<p>
[quote]
So when Xavier University vowed to better prepare students within its Williams College of Business for jobs, it turned to Dean Ali Malekzadeh to make the vision happen.</p>
<p>Malekzadeh believes a strong business college must integrate fully with the community in which it operates. And so within months of his appointment as dean in July 2003, he began a process of networking that has since touched nearly every company in the region.</p>
<p>Malekzadeh has enlisted more than 270 CEOs, presidents and directors at the region's most significant companies to serve on any of 14 departmental advisory boards.
<p>Blah blah blah. I’ve been in this business (of business schools, as a professor) for several decades. The last thing we need are more business schools, but what the heck, every university makes $$ creating and promoting them so they continue to grow. </p>
<p>Anyways, the way it works is every school does cool sounding stuff that makes great press releases (like the one above). It’s all easy to do and mostly nothingness. Form over content. Connect to the constituents, add in lots of really cool sounding programs replete with the right buzzwords (wow, X-lab! who would have thought of that!), and talk about how you are going to promote this beyond your own borders because it’s so new and cool. Bladybladyblady. They all sound great. </p>
<p>I apologize for sounding so cynical but after all these years, it is tiresome. I’m sure it is a perfectly fine way to spend a lot of tuition on a vocational degree, but no different than any other undergraduate business school. If it were my kid- and it would not as they would never get an undergrad in business- I would ask any prospect business school this question: what exactly are they teaching in the curriculum and more importantly, from where do they get this knowledge they are seeking to impart?</p>
<p>Xavier was one of S’s top choices. GPA, ACT and EC’s easily put him in their top 25% of applicants. But when they couldn’t provide one penny past his merit aid (no work study, no grants, no additional scholarship) we just couldn’t justify $25,000/year + for the education there. </p>
<p>The business program did seem “cutting edge” so to speak. He might put Xavier in his back pocket if he decided to go to grad school.</p>
<p>Were your kids not interested in business, or did you advise against an undergrad business degree? I’m curious because S just declared a major in business (for some stupid reason, they don’t offer a major or even a minor in accounting, so you have to major in business and just take a bunch of extra accounting classes).</p>
<p>Our kids have grown up with two business school professors, and many many lifelong family friends who are business school professors. I can’t think of any faculty I know that aspires for their kids to get an undergrad in business. Our kids are unlikely to stop at the undergrad level, it is not at all the best way to learn business (I constantly recommend SOMETHING ELSE, then work then get an MBA when you have something to ‘hang it on’ and things likes strategy and management make sense), and it leans too practical and increasingly so (not intellectual and broad enough). </p>
<p>Business schools have, themselves, become big business. Facade, packaging, branding, and bells and whistles, than education per se. They aren’t writing press releases about what evidenced based knowledge and insights students acquire. Just bring in some well titled old guys from industry to tell war stories, offer lots of schmoozing with company reps, teach practical/technical skills for entry level jobs, provide decent grade inflation, and viola.</p>
<p>Let me try not to be so negative. First, this is not a criticism of kids or their parents associated with undergrad business. Second, many place a huge priority on a practical degree that guarantees a job, so who am I to judge? For the cost of tuition, you ought to have a sense that it will lead to a paid job! Third, undergrad degrees in accounting and sometimes finance (depending upon one’s career goals) makes sense because you really can learn what you need at the undergrad level. </p>
<p>My issue is not with individual’s choices but with increasing discontent with the business school industry, where it has gone and where it’s going. And it is now a very big money making thing for universities (and professors :)). But too often it has very little to do with what most of us think of as a ‘university education’.</p>
<p>Starbright, there’s a great deal packed into your two posts.</p>
<p>I understand you cynicism - but you are painiting with a broad brush.</p>
<p>The article appears to be more than propaganda. If it is accurate that “Nationally, the Williams College has boosted its rankings in economics, finance, accounting, MBA education and entrepreneurship, each earning top 25 spots in 2010-11”</p>
<p>That’s a considerable achievement - and would indicate this is a school on the way up.</p>
<p>I am not disputing your statements - but not sure you can automatically assume every article is propaganda. I was impressed by the article - but I may be the fool.</p>
<p>PROFILE OF 2009-10 FINANCIAL AID Freshmen, XAVIER </p>
<p>Financial Aid Applicants 979 (83.2%) of freshmen
Found to Have Financial Need 776 (79.3%) of applicants
Received Financial Aid 774 (99.7%) of applicants with financial need
Need Fully Met 171 (22.1%) of aid recipients
Average Percent of Need Met 78%
Average Award $19,215
Need-Based Gift Received by 746 (96.4%) of aid recipients, average amount $14,248
Need-Based Self-Help Received by 617 (79.7%) of aid recipients, average amount $5,614
Merit-Based Gift Received by 123 (15.9%) of aid recipients
Merit-Based Gift Received by 372 (31.6%) of freshmen without need, average amount $11,803 </p>
<p>Only 22.1% had their need fully met. Average award was $19,215, with price tag of over $40,000, it would be understandable that many families would have to take Xavier off the table! Average Percentage of Need Met is reported at 78%.</p>
<p>SLUMOM, I am not challenging your conclusion - but is there anything concrete in those numbers? I am not sure comparing the average award to the cost leads to a conclusion.</p>
<p>And this is not in defense of Xavier. I see these numbers all the time and I don’t know what accurate conclusion can be drawn.</p>
<p>SLUMOM- where can I find this information for more recent years? and does your post imply they give more or less merit based aid than other schools? We are considering this school and we are trying to discern what if any FA may be offered on top of merit aid. You have to email them to use the NPC and we had to submit an estimated FAFSA. I hope you see this, as I cannot PM you, but I did send you a note through the reputation function. Thanks!</p>