Rice University Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business

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School Says - General Information
Rice University aspires to path-breaking research, excellence in teaching and contributions to the enhancement of our world. As the university's business school, The Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business adheres to those same values to cultivate a diverse community of learning and discovery.

More specifically, the Jones School develops principled, innovative thought leaders in global communities. Through a combination of rigorous curriculum, elite faculty and impressive facilities, students receive an outstanding business school experience. The result is innovative leadership that engages the entrepreneurial spirit and impacts business on a global level.

The Jones School is one of the world's best teaching and research universities, offering Full-Time MBA, MBA for Executives, and MBA for Professionals programs. A Ph.D. program in debuted in 2009 and recently-introduced business concentrations highlight the school's strengths while allowing full-time MBA students to focus on areas of interest.

Additional information is available through our website at www.business.rice.edu

School Says - Student Body
The Jones School attracts students both nationally and internationally. In fact, 25 percent of first year students hail from outside the United States and 23 percent are from outside of Texas. A variety of student organizations are available and many sponsor guest speakers, visit area businesses, and take on special projects. In addition, weekly corporate-sponsored "partios"- parties on the Jones School patio-provide relaxation and opportunities to network and bond with fellow students.

School Says - Academics
Every course offers unparalleled opportunity to work one-on-one with an accessible, involved, and energetic faculty. The Jones School faculty maintains an important balance between teaching and research, believing that current industry knowledge is as critical as textbooks to your education.

A comprehensive core curriculum focuses on managerial and leadership skills, ethics, information technology, and communication skills in addition to the functional areas. Students take elective credit hours, which allow them to custom design their curriculum to suit career goals.

School Says - Admissions
The Jones School considers each aspect of the application when making admissions decision. The application requirements include: GMAT (GRE or MCAT for join candidates); TOEFL or PTE for some international applicants; transcripts from educational institutions; resume; confidential evaluations; essays; interview (invitation only); completed application form and application fee.

Academic Background: A four-year undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university is required for U.S. applicants. International applicants must have an undergraduate degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. degree. Undergraduate and graduate GPAs, GMAT scores (GRE or MCAT for joint candidates), choice of major, electives, course load, and grade patterns are all considered.

Leadership Potential: Demonstrated leadership and management experiences, both on the job and through extracurricular activities, will help us assess leadership potential. We look for individuals with at least two years of professional work experience.

Confidential Evaluations: Evaluations from employers provide perspective on potential student capabilities, enabling us to assess your qualifications more accurately.

Essays: Three essays articulating career goals, work experience, and reasons for choosing the Rice MBA program are a crucial component of the application process. These essays are designed to convey intangibles such as reasons for pursuing an MBA; benefits of academic, professional and personal opportunities; and personal expectations of the Jones School experience.

School Says - Campus Life
McNair Hall is the 167,000-square-foot home of the Jones School. It offers a state-of-the-El Paso finance center; the Business Information Center (BIC); tiered classrooms; behavior research and observation room for marketing research and interviews; a 450-seat auditorium; and a career planning center. Fully loaded laptops are provided to all students, and the Jones School is equipped to make sophisticated use of electronic access.

Students Say - Academics
Prestigious, rigorous, and well-rounded, Rice University's MBA program combines a challenging core curriculum with "cutting edge" elective coursework and practical projects. You'll hit the ground running at Rice, where the comprehensive core provides a "balance of qualitative and quantitative" material, designed to "expose you to a little bit of everything." Well-planned and executed, "the coordination between classes is incredible; the same day you review a new concept in one class you link it and review it in another one." After completing the core, students can tailor their education through academic concentrations and fieldwork. Of particular note, Rice has a "strong focus on [the] energy industry," and "close ties to energy firms in Houston." In addition, the school's finance program is "known throughout the south." At Rice, the workload is demanding, especially in the first semester. You can expect to spend some quality time in the library; students warn us that "no one can even come close to coasting" through their classes. In particular, the program "moves very fast for someone with no business undergraduate degree." While challenges are manifold, "The faculty is dynamic, and very willing to help students fully grasp class concepts." In fact, on the whole, "Professors are warm, approachable, and foster an atmosphere for learning." With an excellent faculty to student ratio, "Every professor knows every student by name," professors integrate "teamwork into each class." A current student concurs, "I chose Rice because I wanted a smaller program where I would be able to get face time with my professors and establish a strong network with my classmates." In fact, many students describe the school community as a "big family." Rice augments traditional classroom instruction with hands-on learning experiences, including the required Action Learning Project in the first year. A student details, "The Action Learning Project is a unique consulting experience that allows us to work with a local company on a project they select. It is a welcome addition to classroom learning, and they often implement our recommendations into their business." Students can further hone their business education through one of three functional concentrations in accounting, finance, or marketing, or one of five cross-functional industry concentrations in energy, entrepreneurship, global business, management consulting, or mastering creativity and innovation. If Rice students have one consistent gripe, it is that the school's national rankings do not accurately convey the caliber of the MBA program. However, they also say the school distinguishes itself through a continuous commitment to improvement. In order to solicit student feedback, the administrators "run surveys and focus groups regularly, ask for feedback and apply suggestions from students." Overall, faculty, students, and staff are "truly one team working together to constantly improve ourselves and our program."

Students Say - Admissions
To apply for admission to Rice University, applicants must submit official transcripts of all college-level work, GMAT scores, two letters of recommendation, a current resume, and three personal essays. When evaluating applicants, Rice looks for both qualitative and quantitative skills; however, a strong academic track record is paramount in an admissions decision. There are no minimum GMAT or GPA scores required for admission. The mid-50% GMAT range is 630 to 710, though a high score does not guarantee admission, just as a low score does not prohibit it.

Students Say - Campus Life
Drawing students from a range of industries and backgrounds, Rice excels at "fostering class unity while maintaining class diversity." To bring students together, the school offers "dinner and beer on our school patio ("the partio") every Thursday evening, which is a great way to connect with other students." At these weekly events, "recruiters and alumni speak with students in an informal fashion," while students mingle with their classmates. With a highly demanding curriculum, Rice students definitely keep busy; "Monday through Thursday is around-the-clock academics, networking, company presentations, student activities, and job search." Fortunately, students enjoy the comfort and amenities of the business school building, which offers, "parking underground, wireless everywhere, nice library, [and] plenty of study rooms." Students warn us that there is a "tremendous amount of academic pressure and students do tend to worry a bit too much about grades." However, most are able to maintain a "solid balance between social and academic." If you can make the time, there are plenty of "academic lectures, competitions, social activities, or intramural games" to take your mind off classes. Of the many student clubs, "The National Association of Women MBAs chapter is particularly strong and holds many activities for the women at the school."

Students Say - Careers
Rice helps students prepare for a career through a range of curricular and extracurricular career development programs. The Career Management Center offers personal counseling, mock interviews, expert speakers, and industry panels. In addition, the Action Learning Project at the end of the first year helps students explore industries and, potentially, secure a job or internship. Strategically located, Rice is "the strongest school in Texas and the Southwest, therefore you have unparalleled access to the energy companies in Houston, the entrepreneurial companies in Austin, and all the other opportunities in this region." In recent years, more than 80 percent of Rice graduates have taken jobs in the Southwest. While the business school is small, Rice has a "strong and supportive alumni network," and "there are a lot of companies in this area that recruit" on campus. Thirty percent of graduates took jobs in the Petroleum/energy industry; however, students take jobs in a range of fields and, in recent years, Rice students were recruited and interviewed by such diverse organizations as Amazon.com, Baylor College of Medicine, Citigroup, Deloitte & Touche, ExxonMobil, Lehman Brothers, Northwest Airlines, Toyota, and the Houston Zoo.

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