Cal Poly State University at San Luis Obispo The Orfalea College of Business

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School Says - General Information
The Orfalea College of Business at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) offers one-year MBA programs that follow the educational philosophy of "learn by doing". The programs' in-class experience includes simulations of management decision-making scenarios, case studies, team exercises, extensive interaction with faculty and other students, and personal communication and presentation skills enhancement. The Orfalea College of Business' (OCOB) MBA programs are accredited by the AACSB and admit a limited number of students each year. This select group of graduate students fosters an eclectic student body with a strong sense of community and a culture that emphasizes high quality performance. Students accepted into and enrolled in Cal Poly's OCOB MBA programs may: - Enter the program without an undergraduate business degree and without completing prerequisite business course requirements. - Choose an accelerated option (Track One) that allows full-time students to follow a prescribed course of study and complete the program in less than a year or a traditional, non-accelerated option.(Track Two.) - Study relevant, current, challenging, and intellectually stimulating courses. - Enroll in short intensive summer sessions to complete the MBA program and/or follow the accelerated option requirements. - Enroll in a 2-1/2 week international business study tour to mainland China or India• Work with renowned faculty in a friendly and professional academic atmosphere. - Live and study on California's beautiful Central Coast In addition to a general management MBA, Cal Poly offers an MBA with a Specialization in Agribusiness, and an MBA with a specialization in Graphic Communication Document Systems Management, an MS in Accounting - Taxation. Two-year dual-degree options are also available for students wishing to pursue two graduate degrees simultaneously. For example, a formal joint MBA/MS program in Engineering Management (EMP) and various other informal MBA/MS or MBA/MA dual-degree options are available.

School Says - Student Body
With 300 clubs on campus, MBA students have many opportunities for activities outside the classroom. Offering the ability to demonstrate leadership and collaboration, the GSB Association is a popular choice. This club hosts a variety of fundraising, professional and social events. It organizes a Professional Speaker Series giving students the opportunity to network with industry professionals. Firms also find the Speaker Series to be a valuable recruitment tool.

Cal Poly MBA students have a proud tradition of competition. They participate annually in the International Collegiate Business Strategy Competition; and the MBA Business Ethics Competition. In 2006, they won that competition defeating teams from USC, Loyola Marymount, University of Washington and College of William and Mary and in 2008 they earn 2nd place. There is the Bank of America Low Income Housing Challenge competition, comprised of a multidisciplinary team of City Planners, Architects, Construction and Business Managers. This competition involves developing an affordable housing development proposal. In 2005, Cal Poly's team won that competition, defeating teams from Stanford and UC Berkeley.

School Says - Academics
The Cal Poly MBA program is a 60-64 unit program that provides students who are willing to commit to a rigorous schedule of prescribed courses the option to complete the program in less than 11 months (Track I). A traditional MBA model (Track II) for those not pursing this accelerated option and/or simultaneously pursuing joint/dual degrees is also offered.

School Says - Admissions
The Cal Poly MBA program seeks candidates that are bright, motivated, and demonstrate the ability to successfully complete a rigorous academic program. While admission is primarily based on GPA and GMAT achievement, we do consider additional factors such as work experience, leadership qualities, and letters of recommendation in order to develop an overall assessment of the applicant. Interviews are optional.

School Says - Campus Life
The Orfalea College of Business, named after Paul Orfalea, the founder of Kinko's, is a modern building offering over 13,000 square feet of computer lab space and teaching facilities. Cal Poly offers on-campus housing for 2,783 students in 13 residence halls; has library holdings of 2,576,3000; computer access of 1,800 student work stations in labs, classrooms and residence halls; and a modern 91,559 sq. ft. recreation center.

Students Say - Academics
Poised at the intersection of business and technology, California Polytechnic State University's graduate business programs are a great choice for students with a background in applied science or architecture. As a state school, Cal Poly is "less expensive" than comparable private institutions, yet its AACSB-accredited business programs are rigorous, current, and intimate, enrolling fewer than 50 students each year. The MBA comprises 60 to 64 total credits for graduation; depending on your schedule, availability, and academic goals, students have "the option for one- or two-year completion" of the MBA, with an academic focus in general management, agribusiness, or graphic communication document systems management. The chance to complete a specialized MBA in just one yearâ€"even without an undergraduate degree in businessâ€"is a huge advantage to this program. At the same time, students must be prepared to work hard: not only is coursework challenging and accelerated, "the program requires students [to] maintain a 3.0 GPA" throughout. For working students who want to pursue a degree part-time, or for those who'd like to explore concurrent employment or internship opportunities, Cal Poly also allows students to take fewer than the full-time 16 units per quarter, through a secondary MBA track. For many, the major benefit of Cal Poly is its strength in technical fields, which students can exploit through technology-oriented electives, or through formal dual degree programs with other academic departments. Of particular note, the school offers joint MS and MBA degrees in engineering management and engineering fields (including aerospace, civil and environmental, computer science, and more). Almost 40 percent of current MBA candidates are concurrently enrolled in a master's program, telling us that, "the dual degree program is fantastic" at Cal Poly. A current student adds, "The MBA/EMP dual degree program they offer was exactly the type of program that I was looking for, and Cal Poly has a tremendous reputation in the world of engineering." A hallmark of the Cal Poly MBA program is the "learning-by-doing teaching style," which encourages students to develop applicable skills through coursework. To that end, classes and assignments include teamwork, case studies, and presentations. Additionally, the "international business course"â€"a unique offering within an accelerated programâ€"gives students the opportunity to study a foreign economy and business practices during a two-week trip overseas. In recent years, the program took students to India and China. Students can also tailor their education by pursuing research projects in conjunction with Cal Poly faculty, or by competing with other business students in national case study and strategy competitions. When it comes to Cal Poly's faculty and administration, it's a mixed bag. Here, "There are some professors that are outstanding, and some that are good in their field, but not good at teaching." A student summarizes, "It's a cliché, but the more effort you put into the program, the more you will get out of the program."

Students Say - Admissions
The Admissions Office at the Orfalea College of Business consider all of the following components of a student's application: GMAT score (middle 80 percent of student body scores between 540 and 680); TOEFL score (where applicable); two official copies of undergraduate transcript (the middle 80 percent of student body earns between 2.9 and 3.7); two letters of recommendation; a personal statement; and a resume. Prior work experience, while preferred, is not required. Prospective dual-degree candidates must apply to, and be accepted to, each program separately. All international applicants must provide statements of purpose and financial responsibility, a spouse/dependent declaration, and a signed health insurance contract; they must also submit to an educational background check.

Students Say - Campus Life
Life is good at Cal Poly. Located on a hilltop overlooking San Luis Obispo, "the college campus is gorgeous" and the surrounding town is beautiful, friendly, and student-oriented. No wonder many students say "the location" is among the Cal Poly's greatest assets. Graduate students have access to the school's excellent recreation center, health center, and library, and they may even choose to live on campus. Within the business school, the Graduate Students in Business Association (GSBA) organizes social gatherings for students and faculty, as well as fundraisers and professional development events. Cal Poly offers just a few graduate programs; therefore "the undergrads overwhelmingly outnumber the graduate students" on campus. Fortunately, "the Graduate School of Business students have their own Room/Lounge with a fridge, microwave, tables, computers, and whiteboards"â€"a nice enclave for the more mature crowd. At Cal Poly, most MBA candidates are "young, career-driven" professionals, principally from technical or engineering backgrounds.

Students Say - Careers
At Cal Poly, Career Services hosts career fairs and networking events for the entire school community. They also offer career preparation assistance, including resume revisions and interview skills workshops. While graduate students are free to participate in these offerings, "the career services are more geared towards undergrad" at Cal Poly. Fortunately, the school boasts an excellent reputation and strong ties to the local community. Even without extensive assistance, around 85 percent of Cal Poly students have accepted a job offer by graduation; three months out, 100 percent of MBA alumni are employed. Top employers of Cal Poly MBA graduates include Northrup Grumman, Raytheon, Rantec, General Dynamics, Sun MicroSystems, Deloitte Consulting, Qualcomm, IBM, Agilent Technology, Amgen Inc., Lawrence Livermore Labs, Pacific Gas & Electric, USDA, Dept of Veterans Affairs, KPMG, Pratt & Whitney, Morgan Stanley, Boston Scientific, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Sandia National Lab, Lam Research, Columbia Sportswear, Adelaida Cellars. The mean base salary for MBA graduates is $100,000.

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