UA’s Manderson Graduate School Enrolls Record M.B.A. Class

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Manderson Graduate School of Business at The University of Alabama enrolled 78 students this fall, its largest full-time M.B.A. class ever.

“Our mission in the M.B.A. program is to increase the value of the degree with every passing day,” said Susan West, assistant dean for the Manderson Graduate School of Business and director of MBA Programs.

“As we continue to attract the best and the brightest in order to gain more national attention, our strategy has been to grow in terms of the size of the program. As we grow, we have also attracted more out-of-state and out-of-region students, which can lead to a multiplier effect – when they graduate, these students typically want to return to the region from which they came. By going back to these areas, it helps in our brand awareness and effectiveness on a broader basis, geographically.”

West said the students in the class of 2010 hail from nine countries and 29 different undergraduate institutions and will bring a wealth of diversity, work experience and academic excellence to the Manderson M.B.A. program.

Quality has also increased, according to West.

“GMAT average, GPA, average work experience, and minority/international representation all increased with the Class of 2010,” she said. “As we grow in quantity, it is obvious why we would strive to demand equal growth in quality. The better our students, the more competitive we can be on a national basis, which again reflects what we are trying to accomplish in building our brand.”

A larger class size can also mean better job opportunities for students.

Angelia Knight, coordinator of career services for Manderson, said, “Recruiters tend to visit schools with larger M.B.A. classes because of the larger talent pool. More students mean more opportunities to fill multiple positions from a single visit. Companies are feeling the impact of gas prices, so the concept of ‘one-stop shopping’ is very appealing.”

Prospective students can contact Blake Bedsole, the manager of admissions and student services for Manderson, at bbedsole@cba.ua.edu or 205/348-9122, to ask questions or to schedule an on-campus visit.

Prospective students are also encouraged to visit http://www.MandersonMBA.com for more information.