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(3.7) |
REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]
I had a very positive 1st year MBA experience here at Purdue, HOWEVER I decided to return to GMAT Club in order to update my prior review so that readers can be aware that Dean Hummels just informed all returning students that the full-time Krannert MBA program will be closing down. It appears to be a very similar situation to what happened at Iowa Tippie, Illinois Gies, and Wake Forest. I feel it is imperative for prospective students to be aware of this news!
Disregard this paragraph. I am adding additional words in order to meet the 100 word limit. The most important part of the review is the announcement that Krannert will be halting all future recruitment for its full-time MBA program.
Overall BSchool experience (2.0)
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As a career switcher from STEM to business, Purdue helped me use my analytical skills as a foundation for my the business acumen I gained, rather than simply another tool in my tool box. The Krannert Professional Development Center also greatly helped me use my background to pivot my career and not be anchored to my old area of expertise. Additionally, the smaller class sizes, but massive alumni network, aided me in finding informational interviews, and advocates within companies I am interested in. Although Krannert is not necessarily a household name, Purdue is known around the world as a top tier university.
The extracurricular resources for every functional area are expanding rapidly.
Many strong tech/manufacturing/science firms come to recruit at Purdue due to its prowess in Engineering and large student body. A large number of them come looking for MBA students as well, but many students successfully land internships or full time positions by piggybacking off the engineering recruiting opportunities.
Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
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At Krannert you will have the opportunity to work with people from all over the world with all different types of backgrounds. You will have courses with well researched professors. You will have a platform to network with Purdue alums across the country and the world. You will have the opportunity to go to career fairs (local and national) with a brand name that will get you quality facetime and opportunities to work at some of the best companies.
What you will not get is any of this handed to you, it is up to you and you alone to take advantage of these opportunities. If you want to take an untraditional path that might not be offered at traditional career fairs, then network your way to that path, many do it each and every year. If you are having a hard time finding a job, then expand your horizons, attend national career fairs, find alums that can help you. Don't complain about the lack of help on career services side. Realize that your future is in your hands, and don't expect it to come easy. If you don't agree with this and prefer things to be handed to you, then I would suggest finding a different program.
60 hour requirement, approximately 35 hours are core, rest are electives. Professors are well known in academics.
Purdue has three big career fairs that in particular MBAs have opportunities at: Industrial Roundtable (aimed towards engineers), SMEF (Krannert undegraduate fair), Krannert Graduate Career Fair (specifically for Krannert Masters students). There is a common complaint that the Krannert Graduate Career Fair does not have enough companies. Regardless, I suggest attending the NBMBAA career fair both years and possibly the NSHMBA career fair. Yes, it costs a bit to attend and travel to these career fairs, but they are worth it (NBMBAA in particular). At these two fairs (NBMBAA in particular), you'll have access to many many more companies and opportunities. If you're taking an untraditional path that career fairs won't offer you an opportunity at, Purdue has a large alumni network that with a few advanced searches on LinkedIn can put you in touch with alums in almost any field. Alums want to help students, but students need to be able to reach out to them, the worst thing that can happen is someone say no.
Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
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Krannert's biggest downside are their career services, provided the Krannert Professional Development Center. If you are willing to sacrifice your goals and expectations, then you will have no problem finding a job, as the KPDC is very rigid and 'cookie-cutter' in their job advice. Essentially, they will tell you to hammer the pavement, while giving you a rubber hammer. Their ability to provide meaningful and personalized career advice is nonexistent.
The best example I can provide: I've met with my career coach throughout the MBA Program. Recently, I seriously approached her with a unique job suggestion. Rather than helpfully encourage or work through a solution with me, her response was: "Maybe you should go back to what you were doing before you started the program." As with most MBA students, a primary goal is to elevate your job status - not fall backward. This type of feedback is not helpful in any way.
Overall BSchool experience (3.0)
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Marketing
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Most rewarding experience at Krannert was the opportunity to work with high tech emerging startups. Incubators at Purdue University has some cool startup projects on which students could work. Purdue MBA is well know for its quantitative methods to solve business problems and reinventing the wheel.
Although Marketing isn't one of the flagship courses at Purdue, as we rely more on technology and data driven decision making, Unique blend of business and data skills one learns at Purdue helps him/her excel in roles such as Product Management, Consumer Insights, operations & supply chain management, Hr etc.
Purdue Ecosystem highly encourages entrepreneurship and would encourage candidates to showcase their entrepreneurial spirit in essays and during interviews.
If you have supply chain and ops focus, you don't need to worry.
Alumni network is good resource to explore job opportunities.
As purdue student, you will unlock access to one of the largest career fairs at university that gives ample opportunity to network with individuals and learn from them about their company and work culture.
Overall BSchool experience (4.0)
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First the good things - the B-school has good infrastructure and the professors are also very knowledgeable with significant grasp on their subjects. For any student who wants to learn about analytical things, there are a plethora of subjects to choose from. Krannert provides its students several standard facilities such as WSJ membership etc., and partial reimbursement for travel to Career Fairs etc. The biggest thing that has helped people in recent past is the fact that some of them got good scholarships and Graduate Assistantships and that reduced the financial burden significantly.
Now, for areas of improvement, the Career Services really needs to do more than what it's doing, because the networking with alumni and companies is not happening as well as it should - and this is resulting in international students to look for Jobs themselves. The thing is that, Krannert is not a very big brand name right now, even while being a part of Purdue University and that is not helping the Job/Internship search. Additionally, there is too much emphasis on Supply Chain and Operations at Krannert, which is not exactly why most people go for an MBA. The other disciplines such as Strategy, Consulting etc. are not getting their fair share of attention.
The student life is good there, there are people from all over the world, there are good clubs and social events are organized regularly. One more thing - West Lafayette is an isolated place, so sometimes it can be boring, and chances of self-networking for Job/Internship search are hampered (people in East/West Coast have that advantage). On the other hand though, living expenses are less, so it can be a positive factor also - depending on how you look at the location.
Overall BSchool experience (3.0)
Schools contribution (2.0)
Classmates rating (3.0)
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Supply Chain and Operations
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Specialization in a particular area (e.g. Finance, Consulting, Healthcare, etc)