Located in the heart of Houston, Texas is the prestigious and illustrious Rice University. The university is known as a comprehensive research university, but it also home to the country’s #25 Best Business School, per U.S. News.
Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business offers a top-ranked full-time program with a diverse population and culture. The MBA program is known for strong national and global rankings, ongoing career support, experiential learning opportunities, engaging faculty and more.
We spoke with five Rice Jones MBA students about the application process and the value of the program.
Why an MBA at Rice University Jones Graduate School of Business?
Many students from a variety of backgrounds choose to pursue the Rice MBA for different reasons. For example, Belinda Moreira, a 2022 Rice MBA candidate, worked as Director of Community Engagement at a Houston nonprofit prior to enrolling in the Rice University MBA program.
“I loved the work I was doing, but I knew that there were skills and knowledge gaps that I would need to gain before I could move into more senior roles in the education space,” Belinda explained.
Students who don’t come from an explicitly business background may feel intimidated enrolling in an MBA program, but students like LA Martz prove anyone can pursue an MBA.
With her science background, “parlaying into the business world seemed like a radical shift at first,” but she knew an MBA was the right step for her, then focused on how the program aligned with her future goals during the interview process.
Of course, even those with an undergraduate degree and background in business may find an MBA their most valuable asset.
Prior to business school, Isha Ratanji worked in Finance and Consulting. However, she opted to enroll in an MBA program to pivot out of finance into tech. Her passion lived in building products and making data-based decisions, and she knew an MBA would give her not only essential skills, but open doors to new networks and opportunities.
Application and Selection Process Tips from Current Students
The MBA application process can be a long journey. Prospective MBA candidates must prepare for the time and effort it takes just to apply to the MBA even before completing the degree and program. Isha Ratanji spoke on her application process.
“I initially started studying for the GMAT in 2015 when I was working at Goldman Sachs, however, I paused with the whole process as it was too exhausting to work 60+ hours and also study at the same time. I then started the process again in late 2017 in early 2018 and studying for the GMAT was hard,” Isha Ratanji explained.
Courtney Carvalho agreed that the application process can be challenging. Her first take of the GMAT “quickly humbled” her. She then signed up for Management Leadership for Tomorrow’s GMAT Coaching program. She worked with an amazing coach and cohort that supported each other through the next phases of the application process.
“In summary, it can be a long and expensive application process and you have to be prepared for a number of highs and lows. The process builds character, and if you put in the effort you can reach your goal. I relied heavily on my MLT family. Their unwavering support and friendship played a significant role in keeping me motivated and ultimately getting into Rice,” Courtney Carvalho said.
When it comes to the selection process, many MBA students suggest investigating a campus’s culture before committing to a school.
“Investing 2 years into a program is a significant investment in time and money and you want to make sure you understand the school’s culture sufficiently to feel confident you want to go to that school and make that investment,” Isha Ratanji said.
The MBA Campus Culture
Campus culture is often a key determinant for those selecting a business school to attend. However, what are some things about the Rice Jones campus culture that drew in their current students and alumni?
Courtney Carvalho likened Rice University to a family: “Early on, it was clear that the Rice admissions team, faculty, and students were invested in my success. They made the admissions process smooth by setting clear expectations and devoting their time to answer all my questions.”
Isha Ratanji elaborated on the intimate class size and culture at Rice Jones: “I remember, when I got into Rice, Dean Peter Rodriguez personally gave me a call from his cell phone and told me I can reach out to him for any questions I may have. That to me signified the value of the Rice Community and how accessible anyone is. To me, I felt like they knew me by name and I was not just a student number.”
Expanding on that, Baldwin Luu also fondly remembered “Partios,” a weekly party the Rice business school hosted on the patio. Not only did full-time students attend these “partios,” but PMBAs, EMBAs, professors and staff joined as well.
“It’s a really fun way to just bond collectively and get to know everyone in the Rice family,” Baldwin Luu said.
The Rice MBA Career Development Office
The Rice University Jones Graduate School of Business is also known for its helpful and resourceful Career Development Office (CDO). Current Rice MBA candidates suggest that any students accepted into the program make use of everything the CDO has to offer.
“Our Career Development Office (CDO) was very helpful with getting us up to speed with the recruiting process,” said Baldwin Luu.
LA Martz added: “The Rice Business Career Development Office (CDO) has been incredibly supportive and integral with preparing me for recruitment.”
The CDO is even one factor that helped LA Martz decide to apply to the Rice University MBA program. Career resources and student satisfaction were key factors in her search, and the CDO showed Rice’s commitment to their students’ post-graduate success.
Getting Hands On Experience
In addition to the CDO, Rice offers a wealth of experiential opportunities to prepare students for their career after the MBA program.
Belinda Moreira spoke highly of the John Lewis Case Competition (JLCC), a student-run case competition focused on racial justice. She worked on a six-person team of Rice Business students working on a racial justice issue within the banking and financial sector. “It was so invigorating to be able to tackle big issues like these with a brilliant team who is as passionate as I am about social impact and systemic change. It was at this moment that I knew that Rice was the right decision,” Belinda Moreira said.