From: Rice Business Onboarding
Date: July 1
Subject: Summer Scoop | Professional MBA | July 1, 2024


Professional MBA

July 1, 2024

What should I be doing now?

Review the onboarding checklist to confirm that you are on track in submitting administrative items to help us prepare for your first day. You can access the Onboarding Checklist in your applicant portal at apply.business.rice.edu/account/login and click the ONBOARDING tab at the top.

It is essential that, if you have past-due items, you get caught up as soon as possible.

Checklist items:
  • Clear holds in ESTHER
    Login to ESTHER and begin clearing the required holds that will prevent your registration for courses. Instructions to clear holds are available here. Due TODAY!
  • Media waiver
    Complete the media waiver required of all students. Click here to access the Media Waiver. Due TODAY!
  • If you have not already done so, complete your Onboarding Survey and your Student Directory Survey (Past Due). 
Stay tuned for additional details about Launch:
  • PMBA-Weekend Launch happening Monday July 29th - Friday August 2nd at McNair Hall on campus at Rice University.
  • PMBA-Evening Launch happening Monday August 5th - Friday August 9th at McNair Hall on campus at Rice University.

Student Clubs and Involvement

Rice Business has many ways for you to get involved. We have more than 30 active student clubs and associations, and a very active student government — the Rice Business Student Association for Professionals (RBSAP). Our clubs and associations range in topic from industry (e.g., finance, economics, consulting, marketing), to affinity and identity (e.g., Black, Asian, Hispanic, Women and LGBTQ), to social (including, wine, arts and golf). There are opportunities for you to join these clubs and associations as first-year students and, in many cases, take an active role in the leadership of those clubs as first-year representatives.

This is also the case for the RBSAP. The Rice Business Student Association for Professionals facilitates constructive communication between the student body and the administration, faculty and staff at the Jones Graduate School of Business. Additionally, the RBSAP creates an atmosphere which promotes interaction between all Rice Business students and the community. RBSAP aims to maximize student access and opportunities, optimize learning and increase the value of the Rice MBA. RBSAP takes on first-year representatives each year in the fall — with representation from each section — who serve for the duration of the academic year.

When can you start joining these clubs?
In late August when first- and second-year students are on campus for fall classes, you’ll have an opportunity to “meet” the clubs .You'll also have an opportunity to “meet” these clubs and associations at the very first partio: Clubs Partio. This is a terrific way for you to learn more information about our associations and have your questions answered.

Calling Entrepreneurs and Future Founders:
An opportunity for you!

Are you a graduate student interested in entrepreneurship? Considering a path as a founder? The Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Lilie) is the home of experiential learning and co-curricular activities in entrepreneurship and innovation at Rice University. Lilie's mission is to equip Rice students with both entrepreneurial skills and the entrepreneurial mindset to prepare them to be entrepreneurs and innovators in whatever industry they choose, be it a technology startup, government, civic group, non-profit, small business, or large corporation. Lilie is comprised of experiential courses, co-curricular opportunities, a state-of-the-art on-campus lab space, and an array of resources to support student learning.

You can reach out to Lilie's Executive Director Kyle Judah with any questions or Patrick Ray at patrick.b.ray@rice.edu.

Reminder: Get ready for class by starting pre-MBA Quantitative Skills courses now

Fundamental quantitative skills are important in any MBA program, but many students need a refresher before they begin their core classes. We have developed three online Pre-MBA courses to ease you back into these concepts: Data Analytics, Accounting and Finance. 

These courses provide a bridge to your quantitative core classes, setting you up for success no matter how rusty you may be! We encourage you to take the wavier test for each course as a first step. If you pass it, you have met the requirement for that course. If you don’t, you can take the Pre-MBA Quant Skills course to be better prepared when you begin your core classes.

Please review the full details for the Pre-MBA Quant Skills preparation courses on the Applicant Portal. There, you’ll find course descriptions and instructions to access the Coursera for Rice platform. You’ll also find deadlines by which you should complete each of the courses.

Career Development Opportunity

Alumni Panel Series
This is a career exploration event and consists of industry-specific panels of Rice Business Alumni. We designed this virtual lunchtime series to introduce students to various career options across multiple industries and to provide students with the opportunity to ask questions of industry experts. RSVP and get links in your admissions portal under the CDO tab.