<p>I'm choosing between BC (Carroll School of Management) and William and Mary (Out of State). I've been really concerned about both the ability of WM's business graduates to find jobs and the social aspect of William and Mary as a whole. Since BC's business school seems to be more respected and it has access to a major job market, is it worth the extra $12,000 per year? Despite the fact that my parents are footing most of the bill, I definitely want to maximize my investment. I've seen and love them both, so I'm quite confused. If you were in my situation, what would you do? Thanks.</p>
<p>W&M graduates have no problem finding jobs. The real difference is setting. 65 degree days in January are very nice in Williamsburg vs Boston. Both are very good schools.</p>
<p>BC and WM probably have very different undergrad cultures. W&M does not have a rip-roaring weekend party scene. That said, the students seem to have a lot of fun and are very happy with their experience here. If you want a big party atmosphere, look elsewhere than W&M.</p>
<p>I know WM grads who took analyst positions at investment banks and private equity funds after graduation, so it is definitely possible, but I don’t know how the opportunities compare to BC.</p>
<p>My S2 is in W&M’s Mason School of Business. I can’t speak to BC, but I have been very impressed with W&M’s undergraduate business program. You can apply to enter the Mason school at the end of sophomore year, though the majority of students enter in junior year. The career center is excellent, offering many opportunities outside the classroom. S2 participated in a series of weekend seminars called “Training the Street,” which prepares students for finance careers on Wall Street. W&M also sponsors a 3-day seminar in January where finance students go to NYC and meet with W&M alums & representatives from a number of large investment banks. S2 chose W&M over several other programs because the school is investing money into the business school, which has a new building with fantastic facilties.</p>
<p>A few things to consider when comparing programs:
- how many courses offered within the major business concentrations (marketing, finance, accounting, management)?
- what are the requirements for a finance major/minor?
- how often are the courses offered?
- where are current students doing internships? Where do they find employment after graduation? (note: There are a lot of W&M alums in the NYC & DC markets)
- does the career center offer networking opportunities?
- what kinds of extracurricular clubs or seminars are offered through the business school or career center? Is there an investment club?
- is the university investing money into the business school or is the budget being cut?</p>
<p>And a short observation based on S2’s experience: W&M did a better job of getting students organized & prepared to apply for summer internships that some more prestigious business schools. Other schools might have the name recognition, but the W&M students were better prepared.</p>
<p>One more tidbit of information about William & Mary’s Mason School of Business: </p>
<p>Once you are enrolled in W&M’s B-school, the cost of tuition rockets to $50k a year. </p>
<p>Students can’t apply to the undergraduate B-school until they’ve fulfilled 54 prerequisite credits. The b-school only accepts about 180 new students into their Business program each fall. </p>
<p>I can’t find any statistics of how many students apply for each of those 180 spots each year. It must be very competitive. I have found a wide range of acceptance rates, so I am suspicious of the numbers, but 50% is a number I see popping up a lot. </p>
<p>Does anyone have stats of the number of students applying to the program each year?</p>
<p>I just looked it up and starting in 2014/2015, the supplement for bring a business major is $1500 per semester. I am not sure where google berry is getting the $50k number- maybe that is what it would be if you add oos tuition, but to just state that number is certainly not accurate.</p>
<p>Under tuition and fees W&M lists the cost for an in-state business student as $24,475 per-semester. ($48,950 a year). </p>
<p>They do not indicate if this is for graduate or undergraduate business, it only says “Business”. </p>
<p>I assumed this was for all b-school students because W&M students can only apply to the business school after being admitted as an undergraduate and only after completing all of the prerequisites which takes about 2 years.</p>
<p>That is in the grad school section, not undergrad. Undergrad is listed up above and then the business school page gives the details on the supplements for majoring or minoring in business. The highest listed is the $1500 per semester for the 2014/2105 year.</p>
<p>Ah! Thanks TJmom!</p>