Georgia State University J. Mack Robinson College of Business

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School Says - General Information
The Global Partners MBA is a unique 14-month, full-time dual-degree MBA experience on 4 continents. Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University (GSU) has teamed with recognized, world-class business schools in Paris - IAE the Graduate Business School at the Sorbonne, and Rio de Janeiro - the COPPEAD Graduate School of Business, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro - to offer an international MBA with a truly global immersion experience. A cohort program, you will study at each of the three partner institutions with residency stays in Atlanta, Rio de Janeiro and Paris respectively, and an intensive two-week field study in China. A diverse student group coupled with your different national cultural settings makes for a multi-cultural learning environment - both inside and outside the classroom. You will learn from faculty, nationally and internationally recognized for their field expertise, and research and teaching acumen. You will see first-hand how business is done with extensive company visits and access to senior level decision makers in Atlanta, Rio, Paris, and China, and side-trips to Washington D.C., and Brussels for the program themes. The program culminates with a four-month international internship. Two program themes, Sustainable Leadership and Commercial Diplomacy, offer additional distinctiveness to the program and to your professional development.

School Says - Student Body
Classes of 2006 - 2010
Male 48%
Female 52%

Global Partners students come from around the world, making the classroom a micro United Nations. Countries represented by the program include Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Congo, Ecuador, Estonia, Ethiopia, France, Honduras, India, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Kenya, Korea, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Taiwan, Togo, Turkey, United States, Venezuela. Languages spoken by candidates have included: Arabic, Amharic, Bangali, Cantonese, English, Estonian, Farsi, French, German, Hindi, Igbo, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, Turkish, Yoruba.

Average Years of Work Experience: 5.5
Average Age: 28
GMAT range (mid-80%): 560 - 720
Average GPA: 3.2

School Says - Academics
The Global Partners MBA is a cohort program. Courses are integrated across the partner schools offering a truly global perspective. The program incorporates two themes into the curriculum Ââ€" Sustainable leadership and Commercial Diplomacy. Students interact with corporate and government leaders in each locale with business tours including extended company visits to China (3 cities), Washington D.C., and Brussels. The coursework culminates with a 4-month international internship. Students live on 4 continents, earn 2 degrees, have 1 global experience in 14 months.

School Says - Admissions
The program begins every October. The admissions application deadline is April 1. Admission requirements are:
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent
- Proficiency in a second language
- Two-three years' work
- Graduate Masters Admission Test (GMAT)
- 2 Letters of Recommendation
- Essays

School Says - Campus Life
The Buckhead Education Center is located in the heart of Atlanta's Financial District. The facility contains three classrooms, four break-out rooms and administrative offices. Students have access to three libraries and a student recreation center. While abroad, the partner schools have dedicated classrooms.

Students Say - Academics
Georgia State offers its part-time MBA in two formats. Students in its flexible MBA program determine how many or how few courses to take per semester. Most Flex MBA students graduate in three to five years, but the program can be completed within two years with a full course load. Its Professional MBA (PMBA) is for high-performing, early-career professionals with four or more years of experience. The two-year PMBA is presented in an executive format, allowing students to continue working full-time. Georgia State also offers the Global Partners MBA, a full-time, 14-month program spanning four continents with residencies in Atlanta, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, and China, and a four-month international internship. While you can no doubt find the occasional dissenter, many students at Georgia State are rather impressed with their b-school education. The vast majority of professors are "personable," "caring," and really "work to help you understand the material." Most bring years of business experience into the classroom and make a concerted effort to "stay up to date with the latest trends in their field." Additionally, instructors are adept at "facilitating discussions…using case studies," often illustrating concepts within a practical framework. Students also laud their "engaging" professors for fostering a classroom environment that makes one "eager to learn more about the business world." Moreover, students appreciate that "the curriculum is really geared for working professionals so you can apply your learning [in] real time." Many extol the "flexibility of the part-time programs" noting they "really try to cater to people who work full time." Most classes are "very focused on teamwork and group projects." There is also "a primary emphasis on application of ideas and techniques and a lesser concentration on theory." Many students applaud the administration, noting the "friendly, helpful, and polite" staff ensures everything runs "very smoothly." One first-year student does offer this final piece of advice: "The Financial Aid staff is a bit overextended, due to the size of the school, but if you start efforts early, it works fine."

Students Say - Admissions
Applicants to GSU MBA programs must submit all of the following materials to the Office of Admissions: official copies of transcripts for all postsecondary academic work; an official GMAT score report; a resume (at least two years of full-time professional experience is preferred); and two personal essays. Letters of recommendation are not required but are considered for those candidates who submit them. International students must submit, in addition to the above materials, evidence of sufficient financial resources to fund their MBA studies; an independent evaluation of all academic transcripts for work completed abroad; and, for students whose first language is not English, an official score report for the TOEFL. International students are required to carry a full-time course load.

Students Say - Campus Life
The Georgia State student body is comprised of "driven, currently working professionals, with high expectations." Many are "very independent and focused on their area of interest." Since the "majority of students work full time," there's a dearth of "socializing outside of class." Despite limited fraternizing, "there is a wonderful camaraderie amongst MBA students." Indeed, a number are quick to characterize their peers as "friendly," "helpful," and "articulate" as well as "willing to [both] share their experiences and learn from the experiences of others." Additionally, the majority "reach [out] to other students [to] form networking circles." Also of importance, Georgia State manages to attract an applicant pool that offers "varied backgrounds," both in terms of industry and geography. This greatly benefits students as they are privy to "additional global perspectives from classmates." A multi-campus school, "the environment changes with locale." While "two of the campuses are dedicated to the business school," those students who "desire the traditional collegiate atmosphere" should look into attending the main campus. Regardless of where you enroll, Georgia State students have the bustling city of Atlanta at their fingertips. Offering a variety of fine dining and entertainment, Atlanta is also home to top companies such as Turner Broadcasting, Coca Cola, Bell South, and The Home Depotâ€"perfect for the ambitious MBA candidate.

Students Say - Careers
Though some students wish career services would "promote networking outside of the classroom that is convenient for working professionals," Robinson's Career Management Center for Graduate Students does provide a variety of services. MBA candidates have access to the Robinson Career Connection, an online database where students can upload resumes, search for jobs and internships, and register for campus events. Furthermore, Robinson offers exceptional training in interview preparation. Students can take advantage of both mock interviews as well as InterviewStream, an online video system that they can access from the comfort of their home. Additionally, resources like the Executive Coaching Program present eligible students with the chance to meet, one-on-one, with business professionals. All of these opportunities help to ensure that Georgia State students meet their career goals and aspirations. Recent recruiters of Georgia State MBAs were Deloitte Consulting; Hewitt Associate; KPMG, LLP; UNUM Corporation; Ernst & Young, LLP; Tauber & Balser, PC; Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc.; Towers Perrin; Frazier & Deeter, LLC; and Wachovia Securities Financial Network.

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