 University at Albany, SUNY Admission & Application Surveys
University at Albany, SUNY Academics Surveys
University at Albany, SUNY Jobs & Employment Surveys
University at Albany, SUNY Campus/Quality of Life Surveys
University at Albany, SUNY Social Life Surveys
|
Admission & Application Survey |
| Full-time MBA program |
I applied late, around May 2001 for August admission, having made a
last minute decision to pursue an MBA. The Admissions Committee at
SUNY wouldn't review my application until all supporting materials were
received, and as I had transcripts and recommendations coming from
abroad, this meant further delays. However, the committee did make a
decision quickly after my file was complete. I was admitted, but not
initially awarded a Graduate Assistantship. I did, however, receive a
half Assistantship after proactively following-up my application with a
request for further consideration if one later became available. My
advice therefore is to a) apply for an assistantship and if you do not
receive one b) BUG THEM! Bugging them seems to work as long as you are
polite and don't rub people the wrong way. I did not have to
interview - the decision was made on my paper credentials including my
personal statement. My advice is to ASK for whatever concessions you
feel you need - you may not prevail but you certainly won't if you
don't ASK. Albina Grignon (who is Assistant Dean for MBA Admissions in
the F/T program) is very easy to work with her and her Secretary is
also very accommodating. Get on her good side early. You will hate
most of the other administrators. Trust me on this.
The program is NOW becoming more selective due to heightened interest
in business school in a poor economy, particurly in the depressed
Northeast, but the School of Business will let most people into the
Evening program, if not the F/T "day" program. However, when I
attended, my peer group was like chalk and cheese in terms of apparent
selectivity. Many were kids right from undergrad (typically other SUNY
universities and colleges) with no life/work experience and thus
engaging with them professionally & intellectually was frustrating in
the extreme at times. However, if this profile fits you - you will fit
the program. Whether you love SUNY or hate it will largely depend upon
the level & nature of your own expectations. There were a few people
who had worked prior to going back to school. There were also a large
number of international students (about 50% of the cohort) -
representing a whole different kettle of fish - most of whom presumably
got in because they were able to pay the overseas fees, but they were
at least at an intellectual standard equivalent to the rest of my
cohort; and although their English literacy levels were in some cases
*seriously* lacking, so were the standards of English literacy of 90%
of the "home students". We're talking baaaaaad.
Then there were a handful of folks who had actually worked at something
more involved than a fish fryer or gas pump before going back to
school. These people were typically more committed to the program and
generally more academically successful. What selectivity? This is the
place to go if you're a solid B student and thus can't into Cornell, or
an A- student who can get in, but who can't get a full scholarship, and
who thus wants a cheap education. Remember kids - you get what you pay
for.
|
|
University at Albany, SUNY Admission & Application Surveys
University at Albany, SUNY Academics Surveys
University at Albany, SUNY Jobs & Employment Surveys
University at Albany, SUNY Campus/Quality of Life Surveys
University at Albany, SUNY Social Life Surveys
|
|
|
|
|
