<p>Hi, my name is Ari, I was accepted into both Babson and University of Richmond for business. I was just wondering which one would be a better investment, and which in general is the better school. I was not impressed by the fact that Babson went down 14 places, getting out of the top 20, on bloomberg’s businessweek rankings for 2012. Richmond went down two places but still remains in the top 20. Please let me know what everyone thinks.</p>
<p>Hi ari759, I have several posts about my D going to Babson and the amazing experience she has had in her two years if you want to review them. I have also looked at University of Richmond with both of my children.</p>
<p>First of all, the Business Week rankings really lost a lot of credibility with many of us this past year. Many schools went up and down significantly with out any minor/major changes. Babson has addressed this issue with the students and has also said their ranking was miscalculated. Below I have included the email from Babson to the students. You need to be very careful deciding on rankings, because the Business Week rankings do go up and down quite a bit. As always it is best to see what fits you best.</p>
<p>Read my other posts about my D’s amazing experience at Babson. Babson’s pros are small classes, very business focused, Boston is great, great international diversity. As I have posted before, the kids are all getting great jobs…even the B students. My D just got an internship as a sophomore as a research analysts in a NYSE investment company. She will be working in the London Office. Definitely investment opportunities here.</p>
<p>I also really like U of Richmond. I love the Business School facility, and I think the leadership program is incredible. I am not familiar with the types of jobs the kids get or where they are located…if more in the DC area. I think Boston is much better than Richmond as a city. I am also not so sure how diverse U of Richmond’s student body is compared to Babson’s international diversity. U of Richmond will give you options if you are unsure you want to be a business major.</p>
<p>You might consider calling the schools and talking the Admissions people and the Career Placement Centers to discuss students that have been place in the investment area and their location.</p>
<p>Both schools are great. I would not focus on the rankings, because they will change. Focus on trying to decide which will fit you best. Both are great opportunities. Below is a letter sent out by Babson about the rankings:</p>
<p>TO: Members of the Babson Community
FROM: Len Schlesinger, President
Dennis Hanno, Dean of the Undergraduate School
SUBJECT: Bloomberg BusinessWeek rankings results</p>
<p>Earlier this week, Bloomberg BusinessWeek released its 2012 ranking of The Best Undergraduate Business Schools. The publication ranked 124 colleges that met stringent quality criteria using five measures, including survey responses of more than 28,000 graduating seniors at top schools and a poll of undergraduate recruiters. Babson ranked 34 overall.
Bloomberg BusinessWeek also calculated letter grades on teaching quality, facilities and services, and job placement based on a student survey. Babson rated an A+ for teaching quality. Combined with a top 20 ranking for overall student satisfaction, this shows our students appreciation for the excellence of their Babson living/learning experience. The decline year over year however from an A to a B for job placement indicates an opportunity to further strengthen relationships with recruiters.
Relatedly, a significant change in Bloomberg BusinessWeeks employer survey methodology impacted Babson negatively while allowing other schools to see large gains in the recruiter ranking section. We are working to deconstruct the dimensions of this change and its impact so that we can then take appropriate actions to improve our future position in ways that advance our undergraduate program. Dean Hanno has plans to travel to New York shortly to meet with the publication to assist in our understanding of this process.</p>
<p>Most regrettably, we have discovered that a data point that lowered our academic quality and overall ranking was an incorrectly reported student/faculty ratio conveyed by us as 32:1 in lieu of 22:1. We have been in conversation with the publication to rectify the information and while they will not adjust the reported rankings, they have agreed to update our profile listing.</p>
<p>We are disappointed by the ranking and frankly, perplexed by the new methodology and results. Despite this, we acknowledge the importance of key rankings as an indicator in the marketplace and are therefore committed to better understanding the data to lead to our return to a higher standing in the future. We also understand however that our success is not defined by the rankings but instead by the incredible impact our students, faculty, staff, and alumni have on campus and in organizations of all types and sizes around the world.</p>
<p>We will share more as we learn more. In the meantime, thank you for all that you do to define the success of our incredible school.
Sincerely,
Len and Dennis</p>
<p>Wow, that was extremely helpful. Thank you so much for helping me understand the ranking system. I was leaning toward Babson from the beginning, and now am almost certain I will be attending there over U of Richmond. Thanks again, Ari</p>
<p>Use Us news undergrad rankings not businessweek. Any ranking that says Notre Dame is better than Upenn and Mit is incredibly suspect.</p>
<p>If you use US News Business Rankings Babson is definitely higher than University of Richmond, because I don’t think UR is even ranked for undergraduate business.</p>
<p>Again I agree with airalex781 that the Businessweek rankings are suspect because I never believed Notre Dame could be #1 either and also because of the dramatic changes this year to the rankings. Businessweek has lost all credibility in my book.</p>
<p>Hey Ari,
GO TO RICHMOND! I go to Babson now and I hate it there is nothing to do on the weekends and the town is so boring. And the rankings keep on getting worse and worse and the acceptance rate keeps going up. BTW the only reason why I chose babson is cause they gave me alot of money, and if they didnt give ypu any money than u def shouldnt go because that means two things 1. your ■■■■■■■■ for not being smart enouph to get a scholorship and the school will be to hard for you and 2. the school is not worth 53k a year.</p>
<p>The message above is by my friend. Don’t regard it as being true to others looking at this comparison. I’m going to Babson. The town is also very nice by the way and there are a lot of things to do. Downtown Boston is only minutes away by train.</p>