Two first‑person and profile pieces from business‑school communities spotlight student experience as a central value proposition for MBA programs. A Goizueta alumnus argued that the MBA is a laboratory for real‑world complexity and not merely a networking engine; Duke Fuqua’s Class of 2027 profile touts Durham’s healthcare and startup ecosystem as a pipeline driver. Both accounts emphasize experiential learning, team‑based projects and career services as differentiators that shape post‑MBA outcomes. They also underscore the importance of regional ecosystems—Research Triangle Park for Fuqua and local industry ties for Goizueta—in placement and alumni engagement. Career‑services and admissions leaders should note the framing: applicants and employers are responding to program‑level evidence of applied learning and local employer access, not just brand or ranking position. Clarification: these stories focus on student perspective and institutional positioning rather than independent quantitative outcomes such as placement rates or salary data.