North Carolina State University - Poole College of Management

The Jenkins MBA at NC State University’s Poole College of Management places a large emphasis on skills that will tie directly into the strengths of the region. With its main campus located in the state capital of Raleigh and a satellite location in Research Triangle Park, “a focus on technology and innovation” with “a strong emphasis on hands-on experiences.” For future-oriented students, the “emphasis on real world projects and technology focus in many classes” makes NC State “one of the best values for a full-time MBA in the country.” This “emphasis on real world, hands-on learning differentiates it from the other programs in the area,” especially the “focus on technology and innovation.” Indeed, one student notes, “This is a program for people who want to lead teams and stay on the cutting edge of technology.”Though high achievement is expected, cutthroat academics are not. Here the “atmosphere is congenial but focused,” and “teamwork is highly emphasized.” Because most classes take place in the same building, “there is a great deal of interaction with other students.” Students who are “focused on career success and money” may be disappointed that “that is not the case at NC State,” but others will be pleased to find that educators here “care a lot about sustainability” and showcasing how business fits into the larger world. School administration shows “an almost fanatical focus on improvement and a willingness to experiment.” The result is that despite its relative newness, “some elements of the program are already receiving national attention (Supply Chain, the Entrepreneurship Program) and some will soon (the Consumer Behavior initiative).”

“The promise of working on real world projects for companies in co-ordination with normal academic activities” is not only a major draw for students here, it gives them an opportunity to get hands-on experience with many of the same corporations that may later recruit them. There is a “long-term culture of industry partnerships that is expanding to startups” at NC State which helps the school “stay abreast of events and networking opportunities.” MBAs will benefit from the services of a dedicated Career Resources Management which not only aids in networking and recruitment, but which also provides workshops on resume writing and cover letters, interviewing skills, and job search strategies. During the course of their study, students can expect to work hand-in-hand with entities such as Caterpillar, Lenovo, IBM, Bank of America and Lenovo. Graduates from NC State’s Graduate School of Management have in recent years been recruited by firms such as American Airlines, BB&T, Chevron, Cisco Systems, Deloitte, Eaton Corporation, Ericcson, Glaxo Smith Kline, Lab Corp, Net App, Novartis Animal Health, Novozymes, Progress Energy, Red Hat, Research Triangle Institute, SAS, and Siemens Medical.

Those accepted to NC State should expect to find an “extremely diverse” group of “intelligent, friendly people who work hard during the day and still have energy and enthusiasm to continue learning and make class fun in the evenings.” Those hoping to immerse themselves in ambition will find it among the student body. Attendees say it is “great to work with other students committed to their goals and aspirations.” Students at NC State are in the business of learning about business, and they are serious about it. “They push us in our studies, and encourage us to work hard.”

Life here centers around a “very collaborative environment,” one in which objectives, either within or outside of the classroom, are “based centrally around team activities.” Those who see business as a ruthless, individual pursuit will instead find a “program … trying to develop a different mindset from traditional MBA programs.” This is aided by the MBA Student Association, which “works to provide social activities and community service projects for the students outside of class.” The goal is to provide both full-time and part-time students an opportunity “to network with each other, as well as providing opportunities to positively impact the community.”

Outside of class and class projects, MBA students spend a lot of time brainstorming. One student explains, “There’s always a few of us throwing plans at each other. These aren’t all Silicon Valley plans either—we’ve got fashion designers, textile inventors and others all listening to each other. It’s a very stimulating environment.” There are also many clubs, cultural activities, and of course Raleigh’s nightlife to distract from the relentless pursuit of knowledge and experience typical among those in the MBA program.