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The University of Chicago
has a lot to boast about. For starters, it's the first b-school
whose faculty has included five Nobel laureates. Merton Miller,
winner of the 1990 Nobel Prize in Economics and Robert Fogel, winner
of the same in 1993, currently teach in Chicago's MBA program. It's
also the first to publish a scholarly business journal and to
initiate a Ph.D. program. But the nation's second-oldest b-school
hasn't chosen to rest on its laurels. As one student put it, "This
school is continuously trying to improve itself. There are so many
innovative opportunities here." Chief among them is LEAD, a
mandatory leadership program that students - not faculty - run each
year. Another first for Chicago: Among b-schools, LEAD pioneered the
emphasis on leadership, interpersonal and multicultural programs,
and learning by doing. Unsurprisingly, Chicago students give
themselves high marks for their interpersonal skills (unique to a
"quant" school) and tell us minorities and women are more than
comfortable here. Students declare the curriculum "the single most
flexible around." Beyond the required LEAD program, students can
pick and choose from a variety of courses to satisfy Chicago's core
requirements, and students aren't required to repeat work they have
mastered elsewhere. "There's no hand holding here, and there's a lot
of freedom," commented one student, "which is great for students who
know what they want'. The newest addition to Chicago is the
International MBA, which, according to the school, "builds truly
global management skills by giving people substantial knowledge of
the culture and language of a foreign country." Students can also
participate in Chicago's Laboratory in New Product and Strategy
Development, acting as consultants to major corporations. Chicago
is best known for its economics and finance departments and is
considered "numbers-heavy." But a majority of Chicago MBAs told us
"it's much more than a quant school." Though students rate their
quant and finance skills a excellent, they also consider themselves
to have strong accounting, teamwork, and communication skills. "The
excellent academics at Chicago have given me all the tools I need
for the business worked," wrote one MBA. They also feel terrific
about Chicago's faculty, whom they consider passionate, accessible
teachers. "Where else can you take classes with Nobel Prize winners
both current and future!" exclaimed one student. Another MBA
declared, "I would pit my instructors against any other faculty in
the nation, bar none." Chicago administration has responded to some
prior student complaints about facilities and administration. They
recently completed an extensive renovation on classrooms and student
areas and have announced plans to construct a new student building.
The MBA program recently added some new administrative positions to
provide a higher level of service to students. One complaint we did
hear from students is about the inordinate focus on the job search.
"It begins on Day Number 1," griped on student, "classes just come
second." |
Undergraduate