This is a really tough question to answer. For all intents and purposes, ALL MBA programs are known for strong alumni connections. One of the reasons is that one reason to go to business school is to build a strong network.

That said, you're still asking a very good question. How can I use my choice of business school to maximize the utility of my post-MBA network? That is a very good question and the reason that it is a good question is that not all networks are created equal for all people.

Here's why.

GEOGRAPHY:

Business schools (even "global" business schools) are still very regional. If you to go UCLA your network is, in large measure, going to be on the West Coast. If you go to Harvard, it will mainly be on the East Coast. If you go to INSEAD, it will mainly be in Europe. Are there exceptions? Of course there are. But, in the main, the great bulk of your network will be in the region where you go to business school.

So...go to business school where you want your network to be, usually where you intend to live for either the first chunk of your career or the proverbial rest of your live.


SIZE:

Some schools are bigger than others. If you want your network to be built around a close cohort of people that you really know, go to a smaller school or a school that places you in a group. If you want your network to be built more around the name of the school, go to a bigger school.


SPECIALIZATION:

Most top business schools are at least okay in all functional areas, many are outstanding in several functional areas. But, in general, a plurality of students from a given school are generally going to go into one function more than others year after year. So...if you want a marketing network, go to Northwestern. If you want a finance network, go to Columbia or NYU or Wharton. If you want an entrepeneurship network, go to UCLA (which is also good in finance and lots of other thinsgt) or Babson or Berkeley.


Some magazines and newspapers try to measure "alumni loyalty" through giving, etc. Ignore those. You can generally count on a strong alumni support from any decent business school. Focus on my three items above and I think you'll do much better.

Finally, though I suspect you know this, an alumni network is by NO means the only criterion you should use for choosing a business school. If you need help on that point, let me know.

Paxton[/u]