Any more mature students (esp. women) in the program?

[jmathiasen]

Also, does Yale SOM still have a focus on governemnt, or is it pure business these days?

I am in my late thirties with a lot of good work and academic experience under my belt. I have an MPP (Master of Public Policy) from Harvard and have worked in consulting and directly in senior management positions for local governments.

For a variety of reasons, I'm thinking about trying to elevate my career and change my focus (while remaining in public policy/public management), and am wondering of an MBA might be a good way to do this.

I have a close friend (who is about 10 years younger) who went to Wharton. Most of her classmates were in their 20s, young, smart and hungry, and very focused on I-banking, marketing, and making their first million before they hit 30. They are terrific, smart people but I don't fit in with that crowd.

Other question - I live in Easton, Connecticut (about 40 minutes from the Yale campus) and have two school-aged kids (one of the reasons I've taken my career a bit more slowly than a lot of men). How well can I integrate myself into the MBA program given that I'd have a commute and some time constraints?

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

[soarer]

I know a lot of students at Yale SOM who are over 30, some of them have family and kids but stilll are able to manage their time between school and home.

The grading system at this school makes the whole environment extremely collaborative. This is probably the only school where there are no grades! People concentrate on learning rather than getting good grades, or competing with classmates. Also, Yale SOM is not a Banking/Consulting factory. There are plenty of people who want to get into public and non-profit sector. Having said that the school also offers excellent opportunities for students interested in Banking/Consulting and other traditional industries. Its truly a well rounded school!

The school is serious about its mission - Educating leaders for business and society, and the adcom does a great job in attracting people who want to make a difference in public and non-profit sectors.

To know more I guess the best way to go is to visit the school!

[gloislane]

Hi jmathiasen - Depending on how much work experience you actually have, you may want to look into the executive MBA program here at SOM. I would say the average age here is about 26 or 27, and the majority of students do not have families. You should ask the Admissions office for official statistics, but I estimate that, at most, 15 percent of the student body is married. It would be quite difficult for you to integrate into SOM given your commute and your family situation; we do spend quite a bit of time at school during off-hours and we social frequently on weekends.

In terms of SOM's focus on government vs. business, the new curriculum does a good job of integrating business perspectives with public sector management/socially responsible concepts.

Hope that helps!