Experience during the program

Yale's mission is to educate leaders for business to society. This really shows in the student body - the type of student that applies and is accepted here tends to want to make the world a better place. This a big strength and point of differentiation for the program. Others include a general feeling that Yale is improving - through better class attributes, diversity of experiences, and some amazing and very accomplished incoming professors. Others strengths include the Yale brand and ability to take courses at Yale college and the law school, as well as required international experiences while a student here. The main downside for the school is that New England winters are truly brutal.

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

Strengths of the program:

Student body, diversity
Brand/Ranking
Facilities

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Finance
Investment Banking
Tech
Entrepreneurship

Can be improved:

Location

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Experience during the program

I had hoped I would find Yale SOM's legendary community as to be as supportive and dynamic as advertised, but I think in the end it has surpassed all expectations. I have met the most amazing people at Yale SOM. The school attracts the type of students that have diverse backgrounds and prospects, and will seek to make an impact in a huge variety if ways.

The cohort structure gives a great starting point for leaping into the community. The integrated curriculum allows all of the professors in the core to be aware of the other things you are learning at any given time, and provides interesting opportunities for them to teach you to view problems through the lens of multiple disciplines. New Haven is a great place to spend 4 years, and contributes to the close-knit community. In your second year, the entire university is open to you, you can take classes at any other schools or programs, allowing you to tailor your experience.

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

Strengths of the program:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Location
Culture & Student Support

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Finance
Tech
Entrepreneurship
Management

Can be improved:

Career Development Office

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Experience during the program

very friendly student body, but infantilizing culture. Finance classes seem great but many employer institutions have not fully bought into that "brand." still strong selection for those interested in non profits and social sector, and I think the school and students are getting better at critically addressing the more difficult, uncomfortable parts of educating leaders for business and SOCIETY. For example, talking up the need for environmental friendliness is easy but what about intersectional discrimination that isn't purposeful but happens every day in the workplace, school, etc? I think this is a hard goal that is both made better and yet hampered by a push for rapid increase in global diversity - this comes with good and bad.

Overall BSchool experience (2.0)
Schools contribution (3.0)
Classmates rating (3.0)

Strengths of the program:

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

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Finance
social sector

Can be improved:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Alumni Network
Brand/Ranking
Culture & Student Support

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Experience during the program

Great experience. Very smart, thoughtful students. Not necessarily the vapid corporate types you find at a lot of business schools. Strong social sector community, but most of the class still ends up in private sector jobs. Consulting, banking, tech, the usual. Strong LGBTQ scene. Highest proportion of self-identified LGBTQ students of all of the top business schools.

SOM is very integrated into the rest of the university as well. You can take classes at law school, environmental science school, health, undergrad. Strong community.

New Haven is okay. Lots of restaurants and bars. I like the being in New Haven forces business school students to be involved and engaged with each other and campus life.

About professors, classes and curriculum

Interpersonal Dynamics is a must. Competitive Strategy with Fiona Scott Morton.

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

Strengths of the program:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Student body, diversity
Facilities

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Finance
Investment Banking
Management
social sector

Can be improved:

Alumni Network
Brand/Ranking

Read More

Experience during the program

Overall a wonderful experience - smart and supportive classmates from all over the world, some great professors, amazing building, access to top firms, integration with the broader Yale community, and a whole lot of fun!! As someone without a prior business background, I mostly enjoyed the integrated core curriculum. In my second year, I have taken a great variety of electives tailored to my interests, including classes at Yale. In the end the program has totally met my goals of meeting great people and pivoting into consulting. II would suggest future applicants consider program and city size when applying to schools - I think these things sometimes are overlooked but we're very important to me!

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

Strengths of the program:

Career opportunities provided by school
Brand/Ranking
Culture & Student Support

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Investment Banking
Tech
Management

Can be improved:

Location

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Experience during the program

Yale SOM has got a great program - being a first year student we've just started our second semester during which we get to choose our first electives, whereas a majority of the classes are still part of the mandatory core. 2-3 months into the program the core classes really begin to connect with one another and one actually gets to understand what the "integrated curriculum" means and how great an experience it is.
The student body is probably the most diverse one could find at any top tier US b-school in that bankers and consultants do not make up the majority of a classroom. We've got peers from all around the globe who've worked in all sorts of positions, functions, and companies. This is great to learn from one another and to seek advice if one has got diverse interests or non-traditional career ambitions. Not so great when one wants to learn superior presentation skills from an ex-consultant and doesn't have one in the learning team.

Overall BSchool experience (4.0)
Schools contribution (3.0)
Classmates rating (4.0)

Strengths of the program:

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

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Management
Social Impact

Can be improved:

Alumni Network
Career opportunities provided by school

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Experience during the program

I would recommend this program - it does a lot to set itself apart from the traditional B-school experience. There's a very strong international focus, both in terms of the student body and in the curriculum. The non-traditional reputation of SOM helps both students and faculty push the envelope in terms of what an "appropriate" business school curriculum should look like, and the overwhelming alignment of students towards "business and society" helps to broaden the discussion beyond consulting and banking.

I came in with a non-traditional background and transitioned into a non-traditional field, so my view on the experience is somewhat different. I didn't find a great deal of support from the career office, and I conducted my internship/job search more or less independently of school resources. However, the Yale brand (and increasingly the SOM brand) were very helpful in opening doors, and I was ultimately able to get my #1 choice!

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (3.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Student body, diversity
Brand/Ranking
Culture & Student Support

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Entrepreneurship

Can be improved:

Career opportunities provided by school
Admissions Team

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Experience during the program

The Yale SOM experience is an all-including experience. You join the SOM community from the first day you set foot on-campus, and immediately you are immersed with your fellow students, the faculty members, and staff. As anything you do, the experience is dependent on how much effort you put into it -- and you'll see that Yale SOM students put their hearts and souls into the school and into the community. I am always amazed at how much everyone cares for each other, helps other students through interview processes, and genuinely cares about each other. My friends (from other business schools and non bschool students) all comment at how "nice" and "grounded" Yale SOM students are and how much they differ from the stereotype of business school in general. I am proud of that. Yale SOM is a special place, and the people make it so.

About professors, classes and curriculum

Faculty is a huge aspect of my SOM experience. They know your names, your background, your interests. They encourage students to take courses regardless of your experience -- they take the time to make sure you're learning what you WANT to learn, what you're interested in ... and give you the opportunity to shape your business experience. And they get to know you outside of class through barbecues at their houses, workouts at the gym, and hanging out at SOM. I think one aspect of what makes SOM special is that everyone realizes each person in Evans Hall and across the Yale campus is a person -- each person has a story to bring and many layers of personality and interests. Together we make up the Yale community and we all want to contribute to that.

About job placement process

The alumni network is amazing. Use it to the best of your advantage during your recruiting process. SOM alums will drop anything to help you.

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

Strengths of the program:

Curriculum, Classes, Professors
Student body, diversity
Alumni Network

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Finance
Marketing
Investment Banking
Tech
Entrepreneurship
Management

Can be improved:

Student body, diversity
Location

Read More