From Civil Engineering to Business School: How Tobi Li Found His Career Path

This article is based on a May 2021 interview with Tobi Li, an MBA alumnus of the A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management (AGSM) at the University of California, Riverside (UCR).

My undergraduate studies focused on hospitality management and business administration. I came to the United States in 2012 to attend North Dakota State University (NDSU). However, I did not begin my studies in hospitality or business. My original major was civil engineering.

I had always been interested in science and engineering, and because I was relatively introverted, civil engineering initially seemed like a good fit for me. After studying the subject for several years, however, I reconsidered my direction for personal reasons and switched to hospitality management, a business-related field. I also hoped the new major would push me beyond my comfort zone, help me become more outgoing, and encourage me to socialize.

After graduation, I moved to California and worked in several different fields, including the short-term rental industry and international education. These experiences allowed me to accumulate valuable knowledge of business operations and eventually inspired me to take my academic journey to the next level.

Choosing UCR

Because of my previous experience working in international education, I already had a basic understanding of university admission requirements. After carefully comparing numerous institutions and programs, I decided to apply to UCR’s MBA program.

As one of the fastest-growing universities in the University of California system, UCR offered almost everything I was looking for in a business education. It ranked among the top 100 universities in the United States and offered an extensive range of professional faculty expertise and academic resources. To me, it was the ideal university.

UCR’s application process was not significantly different from that of other universities. However, because of the pandemic, UCR waived the GMAT and GRE requirements, as it did again this year. I still chose to submit my GMAT score, TOEFL score, and undergraduate academic record.

If prospective students have the opportunity, I would still recommend taking the GRE or GMAT, since a strong score can strengthen an application. I was also fortunate to receive several recommendation letters from professors at my undergraduate university. Strong recommendation letters can play an important role in the admission process. Applicants who do not submit standardized test scores may be able to strengthen their applications through compelling recommendations. Those with professional experience can also ask their supervisors to write recommendation letters, as work experience is particularly important when applying for an MBA.

The final step was preparing my résumé and personal statement. About two weeks after submitting my application, I successfully received my offer of admission.

My Experience at UCR

At the time of the interview, I had been studying at UCR for more than six months. I found the coursework much more challenging than my undergraduate classes.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, all of our courses had to be delivered online, which made the learning experience even more demanding. Fortunately, unlike my experience at NDSU, I met many Chinese students at UCR who shared similar goals and interests. We exchanged ideas and learning experiences, and our similar backgrounds helped us connect quickly.

I also discovered that many of my classmates had extensive professional experience. Learning alongside them greatly broadened both my network and my perspective.

Looking Ahead

By this point, you may have realized that I did not always have a clear plan for my career or personal future. After studying civil engineering for two years, I switched to hospitality management. I originally planned to return to China after graduation, but I ultimately remained in the United States.

There is no denying that I took several detours during this stage of my life. However, those detours also gave me a wide range of experiences and helped shape the person I am today. For that reason, I do not particularly regret the time I may once have considered “wasted.” Life always involves both gains and losses.

Moving forward, I want to take each step while thinking three steps ahead. After enjoying a relatively carefree childhood and youth, it is time for me to become an adult who plans for the future. Only then will I feel that I have unlocked the full achievement set of life.

In the future, I may explore re-export and intermediary trade opportunities in China. In the United States, I am also interested in investing in real estate and stocks to build a stable cash flow.

An MBA opens the door to many possibilities. Every industry needs people who understand business operations and management. Most importantly, it gives me the freedom to build wealth on my own terms.