The Darden School was ranked No. 11 in BusinessWeek magazine's latest list of the nation's top business programs and came in at No. 1 in student surveys, in part because of the school's efforts to find post-graduation employment opportunities for its students.
"Whereas a lot of [students] were concerned about a lack of support, that wasn't the case at Darden," BusinessWeek staff writer Geoff Gloeckler said.
Gloeckler attributed the Darden School's success in creating a supportive environment to Jack Oakes, the school's assistant dean for career development, and his team, which Gloeckler said went to great measures to guide students through their career search.
"Our career development staff is very student-focused," said Sara Neher, the school's assistant dean of admissions. For example, the school has hired career consultants with Master of Business Administration degrees and significant experience in specific fields. In addition, the school has targeted sectors that are currently hiring in greater quantities and has called on its alumni to provide job opportunities for current students.
Moreover, the Darden School's ranking benefited from its efforts to create the best environment for recruiters who visit Grounds, Neher said. Additionally, because not all businesses are able to send recruiters directly to the school because of budget cuts, the school has increased its efforts to maintain long-distance communication with these recruiters.
Student surveys played a large role in the rankings, accounting for 45 percent of a school's score. The surveys were given out to each student at schools participating in the rankings and included about 50 questions that asked students to score different aspects of their schools numerically, BusinessWeek associate editor Louis Lavelle said. This year, more than 100 schools participated in the rankings, and an average of 55 percent of students responded to the survey.
The remainder of a school's score is compromised of surveys of recruiters, which account for 45 percent, and intellectual capital, which rounds out the final 10 percent. The latter looks at the research and works published by a school's faculty. The publication used surveys and data from 2006 and 2008, as well, when compiling its rankings.
Despite the importance of student surveys in producing a high ranking for a school, a school's reputation also plays a significant role.
"A lot of it has to do with name recognition," Gloeckler said. "Farther down the list, there's not as much recognition."
BusinessWeek releases its list of top business programs every two years, Lavelle said. The University of Chicago's Booth School of Business topped the list this year, followed by Harvard Business School in second place and the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business in third place.
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