Enrollment: 500
Average GMAT: 629.00
GMAT Range (25-75%): 590-660
Average Undergrad GPA: 3.15
Regular Application Deadline: 05/01
Rolling Admission: Yes
School Type: Private
Average Age: 27.00
Average Work Experience (months): 48

Part Time Program: No
Evening Program: Yes
Executive MBA Program Offered: No
Total Faculty: 48

Average Starting Salary: $79,392.00
Hired Consulting: 15%
Hired Finance: 48%
Hired Operations: 9%
Hired Marketing: 17%

Out-of-State Tuition: $35,000.00
In-State Tuition: $35,000.00
Students Receiving Some Aid: 84%
Average Annual Total Financial Aid: $40,050.00

2010 Entrepreneurial Programs: Business Schools

Students Say - Academics
A small program in a private university setting, the Babcock Graduate School of Management at Wake Forest University provides a business education that is focused on teamwork, entrepreneurship, experiential learning, and hands-on management. No matter what their academic preparation or business interest, all students are required to take the first-year core courses, which include such essentials as International Business Management, Financial Management, Macroeconomics, Operations Management, and Quantitative Methods. In the second year, students choose a career concentration within the broader areas of consulting/general management, finance, entrepreneurship, marketing, operations management, health management, information technology management (available only as a secondary concentration), or an individually designed concentration in an area such as health care management.
With only 80 students per class, Wake Forest maintains "an intimate feel and incredible exposure to top-notch faculty and alums in incredible positions." Students love the "entrepreneurial, collegial atmosphere that provides everyone with the opportunity to excel and invoke innovation and change." In fact, students say the school's small size works to their advantage in many ways, including "the development of stronger relationships with peers, better rapport with the faculty, and higher levels of access to the resources on campus." While a Wake Forest education comes with a private school price tag, students appreciate the little perks, like the fact that "everyone gets a [laptop] computer and [is] linked into the same network. This makes school assignments very easy to complete, and our IT support staff is fantastic."
Focusing on quantitative skills and boasting strong programs in IT and strategy, students say the workload at Wake Forest can be "very intense." However, the academic stress is counterbalanced by the fact that "professors are extremely dedicated to providing a positive learning environment and experience." A current student explains: "The school fosters a competitive environment which is key in the business world today; however, it also encourages a helpful and empowering attitude in individuals. If anyone is ever falling behind in a particular course or not understanding material, study groups are immediately formed."
Despite their years of experience in the classroom, Wake Forest professors are "surprisingly up to date on their integration of current business trends into classroom study." The curriculum is further augmented by a series of school-sponsored events and lectures, providing "excellent opportunities to hear reputable outside speakers talk on relevant business topics."

Students Say - Admissions
Wake Forest admits students who have proven academic ability, professional experience, and community involvement. Sought-after qualities include focus, motivation, leadership ability, strong values, and teamwork skills. Postgraduate work experience is highly important to an admissions decision. Last year, the entering class had an average GMAT score of 647, with a range of 610 to 680 (25th to 75th percentile), and average work experience of 3.3 years. For students who want to take part in a unique accelerated admissions process, Wake Forest offers "Done in a Day" admissions, wherein prospective candidates come to campus for one of several panel interview sessions. These applicants forego completing the admissions essays, and they receive an admissions decision within 24 hours of their interview.

Students Say - Campus Life
Life at Wake Forest is a mix of work, play, and professional development, and students enjoy plenty of "well-balanced days with strong academics and a warm, friendly class." Drawing "a diverse mix of individuals across all kinds of work experience, backgrounds, race, nationality, and even age," Wake Forest students describe their classmates as "smart, fun, socially vibrant, extremely supportive, and helpful in both academic and personal issues." Encouraging an intimate and tight-knit culture, the sense of community at Wake Forest "permeates every level of [students'] academic and social lives."
Outside the classroom, "There are many student-run activities for personal and career development. These include minority interest clubs, business function clubs, and social clubs." As a result, students enjoy "multiple outlets to be a leader in a club, work with admissions, and help the surrounding community." Notable student-run activities include social enterprise projects and trips, the Wake Forest MBA Marketing Summit and an accompanying MBA Marketing Case Competition, and the Elevator Competition, a business plan/venture capital event. When looking for a little down time, "Winston is a good town with plenty to do-good restaurants, good bars, good climate, and it's close to the beach and mountains." A current student enthuses, "One of the best things is that I am always busy, whether it's from being immersed in challenging studies or hanging out with new friends."

Students Say - Careers
The Career Management Center at Wake Forest works closely with students to define their goals and help make corporate contacts. The university also maintains a list of more than 6,300 MBA alumni, among the school's approximately 6,500 total MBA graduates, who are considered active and accessible in helping current students find positions. Babcock students acknowledge that there is a trade-off in attending a smaller school, as "Increased class size would help attract more companies, but would decrease intimacy." Even so, students assure us that "the school is small; however it pulls in many large companies to recruit on campus."
Having built strong ties in the finance industry, Wake Forest is currently "placing a strong emphasis on marketing and consulting." But on the whole, students report, "The Career Services team has done a fantastic job of assembling a wide variety of professional opportunities."The mean salary for graduating students was about $80,000.

Duke University
Indiana Universityâ€"Bloomington

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