The familiar images from TV are not even close to what you are about to discover in California - if you are brave enough to convince yourself to come here for your MBA. If you do so, it could become a wonderful adventure, an experience that you will carry with you for the rest of your life. California offers excellent opportunities for MBA students, and you can count on a quality education that will boost your professional career. Is it possible to be serious about your MBA studies and also to have one of the best times of your life?
The
answer is yes, if you choose to do your MBA in California.
The Golden State
has been created for 'gold' hunters, those of us who have a curious mind
and are not afraid of discovering new opportunities and new horizons.
The 'gold' that you will find in California may come in different shapes
and forms, but you will find it.
Once you've finally decided on the California school that you want to attend to earn an MBA, you can start preparing yourself for the new adventure. But in case you haven't made that important decision yet, don't be misled by any 'official' school rankings - you want the school and educational experience that's best for you. California has plenty of good Universities to consider, but you need to be aware that state schools will charge you extra tuition if you are not a resident. Nothing to worry about - that may still be a good deal. In addition to the state schools and the UC system, there are good private Universities that do not discriminate with tuition for non-residents, which may be one of the best-kept secrets in California. Just as you will discover a different California from your typical guidebook description, you may find the best fit for you is with a smaller private University. Once you choose the right school and have arrived in California, you will have plenty of opportunities to search for your 'gold'.
This
is not meant to distract you from concentrating on your hard work and
studies for a new degree, but rather to help you relax and recharge your
batteries. Small town Universities are never very far from the California
sights, being close to Los Angeles and the elusive Hollywood - it does
exist, but it's not that easy to understand its exact geographic location.
It definitely isn't the famous, or infamous, Hollywood Boulevard and its
star walk - a common misconception of most tourists who come to California.
San Diego, with its own attractions and good business school, is popular
with many visitors, as is Laguna Beach, with its famous arts festival.
Wherever you decide to reside in Southern California, you certainly won't
get bored! Once you find your own perfect space, though, you need to remember
one thing: in California you need a car. It's almost impossible to do
or see anything here without those four wheels.
Each weekend, you will struggle between going to one of the nearby beaches or local mountains, or one of the thousands of tourist attractions in California. There are also the most beautiful parks and lakes, and don't forget the mysterious deserts. You can almost always count on California weather in the County of Angels - on a warm California winter day, you may roller blade, cycle or play beach volleyball in the morning, and then snow ski in the afternoon or evening. You also will have the chance to experience the many different world cultures that are coexisting here, and perhaps even learn more about your own cultural background. Finally, you can't miss at least a day in Las Vegas, 5 hours away in the State of Nevada. It's a must to see the newest casinos and works of human imagination, like Venice and Belaggio, Monte Carlo, New York, or the well-known Cesar's. You don't have to gamble or spend the big money either to visit and enjoy Las Vegas. Once you have experienced Southern California and found your own 'gold', most likely you will be tempted to come back here again. You won't be alone.
Are
there any bad things about California that you should know about? Well,
if you decide to search for those instead, you will no doubt find some.
But just try to recall the most recent media report on California. No
matter how insignificant the news may have been, most likely somebody
has tried to sensationalize the story to make it more 'attractive' to
us, the potential listeners. It is a 'Hollywood syndrome', happening all
the time. The fact is that both smog and crime have been on a decline
in recent years, and you will discover places in Southern California that
are safest and cleanest in the entire US - another secret that not many
people know about. Perhaps the worst thing about some Californians is
that they are really unaware that they're sitting on all that 'gold!'
Author
Julius M Walecki, PhD
Director of Program Development
University of La Verne, School of Business & Global Studies
