The George Washington University School of Business

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School Says - General Information
The George Washington UniversityÂ's School of Business offers an excellent education in business and management. Our international business, finance, and entrepreneurship/small business fields are renowned, and the School prides itself on offering students flexibility in their programs of study. The School's business and accountancy programs are accredited by AACSB International. Increasingly, GWÂ's business school is regarded as one of the worldÂ's best. U.S. News & World Report has ranked GW 25th for Part-Time MBA Programs and in the Top 50 for Undergraduate Business Programs for four consecutive years. Meanwhile, U.S. News ranked GW #71, Forbes ranked GW #66, and BusinessWeek ranked GW in the Top 70 for Full-Time MBA programs. Our MBA program also has been recognized by the World Resources Institute as "cutting-edge" for leadership in training students in social and environmental stewardship. This is an exciting time for the School -- SBPM held a ceremonial groundbreaking in fall 2002 on a new business school facility, a $50 million project that will be the physical foundation for the School's future. Located at the corner of 22nd and G Streets, Ric and Dawn Duques Hall will bring all of the School's academic and research units under one roof and will feature state-of-the-art technologies. We believe that the creation and dissemination of knowledge is essential for effective management. Our mission is to serve current and future leaders, managers and professionals in the global community by offering superior learning opportunities in business and public management; engaging in research and other scholarly activities to advance management theory and practice; and providing management and professional expertise to business, government and not-for-profit organizations.

School Says - Student Body
Living at GW is about having everything you need to fully experience student life, campus involvement, student support services, dining, and other activities and amenities. The School of Business is quite diverse with students representing over 70 countries worldwide, in addition to the United States. Fueled in part by Colonial Athletics and spirit programs, our campus is bursting with GW pride and Colonial spirit. Those who cheer on our varsity teams from the sidelines are not excluded from the action, as GW boasts a state-of-the-art health complex, club and intramural sports programs, athletic fields, and numerous options for staying healthy and active.

School Says - Academics
The School of Business MBA curriculum stresses team work, communications, analytical skills, and strategic thinking utilizing experiential learning projects. Our students have served as consultants to Cadillac on marketing strategies for the new SRX sport utility vehicle, General Motors on an incentive program for Chevrolet Cavalier owners, and have created strategies for America Online on numerous projects. While some opportunities are grounded on campus, like our financial markets trading lab sponsored by Nasdaq, others are miles away. SBPM students have visited Cuba to analyze strategies for the development of sustainable tourism on the island nation. Another group of students traveled to London to study privatization. We also offer students the chance to meet and talk with management leaders. We have hosted Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway; Stephen R. Covey, author of the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People; Sumner M. Redstone, chairman and CEO of Viacom; and the Honorable Colin Powell (GW MBA '71), Secretary of the U.S. Department of State.

School Says - Admissions
Each year, approximately 110 new students are selected from a pool of about 1200 applicants to enroll in the Full-Time MBA Program at GW. The Admissions Committee bases its decision on an applicant's work experience, academic preparation and performance, strength of recommendations, scores on the GMAT, the applicant's statement of purpose, and the admissions interview. The advantage is this: As future businesspeople, students must learn to understand this relationship and be able to voice the needs of their firms. GW management students have the opportunity to gain a better perspective of the relationship between business and its non-market environment through coursework, team projects, and by attending open sessions of Congress, regulatory agencies, and other institutions. And with so many resources close at hand, through internships and part-time positions, our students have the opportunity to build their professional careers before they graduate.

School Says - Campus Life
GW is committed to providing its community of students, staff, faculty, and alumni with the utmost care in all aspects of campus life. We offer many specialty services, including our Career Center, University Counseling Center, International Services Office, Multicultural Student Services Center, Student Health Services, and Disability Support Services. The School of Business will take occupancy of its brand new state-of-the-art building during the Fall 2005 - Spring 2006 academic year.

Students Say - Academics
A new breed of business school, The George Washington University's Global MBA program brings ethical leadership and international savvy into the classroom. Having recently redesigned its MBA program, the school's "bold new curriculum" (combined with its historic strength in real estate, sports management, and other fields) has attracted many enthusiastic and socially-minded students to the program. At GWU's School of Business, core coursework has a heavy focus on entrepreneurship and global business, as well as an emphasis on "ethics, corporate social responsibility, and sustainability." During the first two semesters, students complete a "full-time compressed curriculum with fixed cohorts"â€"a series of interdisciplinary courses taught by teams of professors. A "relatively small MBA program," the GWU MBA allows more personal interaction in the classroom, and throughout the program, "Schoolwork is extremely team-based, which empowers students to develop essential teamwork skills." After completing the core, students can "tailor their secondyear curriculum to their interests" through one of 17 areas of concentration. A long-standing D.C. institution, GWU's stellar location adds incredible value to students educational experience, providing "many opportunities to supplement classroom learning with out-of-class experiences, such as seeing the treasury secretary and other politicians discuss important legislation." A student agrees, "While the academic experience is vital (and excellent), I would say it's all the opportunities outside the classroom that are most valuable to me." To supplement the academic curriculum with real-world know-how, GWU students pursue summer internships, attend lectures in the MBA speaker series, participate in school-sponsored co-curricular activities in the Washington, D.C., area, or volunteer through the "active Net Impact chapter." Of particular note, every GWU student gets hands-on experience through the "international consulting project"â€"a three-course sequence, which concludes with a real-world consulting experience overseas (recent destinations include Barcelona, Istanbul, and Ho Chi Minh City.) At GWU, professors and administrators are "all very professional and very competent"â€" as well as student-oriented. In fact, students say, "The most impressive thing about GWU's professors is their accessibility outside of class…. Most professors display a genuine interest in the students, which is very refreshing." Even so, many think the school needs to invest more time and energy in recruiting better faculty, as "the professors are very hit or miss" in the classroom. "Some of them are very effective instructors and go out of their way to help students succeed in learning the subject matter," while others "may be better researchers than educators." Students also admit that there have been a few hiccups as the school implements its new curriculum, but "the administration is working hard to smooth out all the wrinkles." Overall, the school "functions exceptionally well" and administrators are always "very responsive to student feedback."

Students Say - Admissions
Recently admitted MBA students at The George Washington University had an average GMAT score of 625 and 5 years of full-time work experience. As at most b-schools, applicants straight out of college face tough obstacles when it comes to the admissions process and to fitting in among their peers, but some do overcome these obstacles. GW does not accept 3-year degrees; to be accepted, grads of such programs must earn 2-year master's degrees.
By offering some merit scholarships and endowed scholarships for which international students are eligible, GW flouts the b-school convention of bleeding students dry financially. Many students, both domestic and international, cited generous scholarships as a deciding factor in their choice of GW.

Students Say - Campus Life
At The George Washington University, extracurricular, networking, and social activities are just as vital to the student experience as the academic program. With an emphasis on teamwork and cooperation, GWU "values the balance of networking and social relationships in conjunction with demanding academics." Taking advantage of the urban environment, the school offers "organized events around sightseeing and community service initiatives." In addition, "There are tons of ways to be involved, and nearly every student keeps exceptionally busy, through a combo of classes, internship(s), part-time work, and student clubs/activities." There really is something for everyone, and, "If you don't see a club you like, it's easy to start your own." With its small class sizes, "The atmosphere at GWU is definitely collegialâ€"in contrast to other schools which get fairly competitive, GWU students are happy to work together and help each other out." Socially, members of study groups often become close friends, and students say, "We go out at least once a week to socialize with each other and with other business school students as well." With its campus located in "the center of Washington D.C.," students say it is "very easy to get around in this city, and there is always a lot going on at the business school, around campus, and elsewhere." Thanks to the urban environs, "There is access to great speakers, events, and museums all the time and often for free;" however, some students complain that campus safety can be spotty, and there are "not many places to study on campus or near campus."

Students Say - Careers
The F. David Fowler Career Center (FDFCC) at the School of Business distinguishes itself from other MBA placement programs through its partnership with Meridian Resources, Inc, a career management consulting firm, which augments the campus program with expanded career planning and job placement resources. Students begin working with the FDFCC before they arrive on campus, and they continue to prepare for their career throughout the program through one-on-one career counseling, career development workshops, career fairs, and networking events. GWU has "a strong alumni network in the Washington, D.C., area and elsewhere," and "There are a number of programs that link students with alumni." However, given the school's global focus, many feel that "More of an effort should be made to engage international alumni." For recent MBA classes, the mean salary upon graduation was $77,600, with 16 percent of students receiving an additional signing bonus. Students took jobs at companies including AARP, AE Strategies, Booz Allen Hamilton, General Electric, Metro Associates, Samsung Securities, SAP, U.S. Department of Commerce, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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