University of San Francisco Masagung Graduate School of Management

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Students Say - Academics
"A great emphasis on entrepreneurship and finance" is among the program strengths that draw MBAs to the University of San Francisco's School of Business and Professional Studies where a variety of MBA options to suit all needs is on offer. USF's MBA is available in six program formats: a traditional two-year, full-time MBA, an accelerated one-year MBA, a part-time MBA, an accelerated part-time MBA, a part-time MBA for those with fewer than two years' work experience (called the MBA Career Advantage Program), and an Executive MBA. Students in a hurry to receive their degrees laud the intensive programs, while those pursuing their degrees at a more leisurely pace appreciate their program's convenience. In all programs, USF's "strong connections with venture capitalists in the area" as well as "the technology and innovation of the Silicon Valley" help make entrepreneurship "such a strength" of this MBA program. A "national business plan competition hosted by the school" further bolsters USF's status as a leader in entrepreneurship. The school's "international draw"â€"nearly 40 percent of students here are internationalsâ€"makes USF a great place for those interested in international business to learn and network. "I believe that anyone looking to get into international business would find USF a great fit," one student tells us. Each of USF's MBA programs maintains "small class sizes" that promote "personal relationships with professors," especially valuable since professors here "will get you business contacts." Each program embodies "the Jesuit approach toward a well-rounded education" and works at "ensuring ethics" throughout the curriculum. Once core courses are completed, the USF curriculum is "taught in seven-week modules, which can be stressful. It's a tight workload within seven weeks, but it is also satisfying to have four classes done in seven weeks." The program places "an emphasis on group cooperation while nurturing individual growth." pace appreciate their program's convenience.

Students Say - Admissions
USF does not maintain any minimum admissions requirements with regards to GPA or GMAT score. However, admission is competitive, and incoming students have an average GMAT score of 600 and an average undergraduate GPA of 3.1. Students must have at least two years of full-time work experience to be considered for the part-time or accelerated full-time programs, less than two years of work experience for the MBA Cap, and seven years of work experience if they want to apply to the executive MBA.

Students Say - Campus Life
USF's "wired campus" in "one of the most beautiful cities in the world" offers "good resources" to students. "We have easy access to study rooms, computers, technology, and food (very important)," one student reports. Students' involvement on campus depends on their program. Part timers here "are not very involved [with the program] outside the classroom," nor are students in the "intense" Executive MBA program, who happily report that the program "takes care of its students," a process that includes "catering all the food so you can concentrate on your classes." Full timers, on the other hand, tell us that extracurricular life is "very active: a lot of clubs, good sport programs, a lot of speakers from Silicon Valley." There's also "Thirsty Thursday events, where students get together at local bars on Thursdays and have a drink" and "Hump Day Wednesday dinners at school." The event calendar is easy to track, as events "are summarized each week in an email from the VP of Marketing from the Graduate Business Association." All here agree that San Francisco is an "excellent location" where there's "always something to do." There are "plenty of attractions nearby, including bars, parks, and museums. Students hang out with each other outside of school at these places." The MBA population is "a good mix of students in terms of background, gender, work experience" and include "many international students, students from across the U.S., married and single students, as well as students who come from all sorts of professional backgrounds."

Students Say - Careers
If you want to live and work in the Bay Area, USF will give you an edge in the local market. Astaple in the community, USF has a strong alumni base and the school creates "good opportunities to network." Currently, USF graduates are employed at a range of prestigious companies, including Advanced Fibre Communications, Bank of the West, BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc., California Bank and Trust, Charles Schwab, Cisco Systems, EMQ Children & Family Services, Ernst & Young, LLP, IBM Global Services, Inverito, Inc., KPMG, LaRose Group, Lautze & Lautze, Live Capital, Marcus & Millichap, Marsh, Inc., Mervyn's, OPT Derivatives, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Peat Marwick, Persona, International, Premier Accountants, Prudential, Salomon Smith Barney, Systron-Donner, Walden International Investment Group, and Wells Capital Management. For those pursuing new positions after graduation, USF Career Services hosts career development workshops, special events, and recruiting activities. Career Services also keeps an up-to-date blog about careers and industries. Despite these services, students feel the office can do better. "The ability to bring in more big name companies or even jobs for the MBA students" is an area for improvement, one student writes, adding "I believe it is difficult because we have to compete with Stanford and Berkley, but USF MBA grads have a lot to offer and I believe being in San Francisco they should be marketing the MBA program much better to the job market."

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