Bentley University vs. Babson College... Which should I choose?

[Bonza]

This is an easy one. Go to Babson, it is the better known and better respected school. Oowning the #1 spot in Entrepreneurial MBA for something like 2 decades straight means people who follow rankings will be very familiar with the school. Babson also recently popped up in the WSJ as the hottest school that Wall Street is hiring from.

Ofcourse, make sure you visit both schools to see where you feel most comfortable.

[globalchandler]

Point of Information: MBA programs match against MBA programs and Undergrad against Undergrad. I'll try not to be biased as a Bentley grad. Yes Bentley's MBA doesn't match against Babson's. But in terms of undergrad they're one in the same and both very high caliber. All my friends have jobs. Alot of them are with the Big 4 accounting firms and in "top notch" financial services companies. No, they're not well known outside of Boston, but in Boston they're both a big deal.Both have great campuses (I would say Babson's is nicer). Bentley has great study abroad programs (i spent a fall in Hong Kong). Bentley's proximity and regular service to Harvard square is an important factor. There are plenty of bars in waltham and even an on campus pub. But don't try either if you don't have an id. But there's no need to leave campus to drink anyways.The biggest factor you should check into is how many undergrads at each school get internships while they're in school. That's the best way for undergrads to get a first job: through demonstrated acheivement and leadership.

[nate14ri]

I went to Bentley, graduated in 07. I received an excellent education in finance and economics. The professors, courses and advisors I had were all very good. Also, Bentley's accounting program is one of the best in the country. Bentley's resources (library, classrooms, trading floor) are first rate. Athletics and extracurriculars I feel are stronger than Babsons. Bentley's student body is also twice the size of Babsons, which I feel is very important in your final decision.

Babson is based on its core entrepreneurial program which is very good. But that is only if you want to open your own business. Also, Babson is known for its notorious first year coarse load. Many freshman are completely overwhelmed with the amount of work required during the first year at Babson and many transfer out.

But the best way is to spend some time on both campuses and get a feel. talk to students and understand the school vibe. Thats what I did and how I chose Bentley over Babson. But to each thier own.

[cnothing]

Couple of things to point out. I can't speak for Bentley, but Babson's business education is absolutely top notch. Liberal arts there are a joke (whoever made that comment doesn't know what they're talking about), but your first two years at Babson are brutal with a lot of project work and more writing/public speaking than most people can handle.

Babson's undergraduate program is strongest in strategic management (3rd in the country) and entrepreneurship (1st in the country). Almost all of the professors are practitioners - there are very few career academics. Don't worry about the differences between their undergraduate program and their MBA program as they are essentially one in the same with the same professors and overall course structure (minus FME/OEM for the MBA program). Also, Babson's finance program is or was stronger than Bentley's before the banking crisis thanks to solid alumni connections... at a lot of top bulge brackets that no longer exist (Lehman and Bear Stearns come to mind). That being said, Bentley gets the nod in accounting and economics, and I have been told that they have a pretty strong marketing program as well, although I cannot verify this.

I'm obviously biased, but Babson has the better national reputation. To each his own, but I think it would be foolish to pick a regional accounting school over the best independent business program in the country. Don't know if I would go with it over Wharton, but in this case it's the obvious pick.