Choosing a Business School Partner: 4 Things to Look For

Long-term connections and support from faculty and peers can be just as important as the degree itself when choosing a business school.

That is why Penn State Smeal College of Business focuses on its role as a business school partner. As a true business partner, Smeal offers support that lasts well beyond graduation, including industry connections, tailored advice, and information about career opportunities.

So what makes a good business school partner? For Qing Liu, a Smeal Residential MBA alumna, it means “students are treated as unique individuals and supported, with engagement and support that continue even after graduation.”

She added: “Smeal’s small program size and the school’s large network make it a great business school partner for me.”

To find out whether a business school is right for you, look for these four things.

Programs that allow customization and lifelong learning

A business school should offer a program you can adapt to your career goals and interests.

At Penn State Smeal, flexible, customizable learning plans are encouraged. From one-year and two-year programs to twice-monthly EMBA classes, online MBA options, and a wide range of online master’s degrees and graduate certificates, students can extend their coursework in many ways to create a learning plan that is uniquely their own.

That goes a long way toward explaining why Qing chose Penn State Smeal. She said: “I chose to study at Penn State Smeal to continue my lifelong learning in business in a world-class academic environment and to improve my career opportunities.”

This allowed Qing to tailor her MBA to support her marketing career in the technology industry. She valued the program’s reputation and its connections with technology companies.

“Smeal has an MBA program with a strong return on investment, and it is a target school for many technology companies,” she said.

In fact, 97% of Smeal’s MBA graduates had found jobs three months after graduation, with salaries of about $115,000 (around £87,000).

Opportunities for hands-on, real-world learning

A business school should offer coursework rooted in real-world experience and updated regularly to keep pace with market trends. Look for classes that teach relevant, practical skills you can apply in business settings.

Smeal aims to provide real-world perspectives inside and outside the classroom, with industry professionals working alongside experienced faculty to offer unique insights and strengthen the school’s teaching.

“Penn State Smeal appealed to me because of its high standards, the strong success of its graduates, and the experiences I gained while pursuing my goals,” said Smeal alumnus Eduardo Trevino Estrada, who earned a master’s degree in management and organizational leadership in 2019 and a master’s degree in corporate finance in 2020.

Students also benefit from Smeal’s dedicated career services, which prepare them for professional success throughout their careers.

Since graduating in May, Eduardo has been working as a district manager for Aldi Inc. He will take over his own district at the end of this month.

“While at Smeal, I took advantage of the career services, where I was able to do mock interviews, get advice on different career paths, and create a professional resume,” Eduardo said.

Qing also used Penn State Smeal’s career services to advance her career, landing an internship just two months into her MBA. That led to a full-time marketing role at Dell Technologies.

A business school with strong moral and ethical values

Studying at a business school with a strong ethical foundation will make you highly attractive to employers. Look for a school that promotes sustainability, integrity, and a culture of diversity.

“As an undergraduate at Smeal, my coursework covered everything from diversity management and corporate social responsibility to ethics research,” Eduardo said.

Students benefit from hearing different perspectives and from working with people from different cultures, with different skills and abilities.

Qing also benefited from Smeal’s openness to celebrating and embracing new cultures. One of Qing’s most memorable moments was organizing the Smeal MBA Lunar New Year celebration during her first year. Peers from different cultures and backgrounds came together to learn about Asian culture, enjoy Asian food, practice Asian dances, and play traditional games.

“The student body at Smeal is incredibly diverse, and we are given a platform and many opportunities to celebrate our own cultures and appreciate others,” Qing said.

An active and supportive alumni network

Being part of a motivated alumni community will help you build professional connections and open the door to a range of business opportunities.

Penn State has one of the largest alumni associations in the country, with more than 700,000 Penn State graduates and 88,000 Smeal alumni.

After graduating, Eduardo has continued to make use of the school’s network.

He said: “As Smeal graduates, we still have access to the career office and their support, and we can attend the college’s career fairs and the school’s large alumni network."

“Since graduating, I’ve built meaningful connections with other alumni in my field, who provide a strong support network as I navigate the professional world.”

The Penn State Alumni Association offers graduates many ways to stay connected, including social events, LinkedIn groups, and an online alumni directory. Qing was recently delighted to attend the Smeal Global Lions gathering in Texas.

“This event brought together Smeal MBA alumni in the Austin area, and I was able to receive the latest updates on our program from the Smeal team and connect with Smeal alumni living and working in the same region.”