Research MBA Programs

I mean once you get away from the standard top 6 programs. How valuable are rankings for the other programs? From all of the students I've talked to at programs ranked betwen 13-25, they all seem to say that finding a job from on campus recruiting is not the normal process and it is up to the individual to make contacts and find his job. That's fine but my question is what is to stop student X from landing his dream job if he is at program number 15 or program number 30? If you're not at one of those top 6 programs, do the rankings become less valuable?

in short and imo... yes... lol

I think you make a good point but I disagree with the ranking numbers you have chosen. I think that there are about 12-14 schools at the "top" which belong in one category for recruiting and prestige (obviously there may be 6 or so that are "higher" - Stanford, HBS, Booth, Kellogg, Wharton, Columbia), but, there are plenty of very good schools that rotate place within these top schools (NYU, Haas, Sloan, Duke, Michigan, Tuck, UCLA).

The next "tier" of schools (Ranked about 15-30) will all present a slightly more challenging picture for recruiting and networking, but, it will just be what you make of it. And, no, it probably doesn't matter if you go to one that ranks 18 or 22 in a particular year. At this point you need to take program strengths and location into consideration as well.

Hope this helps!