At first, I was worried to join the MBA program at UC Davis, thinking I may not be good enough for the program. When I attended one of UC Davis' admission information sessions for prospective students, I met virtually with the ambassador who is very helpful and encourages me to apply and points out all the highlights at UC Davis. So I begin my application process, and everyone is really helpful and friendly; which really reflect the culture at UC Davis.
I researched a few local, including some higher-ranked universities. The UC Davis STEM MBA offers a unique, well-rounded, and excellent cross-industry immersive experience, enabling me with a cutting-edge global positioning, especially among Bay Area companies. The San Ramon location was more convenient than Berkeley or San Francisco. Furthermore, I liked the overall experience I got from the student ambassadors, the world-class faculty, and the admissions team and attending some sample classes.
While shortlisting business schools, proximity to the bay area, tech focus and a strong community were my key criteria. When talking to students, alumni and admissions, I felt a sense of warmth and belonging. UC Davis GSM’s distinctive culture stood out as the clear differentiator! UC Davis GSM is one of the few business schools that lives by its defining principles. I knew that at UC Davis GSM I would find accomplished yet humble and supportive peers and a welcoming community.
I choose UC Davis for its diverse community, hybrid instructional approach, and flexibility to personalize the program to align with my career goals. What stood out to me most was its close-knit and collaborative cohort size and hands-on faculty.
I chose UC Davis because of the smaller class sizes for personalized learning, world-class professors, endless networking opportunities, and career resources. Outside of the classroom, UC Davis also offers one-of-a-kind leadership opportunities and hands-on experiences with industry leaders that I truly believe will help me advance personally and professionally.
MBA programs are looking for the strongest candidates. Most business schools take a holistic view of your application, looking at your academic preparedness, professional experience, leadership, and other personal qualities you might bring into the program.
GMAT/GRE testing is optional for the UC Davis MBA. Please note that not having a standardized test score will NOT affect your application adversely. However, this will mean that your coursework taken would then form the sole basis for assessing your academic readiness for the program.
The GMAT (or GRE) exam is one way to demonstrate to the admissions committee that you have the academic potential to be successful in an MBA program. This is especially important for candidates who want to increase their chances of being admitted or those who wish to compensate for an area on the application in which they’re not as strong.
Applicants who believe their GMAT score might add value to their overall application are encouraged to include their scores with the application. Submitting a test score gives the admission committee an additional data point for application evaluation.
A group of prominent VCs who were helping out have turned quieter over the last couple of weeks.
“It is rather peculiar,” for seasoned VCs to devote their time to such a long-established company, said Ayako Yasuda, a finance professor at the University of California at Davis.
Sacramento Part-Time MBA Ambassador
When looking at MBA programs, I was drawn to the sense of community amongst the students and faculty at UC Davis. After attending a class visit, I knew it was the right program for me. The hybrid model that the Sacramento Part-Time Program has adopted creates the perfect balance of being able to manage my career by having virtual classes on weeknights but still getting the in-person experience with our Saturday classes.
Video hosted by Poets&Quants' founder John Byrne
See how our Industry Immersion experiences give UC Davis MBA students access to a powerful, collaborative network tied to UC Davis' globally ranked programs in Food and Agriculture, Biotechnology, Sustainable Energy and Tech Finance.
When I decided to do my MBA, I wanted to choose a school with a good reputation, varied curriculum, and amazing faculty, preferably a small cohort size where I can collaborate, share and learn and have a strong alum network. UC Davis had all of it, and its closeness to Silicon Valley would allow me to explore my future professional goals.