Testimonials

My undergraduate degree was in bio behavioral health, and I've been working in sales and marketing at a chemical company for the last six years. I'm pursuing an MBA to gain business acumen for more advanced sales roles. 

I liked the MBA IQ and took a lot of notes. It was very intuitive - the math questions were the application of the math concepts covered in the course. 

I thought I'd have to start the MBA blind since the GMAT was waived for me. The MBA IQ gave me the confidence in starting the MBA. Also, I was able to apply the MBA IQ to my job right now as the learnings were very tangible. I gained the language of business. 

-- Jamie

I completed the MBA iQ last year in 2018 when I intended to enroll at Penn State Behrend. I moved and wanted to attend an MBA program closer to my new home. I was able to use the MBA iQ to satisfy the pre-enrollment competencies at the new program too.

I was very pleased with the MBA iQ. As an engineering graduate, I’m interested in business systems. In my job, I’m in conversations with management about P&Ls and now have a deeper understanding of these topics after the MBA iQ. I was able to connect so many dots after the MBA iQ and put the concepts to use on my job. I was able to see things clicking even before being an MBA student.

At first, I was thinking of taking traditional courses to satisfy prerequisites – with instructors and in the classroom. I was apprehensive to an online alternative to traditional courses. In fact, the MBA iQ made me take more comfortable and confident with pursuing an online MBA. I thought I wanted a classroom MBA, and doing the MBA iQ, I was open to the idea of an online MBA. It gave me the confidence. 

I see the MBA iQ and GMAT as separate things, but both are necessary for the MBA. The MBA iQ gave me a preview of what to expect. It lined up very well with the MBA curriculum. I had a much more enjoyable time studying for the MBA iQ than the GMAT because it was relevant to my job and the MBA. 

-- Jason

I work as a psychologist in a medical setting and am increasingly accruing leadership responsibilities. I recognize that to excel in my role I need to be an adept clinician and possess business acumen. An MBA from Penn State will allow me to both thrive in my existing role and advance in my career, as many healthcare system leaders have MBAs. 

The MBA IQ program was integral to my process of preparing to enter Penn State’s MBA program, as I am starting the program with doctoral-level training in psychology, but no formal business education and training. The most important elements of the MBA IQ program were the practice tests and Devi’s coaching. Devi offered me the right study strategies as needed and in a way that allowed me to finish the program smoothly and successfully. I also worked relentlessly to complete the program, as it was the most significant prerequisite that I had to complete and I did not want to jeopardize my program acceptance.

While I anticipate that starting Penn State’s MBA program will be a major adjustment and challenging, I feel privileged to have the opportunity to be pursuing an MBA and would not be able to do so without Devi’s guidance and the MBA IQ program.

-- Sue

I earned my B.S. in mechanical engineering and currently design oilfield drill bits. I am earning an MBA to acquire the knowledge to be more successful in future management, operations, and sales roles.

I've been pursuing employer sponsorship for my MBA for the past few years. At that time, Penn State was a 3-year program. With the MBA iQ, I can finish my Penn State MBA in two years since I didn't have to take a year of foundational classes before taking more in-depth advanced-level classes. Now the Penn State MBA was the right fit for my employer and me. 

I took all three modules of the MBA iQ and had experienced a few of the topics on-the-job. It was about 1/3 refresher and 2/3 new, more advanced material for me. I feel more prepared for the MBA. I took lots of notes, which will be good for when I actually start the program. 

Brian

I studied plastics engineering and supply chain management. Currently, I’m a supplier quality engineer and work closely with vendors and quality systems. My goal for the MBA is broader knowledge of finance, economics, and business and how my direct role can affect the company. I want to be a well-rounded engineer with the MBA.

The case studies in the MBA iQ reflected real-life examples. The self-reflection questions at the end of the modules were thought-provoking. The MBA iQ was a good intro to an MBA.

I now feel more comfortable tackling the more advanced topics in the MBA; it even prepped me to be ready into the class environment, given that I was out of the classroom environment for a few years. I’m ready for the advanced version of the topics covered in the MBA iQ. 

-- Michael

I've been in Information Technology for the past 20 years, taking a few years off to be with my family, and had finally settled into a company that had a tuition reimbursement policy. The MBA was always something I wanted to pursue. In my current role, experience matters more than a degree, however, earning an MBA allows me to pursue advanced leadership positions within my company.  It also helps to answer the question: what else do I want to explore and accomplish before retirement?

I was promoted to my current position a few months ago, and we put the MBA iQ into my professional development plan. As I plan for my MBA, I was super excited to be back into a formal learning environment. At first I didn't think I needed coaching - I figured I'd read, take notes, take the quizzes, and be ready for the Final Exam. Devi was very accessible and gave me good advice of how to approach the course. I completed most of the quizzes on my cell phone in between meetings or on a commute. I love KPIs, so I set to hit the metrics Devi suggested. It felt like I completed two years of undergrad courses in a couple of months. 

I have a colleague in another MBA program who is currently taking 18-hours of MBA prerequisites, most of which are the same courses in the MBA iQ.  I was able to complete those same pre-requisites in far less time, at a fraction of the cost and at my own pace.

-- Dayna

Without a background in business or accounting I didn’t know if I necessarily was qualified to jump into an MBA program right away. I was looking at the prerequisites and the overall course load and completing the equivalent of 18-hours of prerequisites seemed daunting. I was hoping to get some credit for what I had previously done and receive a GMAT waiver. Still, I knew I‘d have to spend time in the traditional prerequisites. I was thrilled when I found out about the MBA iQ course because I didn’t have to spend as much money and could finish faster while still being prepared for the course load to come.
 
In a traditional class, by the time you get to the end, you’ve covered all of the material and have focused on the important points of the class for the final exam. The MBA iQ felt like it took the most important points of each of the six prerequisite courses and created one course. It’s the most important information you need from each prerequisite course to move forward with your MBA.
 
The MBA iQ course was very methodical in terms of how the topics and quizzes were structured. There is a lot of material to go through. The numerous corporate examples had a two-prong effect. It breaks up the reading and assists in digesting the material by driving home concepts and helping you remember the main ones. I remember the Lego concept and the Walmart concept being particularly helpful.
 
The coaching was very helpful as well: Am I on pace? Am I studying the right way? Am I getting enough done? Devi was great in terms of helping me plan and providing me with the encouragement to find my study style. The cost is very reasonable. For the price of less than one credit hour, you can really expand your base knowledge of business, which set me up for success in the MBA.
 
I didn’t know how I’d stack up against classmates in my first MBA class. Now, after completing one I feel very confident in being successful in my MBA pursuit. I don’t know if I’d have the same level of confidence not having gone through the MBA iQ.
 
I started the MBA iQ a few weeks before starting my first MBA class, which was a marketing simulation class. I ramped up quickly in the simulation – faster than most other classmates. I ended up being the one of the de facto leaders of the group project and earned a 99% in the marketing class. I’m confident with the next set of classes to tackle because I know I can go into new classes and feel like I’ll have enough of a core business knowledge to succeed. 

--- Tom

My undergrad was in marketing and management, and I am currently a project manager at a construction company. I’d like to continue on the same career path and move into higher executive positions, dealing with operations and finance. I'd like to move from project based work into more analytic work.

The MBA IQ was very easy to use.  It was everything I needed to succeed for the MBA. I treated it like a university course in terms of how I studied for it. I wished it had even more quant questions than it currently has so that I could practice all of the formulas and concepts covered in the MBA IQ.

-- George

I have two bachelor degrees: one in physics and one in mechanical engineering. For the past 25 years, I've been a quality engineer and manager in the fluorescent lighting industry. My employer shut its doors in 2018.

The Trade Act is covering my Masters in Manufacturing Management at Penn State and, as a result, the MBA IQ. I'll be a full-time student this fall, with the goal of going back into manufacturing after graduation to apply my updated skills to another industry.

The MBA IQ was really easy to read - I probably read it 3 times and enjoyed it. I had to get back into studying, especially after 25 years of working. It was my first online course. There was a lot of material that was applicable to my previous job - especially regarding the sales and accounting functions.

I absolutely feel more confident. It was a reintroduction of how to study and focus for my graduate degree, especially for study habits. I'm taking four courses this fall. The MBA IQ is a condensed version of a university course and a good ramp-up for my first semester.

-- Scott

I was working for a private equity firm on an M&A deal with a robotics company and needed an overview of business topics to apply immediately to this transaction. I came across the MBA IQ and saw that it covered all the topics I needed. My alternative was to buy and read a bunch of business books, and the MBA IQ felt so much more efficient and effective.

We sold the robotics company, and I now have moved to another private equity firm where I continue to use all that I've learned with the MBA IQ. I'm not sure if I'll pursue an MBA as I want to make sure it'll be worth it. 

-- Justin