Embry Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach

Myself: Former international graduate student at Embry-Riddle
Where: Daytona Beach campus
Department: College of Business (COB)
Program of Study: Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Pros:
- Program is aviation-focused. This is reflected in both the content of the courses offered in the MBA program and, in students who mostly share a profound passion for aviation and aerospace.

- Class sizes are generally small when compared to other B-schools (avg. of 20/students per class during the fall and spring semesters).

- Most teachers are passionate about what they teach and several ties/connections to the aviation/aerospace industry (this is perfect for students that want to build their contacts).

- The campus is fairly modern and has decent amenities.
Cons (there are many):

- As an MBA student, you are mixed into the 'pack' of undergraduate students at the College of Business from day one. There are NO: student lounges or office space, computer labs or meeting areas that are dedicated for the use of graduate students at the COB.

- Once you're accepted into the program, there is little to no administrative support for international students. I had to go out of my way to ask about career opportunities at the career center and, most importantly, aside from professor feedback forms that students complete at the end of the semester, not ONCE did anyone actually ask me about my feedback about the program in general. For $40K, it didn't seem like anyone actually cared about what I thought about the program after they received my tuition payment.

- While the MBA program at Embry-Riddle is coveted in the aviation community, it lacks substantial value outside of the aviation and aerospace industry. Look it up. Every single executive from every single airline in the US is alma-mater from either an Ivy League school or another academic institution. Additionally, the MBA program at ERAU is NOT accredited as should any reputable b-school would be.

- Lack of student diversity. Due partly to the recruiting efforts of Dr. Raghavan, almost half of my class was composed of students from India. While you could argue that demand for the ERAU MBA is insatiable in India, the recent spike in Indian students is because of the aforementioned professor's targeted and biased recruiting efforts in that country. While I value student diversity in the classroom, I fear that the student population will become increasingly homogeneous in the future.

- Meaningful graduate student employment is incredibly difficult to obtain. Most jobs offered to graduate students are just that - jobs. Most work options on campus are suited for undergraduate students with little to no work experience.

The exception to this are the few and highly prized Research Assistant positions. However, the gatekeeper for these jobs (Dr. Raghavan) will prevent most qualified applicants from ever having a chance in the application process. Never before have I seen such nepotism in the selection of candidates. If you've been to the COB (College of Business), you would understand what I'm talking about.

In my case, when my application to be a Research Assistant was rejected, I asked Dr. Raghavan for an explanation. He claimed that the successful applicant had a higher GMAT score than I did - even though this criterion (along with many others) was never communicated to me at any point during the hiring process. This led me to believe that the qualifications for this job were tailored to favor certain applicants over others.Recommendation: While the MBA program at Embry-Riddle is worthy of praise within the aviation and aerospace industry, the program's highlighted shortcomings make it an obvious second choice for students that are able to attend more renown business schools with better reputations.