The Paul Merage School of Business - Irvine, California

Sami Dif

Going to this « business school » was probably the biggest mistake of my life. I strongly discourage you from attending this school! You will pay an exorbitant amount for an institution that doesn't deserve it and is clearly just after your money. The employment data is highly questionable. When I graduated, neither I nor many of my friends were ever asked for updates on our employment status - so how did they get their data?
I was also forced to take the school's insurance at the beginning of my program, even though my personal insurance was better! Despite the high tuition fees, you're charged for basic things like printing a document. Once you finish the program, they immediately kick you out of their premises, even if you just need a few minutes to charge your phone.
It's honestly shameful.
My advice: aim for a better-ranked school. This one won't take you far. I suggest looking up alumni of this school on LinkedIn to see what they're doing now - let that speak for itself.

Lindsay

I would recommend attending a different school for an Executive MBA program. This is over priced for the hands-off, path of least resistance leadership from the program "directors" and hit or miss quality of professors. An EMBA is supposed to be a white glove experience, but this is put together like an afterthought by people who can't be bothered. Half the professors are wonderful and brilliant, the other half is either without any professional experience whatsoever and, often admittedly, suffering from imposter syndrome or overtly biased against different/younger ages, women, and people of color. Sorry but 1/2 competency is failing.
In fact, when I told the program directors what was being said in Globalization 1 lectures, a derogatory comparison to Asian v Western eye shapes, they told me not to worry because that professor was retiring. Alas, they brought him back for another year, sending the 83+ year old overseas to an Asian country with an increasingly diverse cohort of students paying over $160k. For my cohort, when conflict arose in Globalization 2, in Singapore, between a white American woman and a man from the Middle East, the professor said it was her fault because "women can't talk like that" to men from "watering hole countries" and he, the professor, was inclined to just "send them both back and fail" them because he "has the power, the power to do that". That conflict driven male student had pushed a man, his own teammate, on a moving school bus in order to get physically closer to the woman, an overt act of violence and intimidation But the professor "didn't see it" so the 15 people telling him that they personally didn't feel safe, and were concerned for the woman's safety and wellbeing, was just "hearsay" and "manipulation" they'd "fallen for" by that aforementioned woman, who was hiding in her hotel room for the remainder of the trip, "playing" them. So, the agro male is just protecting his watering hole and a woman asserting herself is demonized; all in a day's work for a person who is hired to serve UCI as an educator.
Even after pushing someone publicly, the program "directors" kept that conflict driven, aggressive male student on as a class ambassador, which means the school gave him money and social credit. They failed to take further complaints from women experiencing subsequent aggressive treatment from him in classes and small group situations seriously, telling one woman formally complaining of his aggressive behavior (after he had literally pushed another man to intimidate a woman) that they *just knew* he wasn't *really* going to do anything.
The program directors will say whatever they need to say in order to get you to go away, and the professors are a 50/50 coin flip. The odds that they might be intimidated by you, resulting in poor treatment and low grading, or think you are less than [their elder-male status, their whiteness, etc.] are too high to justify the extraordinary cost of attendance.
Moreover, my cohort of 45 lost 2 students to UCLA 1/2 way through the program, and both of those were people of color. And we lost them before the horrid Globalization professor experience. I would have left too but it just felt too late and I'd become frozen in anxiety and depression. When I tried to speak with a female professor who seemed wonderful about how to navigate sexism the program, she just laughed and commented on how much better it was now than in her day. I sought help and fortification from so many people, but it was like a catch-and-kill story; you can't escalate this because "woman" isn't a slur or this doesn't really matter because I'm telling you so, so, just pay your tuition bill and leave us alone.
So, it's not worth it, in my opinion, to pay $160k for literally no support while being put in intentionally stressful learning environments. Bad professors are everywhere, surely, as are hands-off program "directors", but the double down here is the deal breaker for the price point.
I'm so thankful for the friends I made in my cohort, without whom I would not have survived.

good im

这里的厕所比其他学院大 人少 好拉屎

Shawn Chaudhri

I deducted one star due to lack of familiarity with program. But remitted cause nothing wrong. As a candidate already met one or two some wonderful professors whom I wish to touch base with if I get in. Campus is lovely.

Students and faculty seem affable as anywhere, better actually- much less intense and competitive than Haas as I know from past experience-

wish other student reviewers would leave commentary about school. grad program, networking and opportunities, etc. The study rooms are nice but difficult to obtain.. Thank you everyone.

m

I had an unprofessional experience with the head of digital learning, Natalie, which left me with a negative impression of the school.

Rebecca Huey

The best smart classrooms and study rooms I've ever used. The building itself is strikingly beautiful as well.

Matthew Morris

I enjoy studying here, immensely.

Jason Luzak

Wonderful program. Beautiful campus. Great location.