MBA Preparation Program

MBP Overview

Jump-start your career with an MBA degree!

International Gateways at SJSU offers an MBA Preparation program to help you boost your GMAT verbal score and develop the skills necessary to succeed in the MBA and other graduate business programs in the U.S..

The MBA Preparation program is offered in spring and fall semesters. It is a very intensive and rigorous program. Therefore, it is only open to advanced students who meet certain admission requirements.

To enhance your chance of admission, the academic advisors at iGateways will help you research a variety of MBA programs, guide you through the application process, and offer assistance with refining essays and resumes.

To find out more information about this program, including student testimonials, click here, or email Dr. Julie Yang at julie.yang@sjsu.edu.

To find out more information about the MBA programs offered at San Jose State University, click here.

MBP Details

MBP Details:

Offered twice a year: January and August
Focus on the GMAT verbal section
Emphasis on academic skills for success in business graduate programs
Small classes with experienced, professional instructors
Field trip to MBA classes at SJSU or guest speakers from SJSU
Academic advising services in searching MBA programs, refining resumes and essays for graduate applications.

Featured Courses

All students in the MBA Preparation program take the following courses:

GMAT Preparation – Provides practice and strategies for tackling the Sentence Correction, Critical Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension questions in the verbal section of the GMAT test.
Written Communication – Focuses on GMAT essays as well as academic and business writing skills.

Students choose one or two courses from the following list based on their needs: (Course offerings may change every semester)

Oral Communication
Current Events Reading and Vocabulary
Grammar
Critical Thinking
American History
TOEFL Speaking
TOEFL Notetaking
American Accent Training
Presentation Skills

MBP Admission

Admission Requirement

Priority for admission will be given to applicants who meet the following requirements:

A four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
A GPA of 2.8 (on a 4.0 scale) in the last two years of undergraduate studies
A 71 Internet-based TOEFL score (197 CBT or 530 PBT), or an overall band score of 6.0 on IELTS.

MBP Admission Procedure

We will conditionally admit you to the MBA Preparation program at International Gateways once you complete the application process. We will send you the I-20 and a Conditional Admission Letter. Upon arrival, you need to show copies of university transcripts and degree certificates to satisfy the first two admission requirements. In addition, final admission to our MBA Preparation program is contingent on proof of English language proficiency, either by providing official TOEFL or IELTS scores or by scoring 530 or higher on our TOEFL placement test.

If you meet the requirements of the MBA Preparation program, you will need to pay an additional $200 before being fully admitted to the program.

If you do not meet the English language proficiency requirement, you will be transferred to our Academic and Test Preparation program to improve your general language skills. Your skills will be assessed again at the end of the semester to determine future placement.

MBP FAQ

Questions about the MBA Preparation Program

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How long is the MBA Preparation program?

Our MBA Preparation program is offered two times a year – January and August. Each program is 17 weeks long, with 20 hours of instruction every week.

What courses do you offer in the MBA Preparation program?

We focus on the GMAT verbal section as well as the academic skills needed in MBA programs. Our core curriculum consists of GMAT and Written Communication courses. Based on their specific needs, students can further choose one or more of the following courses: Oral Communication, Grammar, Critical Reasoning, American History, Current Events Reading and Vocabulary, or TOEFL electives (Please note that course offerings may change every semester).

Can I take undergraduate or graduate courses at SJSU while studying in the MBA Preparation program?

In general our MBA Prep. students do not take courses at SJSU because MBA Prep. courses are very intensive and students need to focus on GMAT. However, if your undergraduate degree is from a US university or your TOEFL score is over 100 iBT, then we can consider your special circumstances.

What are your class sizes?

The number of students varies from semester to semester, but a typical class has 12 students, representing 7-8 countries.

Questions about Applying to MBP and Before Arrival

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What documents do I need to submit to show that I have met the three admission conditions of the MBA Preparation program?

If you think you have met all three conditions, please scan your official TOEFL score report or your IELTS score report, your undergraduate transcripts, and your degree certificate and email them to Julie Yang, the MBA Preparation program advisor. Her email address is julie.yang@sjsu.edu. She will reply to you after verifying the documents.

If I don’t have a high enough TOEFL score or IELTS score, can I still apply for the MBA Preparation program?

If you do not have the minimum TOEFL or IELTS score at the time of application, you can still apply for the MBA Preparation program. After you complete the application process, we will send you a Conditional Acceptance Letter along with your I-20. You will take our placement test in your first week here. If you achieve 530 or higher on this placement test, you can start MBA Preparation right away. If you do not achieve 530, you will be transferred to our Academic and Test Preparation program to improve your English language skills. Your skills will be assessed again at the end of the semester to determine future placement.

If my undergraduate degree is a 3-year degree, can I still apply for the MBA Preparation program?

Most MBA programs in the U.S. require a 4-year undergraduate degree. Some private universities might be willing to accept you on the condition that you take some undergraduate courses at their universities. Some universities offer a 4th-year bridge program. Even though the MBA Preparation program advisor will help you with your application, your choices of MBA programs will be very limited. Please consider very carefully before applying to our MBA Preparation program.

Do I need working experience in order to be admitted to your MBA Preparation Program?

No.

Is there a deadline for applying to the MBA Preparation program?

Although there is no absolute deadline for applying to our MBA Preparation program, you should apply as soon as you can. It takes time to process the application, send I-20 and other documents, and schedule a visa interview at the American Embassy in your country.

Before coming to the U.S., are there any documents that I should prepare for future MBA applications?

We recommend that you bring the following documents with you when you come to the U.S.

Your undergraduate transcript in your native language
Your undergraduate transcript in English
Your degree certificate in your native language
Your degree certificate in English

All these four documents need to be stamped by your university and sealed in a university envelope. For more specific documents requirements, please go to this website and find your country. http://www.sjsu.edu/gape/prospective_students/international_documents/

Questions about Applying to MBA Programs

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After I complete the MBA Preparation program at iGateways, do I still need to pass TOEFL and GMAT in order to be admitted to the MBA at SJSU?

We have a close relationship with the Lucas Graduate School of Business and many of our students have been admitted to its graduate programs. However, there is no way to avoid the TOEFL and GMAT score requirements.

Does the MBA Preparation program help me with MBA application?

Yes. The MBA Preparation advisor will work with you to help you choose the MBA programs that meet your needs, will guide you through the application process, and will offer assistance in refining your personal statements and resumes.

How many MBA programs does San Jose State University offer? What are their admission requirements?

For a list of MBA programs offered at SJSU as well as the admission requirements, please go to http://www.sjsu.edu/lucasschool/prospective/mba/

Can I submit photocopies of my university transcript to SJSU?

No. The Graduate Admissions Office requires that all transcripts be original, stamped and sealed by your university.

We use a different grading system in my country. How do I know if my GPA is equivalent to a 3.0 in the U.S.?

Only the evaluators in Graduate Admissions Office can do a complete evaluation of your transcript, but the MBA Preparation program advisor has a booklet that will give you a rough idea about equivalencies. Talk to her if you have questions.

Can I get help with tuition? Are scholarships available to international students?

Federal/State Financial Aid is not available to international students. San Jose State University is a state-funded public institution. Therefore, international students (F-1 visa holders) are required to show that they will have sufficient funds available to them throughout their entire enrollment before admission is granted. Most international students get their funds from families and friends. A few will receive scholarships or financial assistance from their country's government or private organizations.

Can you do a pre-evaluation of my application to help me determine the likelihood of being admitted to SJSU?

SJSU does not offer pre-evaluation. In other words, it will only evaluate your qualifications after you submit your application.

What documents do I need to prepare for MBA applications?

Each MBA program has its own requirements. The best way to find out is to check the school’s website. The following is a list of basic documents you will need to submit. Remember that many MBA programs require additional documents.

Application form (usually done online)
Official academic records (university transcript and degree certificate in your native language as well as with English translation) stamped and sealed in university envelope.
Bank statement and financial declaration form.
Official TOEFL score
Official GMAT score
Application Essay (sometimes called Statement of Purpose)
Two or three letters of recommendation (some MBA programs do not require them)
Resume (some MBA programs do not require it)

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