University of Virginia Darden Graduate School of Business Administration

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Students Say - Academics
Offering a unique, challenging, and spirited MBA program, the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia distinguishes itself through "the outstanding reputation of the faculty and students, the rigorous and exciting case method, and the broad focus on general management that the school offers." Hailed as "one of the toughest programs in the world," the hallmark of a Darden education is the case-based curriculumâ€"an intensive, discussion-based teaching method with an emphasis "on experiential learning in a collaborative environment and through teamwork." Sounds fun, but students warn that "the firstyear curriculum is rigorous, and the case method demands students be prepared and take leadership positions." Not to mention that curricular requirements are incredibly time consuming. First-year students typically spend the day at school: Classes run from 8:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. and related activities can run until 10:00 P.M. It's a challenge, but a Darden education is well worth the effort as "you really gain mastery of the material." Encouraging a lively and interactive classroom environment, the school's savvy professors "are outstanding at leading a case conversation and covering all of the key learning points." A second-year student raves, "The faculty at Darden has revolutionized my life. They have challenged me to think differently, to go deeper to find solutions to complex problems and stimulate my mind each day." Darden really distinguishes itself in its commitment to the student experience: "Professors at Darden are there because they want to teach. Students are the priority, not research." A current student enthuses, "Professors have enormous levels of experience and are ridiculously available outside class. I've gone in unscheduled and been able to spend over an hour working on an issueâ€"the professor just made the time." Teamwork is integral to the Darden experience, and each new student is assigned to a learning team of five or six students with whom they prepare for class each day. Working together, students say that Darden's "intense and competitive" academic atmosphere is counterbalanced by the fact that "Darden has an extremely helpful and collegial environment." In this stimulating campus setting, "The common thread running through the student body is a general sense of appreciation for the atmosphere, enthusiasm toward the learning experience, and a desire to collaborate with the learning experience through student-led review sessions, informal help sessions, etc."

Students Say - Admissions
Darden evaluates a student's readiness for business school in three broad areas: academics, professional experience, and personal qualities and characteristics. These competencies are measured through the applicant's undergraduate record, GMAT scores, resume and work experience, letters of recommendation, and admissions essays. In addition, interviews are required and are considered an important part of the application. While there are no minimum requirements for admission, last year's entering class had a mean GMAT of 688. The mean GPA was 3.33, and every person had full-time work experience before entering the program.

Students Say - Campus Life
For those who thrive under pressure, Darden is an ideal environment as "The rhythm is extremely hectic, but the atmosphere is jovial, and there is a real palpable energy and excitement about learning in the place." In fact, Darden students seem to take a masochistic pleasure in the hectic pace of life where "Sleep is a rare commodity." In the hearty words of one first-year student: "Although the workload seems unbearable at times, and I have to schedule phone calls with my spouse, I really wouldn't trade this experience for any other." While acknowledging the rigors of the workload, students continually emphasize the kindness of the Darden community, where "Everything from the computer services to the dining hall is done for the students and with their best interests at heart." When it comes to extracurricular activities, students reassure us that "even with the demanding workload students are very active in clubs, social events, MBA case competitions, and the community." They also manage to sneak in a moment of socializing during the daily First Coffee, "a break between classes in which you can catch up with classmates in other sections, friends, or professors. Everyone in the Darden community comes by for a cup of joe (partners and children included at times)." When it's time to relax, "Saturdays during the fall are a time for attending football games, the Chili Cook-Off, or the International Food Festival." Another favorite is "the Thursday Night Drinking Club where the majority of students meet up at a different bar every Thursday." An ideal college town, "Charlottesville is a great place to live; it has a really low cost of living without sacrificing culture."

Students Say - Careers
Students say "the Career Development Center has improved to a great extent," bringing a "record number of recruiters and companies on grounds this [past] fall." The center offers a variety of services to MBA students, including Career Discovery Forums, individual career consultations, a professional development series, and workshops and special events. Through the Career Development Center, students also have access to the Darden Networking Partnership, a database of nearly 2,000 alumni who have volunteered to help fellow grads in career searches. Last year, 85 percent of graduates seeking employment had received a job offer by graduation, and 91 percent had received a job offer within three months of graduation. Finance was the most popular career choice, drawing 43 percent of students; consulting drew 20 percent. Among the top recruiters were: A.T. Kearney, Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, The Boston Consulting Group, Everest, General Mills, Johnson & Johnson, Kraft Foods, Bank of America, Citigroup, Merrill Lynch, McKinsey & Company, Bain and Company, Standard and Poor's, UTC, Progressive, Danaher Corp., Mass Mutual Financial Group, Goldman Sachs, DuPont, General Electric, JPMorgan Chase, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Centex, Target, Dell, EDS, Intel, and Sprint Nextel.

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