Illinois MBA Admissions

GMAT & GRE Testing...

2010-07-23T09:31:00.005-05:00

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

Road to Business School...

2010-07-22T09:58:00.007-05:00

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!

My advice for incoming MBA students

2010-06-30T17:04:00.000-05:00

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?

2010-06-30T15:16:00.008-05:00

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

TEDxUIUC 2010 Photos

2010-05-17T08:41:00.006-05:00

On April 10, 2010, a group of students led by student
Cristian Mitreanu held a TE D 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/.

Special Speakers on Campus

2010-04-16T10:42:00.002-05:00

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.

Business Instructional Facility Video

2010-01-22T15:08:00.002-06:00

Check out the Business Instructional Facility in this new video!

Study Abroad at the Illinois MBA!

2009-12-23T11:22:00.004-06:00

Students interested in learning about business in Berlin, Germany and Mexico City, Mexico will be leaving on Jan.11 for a weeklong study abroad trip. Every year students have the opportunity to travel with their classmates and learn from professors in a different country. The course includes guest speakers, trips, and experiencing the local culture. Our students will be blogging about their experience through the Illinois MBA Student Life Blog. ILLINOIS ranks in the top ten in study abraod opportunities for students.

The Illinois MBA staff will be out of the office until January 4th. We wish everyone a very happy and safe holiday season!

BIF is Platinum!

2009-12-08T14:00:00.004-06:00

The U.S. Green Building Council has awarded the Business Instructional Facility (BIF) at platinum LEED rating. This is the highest rating that can be achieved, and is a recognition of our commitment to sustainability and the environment. BIF opened in August 2008, and is the first college of business at any public university to achieve this rating. BIF is among only a dozen platinum certified projects at any university in the world.

"The College will work with architects, developers, campus, and groups like the Student Sustainability Commitee to ensure that reach our true potential as a leader no only in sustable design, but in sustainable practice," said Larry DeBrock, Dean, College of Business.

First Deadline Approaching- December 1

2009-11-24T16:30:00.004-06:00

The first deadline for Fall 2010 admission is on December 1. If you meet this deadline you'll receive a decision sooner. But, if you do not think you are going to meet the deadline don't worry there is still plenty of time. Scholarships are awarded throughout. Our international student deadline (for students requiring a visa) is January 15. The deadline final deadline is March 1, and after that we are on rolling admissions.
Please let us know if you have any questions while completing your application at 217-244-7602 or mba@illinois.edu. We are looking foward to receiving your application!

Illinois MBA Exclusive

2009-10-15T10:36:00.003-05:00

We were excited to host prospective MBA students on campus on Friday, October 9. Unfortunately, the dreary weather that day seemed to keep some people from traveling to campus, and we ended up with approximately ten people attending our event. Before the event, we checked our numbers from last year, and about 40% of the people who attended this special event last year ended up gaining admission and joined our MBA program this year. We had some strong individuals attend the event this year, and we are hopeful that we will see them as Illinois MBA students next year.

The highlight of the day seemed to be the mini-lecture given by marketing professor Hayden Noel. Professor Noel presented on the marketing/advertising communication cycle, and he had an activity that got everyone involved, including me. Half the group had to draw a picture without using letters or numbers that communicated four special features of an automobile as the other half of the group left the room. When the outside group came back in, they had to look at the drawings and try to conclude what those special features were. I ended up getting pulled in to be a "drawer," but despite having a family full of artists, I seemed to have missed out on that creativity gene, and my drawing definitely brought about the greatest amount of confusion. Fortunately for Professor Noel, he was able to use my Rembrandt-like skills as an example of the struggle that takes place between the encoding and decoding of a message. In the end, the prospective students received a free lesson and seemed excited about the prospect of studying under Professor Noel in his first-year marketing class.

In addition to the class lecture, the attendees also got to hear from Dean Larry DeBrock and Associate Dean Stig Lanesskog about their vision for the future of the Illinois MBA. Our admissions director, Jackie Wilson, gave an overview of the application process, along with some tips for submitting a strong application. I provided a tour of the Business Instructional Facility (BIF), highlighting the buildings environmentally- and student-friendly features. The attendees enjoyed a lunch in the BIF atrium as they spoke with current students, faculty, and staff. And then later, second-year MBA students served on a panel to answer questions and to share their experience as students in the Illinois MBA. Ron Watkins, Associate Director of Illinois Business Consulting, also talked about the opportunities available to MBA students through this student-led consulting organization.

Personally, I feel that attending one of these special events is the perfect way for prospective MBA students to get to the heart of what makes the Illinois MBA unique. There is the further benefit that these individuals establish relationships with a number of people involved with the MBA program. By forming these relationships, these individuals often stand out through the application process, as many people involved in the decision now know the candidate personally. I am confident that those who did attend enjoyed themselves and found the event valuable as they look to apply to MBA programs.

We are having one more on-campus event this fall. The next Illinois MBA Exclusive will be held on Friday, November 13. The complete details, including registration information, can be found at www.mba.illinois.edu/M/Admissions/Admissions+Events/#campus. This event has been planned the day before an Illinois vs. Northwestern football game, and those who attend the Friday event may want to look into spending the weekend around campus so that they can see what student life is like both inside and outside of the classroom at the University of Illinois. Also, Professor Madhu Viswanathan is currently scheduled to give the mini-lecture. Professor Viswanathan's research focuses a great deal on sustainable market practices and is highly committed to social enterprise. He teaches a full-year class to MBA and engineering students titled, "Sustainable Product and Market Development for Subsistence Marketplaces," that sends students to India over winter break to conduct market research that will help develop product ideas that will be of benefit to low-literate, low-income areas of India. We are excited to have him present during this event.

MBA Joint Degree Programs...

2009-09-23T08:53:00.004-05:00

We recently held a Joint Degree Information Session on campus for anyone interested in combining an MBA with any masters or PhD program on the ILLINOIS campus. We had over 70 in attendance. Joint degrees allow students to earn two graduate degrees simultaneously. Typically, the period of study is shorter than if each degree was pursued independently. The MBA portion can be completed in three semesters opposed to four, since we'll share credits with the other program.

Popular joint degree programs include Law, Engineering, Labor and Employment Relations, Architecture, and Computer Science. For more information please visit Joint Degree Programs.

Joint degree programs are a great way to differentiate yourself, and allow you to really specialize in a specific field. If you are interested in a joint degree at ILLINOIS please contact our admissions office at 217-244-7602 or mba@illinois.edu and the graduate program of study you want to combine with an MBA.

On the road with admissions...

2009-09-09T15:41:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I particpated in the MBA Tour in downtown Chicago for the Illinois MBA. Tour events are geared towards prospective MBA candidates, where they are able to hear from admissions officers from different b-schools. We started out the event with an admissions panel titled "How Admissions Decisions are Made." Then I gave my presentation about the Illinois MBA, prospective students were able to choose what b-school presentations they wanted to hear. The evening wrapped up with school fair, where many alumni from the different schools were present to speak with prospective students.

The Illinois MBA is on the road a lot this fall, check out our events page for a complete listing of everywhere we are traveling this year and for more details. Here's a peak at the next few events in September:

Saturday, Sept. 12- Manhattan Review- Chicago
Monday, Sept. 14- Forte Forum- Washington D.C.
Tuesday, Sept. 15- Forte Forum- Atlanta
Tuesday, Sept. 15- World MBA Tour- Chicago
Thursday, Sept. 17- Joint Degree Information Session- Champaign
Monday, Sept. 21- Forte Forum- San Francisco
Wednesday, Sept. 23- Forte Forum- Chicago
Saturday, Sept. 26- World MBA Tour- New York City
Tuesday, Sept. 29- Forte Forum- New York City
Wednesday, Sept. 30- Forte Forum- New York City

We hope to see you!

Ready to apply...

2009-09-01T14:10:00.006-05:00

The application for Fall 2010 is now available! You can start your application at https://www3.business.uiuc.edu/MBA_Application/index.asp. Please take a look at the checklist to see what additional materials are required to apply.

Important Dates
December 1, 2009: Application deadline for early admission decision
January 15, 2010: International application deadline*
March 1, 2010: Deadline for full consideration
After March 1, we will continue to accept applications until all seats are filled.
*We require the January 15 deadline for international applicants who will need a student visa.

We hope that you are able to attend one of our events this year, to check out our events page for more information.

PreTerm Times...

2009-08-31T09:25:00.016-05:00

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...

2009-08-12T14:14:00.009-05:00

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...

2009-07-31T14:56:00.003-05:00

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

2009-07-08T09:54:00.015-05:00

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...

2009-06-24T15:48:00.003-05:00

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!