University of the Pacific Eberhardt School of Business

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Students Say - Academics
Located in Stockton, California, University of the Pacific is a small college that boasts a "very high standing both academically and professionally throughout our local community and state." Ideal for early career professionals, the school's full-time "16-month program allows students without a business undergraduate degree to obtain an MBA in a highly intensive and challenging program." Fast-paced and efficient, the first term is "an intensive phase 18- unit semester broken down into nine modules of 4 to 6 classes each. This intensive phase allows students to learn the fundamentals necessary for a business degree and requires spending most of the students' time at school." During this time, students are placed "in a cohort of between 20 to 35 students and share all required classes." Therefore, each entering class is incredibly tight-knit, creating a unique learning environment. A current student explains, "This cohort of students is a wide array of culturally- and educationally-diverse students coming from various countries and experience levels. These factors contribute to an intellectually challenging classroom experience [that] goes beyond traditional book- or case-based classes." In addition to traditional business students, the "MBA program offers joint programs with Pacific's PharmD and JD programs…having the interaction from the other schools is a great resource." After the first term, Pacific's MBA program follows a typical semester model, with a more "moderate workload." At that point, students can tailor their educational experiences by choosing to specialize in entrepreneurship, finance, healthcare management, sports management, or marketing. They also take advantage of "the unique opportunity to study abroad in another country," through the school's overseas program, or specialize in international issues through the school's Cooperative Peace Corps/MBA. Future finance mavens can also hone their skills through the school's $1.5 million Eberhardt Student Investment Fund. While University of the Pacific boasts many world-class opportunities, students are most impressed by the small and intimate feeling that pervades this small Northern California school. With a faculty-student ratio of 13 to 1, "The greatest strengths of this school are the small classroom sizes [and] the professors' willingness to help students and get to know them on a one-on-one basis." A current student agrees, "I have been pleased with the teacher's performance and one-on-one help outside of classrooms. Teachers really take the time make sure students understand the material and frequently check to make sure everyone is on the same page." Another adds, "Students are always welcome to question or seek help from professors and the professors offer a more peer-to-peer interaction, rather than the typical student-teacher relationship, which further encourages a beneficial educational experience." In addition to their friendliness and accessibility, Pacific professors are strong class leaders. On the whole, students are "very impressed with the quality of the teaching," saying their professors are "professional and can apply the material to real-life situations."

Students Say - Admissions
To be considered for admission to University of the Pacific's graduate programs, students must have a minimum GMAT score of 500. Prospective students are evaluated based on their performance in prior coursework, recommendation letters, GMAT scores, and an admissions interview. Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis, and a new cohort of 35 students is admitted each fall.

Students Say - Campus Life
Pacific's enthusiastic students dole out praises for their diligent classmates, saying, "Fellow students are both driven and work as a team. Together, we hope to succeed and push past boundaries." Due to the intense cohort format, "each class that comes through is extremely close-knit and shares their experiences like a single unit." Acurrent MBA candidate elaborates, "Students are very genuine and really look out for one another. Because we spend all week together, many students have found strong friendships and even business partners for future ventures." While the school draws a few students from further a field, "the MBA student population is predominantly localâ€"though they may have originated from somewhere else." Based in the small city of Stockton, California, "The campus is like a world of its own within the community"â€"a place where students feel comfortable studying and relaxing. To burn off steam, MBA students can participate in "intramural sports like evening basketball and flag football that are played against other schools on campus." Thursdays are a popular night for gatherings, and "the MBAs also spend a lot of time together outside of campus at dinner and studying." Attracting a younger crowd, some say the school could "try to make more programs available for full-time working students and their families." One explains, "Being a father and husband, my time is very limited. There are several times that I would've liked to involve my wife and children in my school activities, but that seemed out of place."

Students Say - Careers
Career development is directly incorporated into the University of the Pacific curriculum. Throughout the first term, students are required to take a weekly Career Development course to help them build a job search strategy and prepare for the professional world. Students are also required to complete a summer business internship, which offers the opportunity to build real-world skills and contacts. In addition, the MBA Career Services Center hosts various on-campus recruiting events and interviews. Located a stone's throw away from the San Francisco Bay Area and the Silicon Valley, "the network of contacts built from attending UOP is excellent." The average student interviews with about five different companies and receives three job offers by graduation. With a salary range between $42,000 and $62,000, recent graduates have taken jobs at Accenture, E. & J. Gallo, Ernst & Young, and Foster Farms, among others.

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