George Washington University’s School of Business landed at No. 85 in this year’s rankings — improving one spot from last year’s rank at No. 86. The School of Business had an acceptance rate of 37.37% and an average SAT score of 1304 this year. Employment-wise, 85.14% of the Class of 2020 secured full-time employment within three months of graduation, relatively in line with last year’s 85%. Internship outcomes for the Class of 2020 were not available.
Located in Washington, D.C., GW offers a quality undergraduate business education with its hands-on curriculum, unique connections to the nation’s capital city, and strong academic and professional development.
ONE DEGREE, SIX CONCENTRATIONS
Beginning in Fall 2020, all new students enrolling in the School of Business will have the Bachelor of Science as their degree in one of six majors including Accountancy, Business, Business Analytics, Finance, Information Systems Technology, and Marketing. The B-school also offers the option of earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years through its 4+1 Program.
Global business is an integral part of the GW undergraduate business education with over a dozen courses in international business and more than 20 devoted faculty members. All undergraduate business students are required to take two international business courses as part of their business core: The Age of Globalization and Introduction to International Business. Students are also required to take at least one international business course as part of their concentration.
But what truly makes GW’s global business program strong is how informative and hands-on the curriculum is. Courses often feature active learning with a strong emphasis on soft skills such as collaboration and communication. Opportunities at GW’s School of Business for soft skill development were rated the highest amongst all other categories with surveyed 2018 alumni giving a 9.4 average rating.
“I took a class called ‘Managing in Developing Countries,’” one 2018 alum told us. “At the beginning of the semester, we were placed into groups and chose a developing country. While learning about business challenges/opportunities/strategies for developing countries, we produced a business plan for a product we thought could succeed in our assigned countries. We pitched these at the end in a case-style competition. I found the class formative and thoroughly enjoyed the project as it directly relates to my interest in emerging markets.”
UNIQUE ACCESS TO NATION’S CAPITAL CITY
GW’s prime location in Washington, D.C. offers students access to unique opportunities and established relationships with the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and US State Department (all of which are within a few blocks of campus). Students often conduct research and intern at financial institutions, consulting firms, policy institutes, and on the Hill.
To connect students with alumni and prospective employers, GW’s F. David Fowler Career Center hosts DC Career Treks in the Spring semester, one-day experiences for students to connect with alumni and prospective employers in fields such as Accounting, Consulting, Finance, and Real Estate. Overall, surveyed 2018 GW alumni tend to appraise the B-school’s efforts to connect them with practicing professionals, including the alumni network, in the business community rather positively with an 8.5 average rating.
4-YEAR STRATEGY FOR SUCCESS
One of the strong selling points of GW’s School of Business is the 4-year Strategy for Success, a comprehensive plan for academic, personal, and professional development. Each year, students are guided through a series of tasks, activities, and events to support them throughout their development as students, leaders, and professionals.
Freshman year consists of an introduction to the B-school curriculum as well as what resources and co-curricular activities are available. Students also begin their professional development by creating a resume and cover letter and learning the fundamentals of networking.
Sophomore year, students declare their major and start to take an active role in co-curricular activities including student organizations and community work. The second-year also includes a case study competition and exploration of research opportunities. On the career front, sophomores begin developing their own marketing plan, researching and registering for professional development resources such as the Career Management Strategy Course and the Career Leader Assessment, and applying for internships and externships.
In their junior year, students start taking on more leadership opportunities within student organizations and begin researching and considering graduate school options. Professional development intensifies as many students plan to secure internships in their third year.
Senior year, students start preparing for graduation and decide on graduate school as an option. Seniors meet with career coaches and attend career events from fairs to workshops with the plan of securing a full-time position before graduating.
Surveyed 2018 alumni appraised the effectiveness of the B-school’s career advising as rather positively with an 8.2 average rating. Among the 2018 alumni that were surveyed, 100% report that their first job after graduating was in their desired industry. Some 82.61% of those surveyed reported that their first job was at their desired company.
Overall, GW’s School of Business provides a stellar undergraduate business education. With its hands-on curriculum, unique connections to D.C., and 4-year strategy, students are given a rich and comprehensive education that sets them up for personal and professional success.
Alumni say:
“I attended exchange programs in both Korea and Singapore. Being able to study in top universities at different places brought me perspectives that I didn’t have.”
“Although I wasn’t part of the capstone or more specialized GWSB academic programs, I was highly involved in the advising and programs offices. This gave me great immersive experiences and a high level of activity with the school itself.”
“Guest speakers from the top of major entities like IMF, Supreme Count, etc.”
