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London Business School Current MBA Student Interview

February 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment
London Business School Interview

London Business School student Akansh Khurana

Accepted.com is continuing a blog series featuring interviews with current MBA students, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at top MBA programs. We hope to offer you a candid picture of student life, and what you should consider as you prepare your MBA application.

Here’s a talk with Akansh Khurana, a London Business School student from India who is taking in every aspect of his b-school experience – not just the educational element, but the wealth of opportunities that London as a city has to offer as well. Thank you Akansh for sharing your thoughts with us!

Accepted: First, can you tell us a little about yourself – where are you from? What and where did you study as an undergraduate and when did you graduate?

Akansh: I am from India and was born and brought up in the northern part of the country. After high school, I moved down south to do my B.Tech. in Computer Science from IIIT-Hyderabad. After completing my under-graduation in 2006, I worked at Bain & Company for over five years out of the Delhi (India) and Boston (US) offices.

Currently, I am in the first year at London Business School.

Accepted: Why did you decide to attend London Business School? Which other programs were you considering and what tipped the scales to favor London?

Akansh: Many of my colleagues at Bain went to global business schools. This gave me the opportunity to speak to them and develop deep insights about the programmes at their respective schools. Before starting my application process, I had shortlisted my top four schools, which included London Business School.

There were several reasons that helped London Business School standout for me. Firstly, I was looking at the MBA as a platform to build a “real” global network. London Business School’s unique student profile – with strong regional and professional diversity – is unmatched. Secondly, I wanted to be in a city that offers opportunities to learn, and grow outside the campus as well. Of all the leading global business schools, London Business School offers the best location – right in the center of London city. And finally, I was looking for a strong brand name. The school has earned its brand and respect in a much shorter time frame as compared to any other renowned business school.

HBS, Wharton and Stanford GSB were the other programs I applied to – but in the end, London Business School offered me the best balance across all the three parameters that were most important to me.

Accepted: How does the European location contribute to your post-MBA goals? Have your career goals changed since you’ve begun your studies?

Akansh: I had limited exposure to the European region before starting my MBA. The school offers me a variety of opportunities (through clubs, career services, lectures and social get-togethers) to help develop sound insights about the region, and learn the successes and failures of the organizations here. Given the current EU crisis, there’s a lot of action in the region and so much to learn and discover. In this globalized world, it is extremely important to understand global businesses, apply learning from across the world, and build international relationships.

I came with an objective to strengthen my career across three dimensions – consulting, private equity and technology. The school’s elective offerings, career services team and alumni have all helped me develop across these dimensions.

Accepted: Had you ever lived or traveled abroad before now? How are you adapting to life in a foreign country? Are there cultural differences that are hard to get used to?

Akansh: Before starting my MBA, I worked and stayed in the US outside my home country. I had experienced cultural differences then, but being a London Business School student is different. I had never seen such a variety of cultures and backgrounds. Obviously, it’s hard to align with every single personality and culture. But the best part is that the school puts in a lot of effort to help us learn the act and importance of working in multi-cultural teams.

As an example, the school organizes “Away Day” as a part of our orientation period. During this one day outing, multi-cultural teams collaborate and compete on several group activities. The day is designed to teach us important lessons about working in diverse teams. On similar lines, we’ve also attended sessions to have candid peer discussions on preferences, expectations and stereotypes across nationalities. Such initiatives help us become aware of and accept cultures and personalities that we would otherwise find difficult to relate to.

To ensure that every student does get an international experience and exposure, the school assigns us in groups of 6-7 students – we call these as study groups. Study groups are comprised of students from different nationalities and professional experience. All the group assignments in the first year are required to be done in our respective study groups.

Personally, attending social get-togethers, working on group assignments in study groups, and being open to experimenting new things (cuisines, places, and destinations) are key ways of adapting to life in London.

Accepted: Had you visited the campus before deciding to attend?

Akansh: I did not visit the campus before deciding to attend. But I attended school information sessions in India, and spoke to a large number of my colleagues and friends who are alumni of London Business School. I managed to answer most of my questions through these interactions.

Accepted: What are some of your favorite and least favorite things about living in London? Can you recommend a cozy place to study or hang out with friends near campus?

Akansh: The best part about living in London is the variety of things it has to offer – from theatre to symphony, from proximity to Edinburgh to easy access to France, the Alps and the whole of Europe, from sports to art, and from academic education to the world’s leading organizations. London is a complete world in itself.

But all of this comes with a price – London is an expensive city to stay in, and one has to budget accordingly. I’ve already started to exceed my monthly budget by 10% or so. In the long scheme of things, the experience I get in return of spending this money is completely worth it, and that is why I ensure I do not compromise on experimenting with new things.

My favorite place to hang out near campus is Regents Park during the sunny days, and Edgware Road – noted for its distinct Middle Eastern cuisine and late-night bars and shisha cafes – during evenings. I like studying on the sixth floor at Taunton – it is quiet and offers a great city view.

Accepted: What’s your favorite class so far?

Akansh: It is hard to choose any one class. The professors at London Business School use a variety of teaching methods – role plays, case studies, as well as lecture style, and I’ve enjoyed and understood the use of each of those methods. I’ve enjoyed learning Corporate Finance from Anna Pavlova, General Management from Brandon Lee, Operations Management from Kamalini Ramdas, and Economics from Joao Montez.

But my favorite lectures so far have been in Accounting – I absolutely loved the energy and expertise of Oktay Urcan during my Basic Accounting lecture, and the sense of humor, practical examples, and thoroughness of Shiva in Financial Statement Analysis. Oktay and Shiva are the only reason why I am interested in Accounting at the first place.

Accepted: Do you have a job or internship lined up for the summer? If so, what role did London Business School play in helping you secure that position?

Akansh: The internship process for my batch has just started, and I am working on my applications these days. The school is doing everything in its ability to offer students a platform to learn about and offer a plethora of roles and brands.

I know people who’ve already secured internship offers – particularly in finance – by proactively networking with the school alumni and attending the student-led treks to Asian countries. A large number of students are currently interviewing on campus with the leading consulting firms. Industry recruitment evenings are being held, networking events are being organized, one-to-one career coaching sessions are being offered, and mock interviews are being conducted to help the students learn the technical as well as the soft skills aspect of the interviews.

What I’ve found most helpful is the opportunity to work on part-time projects in London. A lot of students are looking to switch careers, and being in central London helps these students find relevant projects during the first and the second terms. Many people leverage this part-time experience and exposure to find full-time summer internships in areas and sectors of their interest.

Accepted: Do you have any advice for some of our applicants who will be applying to London Business School?

Akansh: Make sure you get a feel of the London Business School student community. Talk to as many people as you need. At the end of the day, the experience is all about those sitting next to you in class. So make sure you find out all about those people.

And most importantly, remember that you will not only be applying to a great school, but also to a great city – do not underestimate the opportunities, the exposure, and the interactions you could get in London.

Please visit our London Business School Zone for more London-specific advice. For complete, soup-to-nuts guidance on the MBA admissions process, please purchase Linda Abraham’s new book, MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools – now available in paperback and Kindle editions!

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UVA Darden Current MBA Student Interview

February 17, 2012 By 2 Comments
Current UVA Darden Student Interview

Meet Jeffrey, current UVA Darden student and Consortium member

Accepted.com is continuing a blog series featuring interviews with current MBA students, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at top MBA programs. We hope to offer you a candid picture of student life, and what you should consider as you prepare your MBA application.

Here’s a talk with Jeffrey Love, a student at UVA Darden who provides a window into student life in Charlottesville, his thoughts on Darden’s case study method of instruction, and advice on how to apply to Darden and the Consortium successfully. Thank you Jeff for sharing your thoughts with us!

Accepted: First, can you tell us a little about yourself – where are you from? What and where did you study as an undergraduate and when did you graduate?

Jeff: I am from Huntsville, Alabama. I matriculated at Alabama A&M University, where I majored in accounting. I graduated summa cum laude in 2006. After obtaining my Bachelor’s, I attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to pursue the Masters of Accountancy. I graduated from UAB in August 2007 and after graduation, sat for the CPA Exam (which I passed).

Accepted: Why did you decide to attend UVA Darden? Which other programs were you considering and what tipped the scales to favor Darden?

Jeff: I was admitted to other top business schools, but I chose to attend Darden because Darden had a reputation for being one of the toughest business schools in the country and because I believe in the experiential learning that the case method provides. Darden has a rigorous first year curriculum and I knew that after graduating from Darden, I would be very prepared for whatever career I pursued. The other schools that I considered attending were HBS, Duke, and Booth, but I ultimately chose Darden because of its reputation of preparing students to become hardworking, principled leaders.

Accepted: What are some of your favorite things about living in Charlottesville?

Jeff: Charlottesville is a nice, small college town. I never had the college town experience so that I appealed to me about Charlottesville. Furthermore, I wanted to attend a college town that required students to connect with one another on social level as well as an academic level. In some of the other schools that are located in bigger cities, students do not interact with one another outside of the classroom because they have so many options of other things to do. Charlottesville forces you to interact with your classmates socially, which fosters long-term friendships.

Accepted: Darden is well-known for utilizing the case-study method of instruction. Is that something you had sought out specifically when choosing b-schools to apply to? Is it a learning method that you’re enjoying? What surprised you about the reality of this teaching method?

Jeff: As I mentioned earlier, the primary reason I decided to attend Darden was the case method. I knew that the case method would be an interesting and unique way to learn. However, I underestimated the full extent of the learning process. I have been pleasantly surprised by how intense the classroom setting is when you openly discuss and debate business issues with your peers. Additionally, the case method requires disciplined study habits because students must come to class fully prepared to discuss the cases. The case method always keeps the students captivated because the topics build on one another and each day you leave out of class feeling enriched because of what you have learned.

Accepted: What’s your favorite class so far?

Jeff: I have enjoyed each of my classes, but my favorite class has been economics. This class has really expanded my knowledge on macroeconomic events and has provided me with the fundamentals to assess the current state of the economy and start thinking about ways to improve the economy. I am still surprised at how much more comfortable I am when reading current news sources like the Wall Street Journal because of the increased fundamentals that we have covered in our economics class.

Accepted: Do you have an internship lined up for the summer? If so, what role did Darden play in helping you secure that position?

Jeff: This summer I will be interning at Wells Fargo Securities as a summer associate in investment banking. Darden has a great career development office and alumni base. Our career advisors and the Darden alumni were very instrumental in me obtaining my summer internship. The career advisors and Darden alumni held mock interviews and held review session to help students prepare for investment banking interviews.

Accepted: Do you have any advice for some of our applicants who will be applying to UVA Darden?

Jeff: Students interested in applying to Darden should start early working on essays and taking the GMAT. The Darden admissions department is looking for students who can demonstrate that they have a history of leadership and students that have a plan for their future. Students who qualify for the Consortium should strongly consider applying through the Consortium.

Accepted: What attracted you to the Consortium? Is the program living up to your expectations?

Jeff: I was initially attracted to the Consortium because of their mission to reduce the underrepresentation of minorities in both the top MBA programs and the ranks of management resonated with me. The Consortium also simplifies the application process by allowing students to apply for multiple business schools with one application. I was fortunate to receive the Consortium Scholarship to Darden, which has allowed me to focus on my classwork without worrying about how I would pay for school.

Accepted: Can you share some application tips for other students applying to business school through the Consortium?

Jeff: My advice to any student interested in applying to Darden through the Consortium is to apply to Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT). MLT is an organization that equips talented minorities with coaching throughout the business school application process, provides early exposure to admission officers, and allows fellows to reflect on their past and properly plan for their future through a detailed curriculum. Any candidate that becomes an MLT fellow before applying to the Consortium will be fully prepared for the application process.

Please visit our UVA Darden B-School Zone and Consortium Zone for more Darden- and Consortium-specific advice. For complete, soup-to-nuts guidance on the MBA admissions process, please purchase Linda Abraham’s new book, MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools – now available in paperback and Kindle editions!

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UT McCombs Current MBA Student Interview

February 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment

UT TowerAccepted.com is continuing a blog series featuring interviews with current MBA students, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at top MBA programs. We hope to offer you a candid picture of student life, and what you should consider as you prepare your MBA application.

Here’s a talk with Karla Juarez, a University of Texas McCombs student who’s passionate about IT, brand management, Latin America, and dance. Thank you Karla for sharing your thoughts with us!

Accepted: First, can you tell us a little about yourself – where are you from? What and where did you study as an undergraduate and when did you graduate?

Karla: I was born in Managua, Nicaragua and raised in Miami, FL. After I graduated in 2005 from the University of Miami with a BS in Computer Engineering, I moved to Minneapolis, MN where I worked in Information Technology for six years.

Accepted: Why did you decide to attend UT McCombs? Has the program lived up to your expectations?

Karla: McCombs has surpassed my expectations! When I visited UT in the fall before applying, I got to experience firsthand its unique and amazing culture. I felt the students were like me in that they were driven, smart, and competitive in all aspects of their lives (not just academics), but I also felt like no one wanted to leave any of their classmates behind. I saw a lot of unity during my stay. After my visit, I knew it was the right fit for me.

Accepted: What do you think of Austin as a location for pursuing an MBA? Did local opportunities play a role in your decision to attend?

Karla: Because of my lack of strong preference, I was more concerned with culture vs. local opportunities. However, Austin is a great city for technology startups and small business in general. UT also has a strong oil and gas program. As far as a location for pursuing an MBA, it’s terrific. Austin is #1 on the 2010 Kiplinger’s Best City for the Next Decade list. It is a moderately sized city with an energetic feel and has tons of live music to enjoy. WITH great weather!

Accepted: What’s your favorite class so far?

Karla: My favorite class so far is Marketing Analytics. It gave me a great overview of how to quantify the importance of marketing through the use of mathematics. It was very interesting and educational to use statistical regressions to solve marketing questions.

Accepted: Do you have an internship lined up for the summer? If so, what role did McCombs play in helping you secure that position?

Karla: Yes, I will be interning in brand management at Johnson & Johnson for the summer. I worked with an excellent UT communications coach before attending the NSHMBA conference in the fall. McCombs provides all MBA students with four hours of one-on-one time with a communications coach. This service was invaluable to me and I definitely noticed an enormous change in my interviewing skills. In addition to communications coaches, the school requires that students take a career class where we work on resumes, company research, mock interviews, cover letters, and other career-related tasks.

Accepted: Your LinkedIn profile shows that you have experience in very diverse areas. How do you plan on using your skills in dance, IT, foreign languages and travel, and Hispanic/Latin American ventures in your post-MBA goals?

Karla: My post-MBA goal is to work with the Latin American market in a brand management capacity. Technology is an ever-increasing part of marketing and will no doubt play an important role in my understanding of how to successfully implement and execute marketing initiatives. I am currently learning a new language (Portuguese) to prepare me for my planned study abroad in São Paulo, Brazil, which will in turn put me in a better place for a Latin America rotation later in my career (that will hopefully include travel). Lastly, dance is one of the ways I celebrate and enjoy culture and that is an important part of my life goal: share enjoyment of life with others and make a positive impact.

Accepted: Do you have any advice for some of our applicants who will be applying to UT McCombs?

Karla: Come for a visit. The culture at top business schools is hard to describe and understand unless you’ve experienced it.

Accepted: I see that you are a member of the Consortium. What attracted you to the Consortium? How have you benefited from the program?

Karla: The Consortium’s tuition fellowship is very attractive to a lot of students. However, the connections I made with Consortium students at other top schools, the pre-business school preparation I underwent with McCombs in preparation for the career conference, and the access I got to companies that recruit MBAs during the Orientation Program (before we even start business school) are priceless.

Accepted: Can you share some application tips for other students applying to business school through the Consortium?

Karla: If you can, get the GMAT out of the way early. For your essays, do a lot of brainstorming and self-reflection before you dive into specific essays. I referenced a couple of business school essay books and they provided very good direction on the brainstorming/writing process. Also very important: ask your friends to help you revise. It’s usually a good idea to have at least one alumnus read your school specific essay.

Please visit our UT McCombs B-School Zone and Consortium Zone for more McCombs- and Consortium-specific advice. For complete, soup-to-nuts guidance on the MBA admissions process, please purchase Linda Abraham’s new book, MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools – now available in paperback and Kindle editions!

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Wharton-Lauder Current MBA Student Interview

February 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The Lauder lounge

The Lauder student lounge

Accepted.com is continuing a blog series featuring interviews with current MBA students, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at top MBA programs. We hope to offer you a candid picture of student life, and what you should consider as you prepare your MBA application.

Here’s a talk with Andrew DeBerry, a Wharton-Lauder student whose childhood and military experience make him an obvious pick for the Wharton-Lauder internationally-focused MBA/MA program. Thank you Andrew for sharing your thoughts with us!

Accepted: First, can you tell us a little about yourself – where are you from? What and where did you study as an undergraduate and when did you graduate?

Andrew: I was born at an Air Force base in Ohio and grew up with my incredible older brother, sister, and father, and my mother from Taiwan added to the support as a Vegas blackjack dealer in the Mirage Casino. We bounced around schools in Japan, Biloxi, and Shreveport. Teachers and friends’ families inspired me with the faith and a passion to make a difference. I grew up wanting to be a Catholic priest but loved science and went to Notre Dame’s outstanding Det 225 AFROTC program to have a practical impact as an engineer. I was very much inspired by friends during the Center for Social Concerns’ service-learning seminars and took a fifth year to go beyond engineering and write columns, work in student government, and take minors in Catholic Social Teaching, Arabic, and Public Policy. ND’s prolific international programs gave special opportunities to teach physics and computer literacy in Uganda, research with a British MP in Parliament, and study Arabic in Cairo on an NSEP Boren fellowship. I graduated in 2004 and was slotted into a special intelligence program and served for 6 years in Tunisia, S. Korea, Germany, and with undercover international operations in Afghanistan.

Accepted: Why did you decide to attend the Wharton-Lauder program? What attracted you to the program and has it lived up to your expectations?

Andrew: After an operation in Afghanistan failed to find Osama bin Laden in 2007, I ordered Paul Bodine’s Great Application Essays for Business School and other MBA admissions books to my tent and read 8 pages a night with a red headlamp. I had taken a couple of business classes and have a Masters in National Security Studies, but wanted more. Wharton-Lauder stood out immediately: two degrees and language fluency in two years with a good-natured, close-knit international community. I had seen the military’s approach in Afghanistan; I wanted to have a strategic but more personal impact based on relationships. Wharton hosted the national Net Impact conference; I visited from my main base in Germany, and was excited to see Lauder students organizing the event. This was the only program I applied to. Finding Lauder was an inspiring discovery.

I had worked in strategy but wanted to ground it in quantitative, business leadership. I’ve been surprised how much I’ve been able to learn across the university with classes on global education technology in the Graduate School of Education, human rights in China in the Penn Law School, and transformational leadership with the School of Social Policy. I may drop a couple to do a summer exchange with INSEAD Singapore. There are many amazing dilemmas at Wharton.

Wharton is a large community of impressive individuals, especially our international students, and the flexible program also lets us organize a wide range of incredible experiences in and outside the classroom. In the first year alone, I was blessed with opportunities to study Arabic in Egypt and Dubai, survive the earthquake during the student-led Spring Break Japan Trek, learn about infrastructure for the World Cup and Olympics for a Wharton class in Rio, trek across Central America for a Lauder class, do corporate strategy work in India, and research emerging market Smartphone strategies for Lauder in Beijing, Shanghai, Zanzibar, Tanzania, and South Africa. Our Vice Dean of Student Life, a.k.a. our infamous “Dean of Happiness” Kembrel Jones, has also made the Wharton community a transformational experience, building sincere friendships that will last long after graduation.

Accepted: What are some of your favorite things about living in Philadelphia? Least favorite? Can you recommend a cozy place to study on or near campus?

Andrew: Philadelphia is perfect for business school. Center City, where most of us live, is large enough to find things to do but small enough to be a community. After enough travel abroad, it was inspiring to return to a birthplace for democracy and find ways to explore freedoms in communities globally still seeking a way. The UPenn Art library, Caffeination coffee shop, and my 25th floor bedroom in 2400 Chestnut apartments overlooking the Schuykill River are refreshing getaways for studying. My favorite place is our Lauder lounge, complete with Keurig. Chatting about travel plans, leaving from here for lunches with staff, making jokes, and generally looking after each other builds irreplaceable friendships. As Pulitzer Prize writer Robert Coles says, “We hand each other along.”

I was surprised when Occupy protested at Wharton. But I do think it’s an important formative experience for rising global leaders. If we can’t hear the complaints from people struggling in our own neighborhood, what kind of leaders would we become? Should business be about not just company rights and profits but also relationships? I’m grateful to find a crowd of students and professors here haunted by the question and discerning what’s right and effective.

Accepted: Congratulations on your job offer from Microsoft! What will you be doing for them, and did Wharton play a role in helping you secure that position? Can you talk about how some of your past experiences (professional and otherwise) inspired you to pursue something in this field?

Andrew: Alumni advice, classmates’ amazing support and connections, and Career Management were instrumental during the job search. Career Management’s skill at humanizing the job search has been very helpful.  I was excited to receive an offer for Apple iPhone product management in Cupertino with 25% travel to China. Finally, recruiting done!

But over winter break I was surprised during interviews for a Strategy Lead role working globally from Seattle with Microsoft’s Public Sector group, which addresses needs in education, government, and healthcare globally. I had hoped to engage these types of problems as a wide-eyed kid, explorer at Notre Dame, and intelligence officer. There is a calling about the work beyond working in a business. The team at Microsoft views their work similarly. I had to accept this role.

Accepted: How have you found the transition from army life back to civilian/student life? Would you say Wharton is “military friendly”?

Andrew: Our Veteran’s Club has led incredible initiatives this year: sponsorships and spokespersons from top companies for recruiting events, a day with Wharton’s senior administrators, articles in top business magazines and newspapers about Wharton veterans, etc. Classmates still thank us for our service. Last year, Brian Lanier, a helo pilot sponsored by the Army, was promoted to Major.  Seeing Wharton packed the floor for his promotion was an honor. We have many stories like this.

Wharton is a great environment for learning from the community while sharing our strengths. Veterans and non-traditional students shouldn’t expect the classroom to be a level playing field in any MBA program with our knowledgeable bankers and consultants, but we also have remarkable stories and skills to share. Being honest about the journey and exchanging support adds to the community. “Pain is weakness leaving the body!” In other words, in any weakness is tremendous strength.

Accepted: Do you have advice for some of our applicants who will be applying to the Wharton-Lauder program?

Andrew: Understand up front there is arbitrariness in any school or job application process, unfortunately. But in general, fit in then stand out. (Accepted.com has advice for both.)

To fit in, qualify. Top-rated GMAT prep books on Amazon and strong undergraduate and professional experiences can be very helpful. Find ways in advance to mitigate any weaknesses. A low GMAT quant without any technical qualifications seems to be a common culprit. Mediocre grades without any quantitative or business classes is another. A strong professional record without a compelling personal story is a third that strains out many an intelligent, hard-working person.

To stand out, be diligent and creative. Spend a lot of time on your stories. Research programs, your background, and goals, and link together specific and personally relevant elements from each for a unique and consistent story. Identify a compelling, relevant way you can create a comprehensive path for yourself at Wharton. Wharton is revamping the “core” curriculum starting Fall 2012 to give more flexibility to the first-year. Identify special ways you can contribute to the development.

Lauder is a niche program. Go through the Lauder website and understand what happens and when; this is obvious and too often overlooked. We love Lauder. Can you describe why you would too?

For any school, make contacts with a couple students through clubs of interest who have similar backgrounds and goals to pick up on inside terms and developments and who might be willing to review your essays. Show a good balance – laugh if you tend to be serious, be concise if you tend to make off comments. Have fun during the process and good luck to you!

Please visit our Wharton B-School Zone for more Wharton-specific advice. Still haven’t decided which b-school are best for you? Download our FREE special report, Best MBA Programs: A Guide to Choosing the Right One for You, to help you narrow down your choices and begin your application efforts out on the right foot.

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Cornell Johnson Current MBA Student Interview

January 27, 2012 By 1 Comment
Current Cornell Johnson MBA Student

Elisa, Cornell Johnson MBA student

Accepted.com is continuing a blog series featuring interviews with current MBA students, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at top MBA programs. We hope to offer you a candid picture of student life, and what you should consider as you prepare your MBA application.

Here’s a talk with Elisa Dobbins, a Cornell Johnson student who is passionate about marketing, brand management, and naturally curly hair. Thank you Elisa for sharing your thoughts with us!

Accepted: First, can you tell us a little about yourself – where are you from? What and where did you study as an undergraduate and when did you graduate?

Elisa: I am originally from Northern Virginia. I received my B.A. in Sociology from the University of Virginia and I have a M.A. in Communications, Culture, and Technology from Georgetown University. I have over 7 years of work experience, but most recently before business school I worked in business and finance operations at Ernst & Young and Blackboard, both in the DC area.

Accepted: Why did you decide to attend Johnson? Is the program meeting your expectations?

Elisa: There are a few reasons why I chose to attend Johnson: the familial, tight-knit community; the Strategic Marketing Immersion, The Roy H. Park Fellowship program, and the program’s commitment to diversity. Before I had even applied to Johnson, faculty, students and alumni, bent over backwards to answer my questions about the program. When I came to visit Ithaca (several times), students opened their homes to my fiancé and I. I felt incredibly welcomed and a part of the community before I was even accepted.

The Strategic Marketing Immersion gave me the opportunity to work on a project for a company, prior to my internship. So in essence, I had an internship before my summer internship. The rigor of course work plus the real-time project proved to be extremely beneficial in securing an offer this summer.

The Roy H. Park Leadership program is one of a kind and something that truly distinguishes Johnson. I was blessed by being selected for this program and I have truly grown personally and as a leader. This program again proves that Johnson values traits such as humility and integrity and values leaders all of types. I have become so confident in my leadership style and know my strengths and weaknesses, and for that I thank Clint Sidle, the Roy J. Park Leadership program director. And finally, attending a school that truly valued diversity was very important to me. I was a part of the first Consortium class at Johnson. While many top programs lack a significant number of women and minorities, Johnson is truly trying to change this and it has been great to be a part of this effort.

Accepted: Ithaca is a far cry from big city business centers. Are there any advantages to attending a b-school in a city that’s virtually off-the-map, business-wise? What steps does Cornell take to compensate for its location?

Elisa: The short answer is “YES”! At Johnson the first semester or the Core is extremely intense. You complete 95% of all the core classes: Marketing, Economics, Accounting, Strategy, Finance, and Statistics at one time. I couldn’t imagine dealing with the distractions associated with being in a big city while recruiting (securing an internship) and successfully completing the Core. Secondly, by being in a small town, you are surrounded by people who genuinely came to Ithaca to be a member of the Johnson community – people are there to learn first and foremost. In terms of recruiting, Johnson has great relationships with companies in a variety of industries and sectors that have been coming to campus for years. Also, many of our students take full advantage of the diversity conferences. Career Services and students provide prep sessions for those who are interested in attending, so all students are prepared. And in all honesty, Ithaca is only 3.5 hours from NYC. Cornell has a bus service called Campus-to-Campus that runs from Ithaca to NYC 7 days a week.

Accepted: What’s your favorite class so far?

Elisa: My favorite class so far has been Management Cases taught by Nate Peck. Each week we were given a case. We were expected to thoroughly analyze it, come up with a recommendation, and create a PowerPoint deck to convey our recommendation. You never knew when you were going to be called on to present, so it really forced me to put my best foot forward every week. This class truly prepared me for my internship. I was able to interpret my project brief and create a deck that concisely and effectively communicated my recommendation.

Accepted: Your LinkedIn profile indicates that you’ve got quite a passion for curly hair (from your numerous curly hair blogs and your position as a Suave Hair Brand Building Brand Management Intern). Then again, you also worked for Ernst and Young. So, do you see a future for yourself in the hair industry or in financial services — which will it be?

Elisa: Yes, I truly have a passion for naturally curly hair! I definitely see myself venturing in to the hair industry at some point in my career. I had a blast this summer at Unilever working on the Suave Hair brand. One thing I have realized is that my passion for hair isn’t going anywhere and there are many ways for me to explore that passion. Right now, I am most interested in getting great marketing training and becoming an excellent brand manager who can effectively market anything. My experience in different industries and functions has really made me well rounded and appreciative of all of these disciplines. As a brand manager, this will truly come in handy!

Accepted: Do you have a job lined up for next year? If so, what role did Johnson play in helping you secure that position?

Elisa: Yes, I do have a job lined up for next year at a company that currently doesn’t recruit at Cornell. I was able to make the initial contact with this company through one of my classmates and then from there the MLT (Management Leadership for Tomorrow) network played a major role in me securing an offer. In my case, the Johnson network played a major role in helping me secure my job. I cannot say this enough, the Johnson network is phenomenal and I experienced firsthand how great it truly is.

Accepted: What attracted you to the Consortium program? Can you tell us a bit about the role diversity has played in your life?

Elisa: The Consortium is a great organization that values leadership, community service, and diversity. The mission of the organization is to “enhance diversity in business education and leadership by helping to reduce the serious underrepresentation of African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans in both our member schools’ enrollments and the ranks of management.” So not only did the mission attract me, but the top MBA program members did as well. I wanted to be at a program that valued diversity. Not just diversity in terms of race and gender, but in terms of thought, experience, career goals, etc. This goal has been mine for a long time. The other schools I have attended valued diversity. My past employers valued diversity. And my future employer values diversity as well. It is important for me to be accepted but most importantly, I want to continue broadening my horizons and learning from people who are different from me in every way.

Accepted: Can you share some application tips for other students applying to business school through the Consortium?

Elisa: Be yourself and be confident! I can’t say this enough. Do not write what you think the Admissions Staff wants to read. Put your best foot forward and don’t doubt yourself about your past. You can’t change the grades in college, but you can change your GMAT score and your essays. Focus on the things that you can really change and make an impact on your application package. Also, the GMAT is just one part of your application. Do your best, but do not waste precious time stressing over your score.

Accepted: Do you have any advice for some of our applicants who will be applying to Cornell Johnson?

Elisa: Johnson truly looks at every facet of an applicant. Our community is unique, close, and different than other programs. If you have the opportunity, please visit campus or take the time to talk to some of the students and alumni. Johnson offers many opportunities to connect with the school, so take advantage.

Please visit our Cornell Johnson B-School Zone and Consortium Zone for more Johnson- and Consortium-specific advice. Still haven’t decided which b-school are best for you? Download our FREE special report, Best MBA Programs: A Guide to Choosing the Right One for You, to help you narrow down your choices and begin your application efforts out on the right foot.

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EMBA Blogger Interview: B-School Babe’s Journey

January 20, 2012 By 1 Comment
Current Wharton EMBA Student

Sharon, current Wharton EMBA student

Next up in our series of featured MBA bloggers is B-School Babe, Sharon Lee. Please enjoy Sharon’s thoughtful answers and use them to help you make your way through the MBA or EMBA admissions process. She also provides some important insights into the Wharton MBA for Executives Program.

Accepted: First, can you tell us a little about yourself – where are you from, where did you go to college and when did you graduate; and what prior degrees do you hold?

B-School Babe: I’m a native New York City chick. I graduated from NYU in 2001 with a BA in Psychology and a concentration in Marketing. I’ve been working in the advertising/marketing industry since college, having worked at global companies like Unilever, Saatchi & Saatchi and McCann-Erickson. For the past five years, I’ve been employed at Girl Scouts of the USA, where I am now the Director of Marketing and I absolutely love what I do. In addition to my BA, I also have a Certificate in Not-for-Profit Management from Columbia Business School and several yoga teaching certifications.

Accepted: How did you choose Wharton? Why did you feel it was the best school for you?

B-School Babe: To be honest, I actually feel like Wharton chose me! When I was evaluating schools, I wanted to find a program that would be the best fit for me and one where I would be able to hone my skills. Wharton felt the “rightest” to me because I wanted to be in an environment where my classmates would have a similar amount of professional experience as I had and I wanted to have access to world renowned professors. I also wanted to be an in-person environment which would encourage a ton of networking and interaction. The Wharton MBA for Executives Program offers all of those things. We are in classes on Fridays and Saturdays, bi-weekly, and stay in-residence on Friday night which allows us to spend a lot of time together in and out of the classroom. Further, I am very passionate about using business to make the world a better place and Wharton has a wonderful Social Impact program that allows students access to NGOs and non-profits.

Accepted: Is b-school anything like you had expected?

B-School Babe: B-school has been a transformative experience and has given me the confidence to create a trajectory of success that I never would have imagined. In the past six months that I’ve been enrolled at Wharton, my life has been on a super-charged upswing. I have been promoted at work due to my MBA candidacy. I’ve gotten engaged and married and am now expecting a baby on the way. I’ve worked with several classmates to enter a Global Innovation Challenge and we are now in the final round, hoping to win the title of the World’s Most Innovative MBA Team. We have been selected to ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on January 27th.

Business school is so much more than the number of hours spent in the classroom, it’s a time when people get the chance to truly evaluate their life situations and make great change. B-school teaches you that every moment is an opportunity to learn and grow. I’ve been able to apply that philosophy to all aspects of my life.

Accepted: What would you do differently, in hindsight, when applying now that you are in b-school?

B-School Babe: I would have started earlier. My entire b-school application process, from the moment I decided to return to school to receiving my first acceptance phone call, was only about 6 months long. I literally completed one of my b-school applications in 24 hours – and that included begging my recommenders to submit their letters within that timeframe as well – something I would not recommend to anyone! In addition, I took the GMAT twice and waited to see my score before committing to the application process and selecting my target schools. If I could have done it all over again, I would have given myself at least a year to prep for the GMAT, evaluate programs, network with current students and mentally prepare for the life change.

Accepted: What’s your favorite class so far?

B-School Babe: I really enjoyed my Foundations in Leadership class taught by Michael Useem, the director of Leadership and Change Management at Wharton. He has such a great way of providing insights on how to be better managers and leaders in the workplace, by using case studies and inspirational stories. One of my favorite classes was when Useem invited Movers and Shakespeares, a theater company, as guest speakers to teach us how Shakespeare acting methods related back to leadership strategies. I had a blast dressing up in costume and reciting lines that were written by the bard.

Accepted: Are there any things in particular you did before starting b-school that made the transition back to student life easier? (Like taking a math course to brush up on your skills, move to your new location a few weeks early to settle in…)

B-School Babe: Because I’m in an Executive MBA program and still working full-time, I needed to make sure that my boss and coworkers would be well-prepped for my transition back to school. I solicited approval of a flexible work schedule, which allows me the time off necessary to attend classes and to participate in group projects. I also had to learn to delegate more tasks to my team – and get used to the idea that I can’t do it all. Finally, I had to set the expectations of the people in my life as well – my now husband has been extremely supportive and understanding. There are many nights when I’m out with my study group until midnight or later. All of our partners and spouses have had to sacrifice their time with us in order to support our MBA journey.

Accepted: Do you have any advice you’d like to bestow on our current MBA or EMBA applicants?

B-School Babe: Ask for help. Business school is all about networking and you will be surprised at how willing folks will be to help you. When I was applying to b-school, I visited a few programs and spent a good amount of time with current and past MBA students, as well as admissions directors and professors. I kept in touch with them after the visits and continued to contact them as I developed my applications. By doing so, I created my own support network and got a ton of help. At some schools, students offered to review my application and coached me through the process. At other schools, alums talked to me a lot about their own experiences post-graduation and asked hard questions about what I wanted to do with an MBA, which helped me to solidify my essays and helped me to prepare for the interviews. I was super lucky to have received all of the help that I did from complete strangers. And now that I am in business school, it is my job to give back. So please visit my blog B-School Babe or my Facebook page and contact me if you ever have any questions. Good luck!

The deadline to submit your Wharton Executive MBA application is coming soon, on February 6. Check out our Wharton EMBA essay tips for insights into answering the questions.

Do you want to be featured in Accepted.com’s blog, Accepted Admissions Blog? If you want to share your MBA/EMBA journey with the world (or at least with our readers), email us at mbabloggers@accepted.com.

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NYU Stern Current MBA Student Interview

January 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment

NYU SternAccepted.com is continuing a blog series featuring interviews with current MBA students, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at top MBA programs. We hope to offer you a candid picture of student life, and what you should consider as you prepare your MBA application.

Here’s a talk with Huriyyah Muhammad, an NYU Stern student who is passionate about travel and making movies. Thank you Huriyyah for sharing your thoughts with us!

Accepted: First, can you tell us a little about yourself – where are you from? What and where did you study as an undergraduate and when did you graduate?

Huriyyah: I was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio where I spent the first 16 years of my life. At 16 I was eligible to graduate from High School but instead chose to participate in an exchange program that allowed me to live in Khartoum, Sudan for a year and travel to surrounding nations in the Middle East and N.E. Africa. It was an amazing experience that instilled in me a love of travel, as well as an early look at cultures around the world. So much of what is taken for granted here in the US is hard to come by in nations around the world. It cemented a greater appreciation for creature comforts, as well as the opportunities that came my way.

Following my time in Africa, I enrolled in Spelman College in Atlanta, GA, where I majored in Computer Science and double minored in English and Mathematics.

Accepted: Why did you decide to attend NYU Stern?

Huriyyah: I decided to attend NYU Stern because I was in love with the community from the moment I walked in the door. While NYU Stern is highly ranked, there is a down to earth feeling that permeates the community. I got the sense immediately that everyone I came in contact with was rooting for my success, from the admissions team, to the current students I spoke with, to professors whose classes I had the privilege of visiting.

Accepted: What are some of your favorite things about living in New York City? Least favorite?

Huriyyah: Favorite thing is the diverse community. Least favorite thing is the dirt.

Accepted: What’s your favorite class so far?

Huriyyah: Probably Firms and Markets, a microeconomics class.

Accepted: Do you plan on continuing to work at Infinite Wings Media, the business you started, after you receive your MBA? In what ways are you hoping Stern will help you as an entrepreneur?

Huriyyah: Being an entrepreneur has been an invaluable learning experience, as has been producing multiple independent feature films. I’m very proud of the work that I’ve done and the stories that I’ve been able to help create. What became more apparent to me in the past few years however was that it was essential for me to increase my understanding in critical areas including finance, operations, strategy…etc. This is what I expected from an MBA, and so far, I have not been disappointed. What I’ve learned in such a short amount of time is invaluable, not to mention the connections that I’ve made.

What also became apparent to me over the past few years is that I missed working in a larger organization, one with the human and financial capital in place to really touch people around the world. Post MBA, I look forward to finding a place within a major studio or production company that has a long history of making films and that will allow me to bring my unique creative and business background to the table. I’m passionate about making films, and it’s how I hope to do my part to help make the world better for us all.

Accepted: I see that you are a member of the Consortium. What attracted you to the Consortium program? Is the program living up to your expectations?

Huriyyah: Yes, I am a member of the Consortium. Connecting with other top MBA candidates across the US who share similar cultural experiences has been great. Through the Consortium, not only did we get to meet, but we got to spend a substantial amount of time together toward developing relationships that will hopefully last a lifetime.

Accepted: Can you share some application tips for other students applying to business school through the Consortium?

Huriyyah: The biggest tip I can provide is just be yourself. Also have faith that no matter what happens, it’s for your best good.

Accepted: Do you have any advice for some of our applicants who will be applying to NYU Stern?

Huriyyah: Make yourself visible.

Accepted: Last but not least, do you have a favorite place to curl up and study when you don’t want to be bothered?

Huriyyah: Yep. I go up to the Accounting Department and sit in the lounge. Pretty quiet up there. I guess everyone is busy crunching numbers.

Please visit our NYU Stern B-School Zone and Consortium Zone for more NYU- and Consortium-specific advice. Still haven’t decided which b-school are best for you? Download our FREE special report, Best MBA Programs: A Guide to Choosing the Right One for You, to help you narrow down your choices and begin your application efforts out on the right foot.

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Haas MBA Student Interview

January 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

UC Berkeley HaasAccepted.com is continuing a blog series featuring interviews with current MBA students, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at top MBA programs. We hope to offer you a candid picture of student life, and what you should consider as you prepare your MBA application.

Here’s a talk with Amara Aigbedion, a student from Houston who is loving living in Berkeley and throwing herself into all sorts of new experiences at UC Berkeley Haas. Thank you Amara for sharing your thoughts with us! P.S. Amara used to take a helicopter to work…read on for more details!

Accepted: First, can you tell us a little about yourself – where are you from? What and where did you study as an undergraduate and when did you graduate?

Amara: I was born in Texas and grew up in Houston. I went to high school and college in Houston (University of Houston). In undergrad I majored in Mechanical Engineering. I’ve always had an urge to be hands-on and had a knack for math and science. In my career I’ve been drawn to technology and energy. As a child I wanted to be an astronaut at NASA and was able to attain internships working on Space Shuttle Discovery during undergrad. Ultimately, I ended up working in the petroleum industry, which is the other industry that Houston is known for.

Accepted: Why did you decide to attend Haas?

Amara: The environment both physically and academically attracted me to Haas. As an aspiring entrepreneur I wanted to be in an environment that fostered creativity and openness. Haas also has strong networks within the companies in Silicon Valley. Some of the brightest minds in technology are out here and I wanted to be as close as possible to them.

Accepted: What are some of your favorite things about living in the Bay Area? Least favorite?

Amara: Best things are the proximity to great outdoor activities. Out here within my first semester, I’ve learned to surf, been hiking and rock climbing at several locations, visited Yosemite National Park, skied for the first time in Lake Tahoe, and took golfing lessons at Tilden Park Golf Course which is a few miles from campus. All of these activities are a short driving distance away. Being able to open myself to these activities has enriched my MBA experience.

The only negative thing about the area is that there are so many things to do that it is actually difficult to choose sometimes.

Accepted: What’s your favorite class so far?

Amara: So far I’ve only taken my core classes but my favorite class has been finance. Unfortunately I didn’t have the opportunity to take a business course in undergrad. However, I believe that regardless of one’s background, he should have a basic understanding of how projects and investments are evaluated. Understanding the fundamentals of finance has put a lot of things into perspective from my previous job to making purchase decisions. I now know how to go about determining the value of a company or asset as well as how to invest in the stock market.

Accepted: Do you have an internship lined up for next year? If so, what role did Haas play in helping you secure that position?

Amara: I don’t have a job set in stone yet but I have some offers that were afforded me through the Consortium. In the summer, prior to coming to school, Consortium students attend a conference and career fair (OP Orientation Program) where they have the opportunity to interview with top companies in advance of their classmates. The career coaches at Haas helped me update my resume, set up mock interviews with alums, and helped me with other preparation activities that prepared me for the Consortium OP Conference. This made my life a lot easier when I got on campus.

Accepted: Can you tell us about your job at BP?

Amara: My job at BP was a great learning experience. I started as a subsea engineer in deep-water Gulf of Mexico. In that role I was able to ride to work on helicopters and organize offshore campaigns performed by remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). I worked on several small and large projects from appraisal to operations. The oil and gas industry is very hands-on and requires expertise from a variety of disciplines. I was fortunate to meet interesting people of all walks of life from the rig hands in the field to the executives in the boardroom. I was able to learn the importance of various perspectives and how they contribute to the overall company objectives.

Accepted: That sounds like an exciting job! Haas is known as one of the more diverse business schools in the U.S. – was that an important criterion in your b-school search? How is that diversity enhancing your MBA education?

Amara: When I applied to Berkeley I was looking at the school’s reputation, the people, and environment. I have found that the people who choose to come to Haas are very down to earth and collaborative. Also, the proximity to outdoor activities, good weather, Silicon Valley and the Consortium fellowship were huge draws. It has helped to create a balanced life experience. I would have to say being in this environment has afforded me the opportunity to open myself up to having brand new adventures and acquiring friends from all backgrounds and ethnicities. I’ve been able to travel internationally with my colleagues, which has helped me to understand diverse markets and perspectives when it comes to assessing opportunities.

Accepted: What attracted you to the Consortium program? Is the program living up to your expectations?

Amara: I initially heard about the program from a friend three years ago. She informed me of the fellowship opportunity as well as some of the other benefits of the program. Namely that there was a common application that allowed one to apply to up to six top business programs in the nation, full and partial fellowship opportunities, and a summer career conference prior to one’s first year. I was intrigued and immediately began researching the Consortium

The Consortium has turned out to be a tremendously valuable organization in my life without which, I may not have decided to pursue my MBA at this time. The common application, fellowships, and strong network are only a few of the benefits that I have realized.

Even beginning in the application phase, the organization took a very hands-on approach to recruiting by hosting info sessions across the country and webinars. I attended one in Houston where I was able to connect with former alumni and obtain information about the member schools. The opportunity to be a part of this network of talented, like-minded, and genuinely warm-hearted people has a value beyond measure.

Accepted: Can you share some application tips for other students applying to business school through the Consortium?

Amara: Approach the application holistically. Admissions will be looking at four key components: resume, test scores, essays, and recommendations. Every piece tells a portion of the story about who the applicant is. The resume will tell them about his/her work history, the test scores let admissions know that the applicant can handle the course load, and the essays will speak towards what shaped the applicant’s future goals. The applicant should not neglect his recommendations because they serve to fill in the stories untold by the resume and essays. They speak towards the types of relationships and lasting impact that the applicant has made within an organization.

Accepted: Do you have any advice for some of our applicants who will be applying to Haas?

Amara: Haas has four defining principles that are very important to student life and help to differentiate us: Question the Status Quo, Confidence Without Attitude, Beyond Yourself, and Students Always. Take time to reflect on these principles within your own life experiences. Then think about how you can effectively contribute to strengthening the Haas brand while at school and within your other future endeavors.

Please visit our Haas B-School Zone and Consortium Zone for more Haas- and Consortium-specific advice. Still haven’t decided which b-school are best for you? Download our FREE special report, Best MBA Programs: A Guide to Choosing the Right One for You, to help you narrow down your choices and begin your application efforts out on the right foot.

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UCLA Anderson MBA Student Interview

December 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment

UCLA AndersonAccepted.com is continuing a blog series featuring interviews with current MBA students, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at top MBA programs. We hope to offer you a candid picture of student life, and what you should consider as you prepare your MBA application.

Here’s a talk with Charlotte Baxter, an East Coast girl who’s living her b-school dream out in sunny LA at UCLA Anderson. Thank you Charlotte for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us! (You can read more about Charlotte’s MBA adventures on the MBA Student Voice, Anderson’s admissions blog.)

Accepted: First, can you tell us a little about yourself: Where are you from? What and where did you study as an undergraduate and when did you graduate?

Charlotte: I grew up in Atlanta, GA and attended Dartmouth College, graduating in 2002 with a degree in Art History. I worked on Wall Street at UBS for the next couple of years but ultimately decided that finance was not my calling. For the last six years, I worked as a real estate developer of hotels for a REIT based in Palm Beach, FL. However, although I lived and worked there, my territory encompassed regions as far-flung as Seattle, Long Island, DC and San Diego. So I traveled a lot!

One of the perks of my job, although I didn’t know it at the time, was that I had a project obtaining the entitlements for a hotel in Los Angeles. Frequent trips to LA over the course of two years introduced me to the city, and I fell in love with the amazing weather and the many unique towns that make up LA as a whole, particularly the charming and beautiful beach towns of Hermosa and Manhattan Beach and Santa Monica. When I was accepted at UCLA Anderson, I already knew that LA would be a fantastic place to spend two (or more) years!

Other sound bites about me: I am getting married in March (over Spring Break!), and my fiancé lives in LA with me and owns an e-commerce company that specializes in hotel marketing. Also, I am an avid marathoner and triathlete and have raced 11 marathons, including Boston, and many triathlons, including two Half Ironmans.

Accepted: Why did you decide to attend Anderson? Is the program meeting your expectations?

Charlotte: I chose Anderson because I wanted to go to school in a city to have the advantages of many different businesses and corporations in my backyard, and I favored the climate in California to New England or the Mid-west. I knew Anderson by reputation: some of the alums from Anderson are people that you read about daily in the WSJ, and others are people who while not as well-known globally, are known to me personally and are accomplished, successful, good people who are fiercely loyal to their alma mater.

I knew it was a great choice, but Anderson is still exceeding my expectations. The school’s clear focus on its students’ success is evident from big things to the very small. For example, the Orientation program clearly takes months of planning and dedication to accomplish as much as it does. There are the big things, like the opportunity to ease back in to school with our first “course” taken pass/fail with a terrific professor, the chance to bond with your section through events like Game Day, Section Competition, and the 80s Party, and true character-building experiences like the high ropes course on Odyssey Day where you realize you are tougher than maybe you realized. But there are also the little touches, like fresh breakfast served every day, or the fact that you are assigned a different seat at every lunch so that you have the chance to meet as many classmates outside of your section as possible, that tell me how much of a comprehensive experience Anderson strives to make itself.

Accepted: The urban shores of LA are a far cry from the White Mountains that surrounded Dartmouth — how does this affect the learning experience, and which do you prefer? What are some of your favorite things about living in Los Angeles? Least favorite?

Charlotte: I am fiercely loyal to Dartmouth, loved my experience there, and highly recommend it to anyone for undergrad. Rural New Hampshire was a wonderful place to go to school, and I was really able to focus on schoolwork and friendships without the distraction (or high cost of living!) of a more cosmopolitan area. The White Mountains and Connecticut River and the Dartmouth Skiway were just a few of the perks of the New England location. However, these very things that made it great to be an undergrad are less valuable and even a detriment for a graduate student in business. The same cozy isolation that fostered lifelong friendships in college means I would be removed from thriving business centers. Right here in our own backyard in LA are more Fortune 50 companies than anywhere else in the US except the Bay Area. And speaking of the Bay Area, it is only a 5.5-hour drive away. In fact, one of the associations I am a Board Member of, the High Tech Business Association, is sponsoring a “Days On the Job” event next week where association members are invited to visit 5 of a possible 22 notable Bay Area companies, including Google, LinkedIn, Twitter, eBay, Cisco, Pandora, Visa and more. It is easy for us to find academic internships during the school year at the many companies and start-ups in the LA area, and it is easy for recruiters to reach us.

Los Angeles itself is truly fabulous. Having lived on the East Coast my whole life and as a lifelong devotee of New York City, pretty much the greatest place on the planet, I did not expect to love LA as much as I do. But it really wins you over. It is the focus on the outdoors, and the integration of the ocean and beach in everyday life, and all the other perks afforded by year-round good weather that give the City such a positive vibe. People are happier and healthier, restaurants all have outdoor patios, malls are open-air, and there are local parks everywhere and huge state parks within a mile of the UCLA campus. The culture is a true melting pot, which makes for great diversity and of course, fabulous food. The best we’ve enjoyed since we got here are authentic Korean and Japanese dishes that cost under $7 each from local hole-in-the-wall restaurants that I would never dreamed of finding in Florida. There are also a lot of great healthy, vegetarian options, which makes my life a lot easier.

It comes as no surprise to learn that my least favorite part of LA is the traffic. However, if you don’t live too far from campus, it’s really not that bad. Just be sure to ask prospective students if the neighborhoods you are targeting make sense before committing to a lease!

Accepted: Did you consider yourself an ‘older applicant’? Did your experience level pose a challenge and how did you handle it?

Charlotte: I am older than the average student at Anderson at 31 years old, but not so much older that I really notice. I have several classmates approximately the same age as me, but I think what really makes the gap seem small is that it takes a person with a certain level of maturity and drive to know they want to sign on for business school. Not every 24 or 27 year old could articulate what they want out of life and know that they need to spend an extremely large amount of money acquiring an MBA to get it, so right away you are not looking at a random sampling of people in their 20s, but only select motivated ones.

That said, I think if anything my age has been an advantage for me. I have a laser focus and an awareness of what I want in life that makes me very suited to handle the rigors of business school, because it really is tough. My advice to anyone considering an MBA is you really need to be committed to it, because it is a very challenging experience that is not the place for people still figuring out what they want from life. I would not have done very well in b-school 5 years ago, but today I am thriving on the intensity and trying to take advantage of every single opportunity it offers. (This isn’t possible of course, as there are so many! But it doesn’t hurt to try.)

Accepted: What is your favorite class so far?

Charlotte: The fall quarter is the only quarter at Anderson where we don’t have any choice in our classes, as we all have to take 5 “core” classes: Managerial Economics, Financial Accounting, Marketing Management, Data and Decisions (don’t be fooled by the name, this is Stats!), and Management Communications. For a liberal arts major many years out of school like me, there is a steep learning curve! However, I enjoyed all of the classes because I learned a lot of fascinating new material. It was more stressful in terms of having to get good grades!

My favorite class was Econ with Prof. Wacziarg, who is an example of exactly the type of top-notch professor you expect at a school of Anderson’s caliber. He is a prominent researcher in his field of course, but in class, he is wry, funny, engaging, and manages to make a somewhat dry subject interesting and learnable. I came away from his class with not only a much deeper knowledge of economics than you would expect after a mere 10 weeks, but with a mentor for the next two years.

Accepted: As a first year student, have you had much contact with Anderson’s career services department? What is the best thing Anderson has done in terms of recruitment (either for post-MBA or summer internship positions)?

Charlotte: I think the question isn’t so much have I had contact, but are the advisors in Parker CMC sick of me yet?? I meet with David Cooley literally once a week for continued guidance as I navigate the summer internship hiring process, and he has done wonders in helping me with a career switch and in bolstering my confidence as the time to actually apply for internships nears. (Although there are on-campus recruiting events all fall, companies are not allowed to actually collect resumes and begin interviews with first years until after first quarter is over.) First it was revising my resume, then working on cover letters, then getting networking advice, then practicing interviewing…the list goes on.

Everyone in the office is very helpful and friendly and makes a point of aligning their goals with yours. For example, I decided I wanted to conduct an “Interview Practice Blitz” for any interested students over the Winter Break, and the staff helped me coordinate the event and reserved rooms in their own office for it.

In addition, they are working hard not just with the students to be sure we all get the job of our dreams, but by reaching out to potential employers. They work tirelessly to cultivate relationships with top companies from around the country, as well as start-ups and others in our own backyard, to ensure that Anderson is on everyone’s list when it comes time to recruiting. I feel like I have a ton of opportunities here thanks to them. I can’t say enough good things about everyone in the Parker office.

Accepted: Can you recommend any cozy places to study, drink coffee, and shmooze near campus?

Charlotte: Westwood is the town that UCLA is in, but that is more where the undergrads hang out. Most of us live in Brentwood, just west of campus across the 405, which is a really great, walkable neighborhood with lots of fun restaurants, activities, and running paths. Most of the “nightlife” we engage in is there, in Westwood, or Santa Monica, also a terrific neighborhood and place to live, but a bit farther from campus.

Most of us study on-campus in the beautiful library with its three-story wall of windows or the coffee and sandwich shop right on campus, Il Tramezzino. When you get sick of your classmates, walk 5 minutes over to the Northern Lights café which has self-serve fro-yo a la Yogurtland and a salad bar.

Accepted: Do you have any admissions tips to offer our UCLA Anderson applicants?

Charlotte: One of the things I most appreciate about Anderson, and I think serves as a real advantage for the school as it continues to gain prestige and cultivate itself into a Top 10 institution, is that they do not have a formula they look for in applicants. Whereas some other top schools are known for mostly accepting former bankers, consultants, and people who scored 800 on their GMAT, Anderson is a school that looks at the whole person. Whereas using one of the many essay questions in an application to communicate a personal story might have turned out to be a liability at other schools, it was an advantage at UCLA. I say this not only based on their enthusiastic acceptance of me, but also the quality of my fellow students. What a fantastic group of people. Not all of them have backgrounds that would make it past some of the more formulaic screening processes, but Anderson wisely sees their potential.

Every day, every hour, I am amazed, surprised, and delighted by the sheer intellect, ambition, savvy, wisdom, goal-orientation, creativity, and overall high caliber of each of my fellow students. This is truly a top notch institution to have attracted such amazing talent. There is no doubt in my mind that many people I walk the halls of Anderson with today are going to be tomorrow’s Fortune 50 CEO’s, start-up darlings, and revolutionaries in the non-profit space. It’s just an added bonus that everyone is also friendly & helpful, normal (loosely defined), and quite often, hilarious.

My advice for applicants would be to make sure you are authentic and honest. Make it clear where you’ve been and where you’re going and what you want out of your Anderson MBA. Show your drive and show that you’ve done your research into the school. Anderson has big goals to become a better and stronger institution with every passing day, where do you fit in? Good luck!

Please visit our UCLA Anderson B-School Zone for more Anderson-specific advice. Still haven’t decided which b-schools are best for you? Download our FREE special report, Best MBA Programs: A Guide to Choosing the Right One for You, to help you narrow down your choices and begin your application efforts out on the right foot.

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INSEAD MBA Student Interview

December 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

INSEADAccepted.com is continuing a blog series featuring interviews with current MBA students, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at top MBA programs. We hope to offer you a candid picture of student life, and what you should consider as you prepare your MBA application.

Here’s a talk with Kelly Sun, a student who is wrapping up an exciting, fun-filled, and educationally rich experience at INSEAD. Thank you Kelly for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us!

Accepted: First, can you tell us a little about yourself – where are you from? What and where did you study as an undergraduate and when did you graduate?

Kelly: I was born in Beijing and spent my teenage years in Chicago and Singapore before returning to the USA again for college. I went to University of Washington in Seattle and graduated with a Business-Information System degree. Prior to my MBA, I worked as a technology audit manager for Expedia, Inc, the world’s largest online travel company.

Accepted: Why did you decide to attend INSEAD? Why did you choose the Singapore campus over those in Fontainebleau or Abu Dhabi?

Kelly: INSEAD was my #1 choice since the beginning as it represents all the factors I sought for in an MBA program: Ranking and reputation (#5 in the world by Bloomberg), one year program, outstanding professors, global perspective and diversity, strong international focus and recruitment outlook, and last but definitely not least – a school that promises an intense, challenging and fun-filled fast-life.

I chose Asia because interestingly, though I am Asian by ethnicity, it is the region that I have the least professional exposure to. I have lived in Belgium and spent time working in France, but had very little professional context in Asia. Given my interest in the emerging markets I wanted to know how to best leverage the opportunities available. Plus – Asia’s rapid growth and expansion is immensely energizing; each time I visited Asia for personal reasons, I left with a feeling of vibrancy and aspirations, so I knew I wanted to come work in Asia since Day -1 of MBA.

Abu Dhabi is for exec educations only – maybe next time! :)

Accepted: What are some of your favorite things about living in Singapore? Least favorite?

Kelly: I have just posted a school blog post about the advantages of being a Singapore “Lifer” (someone who spends all his/her time at one campus). The city is efficient, clean, cosmopolitan, the regional capital of many prominent companies and firms with strong support for entrepreneurial culture, plus all the softer sides of life: Sunshine, beaches, affordable and delicious cuisines, and travel base to all the fascinating destinations. Let’s face it – one or two years of MBA is not just for expanding your professional knowledge and skill sets, but your network and horizons personally. A great city attracts and retains great alumni that you can network with.

Downside? I can’t think of anything really, the fact I’m a lifer here is self-evident, isn’t it? :)

Accepted: How does the Asian location, as well as the school’s focus on being a “business school for the world,” contribute to your post-MBA goals? Have your career goals changed since you’ve begun your studies?

Kelly: I had a strong professional interest in Asia and found many like-minded people from all over the world at the Singapore campus. Today’s world is no longer just US or EU driven, the growth and demand comes from all over the world and you must be able to react appropriately to grasp the advantage. This is why I came to INSEAD – to gain a global perspective which is relatively different from the view point from an US-centric school – and understandably so as the US schools have different priorities.

INSEAD does not just theorize about doing business globally, you are immersed in an environment where the new generation of top business minds from each country, as well as a faculty as diverse and interesting as the student body itself. You could be collaborating with a Dutch, a Brazilian, an Israeli and an Irish on a case for a Korean company and understand the vast mindsets in real context, and gain understanding of different motivations and business interests present. Even as you clash occasionally, you learn and improve your competency and maneuverability in conducting international business. At the same time, it is an eye-opening and humbling experience to extract insights from the talents before you.

Accepted: Had you visited the campus before deciding to attend?

Kelly: I did visit the Fontainebleau campus during my work in France and eventually decided on Singapore.

Accepted: What’s your favorite class so far?

Kelly: There are many – but I particularly liked a course called Management Decision Making. The course comes timely after we finished all our core-courses which taught us the hard skills of strategic analysis and calculating financial returns, etc, and MDM is a course that teaches you the human decision-making process and common thinking traps. To me, this is enlightening as most leaders and CEOs do not make bad decisions based on bad data or misrepresentation of facts – they make bad decisions because they fail to see certain pitfalls in their own thinking pattern. This is a class that teaches you to examine your own logic, motivations and thinking patterns so you can be fair-minded and confident in your decisions, and improve the utilization of information on hand to aid in the process.

Accepted: Do you have a job lined up for next year? If so, what role did INSEAD play in helping you secure that position?

Kelly: Yes – I am returning to Louis Vuitton post graduation and moving to China March 2012. INSEAD was vital in helping me find this opportunity. I was a so-called “triple switcher” – someone who switched geography, industry and function in my job search, and I can’t imagine doing so easily without the knowledge and access provided through a top-tier global MBA school. The school has a strong brand in consumer luxury and has always been a target school for top luxury brands such as LVMH.

In terms of recruiting, INSEAD does not just offer seminars and presentation events; it offers a number of treks, speaker events, and external lectures through its reputation, alumni network and connections. Take consumer luxury for example, I have classmates who went on treks in Italy for Gucci and Hong Kong for Chanel in the worldwide and regional headquarters, to get a hands-on look and feel of the industry. We even had a chance to attend an external day of lecture through LVMH and cracked brand management cases for companies like Marc Jacobs and Dom Perignon and network with insiders first hand. Needless to say, finishing the day on a glass of Dom Perignon 1992 was an added bonus!

Accepted: Can you tell us about your internship at Louis Vuitton?

Kelly: I have a blog post here about my summer internship experience. Summer in a nutshell was hard-work, fast-learning and fun – just how I enjoy it. I get to experience what it is like to manage a boutique with a sizeable P&L and a large team, and the world of retail is fascinating because unlike a desk job, the environment is dynamic and changes are happening frequently all around you – customers, competitors, products, etc. I am looking forward to my new professional life.

Accepted: Do you have any advice for some of our applicants who will be applying to INSEAD?

Kelly: We have a saying that describes INSEAD life as “Drinking from a fire hydrant.” The school life is intense and can overwhelm you with information if you are not well-planned. Do I want to learn another foreign language, lead a student club, or participate in a techno-venture? You have to use the hours in each day purposefully with priorities in mind.

At the same time, the best advice I have received is remembering that opportunities are present for those who are prepared – and keep in mind, a MBA will open your options and opportunities you have never thought of before might present themselves. Brush up on your basic skills such as strategic thinking, analysis and presentation so you are ready to capture opportunities coming to you. In addition, don’t just absorb what was taught in the classes, the intellectual and international knowledge capital present among your peers is unparalleled, so be prepared to extract the wealth and return as much as you can over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.

Last but not least – have fun and enjoy the social aspects. Work hard and play hard is the culture of INSEAD, and discovering the hidden talents in your classmates (musical, artistic, creative, linguistic, sports…you name it!) bonds you even closer. Besides studying in school and finding a job, I also dashed in a costume run, danced in a Cabaret, helped in co-organizing a National Week, used every single blank visa page in my US passport to explore new and fun destinations, and blogged for “The INSEAD MBA Experience.” I had a wonderfully memorable year with new outlooks and mindsets, new lifelong friendships, a new career direction and new passport pages to fill – no regrets!

Please visit our INSEAD B-School Zone for more INSEAD-specific advice. Still haven’t decided which b-school are best for you? Download our FREE special report, Best MBA Programs: A Guide to Choosing the Right One for You, to help you narrow down your choices and begin your application efforts out on the right foot.

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