Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Marketing Managers
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Babson, Quincy College, Harvard, and Bentley.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider Bay Path, Becker, UMass Boston, and Mount Ida College.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Pine Manor College, Bay Path, and Simmons College.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Roxbury Community College, Pine Manor College, Atlantic Union, and Endicott.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Atlantic Union, Fitchburg State, Framingham State, and Greenfield Community College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Harvard, BU, BC, and Babson.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Lasell, Stonehill College, Gordon, and Bentley.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Harvard, BC, Northeastern, and BU.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Harvard, BC, Dean, and Babson.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at WPI, Harvard, Stonehill College, and Atlantic Union.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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M.I.T. • Cambridge, MA
Studying Management (A.k.a. MBA) (completion in 1988)
•
"I mostly got what I was looking for from the school. I was enriched by my classmates, learned a lot about business and management, developed new ways of thinking about business issues, and opened the way for new career opportunities. "
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | Yes | I think for anyone interested in management and business, especially with more of a quantitative flavoring or technology spin, that Sloan would be a great choice. The school was, and I believe still is, a strong choice for those seeking management consulting and financial industry careers. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | The program has been top rated by all the various raters. My perception from being in the workforce is that grads are generally well regarded. At least from my time, major consultants, like McKinsey, and major Wall Street firms hired a lot of grads. Quite a few also ended up in various corporate roles across various industries. |
| Program Quality | 9 | MIT's Sloan School offered a what I considered a strong program in business/management. For me in particular, I was interested in technology related management and business. Sloan plus MIT at large worked well for this. The school taught me a lot and I believe opened up opportunities that I would not have had otherwise. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Definitely a challenging program. There was a strong quantitative element to the overall curriculum. For example, Sloan even required some calculus as a prerequisite as part of preparation for some of the economics courses. Part of the challenge was just the sheer volume of work and reading, especially the first and second semesters. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Definitely a bit more towards the book, theoretical side of things. But there were good hands-on opportunities, such as projects in industry with real companies through various classes. One project I did, for instance, was related to a supply chain problem at a local electronics manufacturer. Classes at that time used a mix of case studies, which are more hands-on oriented kinds of exercises, and studying underlying principles and theories. Some classes also ran simulations, like a marketing class, that offered pseudo-real product marketing over the course of the studies. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | I went full time for two years. The ability to take classes when I needed them was fine. |
| Social Life | 10 | I enjoyed meeting many of my classmates and partying and traveling and mingling. One draw for me was the strong international presence of the student body. I very much enjoyed meeting and getting know my fellow students from across the world. |
| Placement Services | 8 | The career office from my time gets good marks for preparing grads to reenter the workforce. A lot of resources were available to help with the basics of job searches, resumes, interviewing, networking, etc. Company presentations were regularly offered as a preview of opportunities. Quite a few companies recruited, albeit mostly consultants, financial firms, and corporations. Those seeking alternate paths, like entrepreneurship or non-profits, were looking for situations on their own, most likely similar to other business schools. The career services was also good about helping with summer internships -- I got mine through the office. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | My perception is that the alumni network, at least from my time, is a notch below other major business schools. If you live in a major city, and especially Boston, there are alumni activities ongoing, many of which are quite interesting. The opportunity is definitely there to connect and take advantage of fellow alumni and their experiences. But for some reason it does not seem to be as active as other majors. |
University Of Massachusetts - Boston • Boston, MA
Studying Environmental Science (completion in 2009)
•
"My main complaints are the lack of research opportunities and the lack of career and job placement assistance. "
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | Maybe | I know nothing about UMASS Boston's undergraduate programs. However, if you are interested in a Master's degree in Environmental Science, I would advise you to attend this school ONLY if you develop a close relationship with a professor and a narrowed research focus BEFORE you enroll. It is possible to do this if you plan a year or so in advance. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I can't say too much about this, given that I don't work in the field. But nobody I've come across in the field through my volunteering experience has a degree from UMASS Boston. |
| Program Quality | 3 | There were very few research opportunities. I went there hoping to do research and write a publishable thesis, but that didn't happen. On the bright side, I was offered a job as a Teaching Assistant, which made my education affordable. |
| Instruction | 5 | It really depends on the instructor. Some were excellent, while other were not. The worst instructors did not inspire interest in the subjects they taught. Some were impossible to reach outside of class time. |
| How Difficult | 6 | Half of the classes were easy, consisting almost entirely of readings and discussions. Others required a great deal of critical thinking. In these classes, weekly homework assignment took upwards of ten hours to complete. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There were some classes that focused on hands-on learning. However, for a school that prides itself on research, there were not nearly enough. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | Classes were only Monday through Thursday during the day. This schedule was fine for me, but wouldn't work for someone with 9 to 5 job. On the bright side, the course selection was excellent. There was a great deal of freedom. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The facilities - libraries, labs, etc. - were excellent. The school even had boats equipped for doing research on the sea. Classes were small, and there was always plenty of classroom space. The downside was the poor accessibility of professors. Many did not respond to emails or voice mails, and a few professors blew off meetings that we had scheduled. This was infuriating since I had to commute from quite a ways away. |
| Social Life | 3 | There was very little school spirit, which is typical of a commuter school. I knew nothing about the school's athletic programs. Within my department, however, there were quite a few social events held on-campus. |
| Placement Services | 2 | It was just about non-existent. We'd receive emails once every couple of weeks about a job opening or internship, but these were nothing that couldn't be found online. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I didn't seek it out while I was there, but it was certainly never brought to my attention (if there even is an alumni network). I have not been contacted since I graduated. |
Boston University • Boston, MA
Studying Communication (completion in 2010)
• 10/23/2011
"I couldn't have made a better choice. I loved going to school in Boston, loved the friends I made, and loved my program of study."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | BU has a very well-connected network of communication grads that help each other with career advancement. I was extremely prepared to work in the real world. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | BU's Communication program is well-known throughout the country, particularly in NY. We have a well-connected network of grads. |
| Program Quality | 7 | My program was very career-focused and prepared me well practically. I was taught by many experienced professionals. However, I wish they had prepared me more digitally. |
| Instruction | 8 | I had amazing professors that actually came from various sectors of the field. They had been in the "real world" and could translate that experience. |
| How Difficult | 8 | While the classes weren't always physically difficult, I had a heavy course load. I always had multiple group projects and papers due at once. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My program revolved around group projects. I'm very thankful for that because that's exactly how the industry is. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | There were no weekend options. However, I was able to take seminar courses that only met once per week. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | We had a lab full of MAC computers, which was great for learning design. It was also open during convenient hours. |
| Social Life | 8 | I loved my program and made amazing friends, who were all very enthusiastic. I wish we had more sports teams though-- there wasn't too much school spirit! |
| Placement Services | 4 | I did visit the career office for satisfactory help on my resume. However, I wish we had more recruiters invited to campus. I graduated during the recession, though, which probably hampered recruitment. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I do receive frequent emails from the alumni association, but I haven't been actively involved as activities haven't interested me yet. Also, most activities are focused in urban areas. |
Johns Hopkins • Boston, MA
Studying Communications And Marketing (completion in 2011)
• 12/4/2011
"I am satisfied with my school and proud to have gone. I think my future will be amazing."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend it to anyone who wants a solid education. I hope other people discover how amazing the school is. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | They have the best reputation. They are great at everything. |
| Program Quality | 6 | It was very interesting, I was very intrigued. I hope to return one day a successful man. |
| Instruction | 8 | I feel very prepared for the future of my career. I really can't wait to get a job. |
| How Difficult | 7 | They had great classes. I really learned a lot about my major. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was very hands-on with the teaching. My English also improved. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | They were pretty by-the-book but the schedule was never too much to handle for me. I would say it was very flexible. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | My classes were held in very nice facilities. I really enjoyed the furniture. |
| Social Life | 8 | I had a great experience at my school. It was the best time of my life. |
| Placement Services | 8 | They really helped me out when I need to find a job in my field. I am now happily employed. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | We all keep in touch a lot. We are all great friends. |
University Of Massachusetts At Lowell • Lowell, MA
Studying Plastics Engineering (completion in 1991)
• 12/21/2011
"I am very satisfied with this school. It has helped me with my career and has a great alumni network."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would absolutely recommend this program for others. This was a great school for me to attend and helped greatly with my career. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | The school's reputation for the program that I attended is extremely good. It is the best in the country and maybe the world. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I am very satisfied with the Plastics Engineering Department at the school. It is considered to be the best in the country. |
| Instruction | 9 | The instructors that I had, particularly the ones in the department, were very good. I maintain contact with some many years later, at trade shows and trade association meetings. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The difficulty of the coursework varied quite a bit. In general, it was all challenging, and I enjoyed the classes. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I found that the school had a very good mix of hands on and book learning. For me, this is the best way to learn. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | There was some flexibility in the class schedule. For the most part, I was able to get courses when I wanted them. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The facilities could have used an update when I attended the school. I understand that major changes and improvements have been made since I graduated. |
| Social Life | 8 | The people I met while attending school were great. The campus area was not the best, but the school has continued work on improving. |
| Placement Services | 7 | I rated this lower, as I have not used the school's career services and have not needed to. However, I gave it a pretty good rating, as I know others have used it. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The alumni network of the department is extremely good, and I have often commented to others on that point. I doubt that the other departments of the school could have such a tight group of alumni. |
Merrimack College • Andover, MA
Studying Business/Marketing (completion in 1998)
• 2/9/2012
"Dated classrooms, simple text book learning, lame campus life. Overall, Merrimack doesn't have a lot of school spirit because of the facilities and the fact that the school is populated by locals who leave as soon as their class commitments are over."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | No. I'd recommend a school with either a name that gets attention or a work study program that allows you to graduate with real world experience. |
| Program Reputation | 2 | I don't think my school's reputation registers anything with employers. Meh. |
| Program Quality | 2 | Leaving school, I was very green. I had no experience, nothing to give me a leg up in the resume/interview process. It made me wish I had gone to a work/study college like Northeastern. |
| Instruction | 3 | I believe the instructors were good at their jobs, but a degree from Merrimack College in Business isn't worth the paper it's printed on. Employers want experience. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I'd say it was average. The classes were challenging, but not particularly innovative. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Almost no hands on learning about business or marketing. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | The full-time, day schedule is pretty limited - a class meets when it meets, and there aren't duplicates or other versions taught at other times. Because of this, a lot of what you learn is more about what fits your schedule than what you really want to take. |
| Academic Facilities | 2 | I think our school had a good engineering program. The science building looked nice. The school classrooms were a little sad and dated. The library was small and limited. |
| Social Life | 1 | Too many day students leaving school as soon as class is over. And the majority of kids who live on campus are local so they have friends off campus that they can lean on or leave to hang out with. |
| Placement Services | 1 | They're no more helpful than Monster.com. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I haven't come across one Merrimack alum in my job hunts. Boston College, on the other hand, is like legalized nepotism. |
Boston University • Boston, MA
Studying Communications/Broadcasting And Film (completion in 1991)
• 3/29/2012
"I received a wonderful education. I lived in a great city. I made great friends and I was exposed to all kinds of new and different things during my college career."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Because it's a city school it would be more appropriate for some students than others. I am definitely a city person, so I thrived there but I believe that some students may do better in a traditional college campus environment. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | It has always had a strong reputation and I believe that continues. The program has expanded its reach with a student film festival and awards in LA, as well as expanded internship opportunities. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I received a great liberal arts education as well as a more specific education in communications and film. I learned from fantastic professors in a great environment. |
| Instruction | 10 | I had wonderful professors. They were career professionals as well as scholars and offered a great deal of support for students academically as well as career-wise. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I mostly found it easy, but time consuming. I believe that students who are in this major need to love what they do, or the time and commitment will not be worth it. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Because my major was film, it was very hands on. We used film-making and editing equipment as well as sound equipment. However, there were theory classes and liberal arts classes as well, so it was definitely a mix. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I'm not sure what their options are now, but my schedule was always pretty flexible. Some classes were in the evening and some during the day. I never had a class on Friday after my freshman year and I still took every class I wanted. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | At the time I was a student, the facilities were pretty good, but since then I believe they have only gotten much better. They have state of the art equipment available for students to use, making them marketable and competitive in the workplace when they graduate. |
| Social Life | 10 | There was something for everyone. I had a wonderful group of friends. There were lots of parties, events and event trips that were planned through the University. It was a great place to go to school and make friends. |
| Placement Services | 8 | They were helpful when I first graduated and they still have a good support network. The school offered career services, job placement and listings and emails for people looking for work. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | They offer a good alumni website with good career listings and a favorable mentor program. There are also decent alumni events throughout the country. |
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