It's been a busy summer at the ILLINOIS MBA. We are getting ready to welcome new classes to both our full-time program in August and our Professional (part-time) program in January. In the meantime, we're excited to announce two changes to our admissions policies that may be of itnerest to those considering an MBA from ILLINOIS.
Starting this fall, students considering the ILLINOIS MBA full-time program have the option of submitting either a GMAT or a GRE score as part of the admissions process. We feel accepting the GRE will make ILLINOIS more accessible to those considering a joint degree MBA and more accessible to those from a wider variety of academic backgrounds. Applicants looking to maximize their opportunity to receive a scholarship should still take the GMAT, as a larger portion of scholarship funds will be allocated to GMAT test takers.
Students interested in the Professional MBA, a part-time program for working professionals, will also notice some changes in the application process. Starting this fall, the GMAT test is now optional for applicants. Candidates with less professional experience may find taking the GMAT boslters their application, while candidates with longer work histories can leverage their professional experience in the application process.
As always, please feel free to contact us at mba@illinois.edu with any questions.
Sincerely,
The Illinois MBA Admissions Team
Friday, July 23, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Road to Business School...
Illinois MBA Admissions and Illinois MBA Alumni will be attending the Kaplan Road to Business School in New York, Boston, Washington D.C. and Chicago. This is a free event and a great way to learn more about top business schools. You'll be able to meet one-on-one with with admissions advisors and alumni, hear key application advice, and network with other prospective MBA students. Check out the Road to Business School to register for these events.New York City- Saturday, August 7- 1:00-4:30 p.m.
Boston- Tuesday, August 10- 6:00- 9:30 p.m.
Washington D.C.- Wednesday, August 11- 6:00- 9:30 p.m.
Chicago- Thursday, August 12- 6:00- 9:30 p.m.
In addition, the Illinois MBA is always adding off-campus and on-campus events for propsective students to our calendar. Make sure you check back often!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
My advice for incoming MBA students
Getting Ready for the Illinois MBA
I vividly remember my first day as an MBA student hearing the Dean say we only have 621 days together as a class. At the time, it seemed like an eternity, but as I got closer to graduation, I realized how quickly my time at Illinois flew by. Incoming students often ask me what they can do to prepare for the Illinois MBA, so here are some tips you can use to maximize your 621 days:
1. Start now
Don’t wait until orientation to start building your network. Introduce yourself to your future classmates, current students, alumni, faculty and the MBA staff. There are many events throughout the summer designed to foster interactions to others within the Illinois MBA family. If you are unable to attend in person, take advantage of the virtual tools provided by the MBA staff to get to you know the folks you will be spending the next 621 days with.
2. Set some goals
The first semester of the Illinois MBA program can be a hectic time. Between classes, looking for an internship, extracurricular activities and the myriad social events planned for students, your free time may be limited. Now is a good time to start thinking about what you want to accomplish as an Illinois MBA student. For example, if you know you are interested in a certain field or industry, now would be a great time to talking to current students and alumni working or interning in that field. If you are interested in startup companies, read up on the University of Illinois Research Park and maybe even contact a local entrepreneur to learn more about what they do. If you intend to take advantage of the flexible curriculum, now is the time to learn about what classes are available to you.
3. Get used to structured thinking
If someone asked you to estimate the weight of a Boeing 747, you may think it is a silly question and is completely irrelevant to your class work at Illinois. However, in reality, questions like this test structured thinking ability. The ability to understand a problem, develop a plan to solve the problem, analyze available information and make a logical conclusion is an vital skill for MBA students and business leaders. Many of the classes at Illinois involve case analysis and many employers conduct case interviews to identify candidates with superior problem-solving skills.
4. Read a book for fun
It may be the last time you have the opportunity to do so for 621 days!
5. Relax
The summer is a great time to visit with family and friends, to travel and to relax. You are about to begin an exciting adventure, and it’s best to come in well rested and ready for all you experience in your time at Illinois.
Are you interested in finding out more about a part-time MBA?
The Professional MBA at ILLINOIS is a part-time program designed for working professionals. This is the perfect program for gaining your MBA, but still keeping the luxury of your full-time job. Classes meet on Monday & Wednesday evenings in the Business Instructional Facility. The entire program is 26 months with July & August off. Currently we are accepting applications for the next cohort, which begins in January 2011.
The Professional MBA attracts students from a variety of industries, including banking, not-for-profit, education, healthcare, manufacturing, engineering, etc. We even offer a shuttle to and from campus for students traveling from Decatur and Bloomington.
If you are interested in learning more about the Professional MBA, please contact admissions at 217-244-7602 or illinoisptmba@illinois.edu. We also have information sessions coming up in July that we encourage you to attend.
Professional MBA Information Session in Bloomington
Date: Monday, July 12, 2010
Time: 6:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.
Place: Bloomington Public Library, Community Room
RSVP: https://illinois.edu/fb/sec/600698
Professional MBA Information Session & Reception
Date: Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Time: 6:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.
Place: Business Instructional Facililty, 3rd Floor Student Lounge, 515 E. Gregory, Champaign
RSVP: https://illinois.edu/fb/sec/4137734
Professional MBA Information Session in Decatur
Date: Thursday, July 15, 2010
Time: 6:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.
Place: Decatur Public Library, A.E. Staley Jr. Manufacturing Company Conference Room
RSVP: https://illinois.edu/fb/sec/3552563
Kaplan GMAT Strategy Session & Business School Admissions
Date: Tuesday, July 22, 2010
Time: 6:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.
Place: 616 E. Green Street, Champaign
RSVP: http://www.kaptest.com/enroll/GMAT/61820/events?cid=802589
The Professional MBA attracts students from a variety of industries, including banking, not-for-profit, education, healthcare, manufacturing, engineering, etc. We even offer a shuttle to and from campus for students traveling from Decatur and Bloomington.
If you are interested in learning more about the Professional MBA, please contact admissions at 217-244-7602 or illinoisptmba@illinois.edu. We also have information sessions coming up in July that we encourage you to attend.
Professional MBA Information Session in Bloomington
Date: Monday, July 12, 2010
Time: 6:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.
Place: Bloomington Public Library, Community Room
RSVP: https://illinois.edu/fb/sec/600698
Professional MBA Information Session & Reception
Date: Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Time: 6:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.
Place: Business Instructional Facililty, 3rd Floor Student Lounge, 515 E. Gregory, Champaign
RSVP: https://illinois.edu/fb/sec/4137734
Professional MBA Information Session in Decatur
Date: Thursday, July 15, 2010
Time: 6:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.
Place: Decatur Public Library, A.E. Staley Jr. Manufacturing Company Conference Room
RSVP: https://illinois.edu/fb/sec/3552563
Kaplan GMAT Strategy Session & Business School Admissions
Date: Tuesday, July 22, 2010
Time: 6:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.
Place: 616 E. Green Street, Champaign
RSVP: http://www.kaptest.com/enroll/GMAT/61820/events?cid=802589
Monday, May 17, 2010
TEDxUIUC 2010 Photos
On April 10, 2010, a group of students led by student
Cristian Mitreanu held a TED event on the Urbana-Champaign campus. Participants at the TEDxUIUC event enjoyed 17 live presentations (19 presenters), five pre-recorded TEDTalks, and a video made specifically for the event. Some of the photos taken on that day are available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/tedxuiuc/.
Cristian Mitreanu held a TED event on the Urbana-Champaign campus. Participants at the TEDxUIUC event enjoyed 17 live presentations (19 presenters), five pre-recorded TEDTalks, and a video made specifically for the event. Some of the photos taken on that day are available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/tedxuiuc/.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Special Speakers on Campus
This has been a special year in the College of Business in terms of guest speakers. Unfortunately I missed the presentation by Muhammad Yunus (www.se-21.com) on March 1. Yunus won a 2006 Nobel Peace Prize "for his pioneering concept of banking without collateral for the poorest of the poor" (http://news.illinois.edu/ii/10/0218/briefs.html). I heard from others, however, that his speech was inspiring.
Most recently, I was able to hear a presentation by Jerry Colangelo, Chairman of the Phoenix Suns and USA Basketball. Jerry is a 1962 graduate of the University of Illinois and stood out as a basketball player for the Fighting Illini during his time here. This presentation was part of the V. Dale Cozad Lecture in Entrepreneurship series - an annual lecture that brings in a high-profile graduate of the University of Illinois.
I have to say that his stories were fascinating as a pioneering individual in a number of storied sports franchises. Being a Bulls fan, I found it particularly interesting that he was involved in bringing the first NBA franchise to Chicago. In fact, Jerry is primarily responsible for naming the team the Bulls, since the early team, not having their own arena, played in a pavilion that had previously been used for cattle and horse shows.
From Chicago, he eventually started the Phoenix Suns franchise, a team with which he has been involved for years. He was able to purchase the team in 1987 for $44 million, and he eventually sold the team for $400 million in 2004. Shortly after the USA men's basketball team came up short of the gold medal in 2004, Colangelo was asked to take over USA basketball. He personally sat down with every player who would be on the team and explained clearly his expectations. In particular, he wanted every individual to know that they needed to treat their opponents with respect and that they represented USA baskeball as part of the team, not as an individual. Colangelo said it was one of his proudest moments when the USA basketball team brought home gold in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
What stuck out to me the most during Colangelo's presentation is his attitude toward failure. He believes that sports gave him the ability and confidence to try again after failure. He said he was never afraid to fail, because after a loss in basketball, he was always able to get back up and try again. He knew it would be exactly the same in other aspects of his life. In the end, he found more success than failure because of his relentless effort.
Although most of his presentation was focused on the world of sports, I think any business student could relate to his comments about failure and success. As of late, I've seen a number of students discouraged by the job market. Certainly an MBA is an enormous investment of time and money, and everyone wants to see immediate returns for their efforts. I don't know if Colangelo stated this directly, but I observed it through his stories: opportunities don't always present themselves to you, so at times, you just create your own opportunities through bold effort. I hope that those in attendance were able to take away this same message.
Coming up on April 30, the Illinois MBA has arranged panel speakers to discuss the topic "One Crisis . . . Many Solutions: A Unique Look at the Global Financial Landscape." The speakers for this event include Dr. Carlos Braga, Vice President and Corporate Secretary at the World Bank, and Michael Heisley, the CEO of the Heico Company, and majority owner of the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies.
Dr. Braga's responsibilities include, but are not limited to, providing low-income countries with better growth diagnostics as well as debt management policy advice. Braga is also a 1984 graduate of the University of Illinois where he earned his PhD in Economics. Heisley's company is an investment group that specializes in buying interests in underperforming companies and turning them around. Heico owns and operates approximately 40 business worldwide. I think this will prove to be an interesting event, and better yet, anyone is welcome to attend if they RSVP by Monday, April 23, to https://illinois.edu/fb/auth/7091715.
Most recently, I was able to hear a presentation by Jerry Colangelo, Chairman of the Phoenix Suns and USA Basketball. Jerry is a 1962 graduate of the University of Illinois and stood out as a basketball player for the Fighting Illini during his time here. This presentation was part of the V. Dale Cozad Lecture in Entrepreneurship series - an annual lecture that brings in a high-profile graduate of the University of Illinois.
I have to say that his stories were fascinating as a pioneering individual in a number of storied sports franchises. Being a Bulls fan, I found it particularly interesting that he was involved in bringing the first NBA franchise to Chicago. In fact, Jerry is primarily responsible for naming the team the Bulls, since the early team, not having their own arena, played in a pavilion that had previously been used for cattle and horse shows.
From Chicago, he eventually started the Phoenix Suns franchise, a team with which he has been involved for years. He was able to purchase the team in 1987 for $44 million, and he eventually sold the team for $400 million in 2004. Shortly after the USA men's basketball team came up short of the gold medal in 2004, Colangelo was asked to take over USA basketball. He personally sat down with every player who would be on the team and explained clearly his expectations. In particular, he wanted every individual to know that they needed to treat their opponents with respect and that they represented USA baskeball as part of the team, not as an individual. Colangelo said it was one of his proudest moments when the USA basketball team brought home gold in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
What stuck out to me the most during Colangelo's presentation is his attitude toward failure. He believes that sports gave him the ability and confidence to try again after failure. He said he was never afraid to fail, because after a loss in basketball, he was always able to get back up and try again. He knew it would be exactly the same in other aspects of his life. In the end, he found more success than failure because of his relentless effort.
Although most of his presentation was focused on the world of sports, I think any business student could relate to his comments about failure and success. As of late, I've seen a number of students discouraged by the job market. Certainly an MBA is an enormous investment of time and money, and everyone wants to see immediate returns for their efforts. I don't know if Colangelo stated this directly, but I observed it through his stories: opportunities don't always present themselves to you, so at times, you just create your own opportunities through bold effort. I hope that those in attendance were able to take away this same message.
Coming up on April 30, the Illinois MBA has arranged panel speakers to discuss the topic "One Crisis . . . Many Solutions: A Unique Look at the Global Financial Landscape." The speakers for this event include Dr. Carlos Braga, Vice President and Corporate Secretary at the World Bank, and Michael Heisley, the CEO of the Heico Company, and majority owner of the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies.
Dr. Braga's responsibilities include, but are not limited to, providing low-income countries with better growth diagnostics as well as debt management policy advice. Braga is also a 1984 graduate of the University of Illinois where he earned his PhD in Economics. Heisley's company is an investment group that specializes in buying interests in underperforming companies and turning them around. Heico owns and operates approximately 40 business worldwide. I think this will prove to be an interesting event, and better yet, anyone is welcome to attend if they RSVP by Monday, April 23, to https://illinois.edu/fb/auth/7091715.
Friday, January 22, 2010
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