State University of New York at Albany School of Business

Statistics

Programs & Curriculum

Employment

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Rankings & Lists

Students Say - Academics
Students praise "the diversity of options" available at the State University of New York at Albany's School of Business. In addition to a full-time program, the school offers an evening-based part-time program, and "a special executive-weekend program is offered offsite in Clifton Park." Not surprisingly, most students list convenience high among the school's assets. Part timers note that "the program is great for someone who is working. It is challenging but realistic"; while weekend students appreciate how "the convenience of alternative weekend classes helps me to manage work and home responsibilities." Albany's full-time program takes two years to complete. The first year is dedicated to core competencies; students undertake in-depth study in accounting, economics, finance, human resources, management, information systems, and marketing. Case studies play a central role in classroom study, as do reading assignments and classes that divide time between lectures and discussions. Group projects supplement the curriculum and offer students opportunities to develop important teamwork skills. The first year culminates in a one-week integrative course that addresses social, legal, and political issues in international business. According to students, the first-year curriculum "is heavily weighted toward global business and the changing economy." The second year of the full-time programâ€"which also allows students to develop an area of specializationâ€"focuses on technology, an area in which Albany excels. Students' work in this area reaches its high point in an information systems-based field project during which students provide consulting services to such organizations as the Albany Medical Center, DuPont, GE, KeyCorp, PepsiCo, Tiffany & Co., Towers Perrin, and a variety of regional nonprofits. The field project consumes one-third of the second-year curriculum, with a hands-on approach that prepares students for full-time employment.

Students Say - Admissions
Applicants to the MBA program at the State University of New York at Albany School of Business must provide the graduate admissions department with all of the following: official copies of transcripts for all postsecondary academic work, an official score report for the GMAT, a resume, three letters of recommendation, a personal statement of purpose, and a completed application. International applicants whose undergraduate degrees were earned at non-English language institutions must provide all of the above plus an official score report for the TOEFL (minimum acceptable score: 580 paper-based; 450 computer-based); must submit a financial affidavit accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation to demonstrate the applicant's "ability to meet all educational and living expenses for the entire period of intended study"; and, must past a SPEAK test during orientation. Furthermore, international academic transcripts in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified English translation.

Students Say - Campus Life
Albany MBAs are a "generally diverse group" with "many engineers seeking the MBA" (and probably more to come, given the "growing technology/IT department" and the students it attracts). "It's curious that there are not as many business-based students [as engineers]," one student observes. These "friendly, goal-oriented," "highly motivated" students include "older professionals with work experience." The program also draws "many international students and a variety of ethnicities. All are social, helpful, and hard-working." One student sums up: "Our population is very diverse and really serves as a great way to learn about and interact with people of other backgrounds." Most students attend this program part time while also attending to full-time jobs, family, etc. Accordingly, they have little time for non-academic school activities. Full-timers are also kept busy with "a big load between classes and internships," but some still manage to find time for "Division I sports, clubs, activities, and community involvement." MBA facilities include classrooms and computer labs equipped with the latest high-tech accoutrements; these serve the program's focus on technology well. the school will break ground on a new facility in 2010, but students complain that the current buildings should be spruced up a bit. The buildings are old and unattractive." Nearly 17,000 students are enrolled in the nine degree-granting schools and colleges at the State University of New York at Albany. Like all large state universities, it pursues the mission of offering an affordable education to state residents while also providing the state and country with cutting-edge research. The university was founded in 1844; undergraduate business study was not added to the curriculum until 1970. Graduate business programs began a few years later.

Students Say - Careers
Albany's School of Business maintains its own Career Services Office, whose work is supplemented by the school's Career Development Center, which serves the entire university. The Career Services Office provides workshops on cover letter-writing, resume writing, interviewing, developing job-search skills, and honing business-related social skills. MBAs who graduate from Albany receive job offers from many small and medium- sized businesses as well as from such business giants as Accenture, CPI, Deloitte Consulting, Deutsche Bank, Ernst & Young, Goldman Sachs, IBM, KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Even so, some feel the school could do better; "If we could get better national recognition, we might be able to offer more employment recruiting from leading companies and firms," one student writes. The school reports that more than half of its graduates are placed in consulting positions (average starting salary: $60,0000). About 13 percent find work in finance and accounting (average starting salary: $55,000).

Other Schools To Consider Top Programs