The University of Iowa - Henry B. Tippie School of Management

While some students extol the “wonderful experiential learning,” and the “breadth of courses unmatched by most other institutions” that are offered at the Henry B. Tippie School of Management at The University of Iowa, others praise its “small class sizes along with the unique Academy structure.” The Academy structure requires students to select “one of three academies based on their interests: Finance, Marketing, [or] Business Analytics.” In 2009 the school revamped its curriculum from “two sixteen-week semesters to four eight-week modules. This allows students to take fewer classes at one time and focus all attention on the subject matter at hand.”

Students generally laud the school’s “high return on investment” and feel that “the greatest strengths of the University of Iowa are the [number] of opportunities that are available in academics, athletics, government, and volunteer work.” They also highlight that “the association with the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center is an outstanding resource whether you want to start or improve a business.” The Entrepreneurial Center, in particular, is “a hidden gem” that “offers many business competition events throughout the year that provide funding for startups, access to successful entrepreneurs and business mentorship.” Students also boast that “the school’s Henry Fund”—a $3.1 million student managed investment fund—”has received the top honors for performance the past five years as well.”

Classes at Tippie provide a “comfortable environment” where there is a “good mix of readings, lectures, simulations, and real-world applications” that helps to nurture “thought and healthy conversation.” The small size of the program creates “opportunity for involvement, interviews, and faculty interactions” and “more personalized attention.”

The students are also impressed by their “outstanding” and “top-notch” professors who are often “national experts [in] their subject area.” These “approachable” professors “do a very good job getting to know the students and build a personal relationship with most.” The school’s administration also received kudos from the students who observe that “the administration and professors meet frequently to incorporate ideas that they have gained from other schools, their own insight, and feedback from students.”

Tippie students reveal, “We can do a little better with career services. As such, it is good but we have faced some challenges during the economic downturn.” Another student says they feel “disappointed with the efforts given by the University of Iowa for career guidance.” While this voice represents a concern amongst students, the University of Iowa did achieve a 98 percent placement rate in 2015. Other students offer a more pos- itive view of the Career Services Office, saying that they “motivate you and they also are as demanding as our professors in doing things like mock interviews, networking events etc. Also there is a leadership course that offers help to prepare one to present in professional and personal setting[s].”

Although they long for “more geographically diverse recruiters” and feel that there needs to be more effort put into “attracting more companies to visit on campus,” Tippie stu- dents have noticed some recent improvement in recruiting on campus. “During the past year we have begun attracting high-tech firms and investment banks due to the efforts of career services and alumni. We have recently had Amazon recruit on campus...and are seeking to expand Goldman-Sachs undergraduate recruitment to include MBAs. We are also seeing many mid-market investment banks and private equity groups recruit on campus.”

Students are enthusiastic in their praise of Iowa City’s “vibrant atmosphere which helps you both learn and relax.” The city’s “night-life is great and there are also a lot of hole- in-the-wall restaurants that provide a lot of diversity in dining.” Iowa City also “has easy access to Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Louis, and Kansas City, and is 20 minutes from the airport for longer journeys.”

Students count their school’s “friendly atmosphere from admissions to faculty and students” as one of its strengths. When not immersed in their studies, students can par- ticipate in “lots of social activities as well as many school-related activities” including “company presentations and speaker sessions every fortnight.” One student gushes, “The guest speakers are phenomenal—John Rice [Vice Chairman of General Electric], Fred Whyte [President of Stihl] and Clay Jones [CEO of Rockwell Collins]—are just a snapshot of the leaders that spoke at our school while I was a student.” For the more athletically-inclined students, “the football atmosphere is awesome and something that should be experienced.”

The school’s “small community of students” is self-described as “classic Midwest[ern] people—hardworking, fairly narrow life experience, super friendly, outcome-oriented, family people.” “There is a strong moral compass, and you do not have to be worried about being stabbed in the back by a fellow student for an A.” These “very friendly, welcoming, and supportive” students who are “top-of-the-line performers” include “motorbike racers, go-cart racers, triathlon/marathon runners, musicians, math geeks, entrepreneurs, ex-military men, etc.”