Indiana University—Bloomington Kelley School of Business

Statistics

Programs & Curriculum

Employment

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Rankings & Lists

Students Say - Academics
Students enjoy "a collaborative environment" at IU's prestigious Kelley School of Business, where "life is pretty relaxed and students are not very competitive. Pretty much any person you ask for helpâ€"student, faculty, professorâ€"will legitimately take an interest in helping you solve your problem." Maybe it's a Midwestern thing, or maybe it's just a benefit of being located far enough away from the East Coast rat race, but for whatever reason, Kelley students seem awfully happy for people who are working so hard. As one student puts it, "In some ways the culture here is so amazing that you forget things don't always operate that way outside of Kelley." The Kelley experience begins with a 15-week integrated core curriculum that "is exciting but also very challenging; think of it as a marathon. Courses themselves are actually easier than many of my undergrad classes were in terms of content. It's the pacing and volume combined with activities outside of class that make it so difficult." Indeed, "The first semester core can be brutal, but is a team-building exercise to prepare you for the remainder of the MBA program and for your internship and post-grad employment." It helps that "the professors through[out] the core are very engaging and accomplished." The core, along with a leadership/professional/career development module, consumes most of the first semester. During the second semester, students begin major and elective coursework. "Most classes require a team effort" at Kelley, so "students must be able to work in teams." A top school, Kelley is strong across multiple business disciplines; marketing and entrepreneurship are the standout fields here, though, with numerous respondents identifying them as the program's greatest strengths. Specialized study is enhanced by industry-focused, week long ‘academies' that provide concentrated exposure to a business sector through guest speakers, seminars, field trips, and case competitions. The academies are huge crowd pleasers. One student explains why: "The Kelley Academies by far set Kelley apart from every other top b-school. When you choose your academy, you gain exposure to industry leaders that come on campus to give you their real-world perspective on their industry. The importance of the things I have learned in my academy far outweigh the things I actually learned in class, because I was learning what was ‘really important' straight from industry leaders at the Director, VP, and even C-levels."

Students Say - Admissions
The Kelley MBA program is highly selective. The Admissions Office considers all the following factors: academic record, including cumulative grade point average, area of concentration, balance of electives, and trend of grades; GMAT scores; work experience (2 or more years strongly recommended); evidence of leadership ability; two letters of reference; and personal essays. Successful applicants need not have majored in business as undergraduates but should understand algebra and statistics and have some facility with spreadsheets. Calculus is important for some majors. Kelley has four separate application deadlines, with separate screening for each batch of applicants. In general, your chances are better if you apply early; however, it is better to wait for a later deadline if doing so will improve your application. Those seeking merit scholarships should try to apply by the January 15 deadline.

Students Say - Campus Life
At Kelley, "school is busy and challenging, but students still get together to go out and have fun." Mornings "are filled with classes. Once classes are done, your afternoons are filled with team meetings and group projects. Evenings are your free time, which you have to balance between social events and personal study time." The calendar allows "plenty of opportunities to cut loose, but you have to balance your time because the coursework is challenging." Extracurriculars include "great opportunities for all types: designated bar for MBAs most nights of the week; academic/professional lectures and activities most nights of the week; and [there are] always outdoor or sports activities going on." Hometown Bloomington "is great. Since it is a small town, you really get to know your classmates rather than everyone going their separate [ways] during the weekends." Students call hometown Bloomington "the ideal college townâ€"small enough to be easy to navigate, but packed with great food, culture, and people thanks to the university."

Students Say - Careers
"The administrative and support staff, including the graduate career staff, are very devoted to us and there to hear our questions and concerns," one Kelley MBA brags, illustrating students' high level of satisfaction with career services. Students are especially effusive about Kelley's legendary alumni network. One writes: "The alumni network here isn't just a nice phrase; it actually works for you. For example, during my admissions interview, my interviewer learned of my post-graduate plans. After the interview, he gave me contact names and phone numbers for managers at leading companies within my field of choice, and he encouraged me to reach out to them to learn what they had to say both about their jobs and their Kelley experiences. This was before I was even admitted to the program! The alumni exposure has only grown since then. I feel like I could throw a dart at any Fortune 500 company…and have a lunch set up there within a week; it's that good." Top recruiters of Kelley MBAs include Target, Bank of America, Johnson & Johnson, General Electric, 3M, Ernst & Young, and Procter & Gamble. About one-quarter of 2009 Kelley MBAs wound up in consumer products; 16 percent found jobs in pharma/biotech; 14 percent took positions in manufacturing; 12 percent were hired in financial services; and 10 percent found consulting gigs.

Other Schools To Consider Top Programs