International Perspective

Since the first year of the program is spent working in teams, you will able to work closely with students from around the globe. This personal relationship with citizens of other cultures gives you valuable insight and provides lively class discussions.

The following testimonials are from international students currently enrolled in the MBA Program. They all come from diverse backgrounds, yet all have something in common- they have discovered the wonderful opportunities that exist at The University of Alabama.

Alicia Robles
I am an MBA student at the UA and my country of origin is Mexico. I think that being in the MBA program has been a great professional opportunity for me. Since I have an engineering background, the program has broadened my business knowledge. I enjoy all the courses because we have very dedicated professors and a variety of case analysis where we are challenged to offer solutions to real business problems. We have students coming from different school backgrounds and from different countries. This has greatly enriched my point of view. I have learned new ways to approach problems and also how to work in a multicultural environment. The MBA office does a very good job offering us the opportunity to learn from speakers that share their business experience with us, and also in finding good job opportunities for the people in the program. Being an MBA student at UA has really changed my life and I can hardly wait to go out to the real world and start applying all the knowledge I have acquired during this time.

Mi Wen
I came to UA from China in 2002 to study Business Administration. That was my first time to USA. Everything was quite new to me. My first impression about Tuscaloosa was the tranquility and the natural beauty. I like the big oak trees and those lovely squirrels. People here are very nice and warm-hearted. They'd love to help strangers in need. Once, my friend locked her car key in her car, a guy came the rescue and did not ask for anything. I was told, "You've got to pay for everything in such a commodity society as USA. That is the rule." Now I know that is not entirely true. Another thing impressing me is that many Americans value their families very much. I don't know where I have got the idea that Americans are very independent and young people leave their families at 18. But what I see here is that many people choose to spend more time with family. Not all young people go far away after they are 18-year-old. As for the study, I think American education attach much importance to job seeking. It provides all kinds of career services to students. Universities usually maintain close relationship with employers. While in China, the employers are more likely to recruit experienced workers rather than university graduates

Anna Nissinen
I was introduced to the University of Alabama MBA Program five years ago when I was living in Tuscaloosa as an exchange student. I graduated from Helsinki School of Economics and Business Administration with an International BBA degree and began my MBA career here at the University of Alabama in the Fall 2002. Thus far, the program has been everything I had hoped it to be; its excellent reputation among the professional world has been well deserved. I have truly enjoyed the student oriented culture and the interaction between the excellent faculty and the multi-talented student body. As a student, I have been able to enjoy the variety of professional speakers provided by the program and the variety of networking opportunities that have been followed. I have also been acquainted with all the wonderful concentrations one can choose from when pursuing their MBA. I chose Strategic Management to compliment my undergraduate degree and futher enhance my marketability for the years to come. Furthermore, I have been given a chance to enjoy the benefits of holding a Graduate Research Assistant position. I feel that the real life work experience I am gaining through the GRA position coupled with the education I will gain during the next couple of years will equip me with tools for a successful entrance into the competitive and ever so demading job market.

Cristiano Paiva
"I chose the University of Alabama for its team-oriented and student-led culture, the excellent reputation of its business program, and its career placement services and opportunities. MBA courses are taught in small classes, which is positive for student-professor relations. The world-class faculty truly focuses on student learning. I have been enjoying classes that bridge the gap between academic research and the real world business. We analyze real "cases" that have been written by professors from U of A and also from Harvard Business School. Coming to an American school was an essential element of my career. My wife and I are enjoying living in Tuscaloosa, which is a great small city with all its resources. Choosing the MBA at the University of Alabama was the best professional decision I have ever made.

We believe that you too will discover great opportunities at the University of Alabama. Please take advantage of the resources you find on this site to discover more about our program. If additional questions arise, feel free to call or e-mail the MBA office directly.