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eazyb81
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Most Rigorous B-Schools 13 Feb 2007, 09:47
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What programs are generally considered to be the most rigorous, i.e. have the highest workload?

I've always thought MIT and CMU offered grueling programs, but i'm not sure if that is correct. I have also heard Darden's workload is ridiculous, but that might have been based on the exaggeration of a current student.

Conversely, what well-known programs have the lightest workload?
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batchgmat
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Most Rigorous B-Schools 13 Feb 2007, 09:52
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I have heard Darden, too.
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yb
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Most Rigorous B-Schools 13 Feb 2007, 09:53
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I would say GSB is up there. Don't know about the lighest workload. University of Phoenix Online :) ?
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yb
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Most Rigorous B-Schools 13 Feb 2007, 09:54
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Oh yes.. definitely Darden!
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eazyb81
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Most Rigorous B-Schools 13 Feb 2007, 09:57
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Would it be correct to assume that non-disclosure schools tend to have a lighter workload since it takes out the stress of attaining a particular grade?
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Most Rigorous B-Schools 13 Feb 2007, 10:08
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Cocerning that upcoming first semester, they're probably all equally demanding.
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eazyb81
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Most Rigorous B-Schools 13 Feb 2007, 10:35
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GMATT73
Cocerning that upcoming first semester, they're probably all equally demanding.
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Of course they will all be demanding, but i'm sure certain programs are a bit more demanding than others.
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Most Rigorous B-Schools 13 Feb 2007, 10:59
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I don't give a damn. Work is damn hard. No academic experience has ever approached real work. Bring it on... school is always better than working!
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rhyme
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Most Rigorous B-Schools 13 Feb 2007, 11:06
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Darden.

I talked to an alumni who came from IB and he said "I thought I'd be working on my golf game. I figured that coming from IB it would be a breeze. Frankly, it was worse."

Another alumni I talked to said "I don't recommend you go to Darden if you are married. It's horrible on relationships."
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Most Rigorous B-Schools 13 Feb 2007, 11:08
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Wow... what little gmatclub feels is a bad word.
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pelihu
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Most Rigorous B-Schools 13 Feb 2007, 11:25
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Darden certainly has a reputation for working hard. On the other hand, they had absolutely the more engaged and positive alumni base (in San Francisco) of any school that I visited with. They were able to bring together, if I recall, about 20 alumni to meet with 30 perspective students and all seemed to really value their experience.

This was in stark contrast to say, UCLA which was only able to must 3 alumni (one who showed up late) to meet a group of 100 applicants. Maybe UCLA gets plenty of applications from the Bay Area no matter what they do (I certainly applied anyways), but it really felt like they didn't give a damn at the info session.

I dropped MIT from my list because I was scared that it might be really demanding. I don't know if this is true, or if it is just an idea I formed on my own.

I have heard that the pre-term session at Wharton is killer for those with suspect math skills. Of course, this isn't for a grade, but they work you to death.
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Most Rigorous B-Schools 13 Feb 2007, 11:34
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Mark4124
Wow... what little gmatclub feels is a bad word.
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Yea... I always thought the filter was too strict.
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Xeo78
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Most Rigorous B-Schools 13 Feb 2007, 12:08
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eazyb81
What programs are generally considered to be the most rigorous, i.e. have the highest workload?

I've always thought MIT and CMU offered grueling programs, but i'm not sure if that is correct. I have also heard Darden's workload is ridiculous, but that might have been based on the exaggeration of a current student.

Conversely, what well-known programs have the lightest workload?
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I hear Georgetown has a rigorous load as well.
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died4me
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Most Rigorous B-Schools 13 Feb 2007, 12:14
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I like it that way.
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Mark4124
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Most Rigorous B-Schools 13 Feb 2007, 12:17
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Is MIT really so bad? The class I sat in when I went to visit was awesome. Looked like a great experience... didn't appear as though it was torture and everyone seemed fairly happy.
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eazyb81
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Most Rigorous B-Schools 13 Feb 2007, 12:18
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Mark4124
Is MIT really so bad? The class I sat in when I went to visit was awesome. Looked like a great experience... didn't appear as though it was torture and everyone seemed fairly happy.
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No idea, that's just the vibe I get from the quant-focused schools like MIT and CMU.
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Most Rigorous B-Schools 13 Feb 2007, 13:06
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I keep hearing UCLA is very rigorous and that students are very competitive. Frankly, I was a little surprised considering the location and the "easy going" attitude of the undergraduate program and the locale in general.

They do have the highest rated intellectual capital and one of the highest avg gpa's I've ever seen (3.6).
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Most Rigorous B-Schools 13 Feb 2007, 13:29
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Yeah, I have heard that too. The students keep talking about "Work Hard, Play Hard". Hmmm...Fuqua, here I come. I like the "Play Hard" part better.

agsfaltex
I keep hearing UCLA is very rigorous and that students are very competitive. Frankly, I was a little surprised considering the location and the "easy going" attitude of the undergraduate program and the locale in general.

They do have the highest rated intellectual capital and one of the highest avg gpa's I've ever seen (3.6).
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Most Rigorous B-Schools 30 Nov 2021, 00:45
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