International Students Reflect: Education, Professional Experience, and Community in a New Home

International Students Reflect: Education, Professional Experience, and Community in a New Home

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
Get Involved! Ways to Enhance Your MBA/MS Experience

Get Involved! Ways to Enhance Your MBA/MS Experience

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.

 

Sweet “New” Home Chicago! Kellstadt Students Love to Explore their New City

Sweet “New” Home Chicago! Kellstadt Students Love to Explore their New City

Sweet “New” Home Chicago! Kellstadt Students Love to Explore their New City

 

The “City of Broad Shoulders,” the “Windy City”–whatever you call Chicago, DePaul is lucky to call it home. Sampling the famous pizza, cheering on one of our six professional sports teams, or visiting one of our many world-class museums are all options for the Kellstadt student with a few hours of downtime. But Chicago’s benefits aren’t just limited to leisure activities.

One of the largest cities in the world, Chicago affords DePaul one of the most robust networking communities of any university. Simply being in Chicago puts Kellstadt students at an advantage with an extensive alumni community, financial district and a plethora of companies within walking distance. Kellstadt students can make use of this prime location with resources like the ASK (Alumni Sharing Knowledge) network, an online community to connect them to mentors. DePaul students also have the chance to be involved in the cutting edge of the entrepreneurship community through resources offered through The Coleman Center for Entrepreneurship, including access to tech incubators like 1871. Whether you’re looking to secure a job with an established company or get in on the ground floor of a start-up, the opportunities are unlimited in Chicago.

Chicago is a city that offers more to do and see than most other cities. From comedians to athletes, foodies to nature buffs, there’s something here for everyone. No matter where your interests lie, you will be able to find your place and create your community. With its central location in the heart of Chicago, and endless entertainment and extensive networking opportunities, it’s tough to pass up on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study at DePaul.

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Contributors: Paul Rosenfeld and Nathan Farmer, students in the Kellstadt MBA program.


Inside Kellstadt: Stories by and from the DePaul Graduate Business Community