Drexel University - LeBow College of Business

Academics at Drexel University encompass a breadth of Colleges and Schools whose programs are designed to provide the foundation of study enriched by experiential learning to produce the next generation of scholars, professionals, and leaders. LeBow College of Business fits squarely into that tradition. Noted strengths of the MBA program include "a pragmatic approach to real-world application." Offering a "strong and dynamic curriculum" that "stresses practical education," LeBow offers "a solid emphasis on business analysis processes with a strong technology background as well." Practical application is delivered through "case studies and other real-life simulations" that "help in applying concepts and attaining a better understanding of how to approach a given situation." Students in the full-time MBA program also benefit from a three-month summer co-op program that provides hands-on experience while "helping students learn more about the industries in which they might wish to pursue a career."

Part-time and full-time students will find numerous options at LeBow. The school offers a one-year full-time MBA. Those unable to attend daytime classes will likely prefer the two-year evening cohorted Accelerated MBA offered in the Philadelphia campus and in the suburban Malvern, PA location. LeBow also offers a more traditional part-time At-YourOwn-Pace MBA and two online part-time MBAs. The online MBA is a conventional parttime cohort MBA delivered online over twenty-four months (one on-campus residency and a midpoint online consulting residency is required). The second is the Online Flex MBA, with a 3.5 year degree completion time to allow for a lighter course schedule. All programs operate on a fast-paced quarterly academic calendar that allows "more chances to take courses during a year," and all programs place "a strong emphasis on leadership."

Students praise the LeBow administration, reporting that the school "appears to be pouring a lot of money into the marketing of the LeBow brand. That will likely produce more of a return for [us] upon graduation." One MBA happily tells us, "The administration could not make the process any easier to prevent any type of potential distraction from your academics. If you wish to pursue further study in a discipline or make local contacts in a discipline they are always there to help." Likewise, professors "are really open to meeting with students and discussing classroom ideas in a different context. They enjoy getting to know their students and sharing their own experiences." Faculty members "bring realworld issues to classroom for discussions and potential problem solutions. Some even share their consultancy experiences with the students. Overall, it is highly stimulating and excellent learning experience."

LeBow's Office of MBA Career Services offers "excellent career services," according to stu- dents. Through "various career service events and networking opportunities," career coun- selors "really make an effort to involve as many students as possible and showcase their events in a professional way. Just in the last few months I have attended several Employer of the Week sessions that have [piqued] my interest in industries I had not previously consid- ered. Also the Mentor Match program has been pivotal in honing my networking skills and [giving me the opportunity to interact] with alumni in both formal and informal settings." Drexel's alumni network represents another "great opportunity to see how Drexel positive- ly impacted the careers of so many professionals who were once in our position years ago." Finally, "regular job fairs…are often good opportunities for networking."

Top employers of recently graduated Drexel MBAs include: eBay, Agilent Technologies, Independence Blue Cross, Booz Allen, SAP, PwC, Deloitte Consulting, Comcast, IBM, SEI.

"Drexel provides plenty of professional and social networking opportunities" for its MBAs, although full-time students benefit the most (since they are on campus most frequently). Full-timers report "an overwhelming range of opportunities available," with "clubs and competitions for every interest" that include "networking events for women in business, video game clubs, consulting groups, music labels, etc. Academics are always number one priority, but there are plenty of outside opportunities for fun." Philadelphia is an asset in that regard. It's "a city that has a ton of opportunities" and provides a "great local business and government network." Overall, students enjoy a "good life/school/work balance," with "plenty of opportunities to pursue other school-related activities without having to overcommit yourself."

LeBow has a diverse population in its MBA programs with 21 percent of students having undergrad degrees in liberal arts, 19 percent in sciences, another 20 percent in engineering, tech, or other subjects, and 40 percent in business. Students say this mix results in "a nice balance between very intelligent and a lot of fun." The different programs draw different types of students, of course. The full-time program tends to be younger and less experi- enced, while the Executive MBA draws students who "have extensive work experience and understand the importance of a business graduate degree."