Nicolas Córdoba is a part-time MBA student concentrating in Real Estate Development
Are you interested in getting a behind-the-scenes look at a real Kellstadt Graduate School of Business classroom? Visit one of our classes to see what it’s like to be part of the DePaul graduate business community. Regardless of where you are in the admissions process, attending a class can help you validate expectations for classroom culture and help you feel what it is like to be a DePaul student for the day!
MBA student Nicolas Córdoba decided to set up a class visit to gauge expectations. “Although I had already made my decision to attend DePaul, I wanted to see what a graduate class is really like,” he says. For Karly Vercauteren, a class visit was an important factor in helping her decide to attend DePaul: “There were many other deciding factors for me—the network and reputation of Kellstadt’s accounting program, the location in the heart of the Loop, curriculum flexibility—however, the class visit was a positive experience that helped me make my final decision.”
Karly Vercauteren is a part-time student in the Master of Science in Accountancy program at DePaul.
During her class visit, Vercauteren — who is now enrolled in the Master of Science in Accountancy program as a part-time student — got a feel for what it was like to be a DePaul student. “When visiting the actual class, I was impressed by the relatively small class size and the student-professor engagement,” Vercauteren says. Cordoba agrees: “The level of discussion within the class struck me most as well as the engaging interaction between professor and students.”
Observations from the classroom visits became a reality for students who visited the classroom before enrolling at DePaul. Vercauteren notes, “In my own classes, I witnessed a culture of teamwork and relationship building at DePaul. Everyone supports and pushes one another to be their best. I am very happy with my decision to attend DePaul, and I am grateful to be part of this incredible community.”
Our class visits are Monday through Thursday evenings at 5:45 or 6 p.m.
Click here to learn more about upcoming Kellstadt class visits
Interested in a DePaul MBA or a specialized MS degree? Attend the Kellstadt Power Hour to learn more. The Kellstadt Power Hour is a casual information session where you will meet faculty representatives and receive information on admission, scholarships and financial assistance. You can ask questions, meet student ambassadors and chat with career development representatives to find out about some of our alumni’s most recent successes. The Kellstadt Power Hour has helped many current students decide that DePaul was the place for them. Our next power hour is Wednesday, Oct. 24 at 6 p.m.
Click here to register
What Prospective Students Can Expect:
Jarrett McGuigan, a current part-time MBA student, says, “I decided to attend the Kellstadt Power Hour because I saw it as a great way to learn more about the various areas of study within the MBA program and a chance to meet current students and faculty. The power hour helped me to develop a better understanding of what life at DePaul would be like. The event gave me an avenue to ask current students about things such as workload balance, their favorite things about attending DePaul, class recommendations and so on. I was also provided valuable information about the application and acceptance process. The event gave me a much fuller picture of what to expect from the day I submitted my application up until the first day of classes.”
Power hours have been instrumental in helping prospective students decide that DePaul was the best place to pursue their advanced business degrees. McGuigan was able to speak to a number of Kellstadt faculty and staff. “I had the pleasure of speaking to a number of people that helped shape my decision to ultimately enroll at DePaul,” McGuigan says. “Through these conversations with the faculty and students, I was also able to build a list of ‘must-take’ classes that others shared had a huge impact on their graduate experience.”
Power Hour & My Decision to Attend DePaul:
First-year full-time MBA student Ari Carter also felt the impact of Power Hour. “What really stuck out to me was that Anthony Cuellar (assistant director of recruiting), who took the time to give me a tour of the DePaul Center and answer my questions,” Carter says. “This experience made me realize the personal touch that DePaul brings to the table. The Kellstadt Power Hour helped confirm that DePaul was the right place for me.”
Contributors
- Jarrett McGuigan is a part-time DePaul MBA student (class of 2019) and works as a business analyst at the Make-A-Wish® Foundation.
- Ari Carter is a full-time DePaul MBA student (class of 2020) with a concentration in finance.
Making the decision to return to school can often be a difficult one, and even more so when a student chooses to attend an academic institution abroad. Three Kellstadt MBA students came together to reflect on their academic year as international students and the connections they formed with their classmates and faculty. Priscilla Mwaura, Shweta Gujrathi and Jing Liu selected DePaul University based on its strong academic reputation, but these students gained more than just an education–they discovered a community.
Mwaura chose to relocate from her home country of Kenya in part due to Chicago’s diverse economy and reputation as a top financial city. Kellstadt offered not only AACSB accredited classes, but also a faculty made up of industry experts and entrepreneurs well connected in the Chicago business community. Both were vital to Mwaura, who wanted to ensure that the MBA program she selected was reputable if she were to leave Kenya.
Jing Liu
Kellstadt’s financial reputation also attracted Liu. “Kellstadt has provided an international perspective,” Liu says. “Not only have I learned about the American economy, but also the economies of Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom through a study abroad trip.” For Liu, this professional knowledge has been invaluable. Liu continues, “I’ve been able to gain experience in some of the top financial industries and network with DePaul’s vast alumni network, helping to position me closer to achieving my career goals.”
Mwaura agrees that her first year at Kellstadt has broadened her outlook on global business, sometimes in surprising ways.“Some classes, such as MGT 584: Consulting Skills, developed my skill set in areas I knew little about before,” Mwaura says. “The learning environment at DePaul fosters teamwork and networking. Forming and sustaining these skills and relationships will directly impact the direction my career takes.”
Gujrathi found value not only in the academic resources, but also in the relationships she formed within the Kellstadt community. “The admissions team became my partners in the process even before I enrolled at DePaul, and I continue to receive the same support from the faculty and staff,” Gujrathi says. “Having someone to stand by you is particularly important for international students as they face various challenges in a new country.”
It has been a year full of education and networking for the three, and they look forward to finishing their degrees in 2019. With the support of the Kellstadt community they are positioned for success, whether in Chicago, or abroad.
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Contributors:
- Shweta Gujrathi is pursuing her MBA in Marketing full-time at Kellstadt Graduate School of Business
- Priscillia Mwaura is pursuing her MBA in Finance full-time at Kellstadt Graduate School of Business.
- Jing Liu is pursuing her MBA in Finance full-time at Kellstadt Graduste School of Business
Kellstadt students begin their MBA/MS journey for a variety of reasons; they may want to continue their studies right after a bachelor’s degree, advance in their careers or transition into a new career. Often, life as a graduate student means that there are work, family and community commitments. While it could be possible to earn an MBA or MS degree interacting with professors and fellow students only in course lectures, students can translate education to experience by getting involved. To enhance your MBA and MS experience at DePaul, Kellstadt provides numerous opportunities to get involved, such as career-building resources, graduate student organizations and community service.
Career Building Resources
The Kellstadt Career Management Center (CMC) provides networking and career counseling that can be developed in parallel to the academics of your degree. Also, the CMC offers a variety of workshops, as well as résumé review and mock interview opportunities.
Student Organizations
There are many Kellstadt graduate student organizations related to each graduate focus of study that you can join. Joining a student organization is a great way to meet fellow students, professors and alumni. Kellstadt’s student organizations allow you to put theory into action while networking with professors and alumni who are experts in their fields. From Kellstadt Marketing Group’s Case Competition to the DePaul Society for Human Resource Management’s “Innovation in HR” panel discussion there are countless opportunities to get involved.
Volunteerism
One of the biggest advantages of DePaul is that it is located in Chicago, providing many opportunities to become involved in community service. I’ve had the opportunity to work with two accounting- and finance-related local organizations: Ladder Up, which provides tax preparation assistance, and Operation HOPE, a nonprofit that brings financial literacy to younger generations. There are also several community organizations such as the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Care for Real, as well as other local shelters and religious organizations. DePaul also hosts Vincentian Service Day, an annual tradition that brings together students, staff, faculty and alumni to participate in a day of service with more than 50 community partners in the Chicagoland area and cities around the world.
Becoming involved will help tie in your academic experience to your original goals and make it more meaningful. It may even confirm your decision to pursue a particular concentration of study.
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Author: Sabrina Wing is pursuing her MBA part-time at the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business.
A group of 19 DePaul students traveled to the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland/UK over Spring Break to better understand Brexit (the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union). Led by Economics Professor Tom Mondschean and Christa Hinton, assistant dean and director of the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business, the experience offered students the opportunity to learn about Brexit from two perspectives: Ireland and the United Kingdom. The trip also offered students the opportunity to visit cultural venues to learn about Irish history, the troubles in Northern Ireland, the role the Titanic played in Belfast industry and the business history of Guinness and Irish whiskey distilleries.
Students had the opportunity to experience local culture, such as Dublin’s famous Temple Bar.
“This trip was a fantastic way for students to comfortably experience two countries and cultures in one week and learn about a topic that will directly affect businesses and individuals,” said Mondschean. “By meeting with business and government officials from both countries, students were able to begin to understand the complexities of Brexit and how people continue to grapple with the uncertainty.”
Hilary Perschke, a Kellstadt part-time MBA student, said, “The opportunity to study abroad in Ireland has given me a perspective that is invaluable to my career growth and a chance to differentiate myself in a competitive market. I have gained knowledge from both a business and cultural standpoint that has set me apart from my peers in my field. The connections I have made helped me expand my network to view business dynamics from an international lens.”
Part-time MBA student Jory Nelaimischkies also described the benefits of the experience. “I knew I wanted to take advantage of a Study Abroad program while at DePaul, and as a working student I was incredibly excited by the idea of a ‘Spring Break’ trip,” said Nelaimischkies.
Nelaimischkies and Perschke, both J.P. Morgan employees, had the opportunity to visit their firm’s Dublin office.
“Visiting international businesses, talking with local governments, and hearing firsthand how people will actually be impacted by Brexit was far more informative than a book or a lecture. Not only did I get to travel to a new country, but I was also able to envision the potential of a career with travel outside the United States.”
This trip to the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom was just one of the many opportunities Kellstadt students have had this year to experience education on an international level. DePaul students have countless opportunities to set themselves apart in the job market by utilizing study abroad and other experiential learning.
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