Beyond the Headlines: What Stanford GSB Students are *Really* Saying

Poets&Quants recently stirred up a lot of sh– ...er, controversy with its reporting about Stanford GSB students who say that "We're not learning anything."

That grabbed a lot of attention... including mine! But if you actually read the article and understand what these students are saying, the situation is a lot more nuanced.

The real story: Students have specific concerns... but it's not a complete failure

When you dig into the actual student complaints, the nuance comes to life. From what I understand, these aren't disengaged students dismissing the entire MBA experience. Instead, they're talking about specific, actionable concerns about the GSB curriculum and professors.

For example, students are pointing to outdated content that doesn't reflect the current realities of the market, a lottery system that prevents students from enrolling in high-demand classes, and teaching methods that don't demand the same prep from every student.

As one student put it,"We're not trying to burn the place down. We love it here. We just want it to be worthy of the name."

Going beyond the classroom

The headline completely misses that the learning that takes place at top MBA programs like Stanford extends far beyond the classroom. For one, this happens organically, when students help and learn from one another.

Perhaps more importantly, though, is who the b-school brings onto campus – to provide a "real world" education to students. The network of grads, business leaders, and innovators within the GSB ecosystem is extraordinary. I think that's where the learning opportunity at any top MBA program truly exists.

The MBA ecosystem

The value of the MBA has always gone beyond what you learn in the classroom. The ecosystem is what really matters. At a place like Stanford, you're getting:

Mentorship from world-class faculty: Are all professors on equal footing? Probably not.... but the GSB – and Stanford at large – still attracts some of the best.

Access to career services: The program still attracts top employers. Among the Class of 2024 graduates, the largest groups went into finance (20% into private equity) and tech (22%).

Support for entrepreneurs: A solid percentage of the Class of 2024 elected to start their own businesses, and the resources for that group are unparalleled.

Brand recognition: Like it or not, the Stanford GSB brand carries weight that lasts throughout a career.

The students have valid points

Let's face it – $250K for a two-year education isn't chump change. That doesn't even include the opportunity cost of leaving the workforce for two years.

So, the GSB needs to take these concerns seriously. Their feedback highlights important areas for improvement that could make an already valuable experience even better.

Additionally, I thought the "room temp" system sounds comical. If students aren't equally prepared and aren't expected to participate spontaneously, they're not truly prepared to face the realities of a dynamic work environment.

Zooming out

If you asked the same questions of students across all elite MBA programs, you'd probably find that Stanford GSB's challenges aren't all that unique. MBA programs across the board are grappling with how to stay relevant and deliver a strong ROI in the age of AI, rampant layoffs, and rising costs.

The real question isn't whether Stanford GSB students are learning anything. The question is whether they're learning the right things – in the most effective way possible – for today's market.