Loyola University Chicago - Quinlan School of Business

A university founded in the Jesuit tradition, “Loyola is a school that is focused on developing the entire individual,” and business ethics is a mainstay of the MBA program. While MBA course content resembles other graduate business programs, Loyola distinguishes itself in a number of ways. In particular, “success is not measured in dollars, but rather [in] how one can contribute to society in a meaningful and productive way.” To that end, “every class incorporates ethics and ethical situations and relates them to realworld business issues.” At the same time, the curriculum focuses on practical business, and “is very relevant and applicable.” Through coursework, students work in teams, analyze case studies, or work on live projects in cooperation with a partner business or organization. A current student enthuses, “I take advantage of student organizations and outside consulting projects, and often feel that these have more value than my classes.” To add an international perspective to the MBA, “the study abroad program is fantastic,” offering numerous two-week summer courses overseas. Another student tells us, “I will be afforded wonderful study abroad opportunities through this program and will be traveling to China, India, and Rome.”

Combining expertise with excellence, the majority of Loyola professors are “highly experienced and make the learning experience worthwhile.” While there are some “pure academics” on staff, they are outnumbered by current and former business leaders, who bring real-world content to the coursework. In fact, Loyola’s adjunct professors “are among the best at bringing a ‘real-world’ perspective into the classroom.” Most importantly, professors are “very enthusiastic about their subject and classes, and they all very much love teaching.” As a result, “the classroom experience is dynamic and engaging,” and the “thought-provoking course content” inspires discussion and critical thinking. A student remarks, “I have enjoyed many of my classes so much, I am actually somewhat disappointed when the quarter comes to an end!” At the same time, Loyola is a large school, so it’s easier to get lost in the crowds. A current student admits, “It’s difficult to have good, thoughtful discussions in classes with fifty people in attendance.”

Loyola’s “flexible class schedule” is great for part-time students, and “the course load is perfect for a professional who has a full-time job.” In addition, the “ability to switch between full-time and part-time status” gives students the opportunity to complete their degree at their own pace. Full-timers, on the other hand, sometimes feel “the course work doesn’t seem as challenging as it could be.” A school on the move, “The GSB has grown considerably just within the last year,” and students admit, “The administration seems a little overwhelmed by the number of students currently enrolled.” Fortunately, a student writes, “The school is committed to providing students with an exceptional experience. When there are hurdles to overcome, the administration is quick to identify how things might improve.”

Loyola’s downtown “location in a world class city” brings students within a stone’s throw of many reputable employers. This private university maintains a great local reputation, and the focus on practical skills throughout the MBA curriculum helps to prepare students for the workplace. A current student agrees, “In this time of economic crisis, I feel incredibly prepared and optimistic that my MBA degree will make me stand out from the competition.”

Loyola University’s Career Management Services assists job seekers through resume cri- tiques, career workshops, and advising. They also operate an online recruiting program, which allows students to research employers, post their resumes, and sign up for cam- pus interviews via the web. Despite these services, “the school could do a much better job attracting more quality employers to recruit at Loyola.” A current MBA candidate laments, “The school is in a sweet spot for business in the country but doesn’t take full advantage of the networking possibilities.” On the other hand, “there are students who have found great jobs through Career Management and have received excellent coaching from the staff....It all depends on what a person expects.”

Loyola is a large, urban university, which attracts “all different backgrounds, ages, inter- ests, career paths (if working), intelligence levels, and points of life.” While some stu- dents are too busy to participate in extracurricular activities, others find time to “belong to a number of clubs that meet before class once or twice a month.” More informally, there are “plenty of opportunities to mingle after class and on weekends,” and students attend “social events at bars or restaurants after class every month.” Still, you won’t get the social atmosphere you’d find on a residential campus: “Although the social life is improving, the school definitely feels like a commuter school.”

“Located in the heart of downtown Chicago,” Loyola’s well-placed campus is a major benefit of the program. Academic resources are good, and “the library is excellent.” “Getting information from any source at the school has been easy.” Unfortunately, many business school classrooms lack modern technology and suffer from “a poor layout, not conducive to class discussion.” A student adds, “More than 30 percent of assignments are group related, yet less than 5 percent of computers in the library cater toward group work. Options like LCD projectors (or mounted televisions with a monitor input) in group rooms would be greatly appreciated.”