An MBA degree program will focus on equipping you with the theoretical and practical skills to make sound business decisions and expose you to the core subjects of finance, accounting, human resources, marketing and information systems.
A well-rounded liberal arts education, therefore, provides you with an excellent complement to and preparation for business school. No specific major is required for business school.
Many business schools look for evidence of leadership ability. Our commitment to shared governance provides you with numerous opportunities to develop leadership skills:
Students like you serve on virtually all standing committees at the College and have their own Honor Council to handle a variety of disciplinary matters. Student Housefellows fill an important role in overseeing the smooth operation of residence houses. The College's Office of Career and Professional Development gives students numerous opportunities to develop leadership skills at area schools, social service agencies, hospitals and various nonprofits. In addition, you can gain valuable leadership skills by participating in any of the assorted student-led organizations and programs on campus.
Many business schools emphasize model-building and case study approaches. They prefer applicants who have utilized their college careers to perfect their oral and written expression as well as their analytical, problem-solving and quantitative abilities — hallmarks of a liberal arts education. In terms of specific coursework, most business schools encourage students to study micro- and macroeconomics, and some also ask for statistics and calculus.
As an undergraduate, you should seek professionally oriented summer jobs and internships, as well as meaningful extracurricular activities to complement your academic record. While a number of business schools allow enrollment immediately after graduation, many prefer two or more years of full-time work experience. Our pre-business adviser also works with graduates after they have obtained full-time work experience and are ready to apply to business schools.
Pre-business resources at Connecticut College include:
- Workshops on preparing for business school, applying to business school and developing the business school personal statement
- Individual advising appointments with the pre-business adviser
- Prominent alumni returning to campus to discuss their careers through a variety of panel discussions, seminars and workshops
- An alumni network for students to discuss a wide range of business-related careers with Connecticut College alumni
- A Flexible Career Funding Program to pursue significant work experiences during all four years at Conn.
- A reference letter service to store letters of recommendation for MBA programs
- Peggotty Investment Club, a student-run special interest club, whose goal is to provide students with practical education and hands-on experience in financial markets. Members participate in actively managing $120,000 of the College's endowment
To learn more about Connecticut College's pre-business advising, contact Stanley Willard, Jr. at swillardj@conncoll.edu.