Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business (MSB) published its 2021 Undergraduate Employment Report, featuring the school’s highest post-graduation salaries ever achieved in the history of the program.

The annual report highlighted that 98% of MSB students who were seeking employment received a job offer within three months of graduation, with average starting salaries reaching $85,213, a  9% increase compared to the previous year.

The MSB’s comprehensive curriculum and support for students increase their post-graduate career preparation, according to Talia Schatz, assistant dean at the Undergraduate Career Development Center (UCDC) .

“Of course, trends in the economy play a role in salary data, but I think the most important factor is the fully immersive experience we offer our undergraduate students at McDonough,” Schatz wrote in an email to The Hoya. “Our students are well equipped with the business acumen and professional readiness that is necessary to compete for top employment opportunities.”

The MSB’s community of faculty, staff, alumni and the UCDC care about the personal and professional success of each student, according to Paul Almeida, dean of the MSB.

“This personalized attention ensures our students pursue careers that not only give them excellent outcomes, but also provide a sense of fulfillment, purpose, and greater job satisfaction,” Almeida wrote in an email to The Hoya. “This is an important differentiator for our Undergraduate Program, and the Undergraduate Employment Report is indicative of the great results we receive through this approach.”

The opportunity to talk with recent graduates who went through the process of searching for jobs and internships provided helpful guidance for securing job offers, according to Bayley Wivell (MSB ’22).

“I felt like in the MSB it was easier to connect with peer advisors who had gone through the same process of recruiting that’s a little bit more rigid and structured than a lot of other careers and industries,” Wivell said in an interview with The Hoya.

Most consulting interviews typically consist of behavior tests, which analyze one’s personal background, and a case study, which measures one’s ability to deal with hypothetical examples. 

Practicing with alumni gave perspective to the preparation process, according to Ananya Chowla (MSB ’22).

“Learning how to do the case interview and practicing with case interviews was a big part of my prep,” Chowla said in an interview with The Hoya. “Because of the alumni network in MSB, when I was a freshman and sophomore working at different consulting firms, I was able to reach out to them and to do practice cases, which were super helpful to get their input as I want to talk through the process.”

The MSB’s support of pre-professional clubs also gives students hands-on experience related to the career they are interested in pursuing, according to Chowla.

“The fact that the MSB encourages such great student organizations to be able to run, I think it’s part of the reason student body can be so prepared to be professionally, because they’re able to get that hands on experience working with a client and doing consulting projects, as well as the network of people in the club who have gone through the process before and can give advice and tips,” Chowla said.

Career readiness is a quality that MSB instills in its students, which is what allows them to successfully enter job negotiations about the skills they possess, according to Schatz.

“They also know their worth and are skilled negotiators — we ensure they have the tools to negotiate salaries, benefits, and other work related opportunities,” Schatz wrote. “These hiring exercises help students identify and accept opportunities that reflect the value they will bring to any organization.”

MSB support systems are designed to be personalized for each student’s own undergraduate experience, according to Almeida.

“Career exploration is a very personal journey, which is why Georgetown McDonough is committed to providing tailored guidance and mentorship for students throughout their undergraduate program,” Almeida wrote.

The program’s success is best measured by student experiences, according to Schatz.

“There is only so much that statistics and lists can tell you — the true success of our employment efforts are measured through the nuanced and unique experiences of each individual undergraduate student,” Schatz wrote.