Appalachian State University Walker College of Business

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Students Say - Academics
Nested in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, the Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University offers a small, efficient, and affordable MBA program to a largely local student population. For many, the fast-paced course schedule is a major benefit of this program. Here, the entire MBAâ€"including an optional internshipâ€"can be completed in "only one year." (Prospective students should note that the one-year program is designed for students with an undergraduate degree in business. Before matriculation, the MBA requires up to 31 hours of prerequisite coursework.) Despite its speedy schedule, the MBA covers all functional areas of business, including accounting, economics, finance, management, marketing, operations, and information systems. In addition to the core curriculum, students have the option of tailoring their education through a concentration in one of three fields: sustainable business, international business, or general management. There is a focus on international business throughout the curriculum, which helps students "gain the knowledge [they] will need to compete in today's global economy." Of particular note, all students participate in an International Seminar in the last semester of the MBA, which includes a trip overseas. Recent programs took students around China to cities including Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. While the program is scarcely large enough to support more variety, students feel, "the MBA program needs to add a computer information systems option" to the current offerings. For full-time students, the schedule is rigorous and "the days are pretty packed." Throughout the program, "students spend about two hours in class each day, Monday through Thursday," while their afternoons are "spent working on group projects, homework, and or actually working at a job." Fortunately, the full-time MBA program is very small, with just over 20 students per class (in fact, the entering class size is capped at 24). The result is a caring, student-oriented atmosphere, and plenty of personal attention. Offering guidance and support, "The school has a great administration that is willing to work with the students in order to help the students achieve their goals." In addition, "The professors, on the whole, are easy to get along with and are always willing to help the students." Academically, the program is strong, but the teachers can be hit or miss. A student admits, "There have been some professors who have challenged me and were at the caliber that I expected, but there were also some who I felt were inadequate to be teaching graduate-level classes." Overall, Walker "teachers are knowledgeable and excited for students to learn." In addition to the campus-based MBA program, ASU offers a part-time off-site MBA at a satellite facility in Hickory, North Carolina. In content, this program is similar to the Boone MBA, yet students learn through various delivery formats, including interactive audio-video sessions and web-based instruction, as well as in-person lectures from ASU faculty. No matter where you choose to study, the icing on the cake is the program's "low cost." This public school maintains a "very reasonable" tuition price, while also offering "scholarship and assistantship" programs, which can lower the price tag even further.

Students Say - Admissions
Applications to the Walker MBA program are processed by the Admissions Office at the Cratis D. Williams Graduate School. Prospective students must submit GMAT or GRE scores, an undergraduate transcript, letters of recommendation, and a resume. An interview is strongly recommended but not required. Students should arrive with a working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. The school uses a formula to set minimum admissions requirements. The formula is (GPA x 200) + GMAT = admissions score; GPA is tallied based only on the final 60 hours of undergraduate course work. An admissions score of at least 1100 is required but does not guarantee admission. Application materials must arrive no later than 3/1.

Students Say - Campus Life
Located on a "beautiful campus" in Boone, North Carolina, "Life is fabulous" at ASU. On this pleasant, hilltop campus, "Students hang out as a collective most times and crime rates are relatively low." Not to mention, this Southern city boasts "terrific weather" and great outdoor activities, including hiking and fishing. MBA classes take place in Raleigh Hall, which boasts wireless Internet and graduate student lounges. On the larger campus, students have access to study labs and a large library system. Bringing a positive attitude to the classroom, ASU students "are willing to learn, as well as willing to begin friendships that have lasted the length of the program." While the accelerated schedule keeps them busy, "Students find time to attend sporting events, concerts, and many other extra curricular activities. All of the students also find time to hang out with one another and with their friends." While there are some local student hangouts, students say "nightlife could be a little better," in Boone. Most students, however, feel that "Being in a small town has been wonderful for my school experience." A current student writes, "In general, I wouldn't have chosen anywhere else to go."

Students Say - Careers
While the MBA program does not have its own career office, there is a career counselor assigned to the business school, who can help with career planning and placement. In addition, the Career Development Center on the Appalachian State University campus serves the entire undergraduate and graduate student body, as well as ASU alumni. The Career Development Center assists students with cover letter and resume revisions, personalized career counseling, mock interviews, and myriad online resources. In addition, the Career Development Center organizes networking events and "career fairs that bring in companies that have positions all over the U.S. and around the world." With a strong local reputation, ASU "does well with helping the students find a job," but nothing's perfect and "there are still improvements that can be made."

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