Best MBA Internship Opportunities in the Northeast
There’s no doubt that summer internships play a critical role in an MBA student’s education and career. Not only do internships provide students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the workforce, but they’re also known for helping students develop professional connections and earn top-tier salaries.
But not all internships are made equal, especially for talented business school prospects. For example, working at Apple would likely have a very different effect on an MBA’s resume than working for a small, unknown startup company down the street. And if you’re looking at the top cities across the U.S. where companies actively recruit talent, you can’t go wrong with Boston, New York City, or Philadelphia for your location. But which is the best?
In this article, we highlight the top internship destinations in each city along with the top two schools in each area that will get you where you want. Continue reading…
Penn State Sustainability Efforts Continue with $100,000 Gift
Penn State Smeal College of Business alum Robert Davidow and his wife Suzanne Davidow gifted the school with $100,000 to increase the school’s sustainability efforts, yielding the inception of the Davidows Sustainability Fund.
“The world is becoming more focused on conserving the environment and Smeal has recognized this trend and integrated it into its studies. Business fundamentals are of paramount importance for today’s students, but when you combine that with sustainability, you can have a powerful social impact,” Rob Davidow said. “It’s important for the University to encourage and teach sustainable business practices and I am excited to watch Smeal collaborate with other departments at Penn State to develop unique strategies to the business challenges arising from growing a populace.”
The Smeal College of Business has an impressive track record with sustainability. In fact, even the Smeal building is environmentally-friendly, having received LEED-EB (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-Existing Building) gold-level certification. Smeal was also among to first business schools to create an actionable sustainability plan. As a Smeal graduate, Rob Davidow was no stranger to these efforts.
Rob and Suzanne have channeled their philanthropy toward other environmental consciousness efforts as well. They have invested in the Israeli university, The Technion, in order to allow the school to help Israel become water-efficient.
“Rob and Suzanne have been passionate advocates for solutions to some of the most critical global sustainability challenges, with a particular interest in water insecurity. This generous new commitment will extend their legacy of support for these critical issues,” said senior director of development and alumni relations Michelle Houser.
“I hope Rob and Suzanne’s generosity inspires other Smeal alumni to consider how they too can impact the world through philanthropy,” Houser said.
Rob Davidow graduated from Smeal in 1964, and his commitment to giving back to the institution and the world will certainly secure a distinguished legacy for the private investor.
Smeal Alum Kimberlee MacMullan Named Penn State SBDC Director
Earlier this month, it was announced by the Smeall College of Business at Penn State University that Kimberlee MacMullan will be taking over as Director for the Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Though MacM
Kimberlee MacMullan/Photo via Penn State.
ullan’s job at Penn State is a long way from her previous position on the other side of the country, where she served as CEO for the Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Bureau, she is no stranger to the Philadelphia metro. In fact, MacMullan earned her bachelors degree in Marketing at Penn State’s Smeal College of Business, and went on to pursue her MBA at the Villanova School of Business.
The SBDC is a resource wherein students and community members can take advantage of one-on-one confidential business consulting and seminars at any stage of their business’s development. The center is located in State College, in central PA. After the announcement, MacMullan spoke enthusiastically about her ambitions for the SBDC.
“We have the talent and expertise to provide cutting-edge guidance to business owners, regardless of the industry,” MacMullan said. “My goal for the Penn State SBDC is to ensure we deliver that expertise in a consistent manner and continue to expand education and engagement with the community. I love vesting in someone’s effort when they are motivated, determined, and focused, and part of our job is to enable those traits in the potential entrepreneurs seeking out resources.”
MacMullan brings over 20 years of experience in executive roles and business planning to her position at the SBDC. Her experience includes working at DIRECTV and various film studios in Los Angeles, as well as consulting for Villanova’s SBDC.
“SBDCs are strong supporters of business growth and development and we are proud to have an experienced professional such as Ms. MacMullan join our program,” said Christian Conroy, Pennsylvania SBDC State Director.
Gain a Global Edge with These Philadelphia International Business MBAs
Every day, it becomes easier and easier to make connections across the world, building a global network of business and resources that can help to benefit the world. Due to an increasingly global economy, possessing a deep knowledge and understanding of the way global markets work can be a crucial part of building a business career. There is almost no limit to the types of opportunities an education in global business will provide: from working in the fields of international trade, global business operations or planning or industrial development, and being employed by international agencies, non-profit organizations, governmental, or both public and private corporations.
According to Michigan State program globalEDGE, “demand continues to grow for individuals who understand the global context of business: from the logistics of international trade and cross-border investments to the cultural and ethical issues that are imbued in the practice of business around the world. By studying international business, you will learn about world cultures and societies, and be challenged to approach issues from different perspectives.”
In choosing to study international business in the Philadelphia metro area, aspiring business leaders can center themselves in a growing market at the center of United States history and global trade. We’ve rounded up some of the area’s top MBA programs that offer a concentration in international business, allowing students to gain specific knowledge and skills to make an impact in the global economy.
Fox School of Business – Temple University
Consistently rated one of the top business schools in the country, the Fox School of Business at Temple University offers students a number of opportunities to gain skills and earn a degree in the field of global business. The Global MBA program, based in Philadelphia, is taught by world renowned faculty and is designed to provide an experiential education in international economics, with live consulting, internship and professional development opportunities. Additional programs like the MBA from Temple University Japan in Tokyo and the EMBA at Temple University Paris offer further opportunities for students to gain a hands-on global experience with a strong business background.
Lerner College – University of Delaware
The MBA at University of Delaware’s Lerner College of Business gives students the opportunity to concentrate in international business, providing the solid business background they will need to effectively conduct business in a global environment. In addition to U.S. citizens looking to expand their knowledge in international business and help their organizations to expand overseas, many students in the Lerner MBA program are international, returning home with a deep understanding of U.S. customs and the ability to navigate business across borders.
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Rutgers School of Business, Camden
Students interested in concentrating in International Business and Operations can do so at the Rutgers School of Business by pursuing a number of electives in the field. Students can take a number of electives in the fields of International Business and Operations Management to complete the concentration, including courses like: International Management, Global Operations Information Technology, Global Marketing Strategy, and International Study Abroad in countries such as South Africa, France, and Brazil.
Smeal College of Business – Penn State
While the Smeal College of Business at Penn State does not directly offer a concentration or major in international business, it is an available as an option. At Smeal, options constitute a briefer but still targeted study within a particular area, allowing students to gain a deeper education in Global Business while still receiving the more general education of an MBA.
The Wharton School – University of Pennsylvania
The Wharton School at UPenn, well-known as one of the top business schools in the world, provides students the opportunity to pursue a joint MBA/MA in International Studies. The MBA/MA Lauder Joint-Degree provides students a range of resources and educational experiences in global business, such as the Global Knowledge Lab, which involves students working together as a team to produce a thorough research paper/master’s thesis. The program also includes two short global immersions and an optional ten-day trek called Culture Quest, organized completely by students in the program. The six areas of concentration students may choose to specialize in include: Africa, East and Southeast Asia, Europe, Latin America, South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa.
How Philadelphia MBA Programs Help Lower-Income Applicants
Compared to Philly’s east coast metropolitan peers, its cost of living is laughably low. Additionally, Philly has all of the advantages of being located smack dab between DC and NYC. Although Wall Street has long since displaced Philly as the American center for banking, much of that infrastructure and tradition remain, which helps Philly maintain its status as a major economic powerhouse in the 21st century.
Since, according to Philly Mag, Philadelphia has one of the fastest growing millennial populations in the country, the city has creativity and energy that permeates every sector. All of these factors make Philly the perfect place to launch a career.
For low-income students looking to pursue an MBA in Philly, we’ve compiled a list of what some of Philly metro’s top schools are doing to help students fund their higher education.
Fox School of Business — Temple University
The Fox School of Business at Temple University has a variety of options for students looking to finance their MBA. In fact, according to the school’s website, 60 percent of first-year Temple students receive need-based aid each year. On average, first year students receiving need-based aid are awarded $15,000 toward tuition. Fox carefully assesses the applications of all incoming students, and the school distributes merit-based scholarships for those who demonstrate particular promise. There are also specific financial perks for Temple alumni coming into the MBA program. These students are not required to pay an application fee and receive a five percent tuition scholarship.
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Lehigh University College of Business and Economics
The Lehigh University College of Business and Economics provides a some merit-based scholarships to helps students fund their education. Awards are determined by the Committee on Financial aid. The committee considers an applicant’s undergraduate record, test scores, and work experience. Scholarships include the Dean’s Scholar, which offers extremely promising students a full ride plus a $10,000 living stipend.
Lehigh also has a number of Director’s Scholars, who may receive awards anywhere from $5,00 to full tuition. Lehigh offers many other scholarships in addition to need-based financial aid specific that varies depending on the MBA track.
LeBow College of Business — Drexel University
When considering Philly Metro MBA programs that provide resources for low-income applicants, it would be remiss not to mention Drexel’s LeBow College of Business. At LeBow, an impressive 82 percent of full-time MBAs get aid that amounts to 62 percent of tuition. Additionally, nearly 70 percent of full-time students benefit from grants that covered about one fifth their tuition. Drexel also offers merit-based scholarships. Additionally, the school offers the URM Scholarship, which offers supplemental fiscal gifts to underrepresented minority students.
Smeal College of Business — Penn State University
Penn State’s Smeal College of Business has a large number of MBA alumni-funded scholarships that are awarded based on academic achievement, work history, and how well students fit into the Smeal program. Around 20 percent of incoming students receive $5-10,000 awards. There are fellowships for specific groups of students, including the Powerful Women Paving the Way Fellowship which is awarded to promising women, and the Maimuna Mijindadi Anyone Memorial Fellowship, for students of Nigerian descent.
The Wharton School — University of Pennsylvania
Students who apply to Wharton are automatically considered for fellowships that offer some level of financial support. Students also have the option of applying to any of over 700 external fellowship programs. Wharton students can also apply for private or federal loans.
The Ivy League business school offers a litany of scholarship opportunities for incoming and current students, from the American Association of University Women, to the Instituto Ling Scholarship Program for international applicants, among others.
Additionally, Wharton hosts a positively booming array of fellowship opportunities, including some of MetroMBA’s favorites, like the Forte Fellowships program and the Reaching Out LGBT MBA Fellowship.
For more information on Wharton’s many financial assistance opportunities, click here.
Penn State BOSS Program Honors A Decade of Promoting Diversity
Penn State’s Smeal College of Business recently celebrated the ten year anniversary of its BOSS program. BOSS (Business Opportunities Summer Session), organized by the Smeal College of Business Office of Diversity Enhancement Programs, lasts two weeks each summer, and is specifically designed for business-minded high schoolers from underrepresented populations to gain exposure to college life.
Jamie Campbell, Assistant Dean for Diversity Enhancement Programs, said, “BOSS is designed to show students that no matter your color, creed, or socio-eceonomic background, there is a support system at Smeal that will enable a student to reach their very best.” Campbell went on to say that, “During these two weeks, students are given a crash course on what it means to be a Smeal student. BOSS engages the cohort in everything from accounting to the Smeal honor code.”
According to Campbell, industries and schools are coming around to the fact that having including people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives is essential to success in business. Students in the program have the chance to take college prep courses, taught by Penn State faculty, that help them gain an understanding of fundamental business principles. Participants spend the two weeks living on Penn State’s University Park campus located in Happy Valley.
Over the past decade, the BOSS program has inspired many successful students. Close to 200 students have attended the program, and over 60 percent of which have gone on to apply to Penn State. Of the BOSS graduates who have applied to Penn State, 91 percent have been accepted.
Diag Davenport, one of the program’s earliest participants spoke highly of his time there, saying, “I left Penn State fully energized to study business and I was certain that Smeal was the right place for me to do so. I saw that BOSS was the bridge between my ambition to succeed and the opportunity to make it happen.”
