When it comes to where you study for your MBA, size matters, but not always in the way you might think. Discover how the close-knit setting at Tuck School of Business allows the Tuck Career Services team to deliver unparalleled success.
When it comes to where you study, size can matter. But bigger isn’t always better. Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business is nestled in Hanover, NH, USA, the smallest town to host an Ivy League school. The small community brings outsized benefits for the school’s graduates, who are often in the Top 10 for MBA salaries.
Andy Kaestle, Associate Director of Career Services at Tuck and a 2017 alum, says, “We’re an incredibly well-resourced team. The student-to-advisor ratio allows us to get to know students and help them through their personalized journey.” (00:30)
Every MBA student has a unique background of experiences that must be considered to give the best career advice. The Career Services team has plenty of time to learn the individual stories of students during the two-year MBA.
“There are more of us, which allows us to have more touchpoints, more conversations, and get to know students on a more individualized level,” Andy explains. “It also allows us to understand the specific professional aspirations and personal goals and priorities that students should be taking into account when considering a search.” (00:45)
Tuck’s idyllic setting fosters a close-knit community that builds strong connections between the school and its students. This allows for more in-depth interactions and more meaningful professional relationships.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to career management for MBA students. The Tuck Career Services team tailors their support to fit the individual needs of each student, and they speak from experience. Many are Tuck alumni who previously worked in the fields MBA graduates are interested in, such as consulting and tech.
“Our Executive Director is a Tuck and McKinsey alum. Our finance lead spent more than 15 years working on Wall Street. We’ve got a dedicated tech recruiter based in the Bay Area, also a Tuck alum. I mentioned that I spent some time at Bain, [and] was a Tuckie myself,” Andy says. (01:21)
The active engagement of alumni in Career Services speaks to the strong ties within the Tuck community. Alumni frequently return to support current students, offering mentorship, career advice, and networking opportunities.
Andy elaborates, “It’s not uncommon for Tuckies to email ten alums, and to actually get ten responses and then have ten conversations, which poses an incredible advantage, especially to current students.” (09:05)
The support from Tuck’s alumni network is invaluable in helping students build strong professional networks, which are crucial for career success.
“Having a strong contact, ally, or supporter within an organization that you’re applying to will never hurt you,” Andy says. “Especially for MBA-level jobs where relationships and connections are what could make the difference between being selected for an interview and not being selected.” (09:45)
Such network building is what motivated the creation of the Tuck Compass program. Tuck Compass is a holistic system that gives students the ability to identify their personal goals and chart their own path during their MBA journey. Tuck’s Personal Board of Advisers program helps match MBA students with advisers and personal leadership coaches who will support their individual goals and help bring clarity to their decision-making.
Tuck Compass also includes resources like the MBA Planning Tool—a digital tool that allows students to define their MBA goals, view available courses and extra-curricular activities, and plan and track course enrollment—and curricular and cocurricular experiences that deepen students’ personal leadership skills and promote reflection.
A misconception about Tuck is that its rural location hampers the recruitment experience. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Tuck’s location actually offers unique advantages.
“It’s quite frankly the perfect distance from a major city like Boston or New York, where it doesn’t deter employers from coming,” Andy says. “Once they are here, they do want to spend time here, which is great.” (03:00)
Hanover’s scenic environment provides a conducive atmosphere for meaningful interactions. It offers a setting free from the distractions of a bustling urban center. Employers appreciate the chance to spend a full day on campus engaging with students.
As one of the best business schools in the US, Tuck has developed a stellar reputation with many of the world’s top employers. They have strong connections with Google, John Deere, and eBay, among other companies. Tuck also dedicates considerable effort to building connections with smaller firms across a variety of industries.
These strong employer relationships are reflected in Tuck’s impressive career statistics. The employment report for the Class of 2023 highlights that 96% of Tuck graduates received job offers within three months of graduation. The median base salary for Tuck MBAs was $175,000, with a median signing bonus of $30,000. They found work in a range of industries and across global locations.
From small-town Hanover to international boardrooms, the journey begins with the comprehensive support of Tuck’s Career Services.
MBA students develop the skills necessary to secure their first job after graduation and continue to grow throughout their careers.
Tuck graduates leave campus well-equipped to achieve their career goals and to become the wise and decisive business leaders of tomorrow.
Learn more about Tuck School of Business and all that it has to offer.
