Syracuse University - Martin J. Whitman School of Management

The small MBA program at Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management is a good fit for new graduates and early career professionals hoping to ramp up their business acumen and gain valuable experience in the real world. Academically, the MBA curriculum is well rounded, covering a wide breadth of subject areas, while also placing “emphasis on finance, supply chain, entrepreneurship” and accoutning. A great place to get your feet wet in the world of business, there is an “experiential component featured in many of the classes,” as well as myriad “opportunities given to MBA students to participate within different organizations, whether as an intern or as a consultant to a large reputable firm.” A current student adds, “These academic consulting engagements added depth to many of the courses through projects that provided and often required innovative and hands-on approaches.”

Whitman professors are generally “productive and efficient,” with “excellent academic backgrounds” in their fields of specialization. When it comes to leading a class, however, students say their skill set varies: “There are professors who are great, know their fields, and can quickly apply lessons to what is going on around the world.” On the other hand, “many of the older faculty lack presentation skills. Lectures can be very dry.” The upshot is that, across the board, professors are supportive and “willing to help on projects outside of the classroom.” In fact, thanks to the “very small class size,” “you can get to know your classmates and your professors on a personal level.” At the same time, students love the fact that Syracuse offers all the “resources of a large institution,” including a “beautiful new building” for business students, replete with “up-to-date technology.”

In addition to the traditional MBA, busy professionals have the option of enrolling in MBA@Syracuse, the well-regarded online MBA program (formerly known as iMBA) “which combines actual on-campus learning via weeklong residencies, along with online course work.” Residencies are also hosted off-campus in major business centers around the world, and weekly live classes are hosted online. The online MBA program has been re-launched as in partnership with 2U, Inc., a leading provider of cloud-based software as-a-service solutions for leading nonprofit colleges and universities. According to those in the program, it “provides the same educational experience as the full-time MBA (same curriculum, professors, etc.), but has a much more flexible format.” In addition, the school offers a “great JD/MBA program with lots of connections in NYC,” as well as a joint MBA/MPA program in conjunction with the U.S. Army.

Whitman’s emphasis on experiential learning is a boon to students looking to jump-start their career after the MBA. Plus, the school’s individualized focus makes it easier to prep for a successful job hunt. Here, faculty and staff “go above and beyond to ensure you are well prepared for your career, and customize plans to place you in your dream company.” Specifically, via the Whitman Career Center, students have access to profes- sional-development workshops, personal coaching, and “strong networking events” with local companies. Particularly advantageous for those looking locally, “Alumni are set on creating successful opportunities for current students.”

While everyone agrees that “Syracuse’s MBA program is on the rise,” students would like to see more on-campus recruitment opportunities for MBA candidates, suggesting the school could improve by opening a “career center focused specifically and only on graduate students, (MBAs, master ’s, and PhD students).” Fortunately, improvement is already in the works: students note that, this year, the school is “doing a great deal to bring more business recruiters and alumni onto campus for networking opportuni- ties.” In 2013, Syracuse graduates had an average base salary of $70,769, with a range between $50,000 and $92,000. Top hiring companies include Ernst & Young, Publics, AXA Equitable, Phillips Healthcae, and Norvartis.

Students at Whitman are a “very diverse group” of people, who “all come from different industries,” as well as varying academic backgrounds. With long-term goals and plenty of ambition, these “highly intelligent” students are “competitive and driven” when it comes to coursework and careers. Fortunately, that competitiveness does not negatively affect the academic environment. On the contrary, the atmosphere at Whitman is “very collegial and collaborative,” and students are “friendly, extremely helpful, and support- ive” of their classmates.

“Syracuse’s full-time MBA group is very close,” described by some as “one big extended family.” On campus, “there is hardly ever a day that goes by when there isn’t an event, speaker, or sports activity that students can attend,” and “there are plenty of clubs and groups to join where you can mentor, lead, participate in the community and more.” In addition to events at the business school, MBA candidates can also take advantage of the resources on the greater campus, like “attending sold-out sports games and events featuring figures such as Hillary Clinton or the Dalai Lama.” Though “winter is long” and very cold, the medium-sized city of Syracuse is a comfortable hometown, with plenty of recreation and cultural events for students. For example, “the city of Syracuse has different events going on every weekend in the summer. They have blues festivals, Irish festival, and several others.” On top of that, the school is “near New York City,” allowing students to take advantage of the many social and professional opportunities in the Big Apple.