Give Olin Business School some credit

Bloomberg Newsweek released its latest ranking of the country’s best business programs on Tuesday. Washington University’s very own Olin Business School’s undergraduate program was pegged eighth in the nation.

Our business school has an impressive track record, especially with job placement. Around 98 percent of b-schoolers have internships and later work for the company for which they interned (including big names such as Deloitte, Capital One, General Mills and many other investment banks and financial services).

Despite the “BME (business major eventually)” rumor that circulates on campus, b-schoolers are generally very talented and highly motivated. Many students hold double majors within the business school or in other departments such as the College of Arts & Sciences and the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts.

This does beg the question: Is Wash. U. finally making its name known like other schools of its caliber?

Remember saying that you went to Washington University in St. Louis, seeing blank faces, and later being asked whether it was in Washington state? This is even worse outside the United States. Now, however, an increasing number of people know of the school. Employers are also considering Wash. U. applicants as they would other big-name East Coast schools.

Apart from gaining recognition worldwide, alumni connections are also improving. Since the transformation from a sleepy regional school to a national research institution half a century ago, alums have made connections after college easier and given helpful advice in all walks of life. This continues to give current students an edge over other prospective college graduates out there.

The very concept of business school rankings is also pushing programs to newer limits. This survey by Bloomberg Newsweek takes class size, preparation hours, level of challenge and internships into account on the student side. On the faculty side, advising quality as well as faculty knowledge and participation are gauged. This produces an incentive for both the faculty and students to remain competitive and innovative.

Even if you aren’t a b-schooler, you benefit by having a better business school at Wash. U. Other schools, notably the University of Pennsylvania, benefit greatly from having a business school that consistently turns out high-level students who are capable of succeeding in business. Our school is already known for its amazing sciences programs. Having the eighth best business school will only improve the reputation of Wash. U. and make it better known for the rest of you.

Ever since the word got out that the Olin undergraduate business program ranks eighth, there have been low whispers in Simon Hall. Everyone seems to pause and acknowledge the education and environment that they have created as if it were a silent “congratulations.” Then we soldier on, doing what we like to do and aiming to do it best.