Christopher Beaschler, OSU Fisher’s MBA Class of 2023
Age: 27
Hometown: Ada, Ohio
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Dayton, Mechanical Engineering
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 4 years, Operations/Project Management (Manufacturing)
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I always knew I wanted to go back to school for an MBA. I wanted to pair the problem solving skills of engineering with the team building/business intuition of an MBA. But I knew I wanted to gain quality ‘real world’ experience instead of going right from undergrad. It’s hard to know exactly when you have the right amount of experience but I was at a point in my development where I started to need more formal business knowledge in order to make better large scale decisions in my projects. When COVID started effecting all businesses my company went through a fairly large restructuring which gave me a clear sign that it was the right time to go back to school.
Why did you choose OSU Fisher? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
The program went through a major re-design two years ago. It now focuses on experiential, personalized, and integrated learning. All three were a main selling point for me, especially the experiential aspect. Even though students are stopping their careers for two years, Fisher ensures they gain real world experience. However, the differentiating factor for me was the mere fact Fisher went through the re-design. They took a risk in re-working their already established program and were willing to change core aspects. That is the very essence of what a business needs to do to survive, and I decided I wanted to learn from a program that practices what they preach.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2023?
I’m very humbled and appreciative that I am a part of the Fisher MBA Class of 2023. I already feel like I have gotten way more out of my classmates than I can possibly hope to contribute. But if I’m forced to give an answer, I hope that I can use my experience with a smaller sized company to bring a larger business perspective to the table. When you work for a smaller company you are hyper-aware of how your actions effect every other department.
Tell us a fun fact that didn’t get included on your application:
A fun family fact is that my mom was a two sport collegiate athlete (swimming and tennis) and my dad played football in college; coincidently my older brother was a college swimmer, I was a college football player, and my younger brother currently plays college tennis. I love the sports diversity we have in the family and that all three boys played a sport that one of our parents played.
Post-MBA career interests:
I want to be able to work with a diverse cross-functional team, solving hard problems. Possibly a Project Management or Internal Consulting role, while also looking to form/manage those types of teams.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
Be authentic in your applications. Don’t make them about what you think people want to hear, instead apply as your true self. If you’re honest you can learn a lot about yourself during the application process.
– What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I would definitely go to as many sessions with currently students as I could. That’s where you get a good feel for the true program culture and you’re able to gain more insights from personal experiences.
– What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would’ve started studying for the GMAT sooner. I more or less crammed it in before applying to schools and cut it too close to first/second rounds of the application deadlines. I would highly suggest spending the money on a GMAT prep course. I took a Veritas Prep course and it gave a fantastic viewpoint on how to approach the test/each problem type.
– What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
It’s not anything I would’ve skipped, but I wish some of the interviews could’ve been in person. Online interviews definitely saved on expenses, but there was something missing from not being able to come to campus.
What is your initial impression of the OSU Fisher students/culture/community?
It’s amazing how willing everyone is to help each other. My classmates have quickly become my biggest cheerleaders and vice-versa. It’s weird to think we didn’t know each other just a few months ago.
What is one thing you have learned about OSU Fisher that has surprised you?
It’s not a profound answer, but the entire college is connected through a tunnel system…as an engineer (and someone who has lived in Ohio) I can really appreciate that!
Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your personal application or admissions process in any way? If so, how?
I would say COVID excelled my application process by a year or two, and for a couple different reasons. But I think it’s worked out better than if I would’ve waited. It’s a very interesting time to study business when the business world is going through such a massive shift. Now every discussion has an extra layer of ‘COVID’.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I would say I’m most anxious about the COVID factor this year (along with the rest of the world). Fisher has small class sizes and we’re lucky enough to be able to be in person for the majority of class/activities. I really want it to stay that way.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I’m most excited to get to know my classmates better. It’s been a little over a month since we started working together and it feels like deep connections have already been made, but I’m around classmates that make me better and are fun to be around outside of the classroom.
