Paul Merage School of Business Remembers Pamela Adams, MBA ’98
The Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine said goodbye to a beloved family member when Pamela Adams, MBA ’98, lost her battle with cancer earlier this fall. As an investment manager and certified financial planner, Adams built a successful career. However, it was her numerous contributions to her alma mater that makes her passing especially hard on UCI.
After graduating with an MBA from the Merage School in the late ’90s, Adams helped found the Dean’s Leadership Circle (DLC) in 2005 with then dean Andy Policano. The DCL is a business network for alumni and executives to help build stronger ties in the business community. Adams served on the DLC Advisory Board as a “Visionary” member until recently.
“Certainly, she will be missed,” dean Eric Spangenberg said. “Most definitely, she will be remembered. Always, Pam Adams will be cherished in the hearts of the Merage School family.”
Adams helped launch the school’s Center for Investment and Wealth Management (CIWM), chaired the CIWM Community Programs and served on its Advisory Board. Beginning in 2008, Adams served as a member of the Merage School Dean’s Advisory Board, and, just this past year, endowed scholarships for young students to attend the LifeVest financial literacy program hosted by the CIWM. In 2005 Adams was recognized as a UCI Lauds & Laurels Distinguished Alumni Award as one of the Merage School’s most outstanding alumni.
“Pam was a natural leader in every aspect of her life,” said Policano, who is currently the faculty director of the CIWM. “She was an iconic role model for our students and we are indeed fortunate to have been the beneficiaries of her guidance, generosity and friendship. Because of Pam, we have improved the community around us and enabled others who are less fortunate to have the opportunity to succeed.”
Paul Merage alum, member Pamela Adams.
Adams also dedicated much of her time to mentoring young people and supporting women in need. She was a founding member of the Girls Inc. Guild of Orange County, a nonprofit serving girls in need, and an active member of the National Association of Women Business Owners of Orange County who named her “Member of the Year” in 2007.
“We owe a great debt of gratitude to Pam,” added Sandra Findly, Executive Director of Development in the Office of External Relations at the Merage School. “She has set the bar high and we are forever thankful for her dedication and commitment to making a difference in the lives our students and alumni, the people in our community, and in the lives of every single one of us who had the good fortune to know her.”
Part-Time MBA Battle: Houston v. Dallas
Among the bustling metros of the Lone Star State, Dallas and Houston are the biggest. Locals from the Houston and Dallas metros are die-hard about their towns, and their business schools take their MBA programs seriously. Both cities offer plenty of part-time options to prospective MBAs, so let’s take a deeper dive.
Location
While Houston and Dallas are only about four hours away by car, each metro offers completely different living experiences. As far as weather goes, if you dislike humid climates, Dallas may be the location for you. If you love being by the water, Houston may be up your alley—though the city, unfortunately, is more at risk for tropical storms and hurricanes.
Houston is statistically the more expensive city to live in, but not by a significant margin. According to Numbeo, a database of user contributed data about cities, you would need around $4,242 in Houston to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $4,000 in Dallas, assuming you do not own a home. As far as entertainment goes, it’s really a tie: Both metros boast great restaurants, shopping, sports entertainment, and nightlife.
Here are a couple more quick stats comparing Houston and Dallas, courtesy this awesome infographic from SpareFoot:
- Houston is the 5th best US city for good jobs, Dallas ranks 18th.
- Houston is the 5th best US city for job seekers, Dallas is 6th.
- Dallas has the 13th lowest unemployment rate in the US, Houston is 18th.
- Dallas has the 9th most affordable housing marketing in the US, Houston is 8th.
Not every MBA candidate can manage a full-time degree program. So many business school students continue to work throughout their studies, balancing a job and graduate school through a part-time MBA program. Many of these programs take place in the evenings and on weekends, allowing for flexibility along with continued professional growth.
Dallas Part-Time MBA Programs
The following schools in the Dallas metro offer part-time MBA programs:
- Cox School of Business – Southern Methodist University
- Naveen Jindal School of Management – University of Texas at Dallas
- Neeley School of Business – Texas Christian University
- University of North Texas College of Business
- University of Texas at Arlington College of Business
The Southern Methodist Professional MBA features a flexible and modular curriculum that students can customize to their learning and future career goals. Students have the option to choose a concentration and a minor from nine subject areas, including: accounting, finance, general business, information technology and operations management, management, marketing, real estate and strategy, and entrepreneurship.
The estimated total cost of the aforementioned Professional MBA program is $93,696. This figure excludes costs such as books, materials, housing, or transportation. However, approximately 60 percent of students receive some form of financial aid, either need-based or consumer loans.
The Professional MBA program at the Naveen Jindal School of Business consists of taking two classes each semester, and classes are usually offered Monday-Friday from 4 to 10 p.m. The program is offered three different formats: a Evening Cohort, Flex, and Online. The Evening cohort option can be completed in 24 months, and allows the entire intake to experience the 30 required classes together. The Flex program lets students finish their degree on their own schedule, online and on campus. Similarly, the Online MBA offers plenty of scheduling options, but a limited choice of electives and concentrations.
Tuition costs depend on the amount of courses taken per semester and which track students are enrolled in. At UT Dallas, students pay lower per credit when taking more classes per semester. The estimated cost for tuition and fees for in-state residents in the Evening PMBA program is $42,347, and $78,449 for non-residents and international students. Tuition and fees for resident students in the online program is estimated at $49,531, with non-resident tuition at $84,016. Scholarship opportunities are available.
The Professional MBA at the Neeley School of Business meets twice a week in the evenings. The cohort-based program that can be completed in as little as 24 months or as many as 33 months—the amount of time it takes to complete the program depends on how students schedule their elective courses.
One year of the Texas Christian Professional MBA program costs an estimated $33,090, which includes tuition and other program fees. Books and other course materials are estimated at about $1,000.
Students in the University of North Texas MBA program have the option of taking courses on a full-time or part-time basis, and can earn a MBA degree in such areas as finance, health services management, marketing, logistics and supply chain management, organizational behavior and human resource management, strategic management, or business studies. Students completing the MBA in business studies also have the opportunity to complete a concentration in international business, library science and technology, real estate, or sustainability.
The UT Arlington Professional Cohort MBA structure is created for experienced professionals who want to continue to work full-time and follows the same 45-credit hour curriculum as the MBA flexible structure. The cohort structure allows students to complete courses in accelerated five or eight-week sessions, which allows students to complete their MBA in 24 months. This format is only offered at the Fort Worth campus. The estimated cost of the MBA program at the University of Texas at Arlington College of Business is $25,382.
Houston Part-Time MBA Programs
The following schools in the Houston metro offer part-time MBA programs:
- C.T. Bauer College of Business – University of Houston
- Cameron School of Business – University of St. Thomas
- Jesse H. Jones School of Business – Texas Southern University
- Rice University – Jones Graduate School of Business
- University of Houston – Downtown
The University of Houston Professional MBA program is a flexible program that takes 22 months to complete and consists of 48 credit hours. Students must complete 21 core credit hours and 27 elective credit hours.
Tuition costs at Bauer are estimated at $42,000 for Texas residents, $66,600 for non-resident students, and $72,000 for international students. Costs can change depending on how many classes a student is taking and their student status MBA students can get financial assistance in the form of student loans and scholarships, such as the MBA Bauer Excellence Scholarship. Students can receive up to $10,000 per year, qualify for in-state tuition (for nonresidents) and receive a two-year subscription to The Wall Street Journal.
The Cameron School of Business offers a flexible MBA that holds classes on the weekends and in the evenings. Students in the MBA program at Cameron are required to complete 36 academic hours: 27 hours are in core course and nine credit hours are elective courses.
The cost of the Cameron School of Business MBA program is $1,163 per credit hour. Students taking eight or fewer credit hours per semester are required to pay a $47 activity fee. Those students taking nine or more hours are required to pay $82. Students must also pay a $100 new graduate student fee and an $80 technology fee. Students are required to pay all fees every fall and spring semester.
The Texas Southern MBA program at the Jesse H. Jones School of Business provides a general management education to students who are looking to advance their current careers in business management, and can be taken in a full-time or part-time schedule. Part-time program students can complete their MBA degree over a flexible amount of time, depending on their availability to complete courses. All students complete courses over the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
The Jones MBA costs about $7,130.38 a year for in-state residents and $13,700.38 a year for out-of-state folks. Other fees such as room and board, transportation, books and other personal expenses are not factored in the cost of the program.
Rice University’s MBA for Professionals is a flexible program that offers an evening or weekend option to allow students to maintain their current work schedules. The traditional professional MBA is held in a lock-step format while the Extended Professional MBA program holds classes two evenings a week during the first semester and one evening a week after that. Students in this program can extend their education for three years or more, up to five, in order to better fit with their schedule.
The current tuition cost is $101,500 for the Evening and Evening Extended programs and $105,500 for the Weekend program. The tuition covers the complete 22-month schedule of coursework and is billed in 25 percent increments over four semesters.
The University of Houston Downtown part-time MBA can be completed in two or three years. Classes are offered in a hybrid form, with some classes taking place on campus and others online. Students may elect to pursue a “soft start” to their MBA, where students pursue their concentration classes first, or a traditional-start MBA students, where they take core classes the first year, followed by concentration classes in the second year.
The school also offers a three-year path to an MBA where students work on their concentration the first year and then take the core classes in the second and third years, or elect to pursue a traditional start by taking core classes in the first two years and concentration courses in their third year.
At $532 per credit hour for in-state students, tuition for a UHD MBA varies depending on the concentration. Students concentrating on finance, human resource management, leadership management, or business development/sales management will pay $21,840. Concentrations in supply chain management, international business or accounting cost $23,940. An MBA with a general management concentration costs $18,088. Out-of-state students pay about $28,300 and out-of-country students pay around $28,480.
Georgetown McDonough MBAs Head to Mexico to Volunteer
While most MBA students enjoyed some rest and relaxation during their fall breaks, a group of six full-time and Evening MBAs from the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business traveled south of the border.
The students visited the historic city of San Miguel de Allende to volunteer at Centro Infantil de los Angeles, an organization that provides free daycare and preschool to the local community. Founded by Donna Quathamer in 2000 as a safe haven for the children of single mothers who sold their wares at outskirts of town, Casa de los Angeles has come from humble beginnings to serve over 170 children every day.
This marked the second year that McDonough students volunteered at Centro Infantil de los Angeles.
“This is a part of our sustainability efforts to form long-term, meaningful relationships with organizations, which we can pass along (to future MBA classes),” said James Chen, MBA ’18, Vice President of Community and Sustainability.
The MBAs worked alongside the full-time staff at the daycare, playing and coloring with the children, brushing their teeth, changing diapers, feeding them, and cleaning the area.
“I wanted the opportunity to volunteer for a great organization, where I knew I would make a difference. I also was very interested in the international aspect of the trip as I love to experience new countries and cultures,” Clark Britan, MBA ’18, said. “It was a great opportunity to meet other like-minded Georgetown McDonough students.”
The trip was organized through the MBA Student Government Association (SGA). The SGA acts as the primary interface between the student body and the faculty and administration and exists to make students’ time at the McDonough School of Business as enjoyable and rewarding as possible. The organization plans social events, boosts alumni relations, makes major student organization decisions, manages class finances, and implements new and existing policies or initiatives.
“[This trip] provides students an opportunity to dedicate time to volunteer efforts. The trek is more structured and allows for more in-depth and self-reflective volunteer opportunities for MBA students,” Chen said. “Additionally, it aligns with Georgetown’s Jesuit values and emphasis on improvement of the global community.”
How Boston Business Schools Help Low-Income MBA Applicants
Anyone planning on earning a postgraduate business degree knows that MBA programs cost a lot of money. In the Boston metro, where the cost of living is already high, the annual cost of an MBA program can reach upward of $100,000 … Ouch! Continue reading…
Merage School of Business MBA Earns Praise From The Economist
The UC Irvine’s Merage School of Business received some good news after the school was ranked in latest business school rankings of The Economist. The school placed 39th in the nation, 16th among public schools, and 56th in the world. The Los Angeles metro business school also scored well in categories including 29th in Open New Career Opportunities; 17th in alumnus rating of career services; and 13th in salary increase.
Continue reading…
Getting Paid: The Highest-Earning Houston MBA Grads
Houston metro is not just home to mouth-watering Texas barbecue and some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. It is also one of the most diverse places on the planet. The melding of cultures and trades yields a booming economy that spreads across a variety of industries, not to mention the best Tex Mex in the world.The city’s thriving economy combined with a low cost of living also makes for a large contingent of cultural philanthropists and institutions, giving Houston one of the great art scenes in the US. Delicious food and cultural perks aside, earning an MBA in Houston is a practical decision for a multitude of reasons. Houston is one of the most populous cities in the US, and it is home to nearly two dozen Fortune 500 companies.
For future industry leaders looking to pursue especially lucrative careers, we’ve laid out the schools that produce the highest paid MBAs in Houston.
Rice University — Jones Graduate School of Business
For b-schoolers aspiring to take high-powered positions with an equally respectable pay off, the Jones Graduate School of Business may be a viable option. The MBA students who graduated in 2016 had an impressive average base salary of $112,158, with an average signing bonus of $25,475. About 34 percent of these grads pursued finance or accounting, and the second most popular industry was consulting (24.7 percent). Though Rice’s rankings and stats are objectively impressive, this school also works to build a sense of community. Class sizes are relatively small, at 40 people per class, and professors strive to familiarize themselves with the students they teach.
Mays Business School – Texas A&M University
The rigorous MBA program at the Texas A&M Mays Business School is sure to provide MBAs with the tools they need to launch high-income careers. The average base salary for the class of 2016 was $103,299. This represents an impressive 87 percent increase from the average pre-MBA salary. The full-time track involves a formidable course load during the first year, as this is when 75 percent of students’ 49 credit hours will be completed. This creates more freedom to pursue internships and electives in the following months, though internships are generally completed during the summer.
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McCombs School of Business – University of Texas at Austin
At the McCombs School of Business, the mean starting salary for the MBA class of 2017 was a remarkable $117,068, with an average signing bonus of $28,349. A respectable 29 percent of these graduates accepted jobs in the technology field, while 21 percent secured jobs in consulting. This cohort-based program offers MBAs the opportunity to thoroughly map out their academic trajectory, so their education stays aligned with their career goals. This program is unique in that students complete one semester of required courses, and completely design their own curriculum for the remaining three semesters. Students can also design their course choices around one of seven possible concentrations.
