Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register for a MCFE?
The MCFE process does not fall in sync with the overall registration process. Students who are interested in a MCFE project must register for a full load of courses, excluding the MCFE. Students can not register for a MCFE without being accepted to the program. Once a student is accepted to a MCFE project, we will drop your course of choice and add the MCFE course in its place. The MCFE is a four credit Management Elective course.

What if I'm planning to study abroad?
Students that choose to study abroad for a semester and are not able to attend or participate in the MCFE process must contact the MCFE office at 781-239-4501 as soon as possible. An interview will be held prior to your departure and the MCFE project brochure will be e-mailed to you while abroad.

How are students selected?
Student selection is based on academic performance, faculty recommendation, willingness to work as a team member, and individual strengths relative to the project. Additional selection criteria include initiative, leadership, responsibility, and reliability.

How are the MCFE teams structured?
Each team is assigned a company supervisor and a Project Manager. The Project Manager, a second year MBA student, provides technical support and guidance to the student team. The company supervisor provides supervision and assistance with the coordination of team and company communication and logistics.

Do students get to choose their own teams?
Students have the option to apply individually or as a team. If the students apply as a team, that does not necessarily mean that all students will be accepted to the MCFE program. The Program Manager puts students who apply individually into groups. Students are informed about their teams and projects prior to registering for the MCFE Program.

Can students select their own projects?
All students give their top 3 choices. The projects are assigned to teams based on the skill set of each team.

Who will grade me?
The Project Manager with the supervision of the faculty member will assign your final grade. Grades are assigned on an individual basis.

What types of projects are offered in the MCFE program?
The MCFE program offers projects in marketing, management, MIS and finance. The majority of the MCFE projects take place in nonprofit organizations. MCFE sponsors have also included Fortune 500 companies, established growing companies and privately held firms. Projects deal with current concerns of sponsor companies in one or more functional areas. Typical consulting areas include: marketing plan development, business development, brand management, benchmark/competitive analysis, marketing strategy/analysis, Internet related projects, as well as many others.

What is The Shelby Cullom Davis Entrepreneurship Prize?
The prize is a $3,000 cash award to be presented annually during Babson's Founder's Day to the undergraduate student team that completes the most successful Management Consulting Field Experience (MCFE) project for a nonprofit organization. The award is divided among the students.

What sponsor companies have students recently worked with on MCFE projects?
Below is a list of previous sponsors students have done work with over the past year:

360KID
Adoptions with Love
American Program Bureau
Bay State Games
Berkshire Hills Music Academy  
Boston Philharmonic Orchestra
Boys and Girls Club of Boston
Crittenton Hastings House
Dexter Publishing
Fidelity ebusiness 
Gore Place
Hale Reservation, Inc. 
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Noble and Greenough School Thompson
Opera Boston
Rink In Norwood Committee (RINC)  
Sago Tea 
Sandrine’s Bistro
Stacy’s Pita Chips
Thompson Island 
Urban Medical Group
Wellness Inc.
Wellesley Housing Authority
Year Up