The University of Georgia can seem daunting from a distance. With nearly 40,000 total students, it is the largest university in the entire state, with over 400 buildings attached to its name spread across 30 Georgia counties. The university offers an impressive 140 degrees from its 17 constituent schools, including the C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry College of Business, located on the main campus in Athens. Because of this, one may expect the size its MBA classes to be quite intimidating. But despite the grand scope of UGA, Terry MBA students have an intimate setting and an even more surprising bonus: extensive affordability.
Tuition for in-state full-time MBA students at the Terry College of Business starts at a comfortable $13,404 per year, while non-Georgia residents pay $32,112 per year. Compared to the tuition costs of some of the state’s other well-known universities, such as Emory ($124,000 for the entire two-year MBA), the price tag is relatively paltry. In fact, the Terry College of Business full-time MBA program is one of only five in the U.S. News & World Report top 50-ranked business schools that offers yearly in-state tuition under $15,000.
Alongside the impressive affordability, UGA Terry MBAs boast some eye-popping career statistics. Roughly 90 percent of the Class of 2018 was employed within just three months of graduation, reporting an average starting salary of $90,250 and an average signing bonus $14,214. When factoring in the meager tuition rates, it becomes readily apparent that the Terry MBA is one of the best returns on investment not just in Georgia, but in the U.S. as a whole.
But what kind of students make up the UGA Terry College of Business MBA Class? On the surface, the statistics may seem familiar. Just over 100 students are currently enrolled in the business school’s full-time MBA program, with nearly 66 percent male students and 34 percent female students. Those enrolled in the program boast an average GMAT score of 665 with a relatively high undergraduate GPA of 3.53. The vast majority of students in the class come from Georgia at 50 percent, while 25 percent of students are of international status. However, statistics like these could hardly tell the rich and complex stories of each individual student enrolled at UGA Terry.
To get a greater understanding of what it means to be a UGA Terry MBA, we spoke with several current students, including a former Army intelligence officer, a Fulbright recipient, and a Minneapolis marketing guru, alongside many other promising future grads. Read on to see their stories and what the future may hold for life after an MBA.
Rob Vendley, UGA Terry MBA
Age: 30
Hometown: Davidson, NC
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Five and a half years as an Army intelligence officer.
Why business school? Why now? I was looking to switch careers but didn’t have a business background, so an MBA was the next logical step.
Why the University of Georgia’s MBA program? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? After getting my undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University, I knew that I wanted to attend a large, public university for my MBA, but I still preferred that “small school” feel. UGA offered the perfect blend of a small cohort with first tier athletics and a massive alumni base. I also looked at common metrics such as ranking (currently #40), ROI (currently #6), and cost (around $13,400 per year). But more than any single metric, it was UGA’s personal touch that led me to my decision to accept. I was deployed to Northern Iraq during the entire application process, and the Terry admissions team went out of its way to work with me, which had a profound impact on my decision.
Rob Vendley, UGA Terry MBA
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to your MBA class? Having worked with and led several diverse teams in the Army, often in austere environments, I’ve learned how to efficiently operate in a team setting.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? I was in a rock band in high school—I’m pretty sure our Myspace still exists …
Post-MBA career interests? I will be working for Bank of America in the Consumer Banking Associate Program, focusing on Product and Strategy.
Advice to Prospective MBA Applicants
One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? Start early. Ask yourself what matters most to you (location/region, size, cost, concentrations, etc.) and then narrow it down from there.
One thing you would change or do differently? Campus visits are key—I did not get the chance to visit UGA before applying (due to a military deployment), but it would have absolutely helped me in my decision making—I just lucked out that UGA’s campus is beautiful and the Terry College of Business is nearing the completion of an incredible new Learning Community.
Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? Like a lot of prospective MBA candidates, I probably spent way too much time scrutinizing a single word here or there on my application essays.
Greatest highlight so far at Terry/Georgia? Winning the Rose Bowl in double overtime and watching the Dawgs compete for the National Championship.
One thing about Terry/Georgia that you didn’t expect before arriving? How close I would become with my classmates. Everyone goes out of their way to help each other. I’ve made so many lifelong friends during my time at Terry, and I couldn’t be happier with the program.
Thing you were most anxious about in your first year? As a political science major in undergrad, I was very nervous about making it through the quant-heavy first semester. This fear quickly came to pass—Terry prepared me during the summer before beginning the program, and my classmates and professors went out of their way to help in any way that they could. Math isn’t scary anymore!
Thing you were most excited about in your first year? Getting to know my classmates and enjoying time in “The Classic City” of Athens, GA. Also Georgia football in Sanford Stadium—it’s an experience unlike anything else.
Zach Godfrey, UGA Terry MBA
Age: 29
Hometown: Canton, Georgia
Pre-MBA Work Experience: I spent 1.5 years managing the websites and social media of an e-commerce coffee company, and then spent 4.5 years with Hewlett-Packard/HPE in operations and marketing roles.
Why business school? Why now? I have an undergraduate degree in history, so I felt like I needed to enhance my business skills if I wanted to accelerate my career in the business world. Additionally, I had become very interested in how business can be a force for good, and I wanted to obtain the business skills necessary to be a leader in this growing space.
Why the University of Georgia’s MBA program? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? I chose Georgia because of the collaborative and friendly culture, the community-minded businesses in Athens, and the small class sizes. The school’s relationship with local, state, and regional businesses was also a key factor.
Zach Godfrey, UGA Terry MBA
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to your MBA class? My focus on purpose-driven leadership, social impact, and building better businesses has been my key contribution. I’ve helped the class and MBA program understand the social impact sector and adapt the program for the future of business.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? I’m a huge nerd, with a love for Star Wars in particular.
Post-MBA career interests? I’m committed to “Building Better Businesses for a Better South” and am pursuing a career where I can be recognized as a thought leader in the social enterprise sector in the South.
Advice to Prospective MBA Applicants
One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? Talk to current students in the program that share your interests. It’s important to understand if those students feel empowered to pursue the interests and careers they’re passionate about.
One thing you would change or do differently? I would develop a better understanding of which companies typically recruit and/or hire out of the program. While the MBA skillset can help you open doors to many careers, it’s much easier when your program has existing relationships that can be leveraged.
Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? The GMAT was by far the most time-consuming piece of the admissions process for me, but re-framing the hours of studying and practice as preparation for grad school helped me get through it. It helped me get back into the school mindset.
Greatest highlight so far at Terry/Georgia? I have plenty, but participating in the MBA program’s spring break trip to Peru was one of the greatest highlights. Getting to see Machu Picchu for the first time was an incredible experience!
One thing about Terry/Georgia that you didn’t expect before arriving? I did not expect the first semester to be as challenging as it was.
Thing you were most anxious about in your first year? I was anxious that my lack of formal business training in things like accounting and finance would force me to play catch-up to the rest of the class. Fortunately, that anxiety was largely baseless.
Thing you were most excited about in your first year? I was most excited to make new friends and really figure out how to pursue a career that aligned my skills with my interests. The Georgia MBA program has empowered me to pursue a career that brings these together.
Miller Radford, UGA Terry MBA
Age: 26
Hometown: Greensboro, NC
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Prior to perusing my MBA, I completed the Fulbright Grant in Kota Belud, Malaysia. Upon returning to the U.S., I worked for ex-baseball player Kris Benson as a business management analyst, which eventually led me to begin flipping single-family homes in Atlanta.
Why business school? Why now? As I flipped homes, my love and appetite for real estate grew exponentially. My interest and desire to be involved in grand projects exceeded my capacity as an individual in the private sector, so I looked to business school for preparation in top-tier recruitment.
Why the University of Georgia’s MBA program? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? The University of Georgia is highly regarded in real estate communities, particularly in the Southeast. Several alumni dominate the asset and space markets, and it was no surprise that such a trend is attributed to the level of sophistication and nuance taught in the real estate courses.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to your MBA class? I am continuing to invest in my entrepreneurial venture while in school, and I feel that it’s crucial for students like myself to not only embrace, but also live the entrepreneurial spirit fostered by the program.
Miller Radford, UGA Terry MBA
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? Three real estate mentors, each of whom own multi-million dollar portfolios, pushed me to specifically apply for the MBA at UGA before I seriously considered entering the program.
Post-MBA career interests? My plan is to advance within real estate private equity asset management while specializing in the execution of value-add strategies for urban, adaptive re-purposed assets.
Advice to Prospective MBA Applicants
One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? I examined the geographical proximity between my school and target firms. I am certain that being near Atlanta and remaining familiar with my firms’ flagship properties allowed me to achieve my goal when recruiting.
One thing you would change or do differently? I would have made a greater effort learning how the MBA program leverages its relationships with other masters and Ph.D. programs, so I could strategically involve myself in other, non-MBA networking opportunities.
Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? I cannot honestly say there is a part I would skip. Each step in the process is designed to familiarize yourself with what is arguably the most impactful decision made within the two-year period.
Greatest highlight so far at Terry/Georgia? Staff members become friends and family quickly, and with that comes a level of trust that would make anyone immensely grateful. It was through the trust developed each and every week that I have met and now work alongside successful alumni I admire.
One thing about Terry/Georgia that you didn’t expect before arriving? I never expected the degree to which the career management and services are personalized. Directors and staff members often approach me with information regarding opportunities and industry-related events that I, myself, have not discovered.
Thing you were most anxious about in your first year? Whether the group of men and women I would share two intimate years with would be cohesive led to pre-MBA anxiety; however, any anxiety was quickly erased upon meeting my classmates who have become some of my dearest friends.
Thing you were most excited about in your first year? Diving deep into quantitative skill-building that would have been far more challenging self-taught is what I was most excited about.
Kuhoo Shukla, UGA Terry MBA
Age: 27
Hometown: New Delhi, India.
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Prior to starting my MBA, I worked as a Business-IT consultant for Deutsche Bank in the portfolio management space. I was a part of the Credit Risk Division and managed customer acquisitions.
Why business school? Why now? While working as a business consultant for Deutsche Bank, I got the opportunity to work on a lot of challenging business problems. Although I learnt a lot in that role, I felt I needed formal business education to refine my skills and be successful in the future.
Why the University of Georgia’s MBA program? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? University of Georgia’s MBA has one of the most sought-after Full-Time MBA programs. Its US news rankings had been rising steadily and it was offering me the perfect blend of courses that I needed to move my career forward. Flexibility to choose multiple concentrations, small class size, MBA rankings, and a liberal merit-based scholarship and assistantship played a very heavy role in my decision to join this program.
Kuhoo Shukla, UGA Terry MBA
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to your MBA class? A unique Asian perspective.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? I am a trained Indian Classical Dancer.
Post-MBA career interests? Move into an Operations Management and Supply Chain Analytics.
Advice to Prospective MBA Applicants
One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? I really enjoyed writing the application essays. It enabled me to communicate my motivation for an MBA to admission officers.
One thing you would change or do differently? Nothing
Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? Before starting my MBA, I was not a very articulate speaker, so I was nervous about the video interview and would’ve skipped that if I could. I’m glad I didn’t because it forced me to work on my weakness and convert it into a strength.
Greatest highlight so far at Terry/Georgia? Personalized attention and support from the faculty and career management staff!
Their unrelenting guidance to help you network right, practice mock interviews and pitches, and career counseling really helped me realize my professional and personal value.
One thing about Terry/Georgia that you didn’t expect before arriving? As an international student, I had no idea what a big deal college football is. To come to the U.S. and witness our bulldog team storm into the finals was one of the most invigorating moments last year. I can finally say I understand the game and all the (justifiable) madness around it. Go dawgs!
Thing you were most anxious about in your first year? Courses I hadn’t taken in my undergrad such as accounting, finance, marketing. Most were new for me, so I really struggled in the first few months to establish a strong foothold. To top it off, we were also busy networking with prospective employers, applying to jobs and attending career expos to land the right internship. So, it was a very busy first year for all of us but all the and hard work and patience eventually paid off!
Thing you were most excited about in your first year? I was excited about meeting my new classmates who come from very diverse business cultures and work across multiple disciplines such as healthcare, real estate, and even B-Corp. I feel fortunate to share space with such an amazing bunch of people who not only exposed me to life in America, the culture and the corporate world, but also helped me grow personally and build a stronger network.
Ali Probst, UGA Terry MBA
Age: 28
Hometown: Appleton, WI
Pre-MBA Work Experience: I worked at Thrivent Financial in Minneapolis, MN for five years in Marketing and Innovation & Development roles.
Why business school? Why now? I knew before business school that my ultimate career goal was to be a Brand Manager at a large Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) company. Attending a top 50 full-time MBA program was the best way to get a shot at landing my dream job.
Why the University of Georgia’s MBA program? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? I went on campus visits to seven different schools. When I stepped on campus at Georgia and saw the brand-new Business Learning Community I was instantly interested. I then met the Career Management staff, a few professors and students and even sat in on a class. I couldn’t believe how welcoming the staff and current students were to a prospective student and it really came down to a gut feeling of “I can see myself here for two years, and I’ll have the support I need to achieve my career goals.” Receiving a full scholarship and Graduate Assistantship sealed the deal.
Ali Probst, UGA Terry MBA
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to your MBA class? I think I offer a unique perspective in classroom discussions and group projects having a strong Innovation & Development background and work experience in an Agile team environment.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? I’m a die-hard Green Bay Packers fan and grew up going to games and training camp every year.
Post-MBA career interests? I’ve been focused on obtaining a career in brand management from the second I stepped foot on campus. I’ve recently accepted a position as an Associate Brand Manager at E&J Gallo in Modesto, CA and couldn’t be more excited.
Advice to Prospective MBA Applicants
One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? Research multiple MBA programs and go on campus visits to get the look and feel of each one.
One thing you would change or do differently? I can’t think of anything … no regrets!
Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? Taking the GMAT and the GRE. Keeping the end goal in mind.
Greatest highlight so far at Terry/Georgia?
A) Professionally: Doing well at the National Black MBA Association career conference. I’m very thankful for the 1:1 attention I was given by our Career Management Center to get me prepared and ready to interview within the first two months of my first year of business school.
B) Socially: The Georgia football MBA tailgates in the fall. Go Dawgs!
One thing about Terry/Georgia that you didn’t expect before arriving? I didn’t anticipate how close-knit our class would be. When you ask for help with a certain class that may not be your strong suit and you have multiple classmates willing to sit down with you, form study groups, or work through problems with you, it’s a really cool, supportive feeling. I’ve made lifelong friends at Georgia and am so thankful for it.
Thing you were most anxious about in your first year? Attending the National Black MBA Association career conference in Philadelphia, PA.
Thing you were most excited about in your first year? Receiving an offer for a brand management internship at E&J Gallo in October, followed by the anticipation and excitement of actually going out to California and working in the wine & spirits category all summer.