Does MBA at Baruch Give You Good Contact . . .
Originally posted on Feb 15th, 2011 by Lemuel Morrison
One of the evil sides of administering a blog is the addictive availability of statistics on the site. There is a steady diet of junk: how many hits, where viewers came from and where they went to. A steady drip for a data junkie to get his fix. It’s also a brutal statement on popularity; but that’s another post.
Search terms is one fascinating data stream. “Does MBA at Baruch Give You Good Contact,” was one the search items that statistics referred to the blog recently. It’s a fascinating, multi-part and difficult question to answer. It gave me the satisfaction of confirmation that other people don’t see the MBA piece of paper signifying completion of coursework, but more of an experience. However, there is a illuminating choice of words here: give. It is my opinion, and I would hazard a guess that of the institution, that making contacts is more the focus and object of the experience here. Give evokes something more al-a-carte, a service or even mercantile.
Moving beyond the verb choice, the sentence is incomplete and left my imagination to wonder what this prospect was looking for. So I will offer the opinion of this Baruchian and what I have “gotten” or as I prefer, made (and making!)
. . .s First I would wonder if the searcher meant the plural. We all certainly hope that one will make (or get) more than one contact.
. . . with other students. The graduate experience at Baruch offers a phenomenal cross section of students that one will meet and work with: full-timers, honors, and part-timers. There are even a few elusive executive MBAers out there. You will see diversity describing so much of Baruch. It applies in more ways than you think: international, natives, insiders, outsiders, gender, ethnicity, financial, engineering, arts, non-profit, health care, technology and on. There is a caveat. The student body is large, very hard working, over committed and in the middle of ‘making it’ here in NYC. I have found that you have to make quite an effort to meet and connect with people. Our lives are just so busy. There is no get. It won’t come to you.
. . . with faculty. It’s been my experience across the CUNY system that th
e instructional staff will bend over backwards to help students. It’s the culture here. Faculty genuinely have the interest of students at heart and make extraordinary efforts to meet their needs. They meet fractured schedules due to work, clear up confusion over language, and bridge gaps in knowledge due to the varied work experiences. Our devoted faculty is really one of the many hidden gems here. As a former college instructor, I recognize the hard work and small things that others don’t. Moreover, I am reminded of how much our professors stand out when I visit other institutions. Bear in mind that this is a public institution. We have our superstars, but perhaps not as many as some private ones.
. . . with industry leaders. Honesty, you will be given very little here in this choice of words. However, I have made many unbelievable contacts with industry leaders (CEOs, COOs, politicians, etc) here at Baruch. There are more events and panels to go to each week than time. Baruch hosts many conferences that as a student I have access. I won’t even start with all the mentoring programs and seminars. Check out the Graduate Career Management Center (GCMC) web site. It’s world-class. The industry practitioners who get involved are truly dedicated and have the interests of the students and the institution at heart. It won’t come to you though. There is no get.
. . . with alumni. From my experience, frankly this is an area of improvement for Baruch. We have a very large base, but they are scattered and the ties are developing. There is change. Dec 1 will mark the first wine social created by the GSA to bring graduate students and alumni together.
. . . with those hiring. Here again go to the GCMC website and blog. The team over there works with students from entry level to experienced leaders. Again, a student won’t get anything. You will have to work hard and make those contacts with hiring. I’ve received great help and guidance along this path. The verb is active. Nothing will come to you.
As a wine enthusiast I see the world through the bottom of glass, so bear with me in my conclusion. When I read about wines, the best rarely come from fertile soils with excellent growing conditions. Character, intensity and nuance come from marginal areas where little else grows. Quality vines, like quality people, work hard for all their nutrients. When a vine digs deep into soil looking for water and nutrients, something magical happens to the flavors in the grape. When a person works hard and digs deep into their soul to grow and make themselves into something new, that same magic happens. Baruch will give you that opportunity to work hard and dig deep.
The Graduate Baruchian 
I more or less agree. My big problem is that class size inhibits professors from taking a keener interest in their students. I would have loved to have more of a coliquoy with some of my professors, but I know that they just don’t have the time. Still, I’ve had great interactions with professors. One of my profs worked at the SEC, and another at Lehman Brothers. Got to love it.
Indeed that is the nature of a public institution. Sadly I think it will be getting worse. There will be fewer full-time faculty and less support from the administration. Albany will provide less funding and hog-ties the institution by controlling tuition hikes
Lem, you’re right in saying this all takes work, and Baruch could improve on its alumni relations, but 90% of the work comes from the students in achieving these connections. Baruch is great for providing access. Then again, it’s hard not to provide this when being in a city such as New York City. They provide access and ways to connect with alumni, faculty, the students, and professionals across several fields. In addition, they provide a medium of exchange so to speak, through the GCMC. However, and this is not to sound negative at all, but as is true with many things, you only get as much out of it as you put into it. No one is going to do it for you, but you have to put yourself out there and work for it, meet people, strike conversations, and get those e-mails out for lunch and coffee meetings, and of course use Linked-in. Great article!
Indeed you will not “get” very much here. You have to work for it. Then again, anything worth having takes work.
Hey, Just a question… Don’t know if I should spark this conversation here!!!
How come if Baruch prides itself to be one of the most internationally diverse school, then it is not successful in offering off campus opportunities to international students!!!
Lem, Marina… Your Thoughts!!!