The Real Value of the Capstone Experience

One prospective student's journey to learning more about the Capstone Experience

I had just left the University of Dallas information session for prospective students and was ruminating over all the information that I heard. The main thing that stood out in my mind was the Capstone class that is required to complete the MBA degree. Due to my analytical, fanatical mind, I was already weighing the advantages and disadvantages of this university versus the other schools that I had researched.

There were many similarities between the MBA programs such as accreditation, reputation, programs, access (via online or on campus). However one big difference is this concept that the University of Dallas has that I haven't seen anywhere else.

Checking with Stanley Junkert, UD MBA '07, he said, "The Capstone course is a practical trial for using the knowledge and skills learned during the MBA program. The intensity of the effort and timeframe sharpens the experience and prepares the student for future projects in the workforce."

What intrigued me about the Capstone course was that you define the challenges and opportunities presented by a client, explore strategic and managerial possibilities, assess likely costs and consequences of alternatives, develop recommendations, and present your findings to the client in oral and written form. After much contemplation I decided to ask more UD alumni what they thought of the capstone class (again, due to my compulsion to be thorough that I made the right decision, I had to contact several alumni).

Mark A. Medley MBA '07 (with honors) told me, "The Capstone class is a tremendous amount of hard work that differs from academia in that it is highly subjective and often reviewed by strong personalities (the clients). A classroom is typically open to all ideas with minimal amounts of power and influence structures where minds are mostly open to new ideas. The Capstone contrasts sharply because the process strips away unworkable ideas, over-complications, and ideas that may be rationally accurate but do not match the client's business style. Working with a client who is invested in the monetary outcome of the project makes the process real. It can be frustrating at times. It is a tremendous amount of hard work. It is very rewarding."

Patrick E. Criswell MBA '07 reflected that the Capstone class was "a positive, rewarding experience and that its methodology of learning what a MBA would do in the real world greatly outweighs any other school that only provides theory and classroom lectures. The University of Dallas Capstone makes the student come up with solutions from a team perspective and forces each one to work together. In the real world, just like the Capstone, there will be differences in opinions and team members learn to compromise with each other to come up with a positive solution."

For Chris Simms MBA '06, his Capstone team project was so successful that the company hired him to implement the plan. The senior management at Goodwill Industries was so impressed with the recommendations demonstrated by the team that they hired Simms as their Vice President of Industrial Services.

After speaking to the alumni I did some additional research on the Capstone program. I found out that in 2006-07 graduating classes 76% of the GSM Capstone students were working professionals. The top permanent employers were Allstate Insurance, ASI Modulex, Bank of America, Citigroup, Ericsson, Fidelity Investments, IBM, JC Penney, J.P. Morgan Chase, Siemens, and Verizon. The average reported base salary range for graduating students was $65-85,000 per year with salaries up to $95-100,000 per year for more experienced students.

After doing all this research I realized that the University of Dallas, along with this unique program is the place for me. I look forward to everything I will learn there as well as participating in the capstone program.

- Denise Small