KiwiCandidate wrote:
The first and second year students told me that the CORE is difficult but manageable. Many of the students emphasized that effective time management was the way they got through successfully. Professors give you more work than you can possibly complete and you have to manage your time between schoolwork, networking events, student clubs, and recruiting. You have to pick and choose what is more important to you.
Throughout the CORE you will be placed in teams of 4-5, with each person coming from a different background. The CORE consists of 8 courses but they are spread out through the first 15 weeks and start and stop at different times. Some of the courses are completely case study based while others will consists of traditional lectures. There is a week off in the middle, which is known as academy week, when students travel to companies and firms in relation to their majors (Midwest, NYC, Silicon Valley). At the end of the CORE you only receive a single grade.
The positive of front-loading these core courses at the beginning of the MBA, is that for the last 3 semesters of the MBA is mostly electives.
I would also recommend researching the academies at Kelley. They appear to be very unique and something that prepares students very well for internships.
Do you have any details about academy? what exactly student do? How do they prepare students? what activities?