Enrollment: 150
Average GMAT: 561.00
GMAT Range (25-75%): 510-610
Average Undergrad GPA: 3.39
Regular Application Deadline: 03/15
Rolling Admission: Yes
School Type: Public
Average Age: 26.00
Average Work Experience (months): 60

Part Time Program: Yes
Evening Program: Yes
Executive MBA Program Offered: Yes
Total Faculty: 39

Out-of-State Tuition: $15,252.00
In-State Tuition: $15,252.00
Financial Aid Deadline: 03/15
Students Receiving Some Aid: 45%
Average Annual Total Financial Aid: $16,880.00

School Says - Student Body
The BGSU MBA program, accredited by the AACSB, is recognized nationally and internationally for the quality of its students and faculty. The incoming class of full-time MBA students is limited to a maximum of 40 students to maintain the small class sizes and faculty accessibility for which the MBA program is known. The program works to foster an "espirit de corps" among the students. Within each semester, full-time students will be a part of a cohort that shares a common schedule. This cohort experience is vital to the development of communication and teamwork skills and promotes valuable networking abilities that will be critical in any business professional career.

The student body in the MBA program is very diverse, and this diversity enhances the learning environment. The current MBA student population includes people from 16 countries and 6 states. In addition, approximately 34 percent of our students are international. Across all programs, students range in age from 22 to 52, with an average of 29. The average work experience of full-time, part-time and executive students is 3, 6, and 10 years, respectively, but work experience is not required of full-time or part-time students. BGSU's MBA programs do not require undergraduate degrees in business for admission, so participants' academic backgrounds vary.

School Says - Academics
MBA Program Philosophy

MBA programs are as varied as the business schools that offer them. Some are big. Bowling Green State University's MBA is not. The incoming class of full-time students consists of only 40 people. This means small class sizes and easy access to faculty. Some programs appear to prefer an undergraduate business degree. BGSU does not. The full-time MBA can be completed in 14 months with or without an undergraduate business degree. A specialization requires only an additional semester. Some schools require business experience for admission. BGSU does not. The full-time program is designed for students who will be new to their chosen fields. Most business schools (75 percent) are not AACSB accredited. BGSU is AACSB accredited. Accreditation is one way to demonstrate how serious BGSU is about their business programs.

The College of Business Administration has created a small-school atmosphere within a major research university. The outstanding students who comprise the MBA cohort reap the benefits of these resources without facing the cutthroat competition common in larger programs.

The College of Business Administration

The College of Business Administration serves approximately 2,200 undergraduate students and 250 graduate students. The College offers two undergraduate degrees (BS Business Administration and BS Economics) and six master's programs (Master of Business Administration, Master of Organization Development, Master of Accountancy, Master of Science in Applied Statistics, Master of Arts in Economics, and Operations Research Specialization in the Master of Science in Computer Science). The College consists of seven academic departments: Accounting and Management Information Systems, Applied Statistics and Operations Research, Economics, Finance, Legal Studies and International Business, Management, and Marketing.

The Business Administration building is a modern facility providing classrooms and office space for faculty, staff, and graduate assistants. MBA classes are generally held in small seminar-style classrooms or computer laboratory classrooms.

University Overview

Bowling Green State University is a diverse, mid-size institution located in northwest Ohio, approximately 23 miles south of Toledo. BGSU was founded in 1910. The 1,338-acre campus houses more than 100 buildings in a small-town setting.

The University serves approximately 17,000 undergraduate and 2,900 graduate students. BGSU combines the resources of a first-rate research institution with the friendliness and ambience of a small college. The work of MBA students is supported by excellent facilities, including a modern Business Administration Building, an outstanding library collection, excellent computing facilities, and a network of campus research centers.

The University's degree offerings include more than 165 undergraduate degrees, 15 master's in more than 60 fields, 2 specialist degrees, the EdD, and 16 PhD programs. The heart of the University is its 550 full-time faculty members, who are engaged in teaching, research, and public service activities.

In order to function effectively in a professional world that is more diverse, more team-oriented, more global, and more dynamic than ever before, the BGSU MBA program is designed to prepare graduates who:

• Know the fundamentals of business well.
  
• Recognize the ethical obligations of leadership.
  
• Engage problems creatively.
  
• Learn on their own, continuously.
  
• Work well in teams with diverse memberships.
  
• Understand change and know how to adapt and succeed in the midst of change.
  
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

The MBA program provides a broad curriculum organized around three principle components: foundation, core, and capstone courses. The foundation courses cover Financial and Managerial Accounting, Economic Analysis, Statistics, Quantitative Analysis, and Information Technology. The core courses include Financial Management, Operations Management, Marketing Management, and Ethics and Law in Business. The capstone courses cover Economic Policy, Leadership and Change, Strategy Design and Implementation, and International Business and Management. For full-time students, the program includes modules on Computer Skills, International Business Principles, and the Foundations of Ethical Leadership. In addition, students take part in a series of co-curricular professional development seminars dealing with topics such as presentations and report writing, team facilitation, effective negotiations, career planning, and organizational politics.

Although students may choose to do a general MBA, they also may pursue a formal specialization in Accounting, Finance, or Management Information Systems. Or, a student may pursue the dual degree option and earn a second master's degree in any of a variety of fields, such as Organization Development, Public Health, Industrial Technology, or Public Administration.

The MBA degree requires a minimum of 42 semester hours (47 semester hours for full-time students). The general MBA may be completed in 14 months regardless of the student's prior undergraduate preparation. An MBA with a specialization requires 12 additional semester hours (one additional semester of full-time study). The full-time MBA program primarily serves students who will be entry-level professionals upon graduation and does not require business experience as a requirement for admission. The evening MBA program serves students with professional experience and an ongoing career. Neither the full-time nor evening program requires prior academic preparation in business.

Bowling Green State University has been offering an Executive MBA program since 1977. The EMBA program is a rigorous, accelerated program that requires 12 graduate courses. The program serves students with extensive professional experience and is designed to accomodate the demmands of professional travel and relocation. Prior academic preparation in business is not required for the EMBA program. However, candidates must be nominated by their employers, unless self-employed.

A comprehensive and carefully designed career planning and placement program is an integral part of the BGSU MBA experience. Career planning activities begin during orientation week and continue throughout the year.

The Career Services office, which has been recognized nationally and regionally for the quality of its programming, assists with career development and job placement from the student's first semester through actual job placement.

Career Services provides students with personal help with interviewing skills, resume preparation, alumni and professional networking skills and opportunities, and access to on-campus recruiters. These services are provided using state-of-the-art Web-based computer systems that have received national recognition.

School Says - Admissions
Graduate Studies in Business at BGSU welcomes applications from individuals regardless of their undergraduate major. Applicants must submit an application, transcripts of all previous college work, GMAT scores (and TOEFL when applicable), two letters of recommendation, a personal statement, a current resume, and a $30 application fee. Prior work experience is also reviewed when making assistantship decisions, although it is not required.

Application Facts and Dates

For full-time domestic students, the program begins in July with two courses. For international students, the session begins in late June with a one-week intensive orientation program followed by the same two courses. As a result of the limited admissions and mid-summer starting date, completed application materials including test scores (GMAT, TOEFL) must be received by the following deadlines:

January 15 for international applicants applying for a graduate assistantship award.

February 15 for international applicants who are NOT applying for a graduate assistantship award.

February 15 for domestic applicants applying for a graduate assistantship award.

March 15 for domestic applicants who are NOT applying for a graduate assistantship award.

International applications received or completed after the February 15 deadline are unlikely to be processed in time for admitted students to apply for and receive their student visas and begin the program in late June/early July. Domestic applications received or completed after the March 15 deadline will be accepted for consideration on a space-available basis.

Students Say - Academics
Looking for a "quality education" with "high standards" that keep "student success as a primary goal"-all while offering an MBA degree that can be completed in 12 months? For those hoping to fast-track their business careers, the MBA program at the College of Business Administration at Bowling Green State University provides an excellent (and speedy) opportunity for students, even if they didn't get their undergraduate degree in business. And for only one additional semester's work, a specialization in accounting or finance can be added.
"The workload is heavy, and the classes are demanding," students tell us. However this is bolstered by the "very supportive" professors. One student explains, "When I started BGSU, I thought it would be a piece of cake for me. But I soon realized that the professors were serious about their work and expectations and settled for nothing but the best." Despite the rigors of the curriculum, most students find the program manageable thanks to the fact that "everyone seems willing to help each other out." Even those without prior business degrees or experience note that this collegial atmosphere and the "professors' accessibility outside the classroom and readiness to assist in learning were of great importance to my success in BGSU MBA program."
Students agree that the majority of professors "are very knowledgeable and willing to help." "Some are outstanding, while some are just okay," explains one student. "Two out of every three classes . . . were great," adds another; however, "It seemed like each semester we had one professor that wasn't the best." The curriculum puts a heavy emphasis on group projects and teamwork, which functions to help students make "a connection between theory and practice and help to develop skills."
The College of Business' full-time program features "a leadership assessment and development component consisting of a series of workshops" that "lead students through an ongoing process of reflection and self-discovery so that each obtains a better understanding of his or herself in relation to a desired management career." Students find the workshops helpful in their career development, especially the "Professional Development Sessions on Fridays," where they meet and interact "with industry leaders...in a professional and mentorship atmosphere."

Students Say - Admissions
The College of Business Administration at BGSU doesn't require applicants to have business experience for admission as "the full-time program is designed for students who will be new to their chosen fields." That said, prior work experience is a factor when it comes to securing an assistantship. Applicants must submit two official transcripts from each college attended, GMAT scores, a current resume, three letters of recommendation, and a personal statement; interviews are optional and can be conducted in person or by telephone. International students must also provide the school with TOEFL scores if their native language is not English.

Students Say - Campus Life
Students at BGSU agree that the student body is a "very diverse group from almost every continent" that consists of "very intelligent, committed, and dedicated" individuals. Statistics state that for the school at large, while "90 percent" of students are from Ohio, a whopping 55 countries are represented on campus. Additionally, about one-third of the MBAs are international students. The school also notes that "across all programs, students range in age from 22 to 52, with an average of 26. The average work experience of full-time, part-time, and executive students is 3, 6, and 10 years, respectively, but work experience is not required of full-time students."
On a campus of more than 20,000 students, the College of Business facility is home to "a smaller community of professors, business students, and equipment where it is extremely easy to locate resources. Classrooms and a computer lab are located on the main floor, and professors and more computer labs are located upstairs. At BGSU, time is not wasted locating resources." MBAs also appreciate the "high standards" of "the school's programs" and "extracurricular activities" that "provide a well-rounded educational experience." They also tell us that "there are many diverse clubs and activities," such as The Business Club that "has social activities ranging from guest speakers to having beers at the local bar. Sometimes we even invite our professors."
While no one would mistake Bowling Green for a megalopolis, students find this "quiet" and "friendly" town charming and completely lacking in "distractions." "The university is the city for the most part," says one student. Others extol the "low prices" and "very cheap places to live off campus." But, "More than anything, it's safe." BGSU's location provides "easy access to Chicago, Cleveland, and Detroit." But if you crave "a large city," Toledo is "only 15 to 20 [minutes] away." But be sure to bundle up as "The weather may be a bit harsh during winter."

Students Say - Careers
To assist BGSU students in their job searches, the College of Business offers "a series of co-curricular professional development seminars, covering topics such as oral presentation and report writing, team facilitation, effective negotiations, career planning, and organizational politics." Some report though that "career opportunities for MBAs are not well organized" and that students are "mostly on their own" in the job hunt. In particular, international students find it "very tough to find a job."
Recent employers of BGSU MBAs include American Express, American Greetings, Ernst & Young, Marathon Ashland, National City Corporation, Nationwide Insurance, Owens Corning, Plante & Moran, Progressive Insurance, and State Farm Insurance. The school reports that over half its graduates find their first job outside the United States.

University of Toledo
Ohio University

More at PrincetonReview.com