UCI's MBA program contains three residential programs where the students are taken offsite for an intensive period of study - the Opening Residential; the International Residential; and the Leadership Residential. We just got back yesterday from the Opening Residential where we were sequestered at the Irvine Hyatt for four nights. They squeezed two classes (6 units) into 30 hours of formal instruction and about 15 hours of work on group projects/papers. The two classes were Organizational Behavior and Strategic Planning. It was a good indoctrination into the work level that will be required for class and it was a good bonding experience for the students.
They also assigned us our small groups. For our core classes (the first year or so), we'll all be taking the same curriculum and much of the work will be assigned to our groups of 4-6 people. We'll work with the same small group throughout our time at UCI so I'm glad that my group seems to be serious and hard-working and we don't seem to have any personality conflicts as yet.
We got one nice surprise on the last day of the Residential. We were told by staff that US News just released its rankings for part-time MBA programs and UCI moved up to #21 in the country (from 24th in the previous ranking)! The trajectory of this program over the last few years has been amazing. Great validation of my decision to come to UCI.
Our first regular classes don't start until March 28th and once they start I'll be in class two nights per week.
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