Enrollment: 18
Average GMAT: 542.00
GMAT Range (25-75%): 460-620
Average Undergrad GPA: 3.46
Regular Application Deadline: 03/01
Rolling Admission: No
School Type: Public
Average Age: 28.00
Average Work Experience (months): 60
Student Faculty Ratio: 20:1

Part Time Program: No
Evening Program: Yes
Executive MBA Program Offered: No
Total Faculty: 61

Out-of-State Tuition: $16,491.25
In-State Tuition: $3,473.75
Financial Aid Deadline: 02/08

Students Say - Academics
The graduate business program at Appalachian State University's Walker College of Business offers a select few students "what is probably the most reasonably priced graduate program in the state-incredible bargain." At present, more than 40 students are enrolled in the program, which offers a conventional MBA, an MS in accounting, and graduate certificate programs in human-resource management, and information systems. Housed in the same hall as the university's mainframe computer, the MBA program puts computers to good use, employing computer simulations and computer analysis as well as computer-aided instruction in the classroom.
The Walker College of Business offers an intense one-year MBA with concentrations in General Management, International Business and Sustainable Business. Studies at Walker commence with MBA Enrichment, a require program that includes "orientation sessions, workshops, a team-building outdoor experience, and social time for students to get acquainted." The curriculum is designed to "provide students with a broad foundation of knowledge." The college is proud of its long history of international collaboration and is a recognized leader in sustainability, making ASU a perfect choice to start a green business career. One of the highlights of the program is giving the students the opportunity to take an international trip that corresponds to their concentration area. Instruction at Walker incorporates case study, group discussion, role-playing, guest-led seminars, field projects, team projects, and individual presentations. Students tell us that the Walker approach consists of "lots of work: You have to read and study a lot, [and] you get to learn! With so many assignments and reading, we are turning ourselves into sources of knowledge."
MBAs tell us that faculty members "are very well prepared; they have both the academic and professional experience that makes their teaching valuable. Academic quality is one of the greatest strengths of the school." They warn, however, that the program has a few kinks to iron out. One student warns, "Organization and overall program direction are currently being reassessed and will be better defined and articulated by next year. Once the restructuring has had time to develop, the MBA program will be one of the best buys in the state for the money."

Students Say - Admissions
Applications to the Walker MBA program are processed by the Admissions Office at the Cratis D. Williams Graduate School. Prospective students must submit GMAT or GRE scores, an undergraduate transcript, letters of recommendation, and a resume. An interview is strongly recommended but not required. Students should arrive with a working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. The school uses a formula to set minimum admissions requirements. The formula is (GPA x 200) + GMAT = admissions score; GPA is tallied based only on the final 60 hours of undergraduate course work. An admissions score of at least 1100 is required but does not guarantee admission. Application materials must arrive no later than 3/1.

Students Say - Campus Life
Unlike most MBA programs, Walker does not support much of an extracurricular scene; with its tiny student body, it can barely populate one club, let alone several. Accordingly, "most people pursue their own personal hobbies during their spare time. Being near the Blue Ridge Parkway and several ski slopes, a lot of people are involved in outdoor activities." As one student puts it, "If you like nature, long winters, and small, close-knit groups of friends, then you should look into ASU. And if you like skiing, you're golden." On the other hand, "when you want to have some nightlife, there is almost none." That's because "[hometown] Boone is a very small town. It has several movie theaters, including one that is $1.50," but not much else to offer. As one student explains it, is a beautiful place, meant for studying." Fortunately, the university community at large (which numbers over 16,000 students) offers up many forms of diversion, including ASU's 18 intercollegiate athletic teams. The university houses several museums and is host to numerous performing-arts series.
When students crave a more urban environment, they road-trip to either Asheville or Winston-Salem; each is just under a two-hour drive from campus. Lexington, NC, is also only two hours away. It's not a huge city, but it is home to arguably the best barbecue in the state (and thus, from a Tar Heel perspective, the best barbecue in the world).

Students Say - Careers
ASU's MBA program is much too small to support its own Career Services Office; students must use the school's Career Development Center, which serves all ASU enrollees. The office offers a variety of career-prep classes in interviewing, resume writing, networking, cover letters, and job hunting. It also sponsors career fairs and provides online support including links to job boards and major-related resources. Students recognize the limitations of their situation. They approvingly report, "The school has a good relationship with alumni and companies in nearby Charlotte, the second-largest financial mecca in the U.S.," but concede that that's not always enough. One student writes, "They need to do more to help students get internships and job positions. They do have departments and people that guide us and show us what steps we should take, but they should also have more agreements with some companies for sending students every year for internships."
Companies most likely to hire Walker grads include Bank of America, BB&T, Duke Energy, IBM, Lowe's Companies, MDI, Murray Supply, North Carolina State University, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Rubbermaid Newell, Wachovia, and Wake Tech.

North Carolina State University
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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