University of Rochester - Simon Business School

There’s no denying that Rochester ’s William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration is an academic powerhouse. Trust us—you’ll need a strong work ethic to get through the “rigorous” curriculum. After all, Simon places a “heavy emphasis on quantitative analysis and economics.” On top of that, the school operates on a “ten-week quarter system” so classes “move very quickly.”

Many MBAs are drawn to the program due to the school’s high ranking finance and accounting departments. Fortunately, while it’s definitely a “quant school,” Simon still manages to foster a “very collaborative environment.” As a very happy second-year adds, “I get the sense that I’m not only building a strong professional network once I graduate, but a whole new set of friends.”

Additionally, Rochester MBAs are privy to “top-notch” professors who frequently demonstrate “progressive way[s] of approaching and solving problems.” Simon instructors are also “incredibly knowledgeable in their fields and a source of invaluable information, mainly in the realms of finance and economics.” And they tend to go “out of their way to ensure students are grasping the material.” Indeed, they are “willing to meet outside of class to cover any material [with which] you are having difficulty.” As a pleased first-year MBA explains, “All of them have responded to inquiries I’ve made outside of class rapidly and, due to the small class sizes, they quickly recognize you and get to know you as a student.” MBAs here also happily report that the administration is equally “engaged” and “alert to [student] interest and concerns.”

The Career Management Center at Simon is designed to help turn students’ profession- al dreams into a reality. MBA candidates can take advantage of individualized career counseling and reap the benefits of mock interviews and resume development sessions. Impressively, the center has dedicated experts on staff that cover specific industries like technology, healthcare, brand management, energy, consulting and operations and finan- cial services. These specialists work aggressively to maintain relationships with employers and business leaders, connecting these individuals with Simon students and graduates.

Employers who frequently recruit and/or hire Simon MBAs include: Accenture, Expedia, Inc., American Express Company, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, LLP, Bank of America, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Citigroup, Comcast and Wells Fargo.

Rochester MBAs take pride in describing their fellow students as “very ambitious,” “hard working” and “intellectually capable.” They are also “culturally diverse” and highly “wel- coming.” While everyone seems to be “proud of their backgrounds,” they strive to “join together to form a common collective at Simon for the benefit of all.” Indeed, they are truly “focused on ensuring the team does well [as opposed to] individual students.”

During the week, most students are focused on the “academic grind,” either attending classes or working on projects. And they can often be found hanging around local cafes “study[ing], mingl[ing] and coach[ing] each other.” The campus itself is “beautiful” with “great facilities.” And it’s “always buzzing with activities.”

Finally, we’re told that “Rochester is a nice small city with enough things to do.” However, “don’t expect a NYC level of nightlife and entertainment.” Thankfully, “there’s enough to do, you just have to spend a little more time finding the options. A car/bike is a must, as public transit is really spotty. Overall, though, great place to spend two years.”