@frozencustard I think this all depends on individual goals and perspectives. I think the ranking of a school is only one factor among many that contribute to employability and business aptitude and outcomes. I am a true believer in smaller colleges, like Rollins and Crummer for the development of the individual spirit, leadership and confidence – all of which go a lot farther than the rank of the school on the degree. That said, here are some statistics on Rollins. And, the Disney CEOs and other top business execs have graduated from Crummer and are doing just fine. Central Florida maybe but they have a national and international market, so I don’t think Rollins or Crummer is just a local school. Its a regional school, and it is educates many many international students, including Ghandi’s son, who graduated from Rollins. Many influential business leaders send their children to Rollins. For example, Siemens’ CEO’s kids (both of them) are recent Rollins Grads. An Executive of NASCAR is currently on the Parents’ Council with me and his son is graduating this year. I could go on and on, but connections at Rollins are very sound. And, it is a mission driven school that does truly inspire students to become global citizens and responsible human beings (e.g., the Immersion Program and the Bonner Leaders Program).
Rankings
The Rollins College Crummer Graduate School of Business has been recognized nationally and internationally by some of the most well-respected organizations in the business world.
forbes usnews princeton LEAD 2017
Forbes: 44th in the Nation
The Rollins Early Advantage MBA is ranked 44th nationally and No. 1 among Business Schools in Florida according to Forbes magazine, September 2017. This ranking is conducted every two years and we have consistently been ranked among the top two full-time MBA’s in Florida since 1999. Rankings are based on a student’s return on investment 5 years after graduation.
Leadership Excellence: #1 in the Nation
The Crummer MBA at the Crummer Graduate School of Business has been recognized as the top leadership development educator by HR.com’s 2017 Leadership Excellence awards.
The Princeton Review’s “The Best 294 Business Schools: 2017 Edition”
The Princeton Review features the Rollins MBA in its 2017 edition of “The Best 294 Business Schools.”
Rollins College Rankings
In addition to its business school, Rollins College has received top rankings from national publications for all of its graduate and undergraduate programs. For the 22nd consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Rollins among the top two regional universities in the South and first in Florida in its annual rankings of “Best Colleges.” Rollins College was also ranked 2nd of Regional Universities in the South for Best Colleges for Veterans by U.S. News & World Report.
@newgirl17 I’m not questioning Rollins, only the strategy to spend 5 years for the opportunity to gain an entry level position at a salary similar to what a 4-year BBA would get from UF. Those who establish careers, wait and then enter more traditional MBA programs, will truly get an MBA bump in position and compensation (depending on the program). Rollins has much going on for it and I am not denigrating the school one bit.
@frozencustard This discussion actually helps me if and when my daughter and I discuss whether she is going to stick with the 3/2 and take her GMAT over the summer (after finishing her sophomore year at Rollins) before she studies abroad in Australia (applying to Crummer) and then comes back for only one more semester before completing her undergrad. It does seem like a sprint for reasons that to me (help getting a job) seem not right “for her.” She was admitted to the University of Denver business school to get the BBA too but chose Rollins for 3/2. I think she is now trying to force her way through this program because she is afraid her Rollins BBA won’t help her. Its too late to transfer to UF or UD or elsewhere now, I think, and she loves Rollins. I am trying to help her focus on figuring out what she wants, not what she fears she needs. I think she needs 4 years of COLLEGE and then some work experience too, but she is afraid she won’t be able to go back for the MBA because it will be too hard to work and go to school at the same time. I am trying to help her see that part-time MBAs for executives do exist – Crummer has one – and that getting a job is about more than the piece of paper. Being the person she wants to be and having a full college experience could be a lot more beneficial to who she presents (and the number of outstanding internships Rollins offers and helps kids get) at the interview than the piece of paper.
@newgirl17 I totally understand the dilemma and there is nothing wrong with loving your school where you are spending four years. Too many kids go prestige shopping and wind up at a place they don’t want to be for four great years of their lives. It seems like the next steps are career placement for advice and/or a faculty advisor. Rollins is a good school, but it’s regional. I would think there are placement opportunities in central Florida. Also, if she had good grades and GMAT scores, it might be worth it to save those for later on. The real top MBA programs will produce great opportunities.
@frozencustard I completely agree and thanks for saying so! She came home to regroup this past weekend (from Orlando to Chicago on a cheap last minute fare) and we talked about it. I think she is going to drop out of the 3/2 Program because she feels (mostly) like its just too accelerated for her. she is a late birthday for the class of 2020 as it is, so to be done with her BA in 2019 at the age of just 20 years old is too fast for HER. She is, like most kids, just now realizing how many great classes and paths she has to choose from and is so uncertain still about what she is good at and not good at. I am gratified that she is choosing to work on getting her GPA as high as possible by taking classes she is good at and interested in rather than pushing forward to get an MBA straight out of college so that it “looks good” (i.e., says to future employers that she is ambitious and works hard). She can show that in so many other life giving ways right now (internships, service immersion trips, study abroad on a time-table that makes sense for HER, etc.)
I admit, as an overachiever, that I feel pulled by “fear” when I think of “prestige” as a substitute for actual life experience and satisfaction, but at age 52 I think I have finally been wizened by my disappointments and experienced limitations to know that prestige means nothing if performance is lacking; and performance will fall short if there is no internal inspiration or passion behind it.
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@frozencustard As a post-script: I also think the “pre-law” track at most colleges is a good preparation for graduate school of any kind, either right out of college or a few years down the road. Any good liberal arts B.A. that includes writing, analytical skills and (hopefully) some form of “public speaking” experience is a great foundation for the law, and pre-law tracks provide help organizing class schedules to get these very vital skills to apply to ANY profession. I am a lawyer by training, and have been fortunate enough to work in jobs that apply the theory of law to practice (applied law rather than litigation) so some bias there, but I can’t thank my small liberal arts school education (mostly regional but now nationally ranked school) for giving me the tools to do so many different things.
@newgirl17 sounds like she has a good plan. You have a really good MBA program at your flagship (UIUC) if she decides to go back for the degree later. If she gets the most out of Rollins and does the internships, she’ll be fine. I’m a big fan of liberal arts even as part of a BBA undergraduate business program. The ones that are “all business” sometimes fail the kids.
How did she enjoy the Alfond scholarship weekend?