The University of Texas at Dallas The School of Management

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Students Say - Academics
No matter what your age, background, or educational goals, UT Dallas is likely to offer an MBA program that will be a good match for your objectives and lifestyle. The school has been conferring MBA degrees since the early 1980s, and currently offers a part-time Professional MBA, an Executive MBA, and a Global Online MBA, as well as various PhD and MS programs. In addition, the school established a 16-month, Full-Time MBA (Cohort) Program in 1996. Through this program, "the school has an unbeatable value proposition for B-School students: 16 months, rigorous curriculum, excellent faculty and situated in the heart of a vibrant commercial ecosystem." While UTD's relatively new MBA programs have already garnered national attention for quality, you'll still enjoy the benefit of an atmosphere that is "young, dynamic, and open to change." A current student adds, "I am a professional student but when I go to school I feel that I am a high school kid again. The energy, enthusiasm and quest for knowledge makes me feel young and energetic." However, as the school ages, its reputation and rigorousness also seem to be on an upward trajectory. Astudent elaborates, "The school has really upped the ante, and the course work has double or tripled in recent years. The classes really demand that you learn the material and are able to demonstrate knowledge and fluency." At the helm of the academic experience is a fleet of talented, diverse, and "incredibly knowledgeable" faculty. A student details, "Many of the professors have a variety of life experiences to draw on when lecturing. I have had an Accounting instructor who used to design weapons for the military and a Marketing professor who has been an actor/talk show host. This variety brings a point of view that would never be found in a textbook." Administration is smooth and efficient, and "even though UTD is a larger public university, it has a small-school feel in that you are not just a number. It would be quite difficult for a person to fall through the cracks." Nonetheless, UTD is a big school, so classes (especially in the evenings) can be uncomfortably over-stuffed with students. UT Dallas makes up for this unfortunate shortcoming through unmatched flexibility, offering students the ability "to complete your degree during the week, weekend, day, night, or online each semester as your life changes." The curriculum is likewise flexible and easy to tailor. After completing foundational courses, "the School of Management offers a broad array of electives, which allows the student to either specialize in a particular field or diversify and learn about several subjects."

Students Say - Admissions
UTD admissions standards are high. Currently, admission to the full-time Cohort MBA is particularly competitive, admitting just 25 percent of applicants. Admissions rates and requirements depend on the program to which you are applying. However, the entering class had an average GMAT score of 650 and an average undergraduate GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. In addition to transcripts and test scores, students are required to submit personal essays and recommendation letters.

Students Say - Campus Life
UTD students share the drive and determination you'd expect to find at a top business program; however, they hail from a diverse cross-section of society. Astudent elaborates, "There is a huge mixture at UTD as far as work experience, cultural background, and gender. Some students are single, some are married with children, and others are just beginning their families." International students comprise 50 percent of the graduate population, a reflection of "the changes that are taking place in business due to globalization." Most students view their international classmates as yet another major advantage to the program, since students often have "the opportunity to share our diverse experiences and learn from each other" both in and out of the classroom. For the many students who commute to UTD, campus life doesn't amount to much more than classes and library time. Still, the business school has a lively, hard-working atmosphere, and "the lounge areas are always bustling with students." On the larger university campus, there are "many clubs and organizations," and "from 24-hour gym facilities to a fantastic student union, where there is always something fun going on."

Students Say - Careers
UTD business students have access to the university Career Center, as well as the SOM Career Management Center (CMC), which focuses exclusively on the business school. In addition to career workshops and counseling, the CMC hosts frequent panels and speaker sessions. At UTD, "almost every day it seems like some CEO is coming and speaking with the students in a panel. Placement is great at the Full-Time MBA (Cohort) Program." Many prominent companies recruit on campus, including American Express, Boeing, Cisco Systems, Deloitte, McKesson, State Farm Insurance, and Texas Instruments Incorporated, among many others. However, students worry that the school's largely regional reputation doesn't do justice to its world-class graduates. A current student laments, "The business school is excellent at UTD and I don't think the majority of the country recognize how good the school is." Even so, most graduates are sitting pretty, with an average starting salary in excess of $65,000 in recent years.

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