University of Missouri—St. Louis College of Business Administration

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Students Say - Academics
The University of Missouriâ€"St. Louis is a smart choice for local professionals who want to complete an MBA without interrupting their career. "One of three AASCB-accredited schools in the St. Louis area," UMSL offers several MBA options: the traditional evening MBA, the professional MBA, and the international MBA, offered in conjunction with partner universities overseas. For students in the evening program, "convenient class schedules" make UMSL a great choice (though evening students also say, "there is a great need for online course options" to provide greater flexibility.) While classes in the evening program meet once a week, the professional MBA is a hybrid program, which combines weekend course work with web-based classes and online communication. As these options illustrate, the school's programs are principally geared toward "working professionals that attend UMSL and come to class and go home." However, the student body seems to be "shifting to younger students as they recognize the education level being received…surpasses the minimal cost to attend." On that note, USML is an excellent value. This school maintains a "good reputation in the St. Louis area for providing a good, quality business education," while also maintaining a "very affordable" tuition price. In both the evening and professional format, the MBA at UMSL is a general program, with a core curriculum built around functional areas of business, including accounting, finance, information systems, supply chain management, and marketing (though students may also pursue an area of emphasis through elective course work.) By all accounts, the administration is very "well-organized" and the curriculum is "up-to-date on trends and technology." At the same time, some students would like to see the core courses more ably synched. In some cases, "courses are repetitive," and students feel the MBA "should encompass a more general/integrated look at business and manage[ment]." Throughout the MBA, there is an emphasis on "combining the practical knowledge with the theoretical knowledge" in the classroom. At UMSL, "The professors are almost all professionals in their field," who "teach about real-world work experience and tie current events into the curriculum." Here, talented professors "make the course work interesting by providing practical knowledge in addition to theoretical knowledge, and truly being engaged in the industry." In fact, in the rare case that a teacher doesn't excel in the classroom, they nonetheless are experts in their fields. A student remembers, "There have been a few that were poor teachers but were good technically on the subject matter." Despite their real-world credentials, faculty "all seem to teach for the love of teaching versus for the pay," and they are "readily available outside of class and are always willing to help."

Students Say - Admissions
Though professional experience is not required for admittance into the traditional MBA program, it does play a factor in admissions decisions. In order to gain nonrestricted admittance to any of the school's MBA programs, an applicant must submit a GMAT score of at least 500 (50th percentile) overall and must have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0. Applicants who score below the 30th percentile on either the verbal or quantitative component of the GMAT generally are not accepted. Applicants also must submit an official copy of undergraduate transcripts from all institutions where course work was completed (this should come directly from the schools themselves); a current resume; an official GMAT score report; a personal statement; and two letters of recommendation.
In addition to the above documents, international students whose primary language is not English must also provide an official score report for the TOEFL (minimum score: 550, paper-based test; 213, computer-based test).

Students Say - Campus Life
With a convenient evening or weekend schedule, UMSL attracts a lot of working professionals, who are "busy juggling work, school, and home responsibilities." While they have worries outside the classroom, this is a "hardworking" bunch, and "students are focused on doing well in their classes while also working a full-time job." When course work requires collaboration between classmates, students are "friendly and professional," and they "work well together in groups." By and large, "UMSL is a commuter school" and most people "are there to learn and leave." As a part of the largest research university in the St. Louis area, UMSL has an "ethnically diverse" and active student body. As graduate business students, MBA candidates have access to numerous facilities on this 350-acre campus. For example, "The campus houses the largest Performing Arts Center in the Saint Louis Area. There are weekly and something nightly events on campus, available for free or at a discount to UMSL students." Within the business school, however, students would like the administration to "upgrade our facilities and buildings." Located in urban St. Louis, this school offers excellent access to the largest metropolitan center in Missouri. However, the campus is "set in a rough part of St. Louis," so there aren't many options for recreation or nightlife in the local area.

Students Say - Careers
Most USML programs are designed for working professionals who are looking to advance in their current position, rather than find a new job. However, for those seeking a career change, the USML Office of Career Services helps undergraduate and graduate students prepare for the job search through career counseling and job preparation workshops. The Office of Career Services also connects the university with local employers through networking events and job fairs. (At recent USML job fairs, numerous prominent companies attended, including Aflac Insurance, AT&T, Bank of America, Boeing, Commerce Bank, FedEx, Maxim Healthcare Services, Mutual of Omaha, Northwestern Mutual, Sherwin-Williams, St. Luke's Hospital, Target, Walgreens, and many more.) Through Career Services, students can also post their resume online, where it can be electronically matched with recruiting companies.

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