I think all b-schools can be roughly similar when it comes to hard skills, curricula, and academics. Johnson is an experience. The core classes, Private Equity and Venture Capital area of focus, and second year electives are what stands out in my mind. Classes like Power and Politics in Political Organizations, and various design thinking classes, surrounded by the atmosphere and environment of Cornell, really altered my life and made me into a better person. The culture prizes support and collaboration over competitiveness, though this can lead to a kind of cockiness around job searches.
I must confess my initial skepticism regarding the purported "close-knit" atmosphere at Johnson and whether it would genuinely be palpable. Despite the substantial size of around 280 classmates and a total of approximately 600 full-time MBA students, the centralized nature of all activities and the active involvement of students create an environment that truly feels like a family. The impact of this "close-knit" dynamic is evident in the MBA experience, where there's little room to "hide" in the crowd. Instead, you genuinely get to know your classmates well, fostering a sense of camaraderie that enriches the overall educational journey. Also downtown Ithaca and close proximity to NYC align for an unparalleled opportunity to gain the best of both worlds.
One of the main buildings is also beautiful — Sage Hall. It has an atrium with a massive skylight in the middle of the building, which makes you feel connected to the outdoors while stuck inside. Lots of networking events happen in that atrium.
The school boasts a robust curriculum, with a particular focus on finance, consulting, buy-side classes and entrepreneurship opportunities complemented by leadership and communication programs. What sets Johnson apart is not only the strong academic foundation (very strong) but also the invaluable network it provides through its engaged alumni community (Johnson alums will fight for you). Also being at one of the smaller Ivies instills a hustle culture that will help you succeed throughout the duration of your career. Be prepared to learn how to get things done (quickly).
Strong ties to MBB pipeline in NYC and IB. Do take your CWG leaders advice seriously (.e.g., number of coffee chats, etc.). Very strong consulting program with private coaches hired to help top candidates during interviews. Also strong support for entrepreneurship/VC funding through top finance faculty and ties to Cornell Tech.
I also believe that what sets Cornell apart is the genuine interest of professors in actively assisting with the job hunt process and getting to know students both academically and informally at social events. This distinguishes Cornell from other top research institutions in my mind.
Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (5.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)
Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Alumni Network
Career opportunities provided by school
Consulting
Finance
Marketing
Investment Banking
Tech
Entrepreneurship
Location
