While most Dartmouth students graduate at Commencement ceremonies in June, a graduation ceremony will be held this afternoon for students interested in pursuing careers in business.
The Amos Tuck School of Business Administration launched a new four-week program this summer, the first of its kind in the nation, for college seniors, graduates and some postgraduates with Ph.D.s.
The aim of the Tuck School Business Bridge Program, which began on June 16, is to provide a link between college and a career in business.
Dean of the Tuck School Paul Danos created the program.
"The Business Bridge Program is consistent with the philosophy at Dartmouth and Tuck that the best preparation for a career in business is a liberal arts and sciences undergraduate education," Danos said.
The four-week curriculum integrates areas of business such as accounting, marketing, finance and managerial economics.
In addition, the students take part in an actual consulting project, which allows them to practice teamwork and business presentations, according to a College release
While the program's creators envisioned it as a single section of 40 students, unexpected demand led them to create a second section, the release states. This summer 83 students enrolled in the program. But even with the additional section, Faculty Director Gert Assmus said, "We had to turn away many good candidates."
"Tuck is bringing together very talented individuals from top liberal arts colleges such as Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Stanford and Dartmouth," Assmus said. "Individuals come from seven different countries, they have diverse educational backgrounds and the program immerses them in an intense business experience."
The consulting firm McKinsey & Co. recently hired 31 of the students and is sponsoring their attendance at the Bridge Program. Other students had to come up with the $6,000 tuition themselves.
The classes, taught by the Tuck School faculty, sometimes took place on the weekends.
Danos said in an e-mail message that he is "confident that this program will be an A+ and that we will expand in the future."
Tuck School Public Relations employee Amanda Jones said Danos is thinking about expanding the program to Oxford University next summer.
There is also the possibility of adding sections to the Tuck School program in Hanover next year along with specialty programs for students with advanced degrees in the sciences, she said.
