A looming question mark hangs over the Future MBA Students in America.

This review provides an overview of the Santa Clara University’s, Leavey School of Business MBA. An MBA is essential for professionals seeking leadership roles and career growth, but with so many options available, selecting the right program can be challenging. In 2011, during my Environmental Engineering Undergraduate(NUST- Pakistan), my team reached the semi-finals of the GIST International Competition, where we pitched a renewable energy business plan involving biodiesel at a conference hosted by Vice President Joe Biden and Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan. After graduating in 2012, I attempted to commercialize my research but the venture failed. Over the next seven years, I worked across various companies and researched U.S. business schools, seeking one that would leverage my engineering background and provide insights into finance and the evolving tech-driven business landscape. Eventually, I was accepted into the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University in 2019 and would like to share my experiences to help prospective international students make informed decisions.

 

The class at Leavey School of Business was primarily composed of Silicon Valley professionals, mostly working in tech companies. This diverse group was helpful and supportive, which made settling in easier. I gained valuable insights into Silicon Valley's venture capital culture, startup business models, and how to solve business problems with available resources. The personalized teaching approach, small class sizes, and a mix of traditional and innovative methods made the learning experience highly effective. Courses on entrepreneurship and AI provided a practical understanding of business operations, while the focus on financial models deepened my financial literacy.  Throughout my studies, I completed 85 units over 9 quarters, majoring in finance and marketing.

When I began the MBA program at Santa Clara University in March 2019, my goal was to gain the knowledge needed to enter the business world. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting social and political changes disrupted my plans. The university housing department kindly allowed international students to stay on campus throughout the pandemic. Securing an internship became a significant challenge, and despite my initial hopes of entering finance, I couldn’t land a role at my target firms. COVID-19 also limited networking opportunities, and discrimination emerged as a concern. I had expected more support in securing a job, particularly given my education and work experience. During my studies, I worked with a student team to advocate for the STEM designation for the MBA program, which was eventually granted. I now highly recommend the Leavey MBA for its rigorous academics, supportive environment, and beautiful campus, though I hope future policies offer better support for international students seeking to work in the U.S. post-graduation.

This review provides an overview of the Santa Clara University’s, Leavey School of Business MBA. An MBA is essential for professionals seeking leadership roles and career growth, but with so many options available, selecting the right program can be challenging. In 2011, during my Environmental Engineering Undergraduate(NUST- Pakistan), my team reached the semi-finals of the GIST International Competition, where we pitched a renewable energy business plan involving biodiesel at a conference hosted by Vice President Joe Biden and Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan. After graduating in 2012, I attempted to commercialize my research but the venture failed. Over the next seven years, I worked across various companies and researched U.S. business schools, seeking one that would leverage my engineering background and provide insights into finance and the evolving tech-driven business landscape. Eventually, I was accepted into the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University in 2019 and would like to share my experiences to help prospective international students make informed decisions.

 

The class at Leavey School of Business was primarily composed of Silicon Valley professionals, mostly working in tech companies. This diverse group was helpful and supportive, which made settling in easier. I gained valuable insights into Silicon Valley's venture capital culture, startup business models, and how to solve business problems with available resources. The personalized teaching approach, small class sizes, and a mix of traditional and innovative methods made the learning experience highly effective. Courses on entrepreneurship and AI provided a practical understanding of business operations, while the focus on financial models deepened my financial literacy.  Throughout my studies, I completed 85 units over 9 quarters, majoring in finance and marketing.

When I began the MBA program at Santa Clara University in March 2019, my goal was to gain the knowledge needed to enter the business world. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting social and political changes disrupted my plans. The university housing department kindly allowed international students to stay on campus throughout the pandemic. Securing an internship became a significant challenge, and despite my initial hopes of entering finance, I couldn’t land a role at my target firms. COVID-19 also limited networking opportunities, and discrimination emerged as a concern. I had expected more support in securing a job, particularly given my education and work experience. During my studies, I worked with a student team to advocate for the STEM designation for the MBA program, which was eventually granted. I now highly recommend the Leavey MBA for its rigorous academics, supportive environment, and beautiful campus, though I hope future policies offer better support for international students seeking to work in the U.S. post-graduation.