Calling all USC Marshall IBEAR 1 Year MBA Applicants: 2023 intake

I think decision date is May 1st based on their website

­Sometimes it's better to lose the deposit, reconsider the decision, and prepare for a normal program, than to spend $200,000 and get a job offer for $80,000 a year. Ask the alumni you know about how well they are doing and what kind of support the school provided - the whole thesis about career support is simply a fake; in reality, the school just milks you for money by selling the illusion of an amazing life and huge opportunities that await you. In fact, the program is in deep crisis and accepting an offer in the hope that everything will be fine is overly unhealthy optimism. The program didn’t help me at all and all my attempts to somehow change the situation ended in great disappointment. Looking back, I would not have made this decision; my nerves, my mental health, my savings would have been much more intact. Choosing this specific program was the biggest mistake I have made, and it is possible that even in 5-10 years, I will not be able to recover all the investments and the damage I incurred.

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Hi guys! Just got my admit. Is there a group for admits?

Congratulations to all admitted students! 

I just stumbled upon this thread and. If you think you're a top student who can handle anything, welcome to the IBEAR grad experience. The challenges don’t just magically disappear when you graduate. I graduated last year, and if I started listing all the unfulfilled promises, the expectations that were dashed, or the excitement the school deliberately created until we received our diplomas... it all just crumbled into pieces. I had a whole year to mull over the trap I fell into. The situation hasn't gotten any better, and from what I’ve heard from current students, the problems are still there, which really sucks.

It's tough, really. Everyone tends to think they're stronger than they are, but let me tell you, the American market is a whole lot tougher than it looks, especially when times are tough. Landing a full-time gig is a nightmare without an internship, especially for international students.

About the whole brand recognition thing? Someone pointed out how IBEAR is pretty much invisible. The school has been slacking in this area for the last ten years, which just shows they don't really give a hoot. It’s super disappointing to see all these gaps in the program, and no one seems to care—as long as everyone’s coughing up the same tuition as the two-year students (double payment, which is honestly just laughable).

I know a bunch of brilliant people who had to ditch their dreams and head back home or, get this, drive an Uber after getting an MBA from what’s supposed to be a top school. So, good luck to anyone who got caught up in this, and if you’re thinking about taking the plunge, think twice. Los Angeles is no place to make costly mistakes, and trust me, paying off debt without a job is next to impossible. Even if you do graduate and start working at 35 alongside 25-year-old Americans making 80, 100, or even 150K a year, it’s going to be rough.­

Alum and happy IBEAR donor here. Can confirm IBEAR is one of the best platforms out there, full of resources and an extremely powerful global network. Catch is, YOU need to set the agenda, hustle for it and make it happen... In other words, apply if you feel truly ready to become an exec and put in the insane amount of work it takes.

Many don't get this during their time here though. Maybe they hoped this is a magic shower of luck and in turn, pin their lack of adaptability and resourcefulness on anything but themselves. That just shows me how they failed the very first test of IBEAR: you need to quickly figure out how to get the excuses out of your head, and collaborate your way to your ROI.

PS: I got in with a scholarship (no fancy family business here) and got my ROI 3x by year 5 after graduating. Can't work those numbers out of most MBA programs - therefore I donate to keep the door open for others, as others did for me.

Fight on!