Nina Wilk, Dartmouth Tuck MBA Class of 2027
Age: 25
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, Microbiology
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Scientist, Eli Lilly and Company, 3 years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
While I was working as a drug discovery scientist in the pharmaceutical industry, I found myself becoming increasingly interested in the business elements driving the strategic decisions we were making to push new drugs through the pipeline. I have always wanted to work in a field where I could help ease the inequities in health care access globally and now was the right opportunity to gain the business skillset that I need to do that.
Why did you choose Dartmouth Tuck? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose to attend Tuck because of the caliber of people that attend this school and the caliber of people who work for the school. When I was applying for schools, the people at Tuck consistently went out of their way to talk with me and welcome me into the school despite my atypical industry background. I think the uniqueness of Tuck is that we are tucked away in the woods of New Hampshire and people stay local on the weekends to build our community. We get to know our classmates through the constant ensemble of activities happening and these experiences are what make our alumni also stay connected to the school. In addition to the people, I also chose Tuck because of the strong core curriculum, allowing me to gain the hard business skills that I had not previously been exposed to.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2027?
I believe that my background in the sciences and time working in the drug discovery pipeline for a large pharmaceutical company sets me apart from most of my classmates. Because I have devoted so much of my life to solving complex problems in the life sciences space, I feel like I bring a different approach to problem solving compared to many of my classmates. I love hearing all the different perspectives that make up the Class of 2027 and the thoughtful discussions we have in the classroom.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I backpacked the highest mountain in the continental United States last year which was just acclimatization for backpacking in the Andes a few days later!
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I would recommend talking to multiple people currently attending the schools that you are interested in. It is helpful to talk to first-years to understand more about the application/interview process for the school, second-years to talk about what they have gotten involved in while at the school, and alumni who can share what kinds of job opportunities resulted from being in the program. You can also get an idea of the vibe of the school and where you can best envision yourself.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
If I could change one thing about my application process, I would have tried to stress less about the process. The application process is designed for the schools to get to know you and for you to get to know the schools to see what your best fit is. It is important to be genuinely yourself the entire time so that you feel at home in the school you ultimately pick. The whole process also sets you up for what it will be like once school starts so it is a good test to see if this is something you want to embark on.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I would have skipped the standardized test if I could have. Studying for the GMAT in the evenings after working full time was tough. It is a hard test, and you may have to take it multiple times to get the score that you are looking for. I found it went better for me when I was able to take some time studying outside and remind myself that it is just one part of the application.
What is your initial impression of the Dartmouth Tuck students/culture/community?
I knew that I chose this school for the community that is fostered here, but getting to experience it in real time is even better than I could have hoped. Everyone has been so kind and willing to go out of their way to help. The second-year students have been especially great in welcoming us into the school and mentoring us on how to navigate internships and our time here at Tuck. There are always multiple events happening around Tuck during the day and the weekend and it’s hard to pick what to do because everything is so great.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
I have joined the Global Health Fellows which brings together students from across Dartmouth interested in global health care to participate in workshops, service projects, a speaker series, and more throughout the year. I have also joined the Consulting Club, Ski and Snowboard Club, Women in Business, Outdoor Club and tripod hockey to name a few. Clubs at Tuck are included in tuition so it is recommended to try out multiple and see what you like! I am also excited to get involved with the Center for Entrepreneurship as well as the Center for Health Care during my time here to pave my way at the junction of these two fields.
What is one thing you have learned about Dartmouth Tuck that has surprised you?
I have been surprised by how excited and invested the faculty are in their subject material. We are currently in the core curriculum which is the entry level of classes, and the professors show up so passionate to teach us every day. The faculty involved in career services have also been so involved in our success. We are starting recruiting season, and they put in so much time into making sure we feel confident and are prepared for the process. The people of Tuck make it so great!
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I am excited for Tuck’s annual ski trip! This year we are going to Austria with over 100 of my classmates and I am excited to all hit the slopes together.
