Boston College - The Carroll School of Management

The Carroll School of Management at Boston College stands by rigorous academics paired with internships, study trips, and part-time work to send work-ready students into professional positions. The first year is a “thoughtful” core curriculum which covers a wide range of topics from operations to accounting through which the class progresses in cohort, followed by a second year of electives based on functional skills, allowing students to “develop a strong specialization” in a business area of their choosing. The administration is “remarkably” responsive to student questions and suggestions, and “administrators are always available for a phone conversation.” Life at Carroll is “academically challenging” with engaging professors “who teach theory as well as provide experiential learning opportunities.” The small program size contributes to a very close class and “promotes a supportive environment.” Faculty at Carroll is “a great mix of academics and industry professionals,” who “all seem to genuinely enjoy teaching and are easily accessible outside of class.” The real world professional background of teachers is “helpful in conveying key business concepts,” and there are “lots of distinct personalities that have varied industry experiences but are committed to teaching.” Nearly all professors “show significant interest in connecting with students and providing real academic value,” and “certain professors at BC offer once in a lifetime courses.” The workload “depends heavily on the discipline” the student is focusing on, and there is “a wide range of courses offered for a smaller program.”

The Carroll School of Management has very recently put a heavy emphasis on data analytics in the core curriculum, which “has been extremely beneficial in the job hunt process.” The Boston College alumni network is incredibly strong, and the “connections to the asset management industry in Boston and New York” are huge boons for those seeking new employment after graduation; the professors are also “generally open to students tapping into their professional networks.” The administration is “extremely helpful” in terms of “helping students find employment or helping students enroll in courses or meet all graduation criteria.” The Career Development office has “great insights into what employers are looking for” and help students prepare well interviews.” Events and informational sessions are “well-prepared and support students’ career development.” Some representative companies hiring BC MBA grads from recent classes are Adidas, Liberty Mutual Insurance, EMC, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Carroll School of Management has an incredibly diverse “range of individuals in terms of age, professional experience, and culture,” which “is surprising given the small class size.” BC maintains an inclusive social environment— “students regularly plan program-wide events without sponsorship from the school”—and “a friendly atmosphere in which students support one another.” This is a “competitive environment but not cut throat by any means” with an “emphasis on camaraderie,” and most who come here are “busy working professionals” who are looking for “a strong network as well as the academic reputation.” “I have had to work hard and balance a full-time job, but professors and administrators have worked with me to make it possible,” says one student. On the social side, it’s an active life, including “weekly gatherings for the entire graduate school at various bars/restaurants in Boston.” There are also many student-organized events, such as “the end of year golf tournament” or “flag football, MBA soccer league, tailgates for ACC football games, [and] community service” opportunities on campus. Boston College also gives MBA students tickets to football, hockey, and other BC sporting events.