Biggest Myths About Your Favorite Business Schools

Myth: Ivey students are at a disadvantage in recruiting for high-profile job opportunities being away from a major urban center like Toronto.

Reality: “This is not true. Ivey’s Career Management department does an excellent job at facilitating in-person and virtual networking opportunities with a variety of employers located throughout North America. With many coffee chats and interviews occurring online in today’s digital work environment, there is no disadvantage to not being in Toronto. If necessary to wrap up an interview process, Ivey students can easily take the train to Toronto for a day.”
Colton James, Ivey Business School

 

Myth: The Carey Business School’s alumni base isn’t deep because it is a young program.

Reality: “I was definitely surprised by the breadth of our alumni community and where our alumni have gone. When I go on LinkedIn and look at companies I’m interested in or just looking at our alumni, we’re pretty spread out all over the place. I don’t think I’ve found a single company that I’m interested in where there hasn’t been someone who either worked there or has a connection to someone who works there. So, our network is pretty big despite being a young institution”
Bryan Munoz, Johns Hopkins University (Carey)

 

Myth: London Business School is exclusively for individuals who have worked in impactful roles in brand name firms and companies spanning the finance, consulting, and tech sectors.

Reality: “As a Student Ambassador, this is one of the most common questions that I am asked by prospective applicants. On the contrary, what in fact makes the LBS experience unique is sitting in the classroom and listening to the diverse perspectives of classmates from unconventional or perceived “non-typical” business school backgrounds. I have had classmates who have been ex-Olympians, army veterans, start-up founders, and school teachers. It has been very inspiring getting to know these people closely and learning about their journeys, motivations, and future goals. This is the true essence of what makes the business school experience invaluable.”
Priyal Keni, London Business School

 

Myth: Ann Arbor is a dull, small college town in the middle of nowhere.

Reality: “Ann Arbor is a vibrant city with so much going on, especially on game days!

Moving from Chicago, I was worried that moving to a small college town in the middle of the Midwest would leave me bored most nights. Instead, my social calendar is filled with trivia nights, house parties, potlucks, and watch parties. That doesn’t even include Michigan Football during the fall! There’s magic to living within a 15-minute walk of all of your friends.”
Akbar Arsiwala, University of Michigan (Ross)

 

Myth: Minnesota is excessively cold and it snows too much in the winter.

Reality: “Yes, the winters are cold, and sure, it does snow a lot, but many don’t realize how fun that can be! Carlson makes the most of it with students hosting and attending fun activities like ice bars, ice skating, and the polar plunge. Carlson even offers a skiing class. Far from being a deterrent, the Minnesota winter offers its unique charm, making it a special time of the year.”
Ernie Srimaneekulroj, University of Minnesota (Carlson)

 

Myth: MIT Sloan is all work and no play.

Reality: “This couldn’t be further from the truth! One of Sloan’s best traditions is C-f(x)s (Cultural Functions), where student-led clubs and affinity groups throw parties every other week to showcase their cultures and interests. My favorite is the Pride C-f(x), where teams of Sloanies dress up in drag, put on dance performances, and raise money for a charity via audience voting. Beyond club events, Sloanies are in cohorts of ~70 students in the first semester called Oceans (go Atlantics!). Each Ocean has two cultural chairs, who plan weekly activities such as Thanksgiving potlucks, New England getaways, small group dinners, and themed parties. One of my Sloan highlights was my Atlantic long weekend retreat to New Hampshire!”
Stefan Sayre, MIT (Sloan)

 

Myth: You usually end up working in the same country where you completed your MBA studies, so your opportunities at NUS would be limited to Singapore.

Reality: “I am happy to discover that the NUS MBA can open doors in any corner of the world. Take, for instance, that I will be working in Japan. A few of my friends have just started their jobs in Singapore, while others have received job offers in the UAE, Hong Kong, Europe, and the Americas. This is a truly global network!”
Ricardo Lopez Barajas, National University of Singapore

 

Myth: Stern does not have a central campus and we are too spread out.

Reality: “We do leverage the city as our campus, and we do have classmates that live all over and outside of the city: That is our superpower and part of what makes the NYU Stern community amazing. We have our central Stern building and Washington Square Park as our go-to meet-up spaces, and it is not uncommon to run into friends throughout the city. We take the opportunity to explore different neighborhoods and immerse ourselves into the city’s culture and we are the better for it. But, being involved at NYU Stern means that you will always have a “central” part of campus to come to and engage in the community – you get out of it what you put into it!”
KJ Brown, New York University (Stern)

 

Myth: UNC Kenan-Flagler is a great school for finance, so I assumed that everyone coming into business school had a strong background in finance or accounting.

Reality: “We definitely have our share of those, but we’re also fortunate enough to have nurses, singers, entrepreneurs, architects, scientists, teachers and so many more backgrounds represented in our class. This diversity of background and experience led to amazing conversations both inside and outside of the classroom. As a “non-traditional” MBA student, it helped me feel like I belonged.”
Oliver Jones, North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)

 

Myth: Kellogg is “just” a marketing school.

Reality: “Kellogg houses and produces some of the world’s finest marketers, but most Kellogg students go into consulting and tech, and more and more are pursuing private equity, venture capital, and entrepreneurship. Kellogg builds strategists, who can lead in any business function and industry.”
Dorian J. Allen, Northwestern University (Kellogg)

 

Myth: Fisher is only for students who want to stay in the area or apply to companies in the Midwest exclusively.

Reality: “My priority was applying to companies on the East Coast, and Fisher prepared and connected me with numerous promising organizations there. I also saw other peers choosing careers in the South or West Coast with offers from leading employers such as Amazon, Apple, and Dell. Fisher is a business school that proudly takes the Midwest nice and the Buckeye spirit to the rest of the country through its alumni.”
Juan I. Ezquerra, Ohio State (Fisher)

 

Myth: There are fewer opportunities available at the Katz School because it is not a large school or ranked in the top 20.

Reality: “While it’s true that recruiters from top-tier companies may not flood our campus, the reality is quite different. In fact, the smaller cohort size at Katz translates into more opportunities for students. With fewer classmates competing for internships and job placements, students have a greater chance to stand out and seize valuable opportunities. Additionally, the personalized attention and close-knit community fostered by smaller class sizes offer a more enriching experience. Professors and staff know students by name, creating a supportive environment where students can thrive academically and professionally. This hands-on approach to education sets Katz apart and provides students with unique opportunities for growth and success.”
Kelly Lu, University of Pittsburgh (Katz)

 

Myth: The biggest myth about the Smith School of Business is that the 1-year intensive Full-time MBA doesn’t leave enough time to get to know your classmates.

Fact: “Contrary to this, the program is designed with numerous opportunities for connection and team-building. From day one, the faculty and staff emphasize the importance of community through activities like the Smith Fit to Lead program, which includes outings such as golf, kayaking, cruises, and laser tag. Weekly .4s gatherings offer a relaxed setting to unwind and bond with classmates. Moreover, the program’s structure, with team-based projects accounting for 50% of course grades, necessitates meaningful collaboration and understanding amongst team members. Despite the fast pace, these elements ensure that students form close, lasting connections throughout the year.”
Anirudh Bakshi, Queen’s College (Smith)

 

Myth: Rice is simply an oil-and-gas focused program given its location in Houston.

Reality: “The truth is, while Rice has a fantastic traditional energy curriculum and professional network, we also have tons of resources in Tech, CPG, Financial Services, and CleanTech. Many of my peers interned at firms in the aforementioned industries and were supported by a vast Rice network as well as a host of professors at McNair Hall. Our CleanTech, Finance, and Technology professional clubs are a strong resource that offer education, networking and plenty of opportunities to explore industries beyond oil and gas. While we do retain a strong footprint in the oil and gas sector, Rice Business has done a fantastic job enabling students to recruit for whatever industry their heart desires.”
Ahmad Tipu, Rice University (Jones)

 

Myth: Earning your MBA at Rice means you’ll be stuck in Texas.

Reality: “Every year, well over 30% of the class successfully recruits to areas outside Texas. I know classmates and friends who interned and are headed to work full-time in areas like Seattle, Bay Area, Los Angeles, New York, Boston, and Chicago. In my own experience, I received internship offers from both Amgen in California and CVS Health in New Hampshire. I wish every prospective student to understand that if they are committed and driven to recruit for a specific area, they will succeed. I even mentored a few students from the class of 2025 to recruit internationally (for the Middle East and Latin America). Rice has an obvious advantage when recruiting in Texas, but it is not as definitive or restrictive.”
Sameera Bhamidipati, Rice University (Jones)

 

Myth: Data analytics is scary and intimidating.

Reality: “That’s a big part of why I chose Simon was for its intense focus on analytics, knowing I did not have much experience in it. Working on a ‘weakness’ can be intimidating. Once we were in the depths of the first year, I quickly realized this was not true, as did many of my classmates. Simon does a great job of developing core classes to build a foundation for our data analytics, supported further with different electives we may choose. Further, the resources Simon provides, such as tutors, teaching assistants, lab hours, and accessibility to professors, make data analytics very doable and no longer scary.”
Missy Keesler, University of Rochester (Simon)

 

Myth: McCombs grads only stay in Texas.

Reality: “Yes, many of our alumni stay in the Southwest region, which we define as Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. But that doesn’t stop us from settling into every major city around the country, as evidenced by my classmates’ internships and jobs in Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, New York, and Boston, among other locales. And the folks who do stay in Texas often fall in love with the Lone Star State and find great career paths and personal lives here. Plus, it helps that Texas has no state income tax and a lower cost of living, which meant that for the Class of 2023, our Southwest region’s median base salary offer was $175,000. That’s the same as the Northeast and higher than the West, as our recent career report showed!
Colby Bermel, University of Texas (McCombs)

 

Myth: Texas A&M is one giant cult.

Reality: “We’re not, though I’ll grant that we do have some traditions that may seem odd to someone that’s not part of it. But when you’re part of A&M, you realize just how fun it is. Whether it’s the 12th man, Ring Dunk, or Midnight Yell, every tradition at A&M just speaks to how close-knit the community is. Even after graduation, the Aggie Network remains strong both from a professional and community standpoint.”
Taylor Boles, Texas A&M (Mays)

 

Myth: Due to its location, UT Dallas lacks diversity, adequate support for international students, robust career services, and social opportunities.

Reality: “My experience at UT Dallas has been radically different. The university, especially the MBA office, places a strong emphasis on creating a strong basis for numerous networking opportunities, connections to alumni networks, and official visits to major business hubs like San Francisco, San Jose, and Austin. The different departments, professors, and fellow students have been instrumental in creating a supportive environment conducive to success. Contrary to the notion of a zero-sum game, everyone at UT Dallas is genuinely invested in helping each other succeed, contributing to a vibrant and inclusive community that challenges the myth about smaller city schools.”
Shaivya Hem Thakore, University of Texas-Dallas (Jindal)

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