University of Minnesota - Curtis L. Carlson School of Management

At the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management, experiential learning, proximity to Fortune 500 companies, a “stellar” Career Center, and a “robust dual degree program” are just a few of the happy offerings on tap for those who take advantage of the school’s various MBA tracks. The school “makes life very enjoyable for the student body,” administrators are “passionate advocates” for the programs, and “staff members go out of their way to remove barriers to success for students.” Both the administration and professors “are very receptive to student feedback” and “are willing to change their approach to best suit the students.” This includes “updating, removing, and replacing required courses; and providing specific resources to students.”

The workload at Carlson is well balanced. Students say course work is “challenging, but it doesn’t take hours of your day up to get it done” (the exception being some of the core curriculum, which “can be brutal some weeks”). The academic rigor is “sufficient for most students, even those with a business background,” and “enterprise experience. . . gives real world experience and legitimate projects from companies.” Smaller cohort sizes “leverage wiggle space, and a more personalized MBA program is the outcome,” which includes “lots of coaching and mentoring being offered.” The beloved professors “can apply the principles they’re trying to teach us in a real world example while at the same time getting us to laugh.” “We have beers on occasion and it’s nice to know that these people have other interests than just class,” says a student. They “offer many options to help us balance both school and work,” including includes the ability to choose which two or three cases students want to write an analysis on, and courses of varying lengths throughout the semester.

The “highly diverse and outstanding business community in the Twin Cities area” is the primary goal (or current employer) of most who attend Carlson, and “opportuni- ties to network and improve our marketability outside of the classroom are plentiful.” Minneapolis boasts numerous Fortune 500 companies, as well as a robust nonprofit sector, which “allows you to pursue whatever direction you want with your MBA, all while being part of a vibrant metropolis.” For those who are seeking to work outside of Minnesota, “Carlson is also expanding networking opportunities on the West Coast” and is incredibly helpful in facilitating the job search of students who wish to do so.

The Career Center has “phenomenal and flexible offerings for part-time MBA students,” as well. “My personal favorite is the all-day Career Conference for part-time students held on a Saturday each April,” says one. The alumni network is equally as helpful: “There’s a pride from being from Carlson and alumni want to do what they can to help the next generation of graduates succeed.” Recent employers of Carlson grads include 3M, Amazon, Best Buy, Boston Scientific, Cummins, Deloitte Consulting, Delta Airlines, Dish Network, and Eaton Corporation.

The U of M is “fantastic about engaging all students both in the classroom and with social activities”: “From events during class times or on off days, there is a strong sense of togetherness.” The school is constantly trying to cater to its busy student components, introducing part-time clubs, “networking socials” before and during class, Friday eve- ning casual dinners, and a couple of all-day career workshops over the weekend. The student body is “a great mix that includes a large group of veterans and international students,” and many students come from all over the country. There is an incredibly active social scene, and “it is more or less an expectation [that] students participate in that social scene,” though “you can get as involved as you have time for.” This includes many family-friendly and spouse-friendly activities and events: “I like the fact that my family was able to come and see what I do on a typical day, eat lunch with them and then meet my classmates. It really made me feel like I was combining two families.”