Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Sales Managers
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Motlow State Community College, Pellissippi State, Volunteer State Community College, and Walters State Community College.
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 Nashville State, Southwest Tennessee Community College, Le Moyne-Owen College, and Pellissippi State.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Draughons Junior College.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Le Moyne-Owen College, Victory, Tennessee State, and Roane State Community College.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Lincoln Memorial, Victory, Union University, and Nashville State.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Vanderbilt University, Rhodes College, Tennessee Temple University, and Southern Adventist University.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Hiwassee, Tennessee Temple University, Free Will Baptist Bible, and Maryville.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Vanderbilt University, Rhodes College, Belmont, and The University of Tennessee.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Victory, Vanderbilt University, Motlow State Community College, and Lane.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Hiwassee, Rhodes College, Vanderbilt University, and Free Will Baptist Bible.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Vanderbilt University • Nashville, TN
Studying Political Science (completion in 2014)
• 7/15/2011
"I was very happy with my time at Vandy, but there is very little direct connection between my career as a salesman and my major. It is more accurate to say that it helped me to think, and then when I entered sales, that ability to think helped a lot. Had I gotten an MBA, though, I would be shocked if my time at Vandy didn't "skyrocket" my career."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I feel more comfortable saying that I recommend people pursue it for certain industries... My first sales jobs were in such unique circumstances that no college would have prepared me for them. So, if they knew they wanted to be involved in biomedical stuff, Vandy would be a great choice, but not necessarily to only sell products/. It's not that kind of school. But if you already know what/industry you like, it would be a good fit. I have yet to work for a high-level manager who did not serve as a salesman at some time. Regardless of training/background, they had to do it to fill the resume. Oh, if a candidate were to be looking at "Southern" industries and social policies/education/development/nonprofit, I would highly recommend this school at the bachelor's and MBA level, as well as the Law School (most of my major research was actually done in the Law library). |
| Program Reputation | 8 | If I were to reword this as "marketing," it has a great reputation at the MBA level (but I didn't take that program). The name of the university counts for a lot in the South, so if someone knew they were going to stay in the South, the reputation of the school would help all majors. |
| Program Quality | 8 | My university does not set out to train salesmen, and I didn't get into sales until four years after gradation. However, once you have established yourself in sales, the university alumni network is great. |
| Instruction | 5 | My major had no connection to sales, nor would I have taken courses to do so as I didn't plan on being in sales. However, my subject knowledge has been very useful... when the sales process touches upon things I studied, I can tap into that, but they were not "sales 101" courses. Had I known I was going to do sales, I would have picked psych and history courses focusing on personalities and business practices/models. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I was in a very competitive department (lots of pre-law types) that also had grade deflation. In other words, a lot of work with very little chance of receiving recognition on your GPA. 16 years later, I still get asked about my GPA. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It definitely depends on the major and the particular professors. I will say that the professors were very open to papers that were drawn from the practical world as opposed to regurgitation of theory. Some majors (basically, everything in the Education college), require intense/intensive internships... had I known I was going to be in sales, I would have taken those courses... very valuable, even if it is to find out what you don't like. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | At the time, there wasn't a lot of schedule flexibility other than summer sessions. However, you learn really quickly to make it work for you. There are evening options at the master's level, but I wasn't in the MBA program. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | There are lots of resources, if you know where to look. However, most of them are limited to graduate students. So, act like one, and you march right in... I understand that resources have virtually exploded now, so it's kind of a non-issue. The only issue I could see now would be access to scientific equipment. |
| Social Life | 10 | If you can't have a social life at Vandy, you can't have one anywhere. Industry or job-specific things wouldn't kick in until about your junior year (because most people don't really settle on a career path until then... obviously, mine changed). |
| Placement Services | 3 | Big problem here... The alumni office only maintains letters of recommendation for about two years and then disposes of them. So, if you are in a position (such as military service) where/when you would never consider using these letters immediately upon graduation, those things are gone. I found this out afterwards. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | Once you are in sales, it is a great network to have. Otherwise, I think you need to find sales positions... if it is handed to you, well, it's going to be a long, hard ride. |
University Of Tennessee • Knoxville, TN
Studying Economics (completion in 2009)
• 7/24/2011
"I am satisfied with the education and social experiences that I gained. It is a good school with loads of opportunities."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes, because if you are looking to be a sales manager, UT has a great business program. They have a large office with people willing to help you realize your goals as well. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | I believe that my school's reputation has increased dramatically since I first applied. The application process is much more difficult now. |
| Program Quality | 8 | It was a good program with good professors. I am satisfied with my decision. |
| Instruction | 7 | I feel like I was pretty well educated in Economics. Not everything can be taught in the classroom. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I chose this program because of the level of academic challenge. I need a good challenge in order to be engaged. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I feel like it was a great mix mostly. Some teachers leaned more one way or the other. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I never had problems fitting in the classes I needed into my schedule. Advisers were also mostly willing to help. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | I had a great program and great professors, but since the program was so small, availability and accessibility was often difficult depending upon the professor. My academic adviser in my major was awful. |
| Social Life | 9 | I had the time of my life in college. I value the social experiences I gained highly. |
| Placement Services | 3 | The online career services website is very helpful, however I don't feel like the physical office on campus is helpful at all. I had several bad experiences. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I have not really been active in my alumni network. I have only really used the online career search for alumni. |
East Tennessee State University • Johnson City, TN
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2002)
• 9/6/2011
"Overall satisfied. They do have room for improvement, though."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It depends on what they want to specialize in. It also depends on their budget as they may be able to afford better. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I think it is about the same as it was. I do not think it will improve in the near future. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I had some great professors. Overall the experience was good although the school administrators were not always the best to work with. |
| Instruction | 6 | The curriculum was decent and challenging. Preparation for my career was not what it should have been. |
| How Difficult | 6 | Some classes were challenging but overall I had no problem obtaining a "B" average. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | They have many co-op programs. I participated in one and found it very beneficial. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | They were very flexible. I believe they are even more flexible now than when I attended. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | They constructed a new, state of the art library while I was there. The computer labs were also in decent shape. |
| Social Life | 6 | It was all pretty good. However, they have since done away with the football program. |
| Placement Services | 2 | I had to find my own job. The school did not help me at all. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I have received one call in 9 years. They could do a much better job. |
University Of Tennessee • Knoxville, TN
Studying Business Administration And Management (completion in 2006)
• 9/12/2011
"From the academic curriculum all the way up, I am very satisfied. I do not feel I would have achieved what I have achieved had it not been for the staff, faculty, and other students that I had the absolute pleasure of going through the learning process with. It was a pure pleasure."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Of course I would recommend UT Knoxville to anyone pursuing a career similar to mine. They give you not only the tools and resources to survive and succeed, but the motivation as well. All of that wrapped into one program, with great support, is something you don't always find at other colleges or universities, at least not to the extent that UT Knoxville offers it. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Not only is the program I chose one of the top rated Business Administration and Management programs in the state, but UT itself is rated very high academically. Their strategy for making sure you are able to maximize your learning experiences is definitely one of a kind. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I feel the entire Business Administration and Management program was very thorough and plenty of support was offered. I also participated in some online classes which made the process much more convenient and accessible for me. |
| Instruction | 10 | I have no complaints about the career preparation and learning methods provided while attending college. The quality of the curriculum offered was top notch in my book! |
| How Difficult | 8 | The academic challenge was pretty difficult in that there was so much to learn in what seemed such a short period of time. The workload at times was very intense, but great support was offered through their academic advisors and all of the instructors. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The learning environment provided much hands on learning and much book learning. It was entirely made up of a mix of both, but in addition, we had many online resources and video resources as well. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I found the flexibility of the school class schedule to be absolutely great. Their options are endless. If something doesn't work for you, their academic counselors research each and every option to see that your needs are met. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | I found all of the academic facilities and resources to be great. I especially loved the video library that was accessible to all students. It's amazing what resources are given in order to make each student succeed. We also formed our own study and pre-exam groups that routinely had get-togethers and utilized the time together to touch base on whatever weakness each member felt they needed assistance with. It worked out great, as many of the fellow students may have had a strength where another had a weakness and a great deal of support was given that way. |
| Social Life | 10 | I have no complaints regarding any experience at my school. Everything from social events, to the school spirit, all of it is so prominent at UT Knoxville. Should I decide to pursue another degree, that is the University that I will attend! |
| Placement Services | 10 | Their job placement assistance begins from day one as you formulate your projected job in a written thesis which you go back and review after graduation. It is amazing to see how your focus may change within a couple of years time. They provide many resources and even provide recruitment resources that you are given the ability to interview with. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | I feel like the alumni network and support is excellent. They even provide after hours resources and online resources. I could not ask for a better support system! |
University Of Tennessee • Knoxville, TN
Studying Chemical Engineering (completion in 2000)
• 10/28/2011
"Amazing school to attend, very friendly, easy to enter. Academics more than adequate and respected."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I went to school for chemical engineering and moved into a sales position 1 year after graduating. Having not gone to school there for business or sales, I can not recommend it. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I am not sure of the school's current reputation. I graduated over 10 years ago. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I was satisfied with my schooling and preparation. I felt I was given a good balance of theoretical and practical applications. |
| Instruction | 8 | Instructors were quite thorough, I felt. It could have been a little more advanced. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I felt it could have been more difficult. I have always found chemistry and math to be my strong suits, though. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was an abundance of book learning. As I stated earlier there was a good mix of practical application as well, i.e. labs. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | There were options, but I stuck with a more traditional schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | UT is large and so they had adequate facilities for my studies. Professors could have been a little more accessible. |
| Social Life | 9 | I played lacrosse there and went to many parties. Very strong football program made for a very social school. |
| Placement Services | I did not use their system. I went straight into the Marine Corps. | |
| Alumni Network | 7 | The school has a strong alumni network. I feel like if I ever need support, it would be provided. |
Vanderbilt • Nashville, TN
Studying Economics (completion in 2007)
• 12/14/2011
"I loved it. It gave me a great education and I had a blast."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I make a lot of money doing what I love. Vanderbilt gave me that chance. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Ranked among the best schools in the country. 1/4 of new students have perfect SATs. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Vanderbilt is great. Got me a job. Great connections. |
| Instruction | 8 | Top teachers. Very smart, very engaged, very involved. They care about you. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Competing with very smart kids. Cutthroat testing. Teachers gave a lot and expected a lot. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Hands on in some classes and books with others. Big lectures were obviously very book and not hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Not very flexible. Definitely best for the full-time student. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | School has a lot of money, so we have nice computers and nice facilities. |
| Social Life | 8 | Very good-looking girls, a lot of partying, and tons to do in Nashville. |
| Placement Services | 9 | Helped me a lot. Called me and emailed me tips and suggestions. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | I got a job using alumni. Vanderbilt grads are everywhere. |
Tennessee Tech University • Cookeville, TN
Studying Business (completion in 2005)
• 12/18/2011
"I was very satisfied with my experience, but others I have heard were not. I think it depends on the individual and what they are looking for in a school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | My education earned me a flexible job, so I can stay home and take care of my family. The position I have is a great opportunity. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | Most of the graduates that I know (who have actually gotten out of that particular town) have gone on to get good-paying positions. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I feel as though Tennessee Tech University is an excellent place to go for any type of schooling. They are the highest-ranked university in the area where I am from. |
| Instruction | 4 | They do not really prepare you to go into the workforce. I did that all on my own. They show you how to do certain things (such as make a resume), but you actually do that on your own. |
| How Difficult | 6 | Sometimes the workload could be a bit overbearing. Sometimes the class work actually had nothing to do with real-life scenarios that you may encounter. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was a mixture between classes via computer and classes via book. It was a good mix, because you wouldn't get too bored with one or the other. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | Tennessee Tech is NOT flexible at all on class schedules; they are very strict on rules and want them to be followed at all times. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | The library and media resources were excellent, but the professors were not very accessible. |
| Social Life | 6 | I was a cheerleader at Tennessee Tech, so my social experience was very good at this school. I preferred to not join any other outside organizations, however. |
| Placement Services | 8 | They have job fairs on the Tennessee Tech campus frequently, where prospective employers come and set up booths and take resumes. They also have all branches of military there. My husband did this there and that is actually where we met! |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The alumni network and support is pretty good. While I was attending the school, we had a bomb threat and had to evacuate. There was a proper plan in place for that with a "chain of command" type network. The support of the school system was excellent. |
TN Tech University • Cookeville, TN
Studying (completion in 2014)
• 12/25/2011
"I got my degree; that's it. I didn't even want to attend graduation, because I wasn't very proud of it."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | Sales managers need on-the-job experience. I have no idea what a college can offer that the real world cannot. |
| Program Reputation | 1 | It is basically unknown. Only one or two professors have any prominence beyond the state. |
| Program Quality | 3 | It is not a good school for business. I did not major in business. |
| Instruction | 3 | The professors are not interested in teaching. The curriculum was mostly outdated. |
| How Difficult | 6 | History is somewhat difficult. Research papers are very time-consuming. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Almost no hands-on learning was available. Everything was theoretical, with little practical guidance. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | It was acceptable. They were willing to work with students. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Simply very average. What you would expect and nothing more. |
| Social Life | 2 | Most students go home on the weekend. It was hard to make friends outside of a fraternity. |
| Placement Services | 1 | They did not help me with a job. I am employed outside of my field. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I have not heard from a single alumnus. The career network constantly tries to remove you from the database. |
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