Experience during the program

I went to business school aiming to exit as an MBB consultant and Darden created a very structured path that fully supported achieving this goal. Career services, the second year class, and our alumni network made connecting with all consulting firms very easy. There was always a constant presence from all of the firms on Grounds. When it came time to interview, practicing case interviews with my classmates could not have been a better preparation experience.

Beyond academics and the professional job search, the culture and lifestyle at Darden and in Charlottesville is amazing. Grabbing a great bite to eat on the Downtown Mall, organizing an afternoon wine tour, partying late into the night on the Corner... there's always a great social experience to be had when you're part of Darden. I walked away from my two years at Darden with some of the best friends and best experiences of my life.

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (5.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Career opportunities provided by school
Culture & Student Support

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Investment Banking
Entrepreneurship

Can be improved:

Brand/Ranking

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Experience during the program

I had been waitlisted at several top-10 MBA programs—partially due to being almost 40--when Darden admitted me into their EMBA. I accepted the offer despite wanting to transition into consulting, which is seen as a transition best-suited for a regular MBA. However, in all my program visits, the Darden classroom stood out. Darden builds the learning experience around the case method, and their classroom was uniquely engaging compared other programs I had seen.

I had been planning to transition from a technical career into management consulting, but my experience at Darden changed everything. I am no longer interested in working full-time for someone else. I am launching my own small side-business, and planning several collaborative projects with classmates. The Darden classroom is what sold me, yet the personal growth and close connections I have formed with my classmates made the two years at Darden some of the most transformative of my life.

Finally, I grew to love the EMBA format. Classroom discussions were based on the wisdom of deep experience, and I was able to take learnings and apply them immediately at my job. We were also a very collaborative bunch—instead of competing for interview slots and job offers, we were more likely to be hired into each other’s companies (this happened several times).

TL;DR: The Darden EMBA was transformative. Two thumbs up.

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (5.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Alumni Network
Culture & Student Support

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Entrepreneurship
Management

Can be improved:

Student body, diversity

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Experience during the program

Darden has one of the most supportive and down to earth cultures I have seen in top business schools. I considered other offers before choosing Darden (including Sloan, Tuck, and Yale SOM), but overall my interactions with students at Darden were much better both before I accepted my offer and while I was in the program.
It is well known that Darden really focuses on the academic experience. It is a school that stretches you more academically than most top programs. The case method and cold-call culture make you be prepared always, and that pays big dividends if you are looking for an academically intense experience.
The group at Darden is very diverse, and Charlottesville is such a beautiful city. For those living in the US for the first time, C'Ville is such a great place to be easied in to the American culture before you end up in some big city for work.
Most students at Darden go into management consulting, due to the strength of the case method. However, all the big banks go to Darden as well; some programs are too far from banks for them to choose to visit campus.
There is an immersion time for international students before the first year starts, and it is a great way to get to know your classmates as well as get used to the Darden intensity.

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (5.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Career opportunities provided by school
Culture & Student Support

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Finance
Entrepreneurship
Management

Can be improved:

Brand/Ranking

Read More

Experience during the program

There is a reason Darden is consistently ranked at the top of student experience surveys; that is because the curriculum, extra-curriculars and even the selection of incoming classes of new Darden students rests on a foundation where that experience - your experience - comes first. What's more, students at Darden are empowered to take control of their experience, and can have a meaningful impact during their time in Charlottesville.
I came to Darden from a very non-traditional background, and found myself at home very quickly. I may not have been equipped to handle some of the rigorous courses out of the gate, but with the help of my learning team, faculty and a wealth of other resources, I was thriving in no time. That is what Darden's culture is all about - creating a positive environment in which "success" is not just an individual metric - it is a collective goal. When we at Darden say "trust the process," we really mean "trust your colleagues, your professors, and your own ability." It's an emphasis on teamwork and work ethic that underscores the entirety of the Darden curriculum.
From a preparatory standpoint, Darden excels at ensuring its students and alumni are equipped to handle ambiguity in virtually any business situation. We take the case method seriously, putting enormous weight on class contribution, forming an opinion, and taking action.
If you are an applicant, I encourage you to reach out to alumni, and if you can, make the trip to Charlottesville. Come see the grounds and sit in on a class, it will not disappoint. There is something special about our culture that can't be put into words, and while it's not for everyone, you might just find it's the best fit for you.
Good luck!

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (5.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Student body, diversity
Culture & Student Support

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Finance
Marketing
Investment Banking
Tech
Entrepreneurship
Management

Can be improved:

Brand/Ranking

Read More

Experience during the program

Academics - Darden is notoriously rigorous, especially in the FY, and I definitely felt that to be true. However, I also felt that I learned a lot and wasn't doing work just for the sake of doing work. I think the case method is a much more effective way to learn (as opposed to just reading a textbook). I have also been impressed by the faculty at Darden. They truly are top notch and really invested in all of the students and their success.

Career - With a general management curriculum, you'll find that most major industries recruit at Darden. There are some companies that recruit year after year and others that change based on student demand. Consulting is definitely the biggest recruiting area, but banking and marketing are also popular and tech is growing. Darden's reputation and alumni network are especially helpful in recruiting.

Community - For me, the Darden community was one of the biggest draws. It is definitely a very collaborative, close-knit environment. By the end of the FY, I knew many of my classmates, whether from section, recruiting, club activities or just general social interactions. While Darden students work really hard, we're also very social and enjoy spending time with each other.

Charlottesville is also a great place to spend two years. There are tons of great bars and restaurants and lots of things to do outdoors, especially hiking and also a lot of wineries and breweries. It's also close enough to DC that if you need to get a "city fix" you can definitely do that on the weekend.

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (5.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Career opportunities provided by school
Culture & Student Support

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Finance
Marketing
Investment Banking
Tech
Entrepreneurship
Management

Can be improved:

Student body, diversity

Read More

Experience during the program

The full-time program is extremely demanding during the first semester, you will have to prepare 3 cases per day plus doing recruiting (company briefings, networking events, etc). If you are an international student you will have fewer job opportunities due to visa restrictions in the USA.
Very collaborative environment from professors and fellow students. The Darden Cup is a great event to practice sports with your classmates. There are also many workshops to improve your resume, networking, job search, etc.
Most beautiful campus I have ever seen, facilities are extremely well maintained. The city of Charlottesville is a beautiful place to live and it is also very safe.

About professors, classes and curriculum

Most of the professors are great. There was only one professor that was not ready for graduate level.
The schedule is extremely tight and it gets frustrating as there's not enough time to practice sports outside the Darden Cup (in my experience). Also, there are very interesting topics discussed during classes that I wanted to dig deeper into them, but again it is impossible due to time constraints.

About job placement process

Banking & consulting: top consulting companies (Big 3) & investment banks do on grounds recruiting.
General management & corporate finance: fortune 500 companies & local ones.
International companies: mainly for Latin America & South East Asia.

Overall BSchool experience (4.0)
Schools contribution (4.0)
Classmates rating (4.0)

Strengths of the program:

Student body, diversity
Culture & Student Support
Facilities

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Management

Can be improved:

Extremely tight schedule

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Experience during the program

I am a veteran and former federal employee looking to transition to a role in finance. In my MBA search, I sought a school that really focused on teaching and a great core curriculum that would enable me to smoothly transition to the private sector. Darden has exceeded all my expectations.

Like HBS, Darden is 100% case method. Whether it's accounting, marketing, or valuation each class is a case and is taught entirely discussion-based. The case method is not for everyone, but if you learn by discussion there is not a better learning environment than Darden's classrooms. I have learned an incredible amount from my classmates and I am always on my toes in anticipation of the infamous cold call.

Darden is a great school if you want to go into consulting, banking, or general management. MBB, all the top tech firms, and the top Bulge Bracket and Boutique banks all recruit at Darden. I can't speak for consulting or general management but the banking recruitment process at Darden is better than most other schools because the recruiting is done almost entirely in Charlottesville. Many other top MBA schools' students have to travel at least monthly (if not weekly) to New York to attend banking recruiting events. At Darden, the banks visit the school and much of the networking is via phone. This is incredibly convenient when you are trying to balance the recruiting process with classwork.

To some, Charlottesville is in the middle of nowhere. However, I have found it to be a great town in the Shenandoah (2 hours from DC) with tons of breweries, vineyards, and restaurants. The campus is a UNESCO world heritage site and you'd be hard pressed to find a school with a prettier campus. Nearly all the Darden students live next to one another and within walking distance to the school. This tight-knit environment is one reason why the Darden alumni network is among the strongest of any top MBA program.

Regardless of if you are new to business or are a former consultant/banker, Darden is a phenomenal place to spend two years for your MBA.

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (5.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Student body, diversity
Culture & Student Support

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Finance
Marketing
Investment Banking
Tech
Entrepreneurship
Management

Can be improved:

Specialization in a particular area (e.g. Finance, Consulting, Healthcare, etc)

Read More

Experience during the program

Darden is a great business school. The core curriculum is strong, I had some of the best professors I ever had, you are a strong candidate to pursue any career you want, Charlottesville is one of the best cities in the US, the campus is top notch, and I've made friends for life.

That being said, it is important to mention that the first year is really tough. The core curriculum is demanding and I would often see myself having classes and preparing cases from 8am to 9pm from Sunday to Thursday. This is a school for people who want to be completely immersed in the MBA experience.

Being an international student, and wanted to pursue a career in tech, I was a little afraid that Darden - a school known for general management, investment banking, and consulting - would not be as strong as some of the west coast schools. However, I interviewed for all the major tech companies, landed a summer internship on my first choice, and received a full time offer to work there.

Coming to Darden was definitely the best choice of my life.

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (4.0)
Classmates rating (4.0)

Strengths of the program:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Career opportunities provided by school
Location

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Investment Banking
Tech
Entrepreneurship
Management

Can be improved:

Brand/Ranking

Read More

Experience during the program

Darden's culture puts students first and creates a strong, cohesive community. The structure of the curriculum helps build a strong community and provides a solid general management foundation for students. First, most of the first year classes are required core classes and students talk all these classes with the same group of students ("section"). Secondly, each student participates in a six person study group ("learning team") to prepare for class each day. Finally, all Darden classes are taught using the case method. These aspects of the academically rigorous Darden curriculum help build a collaborative learning environment where students support and encourage each other.

I would encourage applicants that want a strong general management business school program and a close cohesive business school community to consider Darden.

About professors, classes and curriculum

The Darden professors are also a critical piece of the Darden learning environment. They facilitate the classroom case method discussion through deep subject matter knowledge as well as an understanding of classroom discussion and dynamics. For example, professors will regularly bring up details from a previous class discussion and relate them to the current case and regularly engage in student life events outside the classroom.

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (4.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Student body, diversity
Culture & Student Support

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Marketing
Investment Banking
Management

Can be improved:

Brand/Ranking

Read More

Experience during the program

Darden is a unique place and an amazing program. It rewards authenticity and truly values creating a unique experience for its students. I strongly suggest to anyone looking for an amazing business school experience to consider to Darden. For those interested in applying I would have a firm understanding of your professional experience and how it will contribute to learning experience. Darden is 100% case method so the classroom experience is very important. Being able to articulate your thoughts and apply your past experience not only helps you learn but it also helps others in the classroom learn. Overall I think Darden is a transformational program

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (5.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Student body, diversity
Alumni Network

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Finance
Marketing
Investment Banking
Entrepreneurship

Can be improved:

Location

Read More