Here is school visit diary by a US student (from Clearadmit) FYI March 27, 2006--I visited Darden in December when I conducted my interview along with about 75 other candidates. Bottom-line: Darden has a beautiful campus with all-new facilities. The Darden School completed its new facilities in time for its 50th anniversary this year. I decided to stay for two nights in the local area, so I could get a feel for the town. The Best Western Cavalier Inn is conveniently located in the heart of the University campus, which is where I stayed. However, there are also rooms available on the Darden grounds - a brand-new facility that houses the candidates of the executive program while they are session. Case Study Method. The school touts its integrated curriculum as an excellent program for developing general managers. Darden publishes many, if not all of the case studies that it teaches. One can draw comparisons to the program at HBS. There is reason behind this as well - the school was created, in large part, to educate southern business leaders who would otherwise attend northern Ivy league programs. (I later received at documentary DVD that discussed the history of the program.) Darden prides itself on maintaining a significantly smaller class size than HBS. This allows each MBA candidate an opportunity to contribute and engage during class discussions. During the first terms, students remain in the same classroom - teachers rotate. The classrooms are basically the same as HBS, just less students. Wireless internet is available, but is shut down once class begins. One thing that I realized during my class visit at Darden is that the effectiveness of the Case Method is a function of two primary variables - the professors who guide the sessions, and the quality of the student body. Having witnessed a class session, I can attest to the quality of the professors within the program. The professor that I talked to noted that even well-renowned scholars do not necessarily fit with the case method. The program appears dedicated to recruiting not only MBA candidates who fit with the case method, but also seeks to ensure its professors are on-board as well. The Dean seems to be committed to building the Darden brand name globally in order to increase the diversity of the student body. All of the students that I met were bright and articulate with the biggest difference being the "personality" of the program. Personality. It is not easy to quantify in a 3-day trip, but I was able to get a good feel for the personality of the program. Hardworking is one attribute that I sensed. Integrity. I saw a student pick up a twenty dollar bill off the ground and turn it over to the clerk at the front desk. It seems like a small thing, but it really solidified my impression of the student body. The school honor code is internalized by its students. There is also a Down to earth mentality with a southern appeal. The "high touch" aspect of the program is comforting for me, since I have a family to also consider. Everyone I met was been engaging and friendly. See the segment below about "First Coffee." Charlottesville. For someone with children, I consider the Charlottesville community the best suited for family life while I pursue an MBA. Just down the street from the Best Western is a strip of restaurants that offers a wide variety of eating options. The Rotunda is truly a must see if you go for a campus visit. There is a small-town feel, but there is plenty of culture. Overall. Darden has great program fundamentals but needs to build its brand - which it is making efforts to do. To get the best students - and thus maximize the potential value of their case method program - they will need to sell their brand more effectively. This will take some time, but they are using fellowships and scholarships to compete for talent. I came away believing that Darden offers a unique educational opportunity which is not necessarily suited for everyone. The same can be said for any program. However, I came away with the belief that I would achieve my career goals if I happened to choose this program. I also came away with the impression that the program is on an upward track. They recently became more of a "private" institution, where they are not reliant on University funds to operate. The school's endowment fund is one of the largest per student. Darden's grounds are truly of the quality of a top 10 institution. Given the wonderful community of Charlottesville, it is no wonder why so many great professors choose to teach there and make it home. |