Last fall Samford University's Brock School of Business invested in Bloomberg terminals to help students with their research in economic and financial areas. These terminals are used throughout the year by Brock School of Business financial and business students who want to keep up with the economy and financial markets in real-time.   This past spring, that investment paid off when the scores of the Bloomberg Aptitude test were released by the company. 

"I took the test because it gave me the opportunity to display my ability to problem solve and to showcase my understanding of business concepts as I looked for a job," said Katie Sims, Brock School of Business finance major.  "I wanted to know where my knowledge fell in comparison to my peers around the world.  The fact that our students out-scored others around the world speaks volumes to the level of education we are receiving in the business school."

Compared to the hundred thousand students at other universities worldwide who took the test, Samford students scored in a higher percentile than their peers, thus outperforming them overall by 13 percentage points (58 to 45 percent) when all the categories were averaged.   The two-hour test is an elective test that measures a student's knowledge in eight areas: math, analytical reasoning, analysis of charts and graphs, news analysis, economics, global markets, analysis of financial statements and investment banking.  Bloomberg then analyzes the scores in these eight areas and compares them with students in four geographic areas: Europe, North and South America, Asia and Pacific, and Middle East and Africa.  Other than the math area, Samford students scored above average in the areas measured by Bloomberg.

"We are pleased with these results," said Howard Finch, dean of the Brock School of Business.  "Our students demonstrated a level of performance that speaks volumes to the quality of business education they are receiving in the classroom."

What does all of this data mean for students?  Any potential employer of these students can access this information from Bloomberg when seeking to fill positions at their companies. Any employer in the world who accesses this information can interview the students that scored highest,  therefore becoming an invaluable recruiting tool for both students and employers.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.