University of Illinois—Chicago Liautaud Graduate School of Business Administration

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Students Say - Academics
With its "incredibly affordable tuition and access to a Tier One research university," the MBA program at the Liautaud Graduate School of Business "provides the best value for the cost. It offers a top-quality education for a fraction of the cost of Northwestern or University of Chicago." The MBA candidates at the school value "the flexibility of an evening program" since many of them are "currently employed and trying to balance it all." They also rave about the business school's "strong" entrepreneurship department which "will soon put Liautaud on the map." Many highlight the "excellent programs like Technology Ventures Program on experience." Liautaud's many academic assets also include its Professional Topics courses, which are "two-hour courses that focus on current topics." One student explains, "I took ‘Social Entrepreneurship' last fall, and it has been a major springboard for me. We had real practitioners visit class and we engaged with them, solving a business ‘problem' of theirs throughout the course. It changed the way I thought a business needs to run." Students across the board are quite satisfied with their professors who "are world-class researchers in their fields" and who "stand [out] for their passion for teaching and encouraging creativity." These "professors effectively prompt feedback from students, who often engage in constructive debate." Students consider themselves "lucky to have professors of diverse backgrounds." One particularly impressed student shares, "It's exciting when you turn on the TV and see your professor being interviewed about Al Capone's finances right on the History Channel. It's even more exciting when he integrates this topic into his classroom lecture." Students generally feel that the learning experience at the school is supported and enhanced by their classmates because "many work full-time at large companies and provide great experience[s] to discuss in class." One student notes, "I also appreciate that UIC requires prior work experience, so we are surrounded by other bright peers that can offer insight from their own experiences at work." While overall satisfied with their course work, professors, and peers, the students at Liautaud are less enamored with their facilities. They lament that "some of the classrooms are inadequate and out of date technologically" and wish for "wireless system improvement and more outlets to plug in laptops."

Students Say - Admissions
To apply to the University of Illinois at Chicago's Liautaud Graduate School of Business, you must submit a completed application (including several essay questions), an application fee, official transcripts from your undergraduate institution, GMAT scores, a current resume, two letters of recommendation, and, for international students, TOEFL test scores. Liautaud looks for candidates who demonstrate academic ability and strong management potential. The ideal candidate possesses the ability to lead, work in a team, conceptualize and analyze complex problems, and formulate solutions. To be considered for admission, Liautaud requires a B average on the last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (3.0 on a 4.0 scale). When analyzing an applicant's academic record, the school looks for evidence of analytic and quantitative skills.

Students Say - Campus Life
The reputation of Liautaud's MBA program along with the allure of Chicago attracts students ranging "from helicopter pilots to surgeons, and consultants to bankers." The mix also includes "mid-career types [who] are attending classes part-time" and "students raised in India and China [who] are having their first U.S. experience at UIC." One student proclaims, "These are down-to-earth people who are future entrepreneurs and the people that keep Chicago's small- to mid-size businesses going." Described as "competitive, bright, caring, social, and heartwarmingly nerdy," these students "group within their concentrations and have many opportunities to network outside of class." "There several active student organizations, including Net Impact and the MBAA" on campus. Despite the many opportunities to socialize and network, it can sometimes be a challenge for Liautaud sudents to meet up in person. "All classes are held in the evenings so students have to make a deliberate effort to schedule time to get involved," observes one student. In addition, "most graduate students live off campus, and many have full-time jobs. This means that group collaboration occurs mostly online." Given its high population of commuters, students are pleased that "the campus itself is in a great spot for commuters from around Chicago, just west of downtown. And there are great places to eat nearby."

Students Say - Careers
Advantageously situated next to "banker's row" in Chicago, the university's "proximity and connections to [the] Chicago Financial District" serve as a resource for Liautaud students. According to the school's website, the Liautaud Career Services Office provides a range of services for its students including "seminars, workshops, and online tools covering all aspects of the career development process." These workshops and tools focus on resume-building, career-mapping, personal branding, networking and salary negotiation. Students also have access to advising, employer contacts, online job postings and career fairs. The Career Services Office also provides special services for its international students including assistance with learning about U.S. protocol and business writing. Some of the notable companies that have recruited and hired graduates of Liataud include Abbott Laboratories, Caterpillar, Deloitte & Touche, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Morningstar, Navigant Consulting, TransUnion, and Wells Fargo.

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