At ISU’s College of Business, full-time students will work side-by-side with “older individuals with families and twenty-plus years of full-time professional experience.” As many as half the attendees are part-time students, juggling the burdens of work, home, and family on top of a challenging body of academics. According to one student, “Coming to school is a quiet break from reality where I get to interact with many diverse and interesting people.” One might think this mix would divide classrooms, but “the atmosphere… promotes interaction amongst all the sections of students,” with both longtime professionals and younger students learning from one another. The small size of ISU’s MBA program means it has “a close-knit student population,” a group of “friendly, helpful” classmates who make sure “the atmosphere is always positive.”
Diversity among the student population extends to the student body’s place of origin. A large portion of the student population “are either international or have a strong inter- national background.” The positive atmosphere extends to this portion of the student body, too. “The students are friendly and there is a shared culture of learning for growth opportunity—professionally and personally—not just to acquire the degree.”
For those whose primary daily responsibilities revolve around school, there is no shortage of things to do when class is over. “There is always something going on over the weekend, especially during the summer,” students enthuse, indicating that “over- all, quality of life is good and a good stress-buster from the hectic study schedules.” Athletics, a wealth of student organizations, and a campus with easily accessible facilities make filling downtime simple.