For many MBA students, participating in an internship can be an eye-opening experience that can help pinpoint likes and dislikes, develop professional aptitude, increase marketability, and more. Beyond internships, the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University takes this one step further with its unique immersion program for performance learning. This learning model…
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Nike is the world’s largest supplier and manufacturer of athletic shoes, apparel and other sports equipment. This American multinational company, headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, is driven by its vision statement to “bring inspiration to every athlete in the world and to make sport a daily habit.” For Katie Ross, an avid runner and adventurer, this…
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Maria Pia Iriarte, MIT Sloan MBA ‘18, is passionate about two things: global experiences and food sustainability, making global snacking giant Mondelēz International the ideal company for her. Mondelēz (formerly Kraft), which puts sustainable ingredients at the forefront of its mission, is one of the world’s largest snacks companies. With popular brands like Chips Ahoy!,…
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Brazilian brewing company, AmBev, currently operates in 14 countries in the Americas and is the largest company of Brazil by market capitalization and the third largest in the Southern hemisphere. With notable products including beers such as Bogotá Beer Company, Brahma, Bohemia, Skol and Stella Artois, it is also the largest PepsiCo bottler outside United…
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As a trained chemical engineer, Bridget Nyland always had a passion for science — and changing the world with it. Following a rotational program at a Fortune 500 chemical company, which transitioned into a technical sales position with customers in the biopharma, refining, and chemical industries, Bridget Nyland realized she wanted to become a leader…
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NYU Stern calls their curriculum “customizable to the core.” Students can choose from over 200 electives taught by top researchers and industry leaders and also have the option to select up to three specializations from more than 20 options. Many students choose to pursue their MBA at the Stern School of Business due to the…
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The MBA program at Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford GSB, places a clear focus on fostering positive change, as evidenced by its motto: “Change lives. Change organizations. Change the world.” One MBA graduate, Cheryl Davenport, has lived by this motto. Wanting to work for a larger scale organization that takes social and environmental impact…
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The unprecedented speed of innovation across all industries has redefined the skill set needed to compete in today’s MBA world. This thesis is what galvanized the creation of the MMM program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Unlike traditional MBA programs, the MMM program is an immersive dual-degree program that gives students a rigorous…
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When a person exercises, they lose not only water but also electrolytes through their sweat. Gatorade, which is currently manufactured by PepsiCo, contains the necessary electrolytes and carbohydrates that athletes need to refuel and rehydrate. Their optimal mixture, which is distributed in over 80 countries, provides energy to working muscles and enhances athletic performance. Former…
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The quicker, picker upper — finish that slogan! If you said “Bounty,” you’d be correct. Bounty is an American brand of paper towel that is manufactured by Procter & Gamble. First introduced in 1965, it has become one of the most popular paper towel brands known for its absorbency and strength, not to mention its…
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Anheuser-Busch InBev, commonly known as AB InBev, is a multinational drink and brewing company with a portfolio of over 400 beer brands. Based in 16 European countries, AB InBev has five different business units in 12 different time zones with 28 total breweries. To achieve a scale this large, AB InBev has dreamed big —…
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When scanning over your cereal box, you’ll probably see the infamous “General Mills” logo plastered on it. With more than 100 brands in more than 100 countries on six continents, General Mills is one of the world’s leading food companies whose purpose is to make food the world loves. From Cheerios to Pillsbury, our pantries…
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Just do it! Nike’s mission is about doing everything possible to expand human potential, from innovating sports and creating sustainable products, all while striving to have a positive impact in communities. Nike has become one of the largest and most recognizable athletic brands on the planet; and as the world’s largest supplier of athletic shoes…
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Work Experience:
I am in risk management at a well-known bank and had two promotions in three years. Additionally, I have been a people manager for the last 1.5 years. I’ve also won our most prestigious award (less than 1% of employees receive it each year).
My career moves prior to my current company were short but interesting (reporting and time at a later stage start-up).
I have worked for my family business part-time for 5 years and tend to be the catch all person when things go wrong or for tasks that can be conducted remotely. This experience has served as a primer for my long-term goals.
I’d have six years experience upon matriculation and have started to wonder if I’m getting to be too old based on more young 2+2 candidates being in the classes.
GMAT
I got a 645 on the GMAT - 80Q, 85V, 81DI. I have done better on some practice tests but have often found myself doing worse on tests than broader coursework, especially for math-related courses. I'm having a very hard time motivating to re-take it but know this is my weakest link.
I also took the GRE without studying just to check it out. I got a 322 - 163V, 159Q.
Education
I have a 3.6 (HYP) in the humanities. I also have a Master's from a university that is top 2 for the field with a 3.9 GPA.
I was president of three different clubs in undergrad.
Outside of Work
I volunteer significantly with my undergrad and our local alumni club. One of my favorite parts of that commitment is mentoring current students and speaking on career-related panels.
I volunteer for a local non-profit and have held various roles (managing our budget, mentoring new members).
Long-Term Goals
I will be taking over my family business in manufacturing. While I could do this without an MBA, I would like to bring the most value possible and grow my network.
Short-Term Goals
Consulting at MBB to gain more breadth of knowledge/prepare for my long-term goal.
Applying:
Berkeley / Haas,
Georgetown / McDonough,
Harvard Business School,
Lauder Institute,
MIT Sloan,
Stanford GSB,
U. Chicago Booth,
UPenn / Wharton,
UVA / Darden
Post MBA Location: Short term: East Coast ideally (but flexible); Long term: working in Latin America or US cities that have LatAm focused offices
Notes:
I would like to pursue an MBA to grow my strategy, finance, and operations skillset to make a career pivot into Consulting where I would be able to really develop my strategy experience. Post consulting, I would like to make a move into a strategy role at an ecommerce company focused on the LatAm region. This is why I am very interested in international focused/strong MBA programs.
Applying:
Notre Dame / Mendoza,
Stanford GSB,
U. Chicago Booth,
UPenn / Wharton,
Yale SOM
Intake Year: 2025
Pre-MBA Career: Automation/Operations in Financial Services
Post-MBA Target Industry:
Consulting, Technology Companies:
Deloitte
, Ernst & Young
, KPMG
, McKinsey
, PWC
, IBM
, Microsoft
GPA: 3.2
Years of Work Experience: 6
Location: Chicago
Post MBA Location: Undecided
Notes:
Double majored in Psychology and Language, minored in Business Finance at a competitive school. Balanced part-time work, leadership roles in extracurriculars and international experiences (internship, experiential corporate learning programs in, study abroad and business programs).
Post-graduation, began an operations role in a large financial services company before pivoting into an automation role where I was promoted 3 times. Completed several professional certificates including Project Management and Data Analytics, automation, Microsoft. Currently enrolled in Python Programming certificate and a leadership program. Leadership role in employee resource group, involved in a case study program at work.
Confident in letters of recommendation from VP and Sr. Manager. Applying to R1 for scholarship. Less confident in test scores and GPA.
Interested in MBA to build business acumen and leadership/strategy skills to advance career. Post-MBA goal tech strategy/consulting
Applying:
Berkeley / Haas,
Duke / Fuqua,
Michigan / Ross,
Stanford GSB,
Yale SOM
Intake Year: 2025
Pre-MBA Career: Energy Project Manager
Post-MBA Target Industry:
Other
GRE: 328
GPA: 3.45
Years of Work Experience: 2.5
Location: Greater Boston
Post MBA Location: West Coast
Notes:
I have jumped around a bit in my early career, looking to get an MBA to find my niche in sustainability more efficiently and build financial analysis skills since I am strongly considering a pivot into climate investing. Looking for a school that offers strong sustainability offerings, ideally a joint Master's degree or concentration in energy/sustainability/climate
I’ve stayed on the waitlist since March and provided 2 half-assed personal updates about continued interest and a promotion. I didn’t chase alum or student recs as I was accepted to another top choice school which I think would’ve helped turn the decision around in May. Best of luck to everyone else!
June 10th - Submitted application
July 2nd - Interview invitation received
July 10th - Interviewed (alum)
July 19th - Accepted via email (I couldn't answer the call)