Georgetown University McDonough School of Business

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School Says - General Information
Offering unparalleled access to global business, policy and thought leaders, the McDonough School of Business is seated at one of the nationÂ's most prestigious universities in one of the worldÂ's most influential cities. Founded in 1789, Georgetown University is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in America. The Georgetown MBA Program develops leaders capable of making complex business decisions in a global environment and who are dedicated to serving their companies, society and humanity. Students gain solid grounding in all core management disciplines, with an emphasis on the global, ethical and political environment of business. Our commitment to understanding international business is demonstrated by the global curricula, strong presence of international students (more than one-third), and opportunities provided to study business and management in other parts of the world.

School Says - Student Body
Teamwork, cooperation and friendly competition are emphasized. Because classes are smaller, students develop close relationships with one another, Faculty and administrators. This atmosphere of easy camaraderie extends to an active social life, both on GeorgetownÂ's campus and in Washington, D.C. Students actively shape the future of the school. Through participation in student organizations, students demonstrate leadership skills by planning special events such as professional development activities (including functional days and career treks to domestic and international locations), networking opportunities, and social events. We enroll smart, hardworking students with some important traits in common: demonstrated leadership ability and accomplishments, cross-cultural awareness, clear career goals, and desire to make a difference in the world. The typical student has worked five years prior to joining Georgetown MBA.

School Says - Academics
Georgetown MBA provides a general management framework with an emphasis on the global business environment. The curriculum's organization Ââ€" into intensive team-based experiences, courses that integrate various functional areas and elective courses that offer choice Ââ€" is designed to give students the tools and skills they need to anticipate, analyze, and solve increasingly interrelated, complex business challenges. Students may choose courses according to individual interests and career goals and also pursue summer internships or study abroad programs. All students are required to undertake a foreign residency, the Global Integrative Experience, in which teams work on real consulting projects for companies in cities around the world. Recent locations have included Dubai, Ho Chi Minh City, Johannesburg, Prague and Sao Paulo.

School Says - Admissions
Georgetown University seeks a diverse student body and encourages applications from a wide variety of backgrounds. A number of factors are considered, including: Intellectual Capacity and Academic Achievement as indicated by transcripts, letters of recommendation, and results of standardized tests (GMAT and, for international students, TOEFL or IELTS); Professional Accomplishments and Personal Strengths as demonstrated by distinctive and useful achievements, ideas, talents, and motivation for graduate business education; and the Admissions Interview.

School Says - Campus Life
Currently, the Georgetown MBA program is located just two blocks from the main campus in the historic Car Barn, a modern facility named for its origin as a streetcar depot. In March 2006, the School broke ground on a new facility at the heart of GeorgetownÂ's main campus. To be completed in early 2009, this five-story, state-of-the-art structure will unite the graduate and undergraduate programs under one roof.

Students Say - Academics
Offering "a diverse global environment in the world's greatest capital city," the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University offers an MBA with a strong international focus bolstered by "its international enrollment" and the second-year Global Integrative Experience, a course that culminates in a mandatory 9-day, international consulting experience. The school's location in the nation's capitalâ€"a magnet for diplomats and international business repsâ€"further enhances the school's global scope. McDonough's "innovative curriculum" capitalizes on the university's many strengths by "integrating other elements of the Georgetown University, such as the Public Policy Institute and the School of Foreign Service," thereby exploiting an advantage to "merge public and private interests to create well-rounded, business-minded individuals." The MBA program also benefits from "access to Georgetown University-related activities, such as speakers and workshops," and a "highly responsive alumni" who are "very receptive to networking with MBA students." McDonough's full-time program operates on a modular calendar, a system many here wish the school would abandon. Students tell us that "five classes crammed into 6-week modules is too much," not allowing students "to delve into course material." The school has responding by moving to a 7-week module with 4 classes. The school introduced a part-time evening program during the 2006â€"2007 academic year. A gorgeous brand-new building in the center of campus" dedicated to the business school, opened in 2009. MBAs at Georgetown benefit from "small class sizes" because it "encourages a great deal of interaction." Also, students appreciate "a faculty that is very dedicated to teaching, which is clearly distinct from many schools that are more research-focused." While international business is McDonough's greatest strength, it isn't its only standout discipline; students laud the "strong management" offerings and note that the school is "a hidden gem for investment banks." Students also appreciate the school's Jesuit underpinnings, which stress ethics, immersion in the liberal arts and philosophy, and the importance of community service.

Students Say - Admissions
Applicants must submit all of the following materials: an application form (online application is required); a resume; four required essays; official transcripts for all postsecondary academic work; two recommendations, from a professional relationships; and an official GMAT score report. Interviews are encouraged but are conducted only at the invitation of the school after the first application deadline. International students must submit an official score report for the TOEFL, IELTS, or Pearson Test of English in addition to the above materials. McDonough requires a minimum of 2 years of post-collegiate professional experience (and prefers 3 or more) prior to admission.

Students Say - Campus Life
"The workload is intense" at McDonough, with the module system rushing classes along to the point that "it can interfere with the internship/job search. Even so, students who are driven find ways to make it work." Because full-timers attend classes in four separate cohorts, "There isn't much opportunity for you to interact with the three-fourths of the class not in your own cohort," but "Significant amounts of group work help foster teamwork skills and force people to deal with uncomfortable or unfamiliar situations within their cohorts." Students do get to interact with folks outside their cohorts through "a decent number of clubs and social activities." Georgetown University is a hub of political and intellectual activity; its many schools host "lectures and activities...that are extremely interesting. There are many opportunities to attend lectures with prominent speakers, such as Kofi Anan, [the] President of Afghanistan, etc., who are visiting town." Washington, D.C. offers even greater diversions, with "many cultural outlets that are unique to D.C. such as restaurants, nightlife, a great zoo, and museums." McDonough MBAs enjoy a "highly cooperative environment. Classmates are not at all competitive." The student body "is extremely diverse in both background and professional experience. Even a student without a strong business/financial background would feel comfortable studying here." Part-time evening students "tend to have fulltime jobs. Many are married and have kids; they have absolutely no time to socialize."

Students Say - Careers
McDonough students have complained about career services in the past, but many now emphatically tell us that "there has been considerable improvement" in this area, and "Whereas there was a time when the Career Management Center could have stepped up its efforts, this is no longer the case." The addition of a new Dean and a new Director of Career Management sparked the transformation; today, "Career Management is very dedicated. The office is extremely helpful in providing advice and consultation. Furthermore, the quality of the companies and the job opportunities that are made available to students are outstanding." Employers who most frequently hire McDonough graduates include: Citigroup, Booz Allen Hamilton, Credit Suisse, Merrill Lynch, AES, America Online, International Finance Corporation (IFC), 3M, American Express Company, Avaya, Bank of New York, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Ford Motor Company, and JPMorgan Chase.

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