Kelley Reviews

Experience during the program

Everyone, including faculty and students, are passionate. The program significantly improves every year. Get in touch with current students, called Hoosier Hosts. They will answer all of your questions.

The first, core semester was spent in teams of five. Each team was as diverse as possible. International students, veterans, women, ethnic minorities, accountants, etc. were distributed so that each team had one or two of each. In addition, we took a personality test and each team included different personality types.

I came from a Liberal Arts background. I had no formal business training prior to arrival. I found the first semester extremely intense and challenging. All future semesters have been much more manageable and less stressful. I am amazed at how much I have learned in such a short period of time. I am now able to dig deeper into different subjects.

The school is respected among the best business schools. We attend conferences, case competitions and job interviews along with other top schools, and are considered peers.

Kelley has the largest alumni base and the most C-suite executives of any school. Even if you're from the coast, like me, don't discount this Midwestern location. If you're looking at top schools, Indiana University should be on your short list.

About professors, classes and curriculum

The core is very rigorous. Kelley graduates are known for outstanding collaborative and analytical skills.

About job placement process

The #1 focus is Marketing, both to consumers and to businesses. There are great programs for other concentrations as well. Many students head to Chicago upon graduation, though many travel elsewhere.

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (5.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Student body, diversity
Career opportunities provided by school
Specialization in a particular area (e.g. Finance, Consulting, Healthcare, etc)

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Finance
Marketing
Investment Banking
Tech
Entrepreneurship
Management

Can be improved:

Parking spot availability during construction

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Experience during the program

I'm sure others have said some great things about Kelley's full-time MBA program, but let me focus on one particular aspect of the program that really exceeded my expectations - the Graduate Career Services (GCS). The folks in GCS really do a great job of helping you snag (and/or discover) that dream career of yours (which, let's be honest, is the reason why most of us want to go to b-school in the first place). From day one, GCS runs the Me Inc. program, which will help guide you in telling your personal story so you'll know exactly what to say to companies when it comes time to network (this is VERY important). GCS will then edit your resume, prepare you for interviews through mocks, help you get in touch with that firm you've always wanted to work for, and much, much more. Recently, I got an summer internship offer from a company I really wanted to work for, and I have Kelley's GCS to thank for that!

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (5.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Alumni Network
Career opportunities provided by school
Culture & Student Support

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Marketing
Management

Can be improved:

Facilities

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Experience during the program

The program is incredibly flexible, the professors are responsive, and there is nothing lite about this distance learning MBA program. While the program is flexible it is still incredibly demanding, but rewarding at the same time. Each class I've had so far there have been some sort of collaborative effort that takes place, which is one of the knocks on distance learning. While there is still room for some improvement the Kelley faculty are always looking to improve their product. The program has a strong brand behind it, the career services personnel are always looking to improve as well, and the program is reasonably priced for the value it provides in the marketplace.

Overall BSchool experience (4.0)
Schools contribution (4.0)
Classmates rating (4.0)

Strengths of the program:

Alumni Network
Brand/Ranking
Specialization in a particular area (e.g. Finance, Consulting, Healthcare, etc)

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Finance

Can be improved:

Career opportunities provided by school

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Experience during the program

I went back to school because even though I liked what I did, I was in an industry that would never pay me what I was worth doing it, and I couldn't find a way into a different industry. Kelley helped me make that pivot, and my salary at my next job will be 75% more than what it was before I left for school.

It helped me learn the language of business, so I now sound more intelligent. I learned about aspects of business that I didn't know existed, like operations, strengthened my vocabulary in finance and accounting, so I will be better on cross-functional teams, and learned frameworks to help me map things strategically.

Career services provided excellent guidance, even during my summer internship. I met and interviewed with companies that wouldn't have given me the time of day before through on-campus recruiting. The opportunity I found was off-campus, but through an official Kelley job board.

In terms of weaknesses, Bloomington is wonderful and beautiful, but it is very hard to be here if you are single, as pretty much the only people in our age range are our classmates. We are older than all of the other graduate programs on average. It is however, great for married students with kids, and Kelley provides a lot of activities and guidance for parents and partners.

For future applicants, show you are a team player and that you have a concrete, general idea of what you want to do after graduation.

Also, know that Kelley is great when it comes to fellowships and financial aid.

About professors, classes and curriculum

The core is tough, but you come out knowing way more than you did before. It provides and opportunity to bond and learn from your classmates who know more than you. Professors provide extra help. Our finance professor even came in on Sundays. I had classmates who would run their own sessions to teach us things like accounting.

I'd say about 75% of my electives have been good and they've offered me a way to get a diverse background of business education. When classes are bad, they get over quickly, which is the value of seven week classes. Most of our classes are based around team projects, so expect to constantly have meetings.

We have some amazing professors and very practical classes. Just about everyone takes K507, which is data analysis with excel and pricing, with Rockney Walters, who is probably the most engaging teacher I've ever had,

About job placement process

Kelley is best for consulting, corporate finance and marketing students, both in terms of consumer package goods and business to business marketing. We have companies that have come to campus for many years for all of those roles and very strong alumni networks within those spaces.

You get exposure to on campus recruiters through academies and roundtables, which are networking nights. Kelley also gives you tools and techniques to network and find a job outside of these avenues.

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (5.0)
Classmates rating (4.0)

Strengths of the program:

Student body, diversity
Career opportunities provided by school
Culture & Student Support

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Finance
Marketing

Can be improved:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Location
Facilities

Read More