The Questions BusinessWeek Asks MBAs

Over the years, BusinessWeek has added and subtracted to the original list of graduate questions that I drafted in 1988. By and large, however, the core questions have remained nearly identical.

The original questions:

1. To what extent did your MBA experience fulfill or fail to meet your expectations of what a good program should be?

2. Do you believe your MBA was worth its cost in time, tuition and lost earnings?

3. How would you rate the quality of the teaching in core courses?

4. How would you rate the quality of the teaching in elective courses?

5. Overall, how did the quality of the teachers compare with others you have had in the past?

6. Were your teachers at the leading edge of knowledge in their fields?

7. Were the faculty available for informal discussion when classes were not in session?

8. To what extent were faculty aware of the material other faculty members would cover?

9. To what extent was the coursework integrated as opposed to being taught as a cluster of loosely-related topics?

10. How current was the material/research presented in class for discussion and review?

11. Do you believe the faculty compromised teaching in order to pursue their own research?

12. Did you receive practical information during the program that will be usable on the job?

13. Was the amount of assigned work and reading so excessive that it impeded learning?

14. To what extent were analytical skills stressed in the curriculum?

15.To what extent were interpersonal skills stressed in the curriculum?

16. As a result of the program, how would you judge your ability to deal with computers and other analytical tools that affect your ability to manage?

17. How would you judge the school’s performance in providing you with numerous ways of thinking or approaching problems that will serve you well over the long haul?

18. Do you feel your classmates emphasized individual achievement at the expense of teamwork?

19. Did the caliber of your classmates impede or enhance the learning process?

20. Would you urge friends or colleagues to take the same MBA program at the school?

21. How would you judge the responsiveness of the faculty and administration to students’ concerns and opinions?

22. How would you assess the responsiveness of the school in meeting the demand for popular electives?

23. How would you judge the opportunities given to you–either in class or in extracurricular activities–to nurture and improve you skills in leading others?

24. How would you appraise the school’s efforts to bring you into contact with practicing professionals in the business community?

25. How would you judge the school’s network and connections that can help you throughout your career?

26. How would you judge the aggressiveness of the school in helping you with summer job placement or a summer internship?

27. How would you characterize the school’s performance in helping you find a job before graduation?

28. How would you characterize the number and quality of firms recruiting on your campus?

29. If the organizations you targeted for employment did not recruit on campus, how would you assess your school’s assistance in supporting your independent search for a job?

30. How would you apprise the placement office’s help with matters such as interview training, negotiating strategy, resumes, etc.?

POETS&QUANTS’ 2012 RANKING OF THE BEST BUSINESS SCHOOLS OUTSIDE THE U.S.

U.S. NEWS’ 2013 MBA RANKING

FINANCIAL TIMES’ 2013 MBA RANKING

BUSINESSWEEK’S 2012 MBA RANKING