Georgia Institute of Technology - Scheller College of Business

Drawing from its roots as one of the south’s most preeminent research universities, Georgia Institute of Technology’s Scheller College of Business offers its MBA students a firm grounding in technology no matter their specialization, while also allowing them to take advantage of the resources the Institute itself offers. By merging tech and innovation, Scheller keeps up with business trends, and graduate assistantship opportunities (which could slash tuition by half or fully) abound, as well as dual degrees with advanced engineering degrees. The school work is “challenging, but there is plenty of help among students to learn the material.” The “data-driven business mindset” of the school is apparent throughout all classes—small class sizes create a personalized atmosphere, and a shortened core curriculum allows more opportunities for electives.

Professors at Scheller are “not only engaging but have made [an] impact in their field of teaching” and “are currently doing research and have amazing real world experience.” “It’s great how they combine technology and analytics in a lot of the classes since both are so prevalent in today’s business world,” says a student. They are “passionate about their fields” and “eager to interact with students.” Classes are a “very friendly and collaborative atmosphere” that are “open to discussion and are not just PowerPoint slides.”

The administration (“especially our career services department”) is “very helpful and supportive,” and “is so in tune with the student body”: “They truly want to make this a great experience for us.” A “high caliber alumni network” ensures that students have plenty of ins with companies, which is complemented by the fact that Scheller is “ideally located in central Atlanta,” which is the base for numerous corporate headquarters (such as Coca-Cola, Home Depot, and Delta Airlines). The excellent location, paired with well-connected professors, provides students with “opportunities to work with Fortune 500 companies on real business problems through courses.”

The job and internship process is unusually smooth at Scheller, because students “all know we will get a job, so we are willing and want to help each other reach their fullest potential.” “Instead of competing with each other for jobs, we root each other on,” echoes another student. The Career Services department is also “battle-tested in facilitating career-changes.”

Atlanta is “a fun and upbeat city to live in,” and there is a “strong family feel” within cohorts, with “lots of social gatherings” on the docket. Students come from “extremely diverse work backgrounds” and are “very collaborative and non-combative.” People here are “talented type-A personalities,” but at the same time “very humble and respectful.” The small class size and rigorous admissions process also means that students have “a personal relationship” with each of their classmates and “know each other very well.” Many here are “highly involved in extracurriculars” and sports, and there is “a broad range of clubs, from common interests to career development.” There is a similarly wide range of social activities, both “organized from the student level as well as students liking to spend time together,” including “several different cultural celebrations throughout the year” that students and their friends and families are encouraged to attend. As a result, between the social environment and the academic side, “grad student life feels busy but fairly balanced.”