PreTerm Times...

Last week we wrapped up PreTerm, which is our orientation for the new MBA class. It was so exciting to welcome the new students. Some second-year students, faculty, and staff all participated in the activities. Here are some photos of the highlights from the week.

August 17: The first day of PreTerm (and my favorite day). It's the day the whole class meets each other. Students heard from the Dean of the College of Business and many members of the faculty. In addition they participated in a "Find Your Color" activity (below). The day was wrapped up with a Happy Hour in Downtown Champaign.

August 18: The students participated in a case analysis and presentations activity. That evening, there was a reception with local alumni.

August 19: A career services day, where students prepared their "30 second pitch" for networking.

August 20: The students headed up to Chicago for a mock career fair and a networking reception with many of our Chicago alumni. They also enjoyed a little free time in the city.

August 21: The students experienced the Activities Recreation Center on campus. Some students even tried out the rock climbing wall (below). Take a tour of the ARC.

August 23: The students gave a helping hand to Special Olympic athletes through a fun bowling event (below).


August 24: The students participated in Excel Business Computing workshops, which is a very important part of the MBA!

August 25: A beautiful day on campus filled with team building challenge courses (below)!

August 26: Students attended the MBA club fair & the first day of class. Everyone signed up for the clubs they want to get involved in while in the MBA, such as Women in Business (below). Many of our students also attended the registered student organizations fair at Illinois, since Illinois has over 800 organizations, there is something for everyone.

August 27: To celebrate all the MBA students coming back to campus, everyone enjoyed a "Welcome Back Picnic" in the park. Complete with a band, great food, a bouncy house, and a tug war competition between first-year women vs. second-year women (below) & first-year men vs. second-year men.

August 28: One more day of Excel, and the last group lunch!

Overall, PreTerm was a great time where the students learned a lot, but most importantly they got a chance to get to know each other very well.

Second Tuesdays...

On the second tuesday of every month the College of Business alumni get-together for a happy hour in Chicago. This event is sponsored by the College of Business Alumni Association and the MBA Alumni Committee. Last night we went up to the Market Bar in the West Loop of Chicago for the Second Tuesday. A few of our incoming students were able to join us, along with some current students interning in Chicago this summer, and a lot of alumni. Each month the Second Tuesday is in a different location in Chicago and gives those attending a great opportunity to network and stay connected to the university.

It was a beautiful evening in Chicago on the Market Bar's rooftop deck, and the food was great. Here are a few photos from the Second Tuesday:

Thinking about taking the GMAT...

This week we attended the Business School Insider in Chicago and a GMAT Strategy Session by in Champaign, both by Kaplan Test Prep. Here's a little about the GMAT. Most applicants begin studying for the GMAT 2-3 months before they take the exam. Preparation is key, so do not let the GMAT be the hurdle that stops you from applying to b-school. The scores range from 200-800 and the analytical writing is a separate score. The GMAT is given on the computer, so no two tests are alike. It's also important to remember that the test is adaptive, so it's important to get the question right, which may give you a tougher question, which will make your score higher. It's also important not to skip any questions because it may hurt your overall score. You can't go back and answer a question so take time to get it right.

Take time to familiarize yourself with the test and to speak with people who have already taken the GMAT. I’m sure they’ll be more than willing to share their insight. After you have familiarized yourself, it’s best to stick to a study schedule that fits your schedule. Both Kaplan and Princeton Review offer review courses, which many students find helpful. Whether you should enroll in a GMAT prep course depends on what type of learner you are. If you benefit from the classroom environment, this is a great option. GMAT preparatory books and online resources are a great way to prepare for the exam. There are also practice exams available at http://www.mba.com/, and it’s a good idea to practice the exams online before going into the test. This will give you a more realistic feel for the test as compared with the paper-based practice exams. The GMAT does not allow a calculator so you may need to brush up on some of that high school math. While you are practicing, really dive into why the answer is correct. If you take time studying the theory behind the answers it will pay off when you take the exam.

Most importantly, remember to go into your GMAT preparation with a positive attitude. Make studying fun. Good luck!

First year in the Business Instructional Facility

In the fall of 2008 we moved into the Business Instructional Facility from David Kinley Hall. The Illinois MBA turned 50 years old last year so it was the perfect time for a new building. The Business Instructional Facility is the first "green" educational building in the state of Illinois. The 160,000-square-foot building saves approximately $300,000 a year in energy costs because it has solar panels, a green roof, natural ventilation, and other features. Here are some photos we took of the building!

The building was designed by world-renowned architect Cesar Pelli, an Illinois alum.

The atrium provides a great study space for students.

The MBA classrooms feature the lastest in classroom technology.

MBA students enjoy hanging out in their own lounge.

Students are able to work on group projects in break-out or study rooms.

MBA student lockers provide a place for students to store their suit if they are interviewing or their gym clothes while they are on campus.

The Market Information Laboratory features a Wall Street stock ticker and touch screens give students up-to-date information about what is going on in the College of Business.

This building is so "green" there is even a changing room for those who ride bikes.

We hope you are able to make to Urbana-Champaign to visit us in our new building soon!

Kicking off the blog...

On this very sunny day in Urbana-Champaign we are kicking off our Illinois MBA Admissions blog! The goal of this blog is to give readers an inside look at the Illinois MBA and the admissions process through the eyes of the admissions team. We will also try to tackle popular questions we receive through this blog and share our thoughts about the MBA decision.

Go Illini!