Each year in October, Business Week prepares a list of the top business schools in the nation. The schools are selected based on a myriad of attributes. They represent the most sought after programs among MBA candidates. One commonality is that the universities listed all focus on providing diverse teaching methods applicable to today’s business.
Usually in first place, Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of Business is celebrated for its innovative, real world approach to educating future business leaders. Their target students are mid-level executives, with some experience in the working work seeking a higher level of global business awareness. Recently opening a branch in Miami Florida, the University offers an EMBA (Executive MBA) program directed at diversity.
Other schools on the Business Week top business school list (in order of 2004 standings) include:
- University of Chicago Graduate School of Business
- Penn’s Wharton School of Business
- Stanford University Graduate School of Business
- Harvard University Graduate School of Business
- University of Michigan Ross School of Business
- Cornell University’s Johnson School of Management
- Columbia University Graduate school of Business
- MIT Sloan School of Management
- Dartmouth Tuck School of Business
The University of Chicago GSB, offers a global program taught in their new International MBA building. While focusing on student needs for flexibility, they offer a 22 month program, full time, evening /weekend and an Executive MBA directed at the future career path of the experienced management candidate. Limited to only 80 students per year, the program is taught in Chicago, London and Singapore.
The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania has one of the fastest MBA programs in the country. Topping out at 18 months, this program is focused on a ‘rigorous general management’ curriculum, according to their website and students can expect an intense, real business experience. Wharton has been in the MBA business since 1921. In the last twenty years Wharton has developed and refined their distinguished Lauder Community (named for Joseph Lauder, founder of the Estee-Lauder Companies) to develop global business leaders. With a focus on fluent development of culture, language and politics of world business, this program was started to groom the world’s future business leaders.
Stanford University has long been heralded as a trend setting institution. Marketing their program as the ultimate in Organizational Leadership, they offer a standard two-year MBA program and a one- year Sloan Fellowship. The Sloan fellowship is a fully sponsored program in which a company enrolls their future leaders while maintaining their position at the company. The program is meant to test the limits of students and instructors. Sloan graduates are rewarded with a Masters of Science in Management in just twelve months.
Harvard Business School, HBS as it is referred to by staff and students attacks an MBA with a five pronged program. Integrating General Management, Case Study, Global Reaching, Community involvement and Harvard’s outstanding campus, they bring MBA students a new lease on their world.
The University of Michigan offers three types of programs for Students. At the Eli Broad School of Management located on the main campus, the university provides a state of the art financial analysis laboratory. Its design is modeled after the floor of the actual stock exchange including free flow workstations, a ticker board and large plasma display screens. They also offer a 17 month weekend program at their new James B. Henry Center for Executive Development. This program revolving around term learning and advancement for working executives brings future leaders to the forefront. The University also taunts the second oldest EMBA program in the nation lasting 21 months which is taught on the campus at Troy.
Cornell’s Johnson School of Management is focused on application; teaching theory and applying it to real world business in a connected environment. They understand that business moves at the speed of light. Recently initiating a five year vision based on donations from SC Johnson and his family, the Johnson School has future plans that will move this school further into the top five.
The Columbia School provides an environment like no other. Located in the financial and business center of the world, NY City, Columbia is referred to a “living laboratory” by its faculty. Opportunities abound for the potential MBA. Since Columbia offers law, engineering, medicine and social sciences as well as business programs, students will benefit not only from the integration of these areas of study with their business discipline but also from the exciting new research all around them. An Ivy League school, Columbia incorporates tradition and your future.
MIT’s Sloan School of Management is the perfect environment for entrepreneurs. Focusing on innovation and intellect, the Sloan School began in 1914 as an engineering administration program and has developed into a state of the art facility. MIT’s MBA graduates include some of the most intelligent, well rounded individuals in the world such as U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Dartmouth Tuck School of Business founded in 1900 is celebrating over 100 years of providing new business leaders to the world. Their focus is intimacy. Offering a single degree program, it’s business model is highly dependant upon the success of it’s graduates who will ultimately fund the future of the program.
No matter which of these top ten schools might attract you, they are not the only programs available. Consider your overall needs - location, tuition, aptitude and desired outcome when choosing the right program for you.
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