding of what is currently going on in the financial markets and the economy. Our professors have placed a lot of emphasis on the current events, especially because they often times relate to the material. On top of that, our professors have made sure that we are actively reading periodicals in our major by assigning readings from these periodicals and encouraging students to read regularly.

The Mason School of Business has provided an outstanding experience for my undergraduate education. If I ever have any concerns, the incredibly helpful staff has never taken longer than a day to help me to find a solution and resolve my problems. I can't imagine a better experience, because anything that I have found wanting, I have talked to professors about. Students get the chance to review classes at the end of the year, but I have even seen professors make large changes to courses in the middle of the semester to address student concerns.

When I got sick last month, one of my professors gave me a call to check up on me. Not many students experience that kind of individual care and concern from professors at college.

Everyone is extremely hands-on--advisors, administrators, and staff. All of the professors are very knowledgeable and are passionate about what they are teaching. Administrators are approachable and I feel comfortable talking to them. The business program is challenging, but I have never felt that I was alone in the process. I always know that I have someone to talk to (professors, advisors, administration, etc.).

We are a small school in general which makes the business program even tighter. Also, the advisors and professors do an incredible job at always being available. They work really hard to help get us into the classes we need, prepare us for internships and jobs, and are always around for literally anything you need.

Faculty are always asking what the student needs are in the classroom, for recruiting events, and other facets of life in the business school.

The IPS-Individual Program of Study allows every student to pattern their own way through the business school, capitalizing on their strengths and interests. You can major in something you love and concentrate in something in which you are very talented. There is a vast amount of flexibility in your program selection at the Mason School of Business; there is a course of study fit for everyone!