In my opinion (made from whatever survey is have done). William & Mary is a good college, that has some of the best professors and a higly reputed undergraduate program (which reflects in various rankings). The question that naturally arises is what are the roadblocks in transferring this reputating (undergrad & professors) into Mason graduate program?

As a prospective student, i basically see three factors while selecting a college which is best “fit” for me. 1) Education (professor’s reputation , case study etc) 2) Placement statistics (how many get a job, and how much they earn) 3) Career progression (where will be be 5 years or 15 years down the line after I graduate from that college?)

Personally i feel that students give too much importance to FT rankings, there are many rankings available, USnews, Businessweek, FT, eduniversal, Forbes, WSJ, QS mba etc. I often become overwhelming and confusing for example FT ranks a school as 60 while US news and Forbes doesnt rankings it at all.

However Rankings are a piece of statistics, and i firmly believe that statistics should assist in decision making and not dominate it. Just for the record, Princetonreview has rated Mason as 91 in career rating (Harvard is 99), way ahead of several B schools ranked in FT. I would advice to fellow aspirants is to do an exhaustive survey about the school, and not just use rankings as a rule of thumb.

After attaining my B.BA. in ‘92, I spent about 5-6 years in the business world, and then became a vocational youth pastor for 6 years. Does anyone “blame” b-school for my continuing education in seminary? Is W&M at fault for me pouring a spiritual and ethical foundation into my students?

B-school is designed to hone specific skills, which it does admirably. It is our responsibility as alumni to build on our foundations. What you build, and how you build it, is ultimately your decision and yours alone.

Nice to see some stuff from Dean Olver! Wow. I can say I remember when he was just a regular prof.! Hope you’re well!

What I feel is lacking from that discussion is the degradation of personal responsibility resulting from our current culture of victimization. If we as individuals accept the argument that “social acceptance” in some way explains, or can be used as an excuse for my joking around about ripping off “Grandma Millie”, than we in fact encourage others to behave in a similar fashion. We have in effect, divested the individual of full responsibility for the action in question. We have made the excuse more accessible, and therefore the justification easier for the individual who actually made the decision to rip off “Grandma Millie” in the first place.

After World War II, the courts at Nuremburg specifically repudiated the defense that “I was ordered to do it” was justification for mass murder…which I feel is the ultimate manifestation of “social acceptance” for a morally reprehensible act. Individuals who chose to participate were tried based on their own actions, because they as individuals should have known what was wrong, without justifying their own actions with the actions of others.

B-Schools are not to blame for individuals bragging about ripping off “Grandma Millie”. Nor are corporations (morality and legality being separate matters obviously). That individual knows that stealing from someone else is wrong, even if that theft took place in the context of a legal business transaction. If they are proved guilty of that action, it is their action, and they themselves are the sole owners of guilt or innocence.

It raised a very interesting point to think what emphasis are our B-schools really putting on ethics if it is just a pass/fail course. Now I don’t necessarily agree with that person’s commentary and believe the role of the b-school is not to teach us that shredding legal documents and obstruction of justice are wrong; but rather to provide an outlet to solidify students own value system. The “what would you do if you were put into this situation?” approach. It isn’t the B-schools job to define one’s value system, but rather to offer the means for student to explore and better understand their own. Because to your point Jim, I don’t think any of these people believed they would be federally indited when they were getting their MBA’s.

Blaming the B-schools isn’t the answer, and to one W&M professor’s cry, where is the personal accountability in blaming the education system?

Regarding #4:

As they say at your local watering hole, “Nothing good ever happens after Midnight”, so it is with meetings. Nothing good ever happens after 1/2 hour in a meeting.

Regarding #6:

There is no victory in “beating” your counterpart. Good relationships, by definition, are good for both parties. I’ve (inadvertently) run companies out of business. The lesson is that when both sides win, both sides prosper. Remember that it’s not a competition, it’s a relationship.

Regarding #7:

Nobody is better or worse than you. People have different qualities, but never forget that you, while perhaps more fortunate, may be little more. Also, you never know who you’ll be reporting to next. Be careful.

Regarding #10:

Yes, keep it short, but also, remember that e-mail, in my humble opinion, is the worst form of communication ever invented. It is impossible to comprehend what is generally agreed to be the vast majority of interpersonal communication; context and expression. When in doubt, get off your seat and go talk to the person you’re communicating with. It will serve you well.

Regarding #13:

If you have to look at your PowerPoint to explain what you’re saying, you’ve already lost me. PowerPoint is the outline to an essay, and for every word on PP, you better have 100 words to say.

Regards,

Garrett

These blogs are working as great insights! Thanks to the idea.