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From College of San Mateo to a Menlo Bachelor’s Degree: 2+2 Seamless Transfer Pathway

Menlo College and College of San Mateo (CSM) are proud to announce a new 2+2 transfer agreement offering business graduates of CSM guaranteed admission to complete a bachelor’s degree in business at Menlo with only two additional years of study.

“Menlo College and College of San Mateo are thrilled for the students and their families who will benefit from this program,” said President Steven Weiner of Menlo College and President Jennifer Taylor-Mendoza of College of San Mateo in a joint statement. “Many CSM graduates have already successfully transferred to, and graduated from, Menlo College and gone on to see career success in Silicon Valley and beyond. It is time to solidify a seamless transition between our two institutions so that even more students can follow this proven path to success.”

“Menlo College recognizes that a college education is a major investment for students and their families,” said Dean of School of Business and Professor Mouwafac Sidaoui. “That said, there is a proven ROI to earning a bachelor’s degree and it is with this in mind that Menlo College is committing to these future business leaders and their families. Our College wants to make their student’s journey to earning a top-ranked, ROI-proven, business bachelor’s degree as uncomplicated as possible. This partnership with CSM will do just that.”

“This 2+2 transfer partnership is unique to CSM, as it is the only partnership where our accounting and business majors are guaranteed a transfer scholarship and where the articulation of CSM’s accounting and business courses meet Menlo College’s lower division Business Core curriculum and some upper-division subject requirements,” said CSM Dean of Business and Technology Francisco Gamez. “This means that not only is there a financial incentive for our students to attend Menlo College, but academically more course units will transfer and meet key major requirements at Menlo College. This will allow CSM students to seamlessly earn their bachelor’s degree at Menlo College.” 

With this new agreement, CSM business graduates must complete their associate’s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.0. They will then work with a Menlo College Academic Advisor to ensure they can complete their bachelor’s degree at Menlo in two years. Students will also be offered a two-year scholarship to Menlo up to $30,000 total ($15,000 per year).

“Beginning my college journey at CSM and transferring to Menlo to earn my bachelor’s has worked out so well for me,” says Moncerrat Barriga ‘22. “Thanks to the strong academics and their commitment to my success, I have earned a spot as an incoming audit staff member with EY beginning this summer. I am excited that students will now have a guarantee that they can follow this path to success.”

Menlo College is ranked in the top 16% of universities by Forbes. In their list of America’s Top Colleges 2021, Forbes has rethought how to best rank colleges. By considering a college’s financial support of its students, ROI, as well as the top earnings of its graduates, Menlo places among the top colleges in America. Menlo College is also ranked as the 16th most diverse college in America by Niche

If you are interested in transferring to Menlo College, please email transfer@menlo.edu.

About Menlo College

Menlo College was established in 1927. It is a small, private, non-profit, four-year, accredited, residential college located in Atherton, California. Menlo College’s location in Silicon Valley, one of the world’s most entrepreneurial and innovative geographical areas, has enabled the college to create a valuable market niche for its students locally — as well as globally. Menlo College cultivates in its students the skills, integrity, and passion to make meaningful contributions in an innovation economy.

About College of San Mateo

College of San Mateo (CSM) is a community college located at the northern corridor of Silicon Valley and situated on a beautiful 153-acre site in the San Mateo hills that provides a panoramic view of San Francisco Bay. Since 1922, CSM has been a gateway to higher education leading to university transfer, career preparation and advancement, and professional and personal development.

Menlo College Students Explore International Business in Inaugural Academic Global Immersion Program

Menlo College students recently visited the United Arab Emirates as part of the new Academic Global Immersion (AGI) program

Led by Dean of the School of Business Mouwafac Sidaoui, the AGI program prepares students for leadership roles through visits with global companies.

“It is valuable for students to understand cultural challenges and opportunities around the world,” Dean Sidaoui said. “Through conversations with business executives, students are able to bridge the gap between what they learn in the classroom and the implications these things have in the real world.”

Academic Global Immersion Students Feel “More Equipped”

In January of 2022, nine Menlo College students from five countries participated in the program. They met with Green Energy Solutions & Sustainability, LLC., the UAE’s Ministry of Economy, the Emirates National Oil Company, and participated in the Dubai EXPO.

“I gained insight into environmental dynamics and business trends in developing economies,” Samuele Mian ‘22 said. “I also saw the challenges and opportunities in diversifying a cosmopolitan society and a growth-oriented economy.”

“Academic Global Immersion brought a new lens into my life,” Chara Higaki ‘22 said. “I saw a world that accepted different religions and cultures as they are. I found my calling to be a voice for change and a voice for women. I feel more equipped to take advantage of my education. This will be a great tool to use for the rest of my life.” 

The AGI program will offer trips to students in January and May each year.

Academic Global Immersion Contributes to Menlo College’s Award-Winning Experiential Learning Model

All Menlo College business students participate in an academic internship program

Menlo students have interned at Apple, Deloitte, Marriott, SAP, Tesla, and Marriott. They also participate in a seminar to enhance their experiential learning.

Menlo College received the 2019 Outstanding College Work Experience & Internship Program Award from the California Internship & Work Experience Association. The award recognizes innovative programs that provide unique opportunities to gain skills and on-the-job training.

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About Menlo College

Menlo College was established in 1927. It is a small, private, non-profit, four-year, accredited, residential college located in Atherton, California. Menlo College’s location in Silicon Valley, one of the world’s most entrepreneurial and innovative geographical areas, has enabled the college to create a valuable market niche for its students locally — as well as globally. Menlo College cultivates in its students the skills, integrity, and passion to make meaningful contributions in an innovation economy.

Menlo College Offers Two New In-Demand Degree Programs with Business Analytics Major and Political Science Minor

Meeting Student and Employer Needs with In-Demand Degree Programs

Menlo College makes student success in the workplace a top priority. With a strong academic base, students land highly-sought after jobs through Menlo’s in-demand degree programs. As new Menlo College graduates begin their professional careers, Menlo’s faculty and the Office of Internships & Career Services stay in close contact with these alumni and their employers. Gathering their feedback and taking in current student interests, the College’s leadership makes sure its majors and minors stay ahead of employment trends for years to come.

“A foremost aim of the College is to prepare students for successful and meaningful careers. Menlo values feedback from its graduates and their employers to ensure our students are prepared to enter and lead at the cutting edge of the business world. Our degree programs have changed, and will continue to change, to best align with what the workforce needs – today and tomorrow,” said Provost Grande Lum.

Business Analytics: A New In-Demand Major for Business Students

Menlo College’s Business Analytics Major was formally launched in the 2021-22 school year, led by Dean of the School of Business and Professor of Business Analytics and Data Science Mouwafac Sidaoui and Assistant Professor of Business Analytics and Sports Management Sean Pradhan. Along with coursework, the major requires participation in Menlo’s required internship program. Students pursuing the Business Analytics Major dive into subjects such as big data analytics, coding for analytics, data visualization, technoethics, and digital transformation, and specific topics like thinking like a data scientist. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that job growth for business analysts will reach 15.2% through 2030, with median incomes over $80,000. Countless Bay Area employers that count Menlo alums among their employees, including Amanda Byers ‘13 at Amazon, Ngozi Harrison ‘19 at YouTube, and Brittany Olguin ‘15 at Microsoft, are in search of knowledgeable analysts.

“As an advocate of innovation, creating a major in Business Analytics was a personal endeavor,” said Dean Sidaoui. “Most Business Analytics degrees are offered only to graduate students. Menlo is trailblazing by providing analytics education at the undergraduate level. As companies continue to use big data to drive their business strategies, Menlo is meeting their workforce demand by exposing students to business analytics through this focused major.” 

The Business Analytics Major joins a collection of programs at Menlo that allow students to specialize in-demand fields of study. These students go on to pursue exciting careers using their Menlo education as their base. Bianca-Neme Barros ‘21 secured an impressive job offer at graduation after double majoring in Business Analytics and Finance. At Bain & Company, a Big 3 consulting firm, she will use big data to drive impactful solutions for her clients. Some students have decided to pursue a master degree in analytics or data science after graduating – see below for their stories!

Expanding Menlo’s Business Foundation through the Arts and Sciences

Menlo’s Political Science Minor also officially makes its debut in 2021-22. The program adds to the College’s arts and sciences foundation by joining the newly-designed Minor in Equity and Justice Studies. Students can earn the minor while exploring topics like California politics, civil liberties, and Latinx politics. Many top students have already created their own Political Science major on campus through the Individualized College Major program. These students have gone on to work for political grassroots nonprofits and government officials. Alum Victor Garcia ‘21 studied Politics and Business and pursued work at The Outreach Team as a Campaign Organizer. Now, students focusing on a different major will be able to expose themselves to courses in politics through the dedicated minor.

“As a business college founded on the liberal arts, it is crucial that students at Menlo are exposed to a breadth of classes that empower students to lead better lives and advance society through their careers and elsewhere. Politics play an important role in every person’s life, and to educate students on political science is to support advocacy and social justice,” said Dean Melissa Michelson, the Dean of Arts & Sciences and Professor of Political Science. “Further, what many may not yet realize is how intertwined the spheres of business and politics are. The Political Science minor is a strong complement to Menlo’s specialized business degrees. Students will graduate understanding how to navigate the political climate of their jobs and companies, and their lives more generally.”

Here’s what Menlo students and alumni have to say about these new programs:

“Drawing conclusions from data can help companies make better business decisions. I believe that we are in a changing environment where the emphasis on the tools used within finance and accounting will transition to mainly programming languages and Business Intelligence applications. Therefore, with my Business Analytics major at Menlo, I am well-positioned to solve complex business problems.

I have learned to analyze, cleanse, and extract data using programs like R, Python, Tableau, and SQL in my business analytics courses. Using programming languages to solve complex problems trains your logical thinking and combines several mathematical concepts such as statistics, probability, algebra, and calculus. The skills acquired in mastering analytics become transferable to any career within business, and I highly recommend the Business Analytics program to any student looking for a quantitative job,” Fredrik Ingul ‘22, Private Equity Intern Analyst at Caldicot Capital.

“There has been a shift in the way we approach data, and the business analytics curriculum acknowledges this and prepares students for long-lasting and rewarding careers. On top of learning Python, SQL and Tableau, I was taught how to build artificial intelligence and apply a business lens to algorithms.

Business analytics opened up a new professional world to me, and I think my education gives me a competitive advantage and more high-end job opportunities.  I found the business analytics classes, and learning from industry-leading professionals, so insightful that I have decided to pursue a master’s degree in analytics.” Christian Ingul ‘22, Acquisition Analyst Intern at Storage Corner Group.

“As a student of both Political Science and Business Administration, the opportunities and ideas I generated were limitless. Recently, as a campaign organizer for the Freedom to Vote Act, my main objective was to engage with small businesses to endorse the campaign.

With what I learned from Menlo in both how businesses operate and the political process from state to national government, I strategized and implemented outreach plans that worked. I think students will benefit from a poli sci program as it keeps you civically engaged and helps you understand the internal factors of how businesses operate. You’ll also see the external factors that affect businesses too and learn to move accordingly. Politics truly affects your daily life,” Victor Garcia ‘21, Campaign Organizer at the Outreach Team.

“As a Political Science student, I have direct access to Dean Melissa Michelson, the Dean of Arts & Sciences and Professor of Political Science, who teaches and works in the fields of Political Science and Public Policy. She has taken the time to connect me with regional leaders who tackle issues revolving around affordable housing, financial aid, and immigration. Most recently, I was connected with a Community Engagement professional who hired me to work on a county campaign, tackling systemic disparities.

I have learned that the study of Political Science exists not only to provide students with a form of living after graduation; more importantly, it is intended to educate students on how to advocate and promote the well-being of their community. Students simply need an interest in learning why specific power structures exist and how certain ideas have shaped democratic values. As students enter the workforce, they will be introduced to the various power dynamics their organization practices, and they can either promote or challenge these structures. With the theories and principles taught with this minor, students will acquire a toolkit on how to transform their knowledge into political power,” Diana Guardado ‘23, Social Media Marketing Intern at Hope and Heal Fund.

Learn more about in-demand degree programs and student success at Menlo College:

About Menlo College

Menlo College was established in 1927. It is a small, private, non-profit, four-year, accredited, residential college located in Atherton, California. Menlo College’s location in Silicon Valley, one of the world’s most entrepreneurial and innovative geographical areas, has enabled the college to create a valuable market niche for its students locally — as well as globally. Menlo College cultivates in its students the skills, integrity, and passion to make meaningful contributions in an innovation economy.