The University of Iowa Henry B. Tippie School of Management

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School Says - General Information
The University of Iowa's Henry B. Tippie School of Management offers a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree consistently ranked in the top 50 MBA programs in the world. Many characteristics contribute to the quality of the Tippie MBA, including a flexible curriculum and great placement results. Here are a few of the attributes that set Tippie apart from other programs.

A Personal Touch
Or students are never just a face in the crowd. They form relationships with classmates, faculty, and staff that continue long after the formal program is complete. In fact, our students are on a first-name basis with the dean. By limiting class size, we provide a program that meets individual needs.

Reputation
The Tippie School of Management attracts the best and brightest students from around the world, making the program one of the most reputable programs in the world. While at Tippie, students enhance their knowledge of business fundamentals, develop leadership experience, and further their professional development. We produce graduates that go on to business success across the country and the world.

Environment
Iowa City has a cosmopolitan atmosphere and rich culture, contributing to the city's selection by Forbes as one of the nation's best "small cities". Enjoy Big Ten athletics, world-class cultural events, ethnic restaurants, and parks all within easy driving distance of Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Louis, and Kansas City.

The Tippie MBA is one-of-a-kind. Taught by world-class faculty in a dynamic, Big Ten town, the Tippie MBA is an outstanding value.

School Says - Student Body
Tippie MBAs are active players in determining the type of MBA experience delivered. Student organizations offer an opportunity to develop their leadership potential and team building skills. Student clubs organize professional development events, career networking opportunities, social events, and many other activities that enhance the Tippie MBA experience. The entering class in the fulltime MBA Program averages approximately three years of work experience, an average GPA of 3.38 (4.0 scale), and a GMAT score of 657.

School Says - Academics
The Tippie MBA Program emphasizes applied business learning in a collaborative, team-based environment. The curriculum is founded on a core of courses that includes key functional areas of finance, marketing, accounting, statistics, organizational behavior, operations management, economics, and strategic management. Students select a concentration from one of the following areas: accounting, entrepreneurship, finance, strategic management and consulting, management information systems, marketing or operations management. An individually designed concentration is also an option for those with more specific interests.

School Says - Admissions
The Tippie MBA seeks candidates demonstrating the ability to complete a rigorous academic program and the potential for success.

Academic Background
In addition to GPA, we consider the difficulty of the major completed and the reputation of the institution. We do not require a specific minimum GPA. However, last year's class average was 3.38.

Standardized Tests
GMAT: All candidates must submit a GMAT score. We do not require a specific minimum score, however, the class average is approximately 657.

TOEFL: Candidates from countries where English is not the native language must submit a TOEFL score. The minimum acceptable score is 250 (computer test), 600 (paper test), or 100 (internet based).

A minimum of two years of full-time work experience after completion of the bachelor's degree is recommended. Successful applicants typically have three to five years of work experience.

Evidence of leadership ability is important in demonstrating the candidate's potential for contributing to the learning environment. Ideal candidates have clear records of leadership in school, work, and the community.

An interview is required before an admission offer is made. An admission interview is included in your campus visit. For those who are not able to visit Iowa City, an alternate format, usually a Skype or telephone interview, is arranged. Interviews are also available with Tippie representatives who may be traveling to your city.

School Says - Campus Life
The state-of-the-art facilities of the John Pappajohn Business Building provide a comfortable arena for learning. The Internet conferencing system allows students to work in real-time on a project.

Some building highlights:
- The Marvin A. Pomerantz Business Library provides a 30,000-volume resource area with electronic access to libraries around the world
- Laptop computers are available for checkout from the library for use throughout the building
- A wireless LAN provides Internet access to any student with a network-enabled laptop
- Our Instructional Technology Center features 100 computer workstations (the largest on campus), two 32-seat computer classrooms, and a computerized operations/behavioral laboratory

Students Say - Academics
While some students extol the "wonderful experiential learning," and the "breadth of courses unmatched by most other institutions" that are offered at the Henry B. Tippie School of Management at The University of Iowa, others praise its "small class sizes along with the unique Academy structure." The recently implemented Academy structure requires students to select "one of three academies based on their interests: Finance, Marketing, [or] Strategic Innovation," the latter which encompasses both Strategic Management of Innovation and Process Excellence tracks. The school has also revamped its curriculum from "two 16-week semesters to four eight-week modules. This allows students to take fewer classes at one time and focus all attention on the subject matter at hand." With so many structural and administrative changes occurring at the same time, students admit that there have been some "growing pains" and "some glitches." Nevertheless, students generally laud the school's "high return on investment" and feel that "the greatest strengths of the University of Iowa are the [number] of opportunities that are available in academics, athletics, government, and volunteer work." They also highlight that "the Tippie School's Process Excellence courses and association with the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center are outstanding resources whether you want to start or improve a business." The Entrepreneurial Center, in particular, is "a hidden gem" that "offers many business competition events throughout the year that provide funding for startups, access to successful entrepreneurs and business mentorship." Students also boast that "the school's Henry Fund"â€"a $1.3 million student managed investment fundâ€""has received the top honors for performance the past five years as well." Classes at Tippie provide a "comfortable environment" where there is a "good mix of readings, lectures, simulations, and real-world applications" that helps to nurture "thought and healthy conversation." The small size of the program creates "opportunity for involvement, interviews, and faculty interactions" and "more personalized attention." The students are also impressed by their "outstanding" and "top-notch" professors who are often "national experts [in] their subject area." These "approachable" professors "do a very good job getting to know the students and build a personal relationship with most." The school's administration also received kudos from the students who observe that "the administration and professors meet frequently to incorporate ideas that they have gained from other schools, their own insight, and feedback from students."

Students Say - Admissions

Tippie applicants must submit official copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts, GMAT scores, TOEFL scores (for the school's considerable pool of international applicants whose first language isn't English), letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and a resume; two years of full-time, post-baccalaureate professional experience is required. Applications are evaluated for evidence of leadership qualities. Tippie is the recipient of a FISPE grant to the Iowa Electronic Markets' initiative, whose goal is to promote knowledge of markets among minority students.

Students Say - Campus Life
Students are enthusiastic in their praise of Iowa City's "vibrant atmosphere which helps you both learn and relax." The city's "night-life is great and there are also a lot of holein- the-wall restaurants that provide a lot of diversity in dining." Iowa City also "has easy access to Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Louis, and Kansas City, and is 20 minutes from the airport for longer journeys." Students count their school's "friendly atmosphere from admissions to faculty and students" as one of its strengths. When not immersed in their studies, students can participate in "lots of social activities as well as many school-related activities" including "company presentations and speaker sessions every fortnight." One student gushes, "The guest speakers are phenomenalâ€"John Rice [Vice Chairman of General Electric], Fred Whyte [President of Stihl] and Clay Jones [CEO of Rockwell Collins]â€"are just a snapshot of the leaders that spoke at our school while I was a student." For the more athleticallyinclined students, "the football atmosphere is awesome and something that should be experienced." The school's "small community of students" is self-described as "classic Midwest[ern] peopleâ€"hardworking, fairly narrow life experience, super friendly, outcome-oriented, family people." "There is a strong moral compass, and you do not have to be worried about being stabbed in the back by a fellow student for an A." These "very friendly, welcoming, and supportive" students who are "top-of-the-line performers" include "motorbike racers, go-cart racers, triathlon/marathon runners, musicians, math geeks, entrepreneurs, ex-military men, etc."

Students Say - Careers
Tippie students reveal, "We can do a little better with career services. As such, it is good but we have faced some challenges during the economic downturn." Another student says they feel "disappointed with the efforts given by the University of Iowa for career guidance." Other students offer a more positive view of the Career Services and Placement Office, saying that they "motivate you and they also are as demanding as our professors in doing things like mock interviews, networking events etc. Also there is a leadership course that offers help to prepare one to present in professional and personal setting[s]." Although they long for "more geographically diverse recruiters" and feel that there needs to be more effort put into "attracting more companies to visit on campus," Tippie students have noticed some recent improvement in recruiting on campus. "During the past year we have begun attracting high-tech firms and investment banks due to the efforts of career services and alumni. We have recently had Amazon recruit on campus...and are seeking to expand Goldman-Sachs undergraduate recruitment to include MBAs. We are also seeing many mid-market investment banks and private equity groups recruit on campus."

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