Stanford University Stanford Graduate School of Business MBA Program

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Students Say - Academics
Located in the "heart of the Silicon Valley," Stanford University's top-rated business school lives up to its "amazing reputation" for innovation and excellence. It's not just the California sunshine that sets Stanford apart; at this school, there is a strong "entrepreneurial spirit" among the faculty, students, and alumni. Here, "credibility [is] given to those who follow their passions," and accordingly, the MBA curriculum can be "tailored" to a student's individual interests (an arrangement well-suited to Stanford's "very self-directed" student body.) The school's "incredible curriculum" begins with Management Perspectives, including a 16-person seminar called Critical Analytical Thinking and core courses, called Management Foundations, which are completed during the first year. In the second year, students can choose from over 100 electives within the business school alone, and they can even take classes in other graduate departments at Stanford. Recently, to increase flexibility, "There was a change allowing students to opt out of some mandatory prerequisites to enable more first-years to take electives." Stanford redesigned its MBA curriculum in 2007, and it has continued to make "some changes over the last two years" as it perfects the program. New Dean Garth Saloner was a chief architect of the curriculum and is now readying a new $350 million complex of buildings for spring 2011 move-in. Along with other developments, students note that, "The focus on global business has improved significantly." Now, global perspectives are incorporated across the curriculum, and every Stanford student is required to complete an international experience through the Global Management Program (GMP.) Among other options, the GMP offers immersion experiences and global study trips to current students, while also overseeing a global speaker series on campus. At home, students benefit from Stanford's deep ties in the local business community. Through its active alumni network and extensive corporate contacts, "The school provides amazing opportunities for close interaction with leaders in a variety of fields." There are ample pro-bono consulting projects, board memberships, and other real-world opportunities for Stanford students to get advanced exposure to business. Students also note Stanford's historic "strength in non-profit business." The school's Public Management Program offers 20-30 electives in non-profit management, social entrepreneurship, social responsibility, and related topics. Academically, the Stanford experience is first-rate, defined by "outstanding classes" and "distinguished professors." Various teaching methodsâ€"including group projects, roleplaying, case studies, simulations, and moreâ€"are crucial to the classroom experience. For example, "The Leadership Labs program, a required class in the first year, is a great way for students to practice leadership in an experiential setting." While "academic pressure" is intense, "Professors are easily accessible and happy to help with class projects." Administrators get mixed reviews, with some describing them as "very bureaucratic," while others say they are "open to ideas and student input."

Students Say - Admissions
The GSB Admissions Office says that candidates should not include academic recommendations unless they reflect work experience (as a TA or research assistant, for example). The top criteria for admission are "intellectual vitality," "demonstrated leadership potential," and "personal qualities and contributions"-Stanford looks for community leaders-so the "impact [you made] on [your] workplace" matters much more than your job responsibilities. Students report a broad range of GMAT scores, with a median of 730 (the GRE is also acceptable.)

Students Say - Campus Life
Drawing students from a wide range of industries and backgrounds, Stanford attracts "interesting, fun, and friendly" people, who walk that fine line between over-achieving and easygoing. At Stanford, you'll sit shoulder-to-shoulder with "intensely accomplished classmates who somehow still remain down-to-earth." Despite diversity, the atmosphere is "very inclusive," and most students are "not afraid to voice their opinion even if it is likely to be different from the opinions of others." Within the graduate business program, the "close-knit atmosphere" encourages relationships both in and out of the classroom. Even the faculty and staff are accessible and friendly. At Stanford, "It is frequent to have professors and deans over to student's houses for dinner to discuss business, politics or life choices." Set in Northern California, Stanford students bask in "mood-alteringly gorgeous weather" and spend their days on a beautiful, well-equipped campus. Current students note that the "campus buildings are outdated" within the business schoolâ€"but not for long. The new campus will be a huge asset. It will include eight buildings around three quads, an auditorium, dining pavilion, study rooms, and classrooms for hands-on cross-disciplinary courses with other Stanford schools like engineering and medicine.

Students Say - Careers
Stanford GSB's robust Career Management Center offers personal career advising, resume and cover letter preparation, alumni mentoring and networking opportunities, company presentations, career workshops, and job fairs. While placement is rarely an issue for Stanford graduates, one of the greatest benefits to job seekers is the school's "amazingly helpful alums, who feel a close connection to the school and go out of their way to help current students." The excellent "proximity to high-tech firms" is a major advantage for those who want to stay in the area. Over 2,100 organizations recruit Stanford MBA candidates through career fairs, job postings, and online resume services. Leading employers include Amazon.com, Abbott, Apple, Bain & Company, Booz & Company, Boston Consulting Group, Cisco Systems, Dell, Education Pioneers, Goldman Sachs, Johnson & Johnson, Intel, Google, Hulu, IDEO, NBC Universal, U.S. Government, Nike, VMware, Walt Disney Co., Warner Bros., and many more. More than 75 percent of Stanford business students made a change of industry or job function after the MBA. For recent graduating classes, the median base salary for graduating MBAs was $120,000, with a range between $30,000 and $250,000.

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