Tulane University A.B. Freeman School of Business

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Students Say - Academics
A number of outstanding features distinguish the Freeman School of Business at Tulane University, particularly in the area of finance, where enrolled students enjoy "one of the best finance programs in the country." The program is equipped with an "unmatched" trading floor that serves as the nexus for two key endeavors: management of the Darwin Fenner Fund, and investment analysis through the Burkenroad Reports. The former is a student-managed fund worth approximately $2.5 million; the latter allows teams of students to work with companies to analyze their industries and make recommendations. Finance has such a "well-deserved great reputation" at Freeman that other strengths of the program are sometimes overlooked. Marketing "continues to grow here, while the energy specialization "is very smart for this area of the country." Freeman also excels in entrepreneurial studies; as one student explains, "I chose Tulane because of the ability to focus on entrepreneurship and the school's access to successful entrepreneurs, through whom I could learn to be a more effective business owner." Finally, the school recognizes the speed at which all business is becoming international through its "strong experiential Global Management program," which "sends the entire class on three trips abroad," thereby "emphasizing the global business curriculum in a truly hands-on environment." The sum is greater than the considerable parts at Freeman, students tell us. One writes, "The greatest strengths of Tulane are its abilities to integrate the different segments of business and make them relevant, not just to corporate America, but also to small business and global business. Tulane also facilitates discussion on how your business or company can align its operations to take into consideration all stakeholders, thus becoming an organization that creates both profit and social good." An "excellent" relationship with the local community means that "business leaders around the community are accessible and supportive." Students also appreciate how the "school administration has done a great job in the recovery efforts since Katrina." Be forewarned that the program operates on seven-week terms that can fly by; "the first is by far the most intense, and they get gradually easier," one student explains.

Students Say - Admissions
Freeman reviews applications to its graduate programs in three separate rounds, and the school encourages students to apply as early as possible to maximize their chances of gaining admission. The following is required to apply: an undergraduate transcript, an affidavit of support, GMAT scores, TOEFL scores (for international students), two letters of recommendation, a current resume, personal statement, and interview. Minority recruitment efforts include Destination MBA, the National Black MBA Association Career Fair, targeted GMASS searches, and minority fellowships.

Students Say - Campus Life
Tulane is in New Orleans, so it should come as no surprise that life here can be "a lot of fun." "Many people socialize heavily on the weekends (we go out a lot). New Orleans literally has events every weekend. If you can't find something to do here, you're not looking at all," is how one student sums things up. The city is so focused on socializing that "school slows down during busy periods, such as Mardi Gras." Accordingly, many here enjoy a "very good mix of school and entertainment. New Orleans is the best place to go to school. Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, and the food [all add up to] a once-in-a-lifetime experience." Within the program, "the numerous clubs are mostly strong. The strongest is [the] entrepreneurship club, [which] is very good with matching people [with] local small business owners who can be mentors/potential employers." The local business community "truly embraces the MBA students, with leaders often speaking on campus and offering to meet with us individually on our own time. People are simply friendly here and take an interest in Tulane students. It makes networking locally incredibly easy." Freeman classes "are hard but not impossible," and for many, "juggling so many opportunities…is probably the hardest part of attending grad school [at Tulane]." Tulane MBAs "are a diverse group from all over the world, many with different political views and worldviews." "One-third of our class is made up of international students, so it makes everythingâ€"discussion, group work, assignmentsâ€"much more interesting," one student tells us.

Students Say - Careers
Tulane's Career Management Center earns mixed reviews from students. Several complain that "On campus recruiting is weak. We miss almost all of the big companies due to our location. We only get energy companies or a few other random companies based in Texas or the rest of the South to come to Tulane." Some simply wish the office would be "more proactive," but some go further, calling it the school's "weakest area" and asserting that "Students are practically on their own when it comes to acquiring an internship or employment." Several acknowledged that the down economy was certainly a factor in the Center's disappointing outcomes. Companies most likely to hire Freeman MBAs include BearingPoint, Capital One, Citibank, Daymon Worldwide, Deloitte & Touche, Entergy, Federal Express, First Albany Capital, Hibernia, Johnson & Rice, JPMorgan Chase, Latitram, Piper Jaffray & Co., RBC, Simmons & Company, Teracore Consulting, Tidewater Marine, TXU, Verizon, and Wachovia.

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