What I Learned in My First Quarter of Leavey's STEM MBA

Returning to the classroom as a full-time student was a mix of pure excitement and a touch of nerves. I was thrilled to be going back to school full-time because I had the best times of my life when I was studying for my Bachelor's and Master's degrees. At the same time, the fear of going back to school after working for a few years lurked at the back of my mind as well.

But I quickly found that preparing myself for the transition made all the difference. Now that I have completed my first quarter in the Leavey STEM MBA program at Santa Clara University, I can say the experience has been rewarding.

Classes That Reshaped My Perspective

One of the most impactful parts of the curriculum is how it bridges theory with real-world application. Three specific courses stood out during my first term:

• Marketing Core: This class was eye-opening. Shifting from a consumer perspective to a professional one made the concepts feel very insightfully mind-blowing!
• Business Ethics: Teaching ethics in the digital age and the rise of AI is a challenge, but this class was enlightening. It forced me to look at marketing through a lens of governance and human-centered leadership.
• Statistics: Even with a previous master's degree, re-learning the basics was vital. It provided the analytical foundation I needed for complex data analysis in my marketing projects.

Finding My People: The Cohort

My cohort is wonderful! I have made amazing friends. Because we are all navigating the same difficult assignments and classes, a natural bond forms quickly. We often celebrate our wins—or decompress after a hard week—at The Hut, a local favorite.

One of our most exhilarating "wow" moments happened during a Management class simulation. We participated in a Harvard case study about climbing Mount Everest. By supporting each other and applying leadership concepts from class in real-time, we "made it to the top," the most exhilarating experience for us as a team.

Silicon Valley as a Classroom

The proximity to Silicon Valley has definitely been a great influence. Throughout the quarter, I attended several events organized by Leavey Career Services and the Women in Business club.

I met speakers from iconic companies like IBM, HPE, and Atlassian. Many of these great orators had gone through the same career transitions I am experiencing now, and their insights have been invaluable as I navigate my new career path.

Balancing Life and the Quarter System

Being a full-time student makes balancing the workload slightly easier than it is for my classmates who work full-time, but it still requires a high level of organization. I have become more organized and learnt to be more time efficient. I have a long way to go before I perfect these two, but I think I am off to a good start.

Even my daily 40-minute train ride to Santa Clara, which I initially cribbed about, has turned into a positive. It has become my own little “me” time—a window to decompress and prepare for the day ahead.

Advice for Prospective MBA Students

If you are considering an MBA, here are a few things I wish I had known before day one:

• Prepare for the Speed: The quarter system makes classes go by so quickly. Take advantage of the class recordings and the fact the professors are understanding enough to host online office hours.
• Brush Up on Quant: If you haven't been in a math class for a while, the quantitative load can be intense. Being prepared for this will help you grasp concepts more quickly, especially after a long day’s work.
• Embrace the Student Life: I wish I knew how much I would enjoy being a student rather than working full-time! The time commitment is significant, but the personal growth is worth it.

What You Should Do Next…

1. For more content like this, request information about the STEM MBA–or any of Leavey’s graduate programs.
2. Join one of our virtual or on-campus admissions events.
3. Schedule an appointment with an MBA admissions advisor for one-on-one advice.