<p>Hey all,
I'm enrolling as an undergraduate freshman this fall at Claremont McKenna College. I'm considering enrolling in their "Robert Day 4+1" program, in which students begin taking MBA classes at Claremont Graduate University's business school during their senior year at CMC, and then take only ONE year of actual grad school before they are given their MBA, in addition to the Bachelor's degree earned in the previous year.</p>
<p>I haven't yet decided whether or not I actually want an MBA (I don't have to decide till my sophomore year), but I want to ask: is the gap in benefits between Claremont's b-school and a higher ranked school with better name recognition large enough that I should pass up this 4+1 program, and apply to a better school? It seems that completing my MBA in just one post-grad year would save enough time and tuition to outweigh the benefits of attending a "top" business school. Then again, I don't really know much about business school yet, and I'm just basing this logic on what little I do know.</p>
<p>It is quite apparent that you don't know much about graduate business school if you are seriously considering this. You should not choose this 4+1 program nor should you consider entering business school without a few years of post graduate work experience.</p>
<p>Okay, I understand that work experience is generally vital for an MBA, but isn't the entire point of the 4+1 that one -doesn't- have to interrupt/sideline their careers for two years in b-school? or do you mean to criticize the concept of a 4+1 program in general?</p>
<p>Also, keep in mind that I'll be taking internships during my undergrad years. Why would they have the program at all if it wasn't feasible? I don't mean to be standoffish, I'm actually asking.</p>
<p>And MNKeeper, out of curiosity, from which school are you transferring?</p>
<p>Sorry for the double post btw, it's too late to edit.</p>
<p>Yes, it's accredited. Claremont McKenna College isn't some backwater community college, it's the #11 liberal arts college in the US. And it's not -really- in 1 year, as you start the course in the senior year of college. Okay, I feel that I may have misrepresented the 4+1 program.</p>
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"The Day 4 + 1 Program consists of three components: the strong liberal arts foundation of undergraduate study at CMC, the advanced application skills and professional focus enhanced by the MBA coursework, and intensive work experience gained through two summer internships. Acknowledging the importance of work experience in management education, the summer internships are constructed so that students gain real-world experience, while gaining exposure to a variety of issues in the practice of management."
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<p>Now that we've established that it does indeed provide "intensive work experience" and "advanced application skills", can I get some advice on my original question? Namely, "is the gap in benefits between Claremont's b-school and a higher ranked school with better name recognition large enough that I should pass up this 4+1 program, and apply to a 'better' school?"</p>
<p>
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Namely, "is the gap in benefits between Claremont's b-school and a higher ranked school with better name recognition large enough that I should pass up this 4+1 program, and apply to a 'better' school?"
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Compare the list/quality of companies/firms and their starting salaries between Drucker and "better" b-schools. You should find your answer there.</p>
<p>By the way, just because a program sells that it does A, B, and C on its website, doesn't mean that it actually does it - or does it well.</p>
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or do you mean to criticize the concept of a 4+1 program in general?
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<p>Yes, the 4+1 program is horrible. It is generally used as a ploy by subpar business schools to recruit talent (i do realize some good schools have something similiar...still a ploy IMO)...most of which would not consider that business school if they actually had work experience.</p>
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Also, keep in mind that I'll be taking internships during my undergrad years.
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<p>That doesn't count as post graduate work experience.</p>
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Why would they have the program at all if it wasn't feasible? I don't mean to be standoffish, I'm actually asking.
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<p>Because they can make money off of it. There are tons of subpar business schools out there. BTW, this may have a place for someone that KNOWS they can not get into a better school with work experience. However, for everyone else, they are just limiting their options.</p>
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Now that we've established that it does indeed provide "intensive work experience" and "advanced application skills"
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<p>I'm not even sure I know what they mean by advanced application sklls, but I do know that no business school really gives you great "work experience" regardless of whether they give you internship opportunities or opportunities to do projects for companies. If you want real work experience, you will need to work a J-O-B after graduating.</p>
<p>BTW, I believe grads from this school avg about 70k in starting salary. With no work experience, it is likely you will end up on the lower end of the spectrum. 70k seems pretty low considering it is in california (and most recruiters will be from cali). Also, I wouldn't expect to be recruited by many top employers.</p>
<p>CMC has nationwide name recognition in business and academic circles. All the top recruiters (firms with worldwide offices) recruit there. Therefore you should not have problems gaining good employment opportunities from CMC and subsequent admissions to top business school afterwards. That being said, Claremont Graduate School doesn't have the same name recognition and history as CMC.</p>
<p>In view of that, I would not advise going to the 4+1 program.</p>
<p>BTW, Wharton also has the 4+1 program but that is a different beast. Only 3-6 applicants from Wharton undergrad each year are accepted into that program.</p>
<p>Okay, thanks, you all raise good points, especially that one about CGS' reputation not being the same as CMC's. I think I'll steer clear of the 4+1 program, so as not to "limit my options".</p>
<p>If you don't have to decide until your sophomore year, what are you worried about? Wait until you need to make the decision.</p>
<p>People here have said the truth: an MBA isn't worth much without work experience. Why not? Because the chief value of an MBA is the recruiting opportunity set it enables for one and no serious company (so far as I know) recruits anyone out of an MBA like the 4 + 1 without work experience. You'll actually end up getting treated the same as undergrads even though you have the business training of an MBA.</p>
<p>But you might decide for instance that you're really interested in law and that getting the 1 year MBA is a good rounding out for you. Or you may investigate and find out that actually there are a handful of firms you are interested in working for that do recruit at the 4 + 1. I don't know why you'd want to foreclose the option if you don't have to decide until over a year from now.</p>
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CMC has nationwide name recognition in business and academic circles. All the top recruiters (firms with worldwide offices) recruit there. Therefore you should not have problems gaining good employment opportunities from CMC and subsequent admissions to top business school afterwards. That being said, Claremont Graduate School doesn't have the same name recognition and history as CMC.
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<p>But CGU does give you access to the alumni networks of the entire claremont consortium. you can attend the networking/job fairs at pomona if you like, or cmc, etc.</p>
<p>Dartmouth has a 3-2 program in coordination with Tuck, which was common through the 1970's. However, at this point with the changes in desired work experience of candidates, they only accept one person about every 10 years for acceptance into the MBA program while still in UG.</p>
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But CGU does give you access to the alumni networks of the entire claremont consortium. you can attend the networking/job fairs at pomona if you like, or cmc, etc.
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<p>It's not particularly useful to attend job fairs held at Pomona, CMC specifically targeting undergrads, not graduate students.</p>
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If you would question ANY school with a 1 year MBA, I guess you'd be questioning (in decending order):</p>
<p>Northwestern
Columbia
Cornell
Emory
the University of Florida</p>
<p>The 1 year MBA is not only a staple, but I see it becomming more popular as it cuts the opportunity cost of an MBA in half.
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Kellogg and Johnson's (Cornell) 1Y MBA programs are for BBA grads or those w/ extensive business experience -- basically for the same applicants for the 2Y programs. They do NOT accept people straight from undergrad... and are thus entirely different from the 4+1 programs</p>