8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Registration
Location: In front of the Wilhemina Cullen Robertson Auditorium, Third Floor Academic Building
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast/Icebreakers
Location: Coffee House Area, Third Floor Academic Building
9:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. OPENING SESSION/FEATURED KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Ernest M. Fountain, MBA, Co-Founder, New Ventures Capital Development Company, Co-Founder, Enterprise Community Federal Credit Union, and Co-Founder, Black Business Council (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Location: A405, Fourth Floor Academic Building
10:15 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. FOCUS: PRE-REQUISITES FOR MBA COURSEWORK
Session #1 (Panel Discussion): What Non-Business Majors Need to Learn to Prepare for Graduate Business Programs: Pre-MBA Foundational Courses and Pre-Requisites
Brief Description: In this discussion, find out what the recommended foundational courses and pre-requisites are for non-business majors who are interested in pursuing an MBA. Get ideas on how to fulfill those course requirements in order to ready yourself for the challenges of the MBA curriculum.
Location: A405, Fourth Floor Academic Building
11:45 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. MOCK MBA CLASS Session #2 (Workshop)
Location: A405, Fourth Floor Academic Building
Brief Description: Want to know how it feels to be an actual business school student in an MBA class? Here’s your chance!
Learning Objective: Teach class participants about how social perception affects corporate success. The class will consist of a PowerPoint presentation about social perception and corporate success. We will follow the discussion of social perception with a discussion of a case (Ann Hopkins).
Class assignment: Complete the IAT. Before class, please go to the IAT (Implicit Attitude Test) website at: https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/demo/.
Complete the IAT on Race, and then, if you have time, on Age and Gender. At the end of the test, you will receive individual feedback that looks like this:
Your data suggest a _____ automatic preference for _____
You will also see a distribution of results of thousands of previous test takers. We will explain in class what an “automatic” preference is and the method used to elicit such a preference.
Note: You will not be asked to disclose your test results in class—they will remain private! This test is meant to inspire your own introspection.
Tips on taking the test: You should try to answer the questions as quickly as possible. Because you will need to concentrate, you should take the test in a quiet place, or at least one in which you will not be disturbed.
Case Assignment: This is the case that students should read before the session:
Case: Ann Hopkins:
Author: Joseph L. Badaracco, Jr.
Publisher: Harvard Business School case # 9-391-155
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. LUNCH (On your own)
2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. FOCUS: GRADUATE MANAGEMENT ADMISSION TEST (GMAT)
Session #3 (Workshop): Introduction to the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), Test Preparation, and Test-Taking Strategies
Presented by The Graduate Management Admission Council® GMAC®
Brief Description: Learn more about the GMAT exam, which is required by most business schools worldwide to be considered for admission. Test preparation tips and strategies for earning a high score will also be provided.
Location: A405, Fourth Floor Academic Building
Concurrent Session
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. THE VARIOUS NON-TRADITIONAL PATHS TO THE MBA
Session #4 (Panel Discussion): The Differences Between Admission Requirements and the Business School Experience for Students Undertaking the Part-Time MBA, the Accelerated MBA, the Online MBA (Distance Learning), the Professional MBA, and the Executive MBA
Brief Description: In this panel, you will learn more about the differences between the admissions requirements, coursework, schedule, and student experiences for those interested in undertaking an MBA outside of the traditional two-year, full-time route. There will be discussion about non-traditional alternatives to pursuing this sought-after degree, including the part-time MBA, the accelerated MBA, the online MBA, the professional MBA, and the executive MBA.
Location: TBD
Concurrent Session
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. THE JOINT/DUAL J.D. AND M.B.A. DEGREES
Concurrent Session #4 (Workshop): The Pros and Cons of the J.D./M.B.A.
Brief Description: This workshop will focus on the increasingly popular JD/MBA degree path. The presenter will break down a variety of pros and cons to the JD/MBA, including cost, timing, admissions chances, and career goals. Additionally, there will be a brief analysis of some of the most popular JD/MBA programs, as well as information about new offerings and recent trends.
Location: TBD
4:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. Refreshment Break
4:45 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. FOCUS: CAREERS/THE JOB SEARCH
Concurrent Session #5 (Panel Discussion): The MBA Job Outloook
Brief Description: In the current economic downturn, many prospective MBA students are very concerned about the job market for MBAs and their prospects for finding gainful employment especially given that many will give up their jobs to pursue the degree, or work towards it in hopes that they can earn better, higher paying positions or make career changes. During this discussion, knowledgeable career services professionals and recruiters share insight on the current job outlook, the recruitment process at business schools, what types of opportunities are available, and what it takes to conduct a successful job search.
Location: A405, Fourth Floor Academic Building
6:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. FOCUS: BUSINESS SCHOOL PREPARATION PROGRAMS
Concurrent Session #6 (Workshop): Conquering Fear Workshop/MBADiversity.org Information Session
Presented by MBA Diversity
Brief Description: Coming Soon.
Location: TBD
6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Overview of the GRE
Concurrent Session #6 (Workshop):
Brief Description: Increasingly, many business schools are beginning to accept GRE scores in addition to GMAT scores for prospective students. In this session, participants will be given an overview of what the GRE tests and strategies for earning a high score on the exam.
Location: TBD
6:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. Mock GRE Exam Concurrent Session (Workshop)
Brief Description: Attendees will be given the opportunity to take an actual mock exam under actual test-taking conditions. Each test taker will later be given the opportunity to learn their scores and their areas of strength and weakness so they can begin to map out a plan for earning the scores they need for gaining admission into business school.
Location: TBD
6:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Mock GMAT Exam
Concurrent Session #7 (Workshop) Presented by The Graduate Management Admission Council® GMAC®
Brief Description: During this session, an actual mock GMAT exam will be administered under actual test-taking conditions. Participants will later receive their results and an analysis in order to help them see where they stand, and consider next steps for what they need to do in terms of practice and preparation to earn the score they need to help them get into the business schools they want.
Location: TBD
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Refreshment Break
Location: Coffee House/Lobby Area, Third Floor Academic Building
Business Author Showcase and Book Signing
Location: Coffee House/Lobby Area, Third Floor Academic Building
8:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Pre-Networking Power Session
TOPIC: POWER NETWORKING
Featured Speaker: Crystal Washington, Owner, Black-Market Exchange
8:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. An All-Black Affair: Combined Networking/Mentorship Mixer – The National Black Pre-Professional and Graduate School Weekend (National Black Pre-Law Conference and National Black Pre-MBA Conference)
Location: Outside Terrace, Third Floor Academic Building
Food and non-alcoholic beverages provided.
Catering by Chef Carolyn Shelton.
Black attire preferred, but not strictly enforced.
11:00 p.m. – Until The Official National Black Pre-Professional and Graduate School Weekend Friday After-Party – National Black Pre-Law Conference and National Black Pre-MBA Conference
Outside Location: To Be Announced. Popular Houston Night Spot |
