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Princeton Review ranks MBA program at IU's Kelley School among nation's best
Nov. 17, 1999
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Princeton Review, an influential guide published by the leading test preparation organization, has ranked the master of business administration degree program at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business as among the nation's best.
The organization, based in Princeton, N.J., placed Kelley's MBA program among the top 10 in nine of the 10 academic categories considered in its review of the "Best 80 Business Schools." The program ranked first in marketing skills, third in computer skills, fourth in finance and accounting skills, fifth in interpersonal skills, sixth in quantitative skills, seventh in operations and teamwork skills, and 10th in general management.
"We are always delighted to be rated among the top echelon of business schools in the world, especially by the very well-respected Princeton Review," said Dan Dalton, dean of the Kelley School of Business. "Since student input is sought for these ratings, it is also gratifying that our MBA students continue to hold our program in the highest regard and are pleased with the series of curricular and programmatic innovations that have been introduced in the last two years."
Princeton Review based its findings on student surveys that address various aspects of their educational experiences. Emphasis was placed on how well students felt they were trained in various functional areas. Several items on the survey also addressed issues related to general culture among students and training in other skills.
The guide gave the MBA program some of its first "outside" confirmation of the effects of changes that have taken place in the MBA program over the past year.
"A recent overhaul of the Graduate School of Business curriculum has further enhanced the already stellar reputation of IU's MBA program," Princeton Review editors wrote in their introduction about the Kelley School. "More thorough integration of core courses, an intensified focus on international business, and an emphasis on teamwork are the chief components of IU's restructured program."
Other praise was given to the program's focus academy programs, which allow students to explore careers in specified areas and present students with experiences they would not have received if they had pursued a typical major or course of study.
These academies, called "the most innovative addition" to the program, include those in sports and entertainment, investment management, investment banking, Internet and new media consulting, entrepreneurship, and retailing.
The Kelley program generally was described as team-based. For example, the guide discusses the Functional Core projects in the first year, when students are divided into groups of four to work on integrated projects in accounting, finance, information systems, marketing and operations.
While the two-year Kelley program is described as a tense experience, the guide goes on to say that this is not due to competitive pressures among students. For example, in a ranking of school social life, the Kelley program ranked first in the category measuring student friendliness.
MBAs quoted in the article supported this conclusion with descriptions of classmates such as "very open to helping others," and "they would make good teammates and are motivated to learn." Others cited the opportunities for involvement through the program's 33 student clubs.
For more information about the Kelley MBA program, contact James Holmen, director of admissions and financial aid, at 812-855-8006 or mbaoffice@indiana.edu, or go to the program's Web site at http://www.kelley.indiana.edu/mba
(Margaret Garrison (Kelley), 812-855-3369, magarris@indiana.edu or George Vlahakis (IU), 812-855-0846, gvlahaki@indiana.edu)