Fridays from the Frontline
Keep abreast of the latest happenings in the business school blogosphere! This weekly column summarizes recent posts from MBA student and applicant blogs.
Published: October 17, 2019
Fridays from the Frontline: Kia Ora! New Chicago Booth MBA Students Travel to New Zealand
There has been plenty of digital ink spilled in these virtual Clear Admit pages about the virtues of study abroad programs as a critical component of the MBA experience. What is less often discussed is the value of study abroad experiences that aren’t tethered to internships, experiential learning, or even business at all.
Case in point: Chicago Booth’s Random Walk orientation trip in which second-year students lead roughly a dozen incoming first-years to 35 locations at home and abroad. Current second-year Boothie Kate Nimmo took to the Booth Experience blog to offer a play-by-play of the first Random Walk New Zealand trip, which she recently led.
Read more
Published: October 10, 2019
Fridays from the Frontline: A Dartmouth Tuck Internship at the Intersection of Strategy & Business – MetLife
Internships are golden opportunities for MBA students to put theory into practice, and to get a taste of what their post-MBA careers may be like.
Dartmouth Tuck second-year MBA student Sneha Nagarajan T’20 took to the Tuck 360 blog to discuss her thoroughly intersectional business experience as a MetLife intern.
A Dartmouth Tuck Internship at the Intersection of Strategy & Business: MetLife
by Sneha Nagarajan T’20
I came to Tuck knowing I was choosing the generosity, commitment, and kindness of the people of this community over everything else.
When I was choosing my internship, that remained just as important to me. After having spent a summer at MetLife, I am convinced that even a 150-year-old company with ~50K employees across the globe can foster a culture of collaboration and collective progress. MetLife Inc., a global insurance company, early on realized the need for creating its next generation global leaders to further its cause. With that, the Global Leadership Development Program for MBA graduates was born in 2013.
I was part of the 16-member cohort of GLDP interns from business schools across the globe including Tuck, LBS, Darden, HBS, Fuqua, HKUST and Kellogg among others. With 75 percent women and over 60 percent internationals, this was by far one of the most diverse and accomplished group of peers I have had the opportunity to work with.
Read more
Published: October 3, 2019
Fridays from the Frontline: Benefits of Duke Fuqua’s MBA Exchange Program
The study abroad experience is a major draw for prospective b-school students. Foreign exchange programs not only allow students to immerse themselves in new business cultures and expand their networks beyond continental confines, but also provide a global lens through which to understand their professional interests. This includes everything from the curriculum at international management programs to the challenges that face the local startup ecosystem.
It is for these reasons and more that Duke Fuqua MBA student Bonnie Kong shipped off to the Netherlands to study at the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) as part of the Outgoing Exchange Program. King took to the Duke Fuqua blog to share insights from her experience.
Benefits of Duke Fuqua’s MBA Exchange Program
by Bonnie Kong, Daytime MBA '19
“I’m studying in Rotterdam for eight weeks,” I would tell people.
“Where?”
Read more
Published: September 26, 2019
Published: September 19, 2019
Fridays from the Frontline: Wait, How Did I Get to Oxford?
Each individual path to business school is unique, and the MBA application process often functions as the great equalizer for prospective students. In other words, applications are opportunities to showcase one’s originality within the established framework of your desired school’s culture.
Beyond the standard rigamarole of GMAT scores, securing undergrad transcripts, and getting up to speed on quant pre-reqs, assembling a knock-out personal statement and prepping for in-person interviews can be trying, even for the most seasoned professionals.
Nikita Pancholi took to the Oxford University's Saïd Business School blog to offer insights on how to put your best foot forward in the application process.
Read more
Published: September 12, 2019
Fridays from the Frontline: Expanding My Worldview Through HBS’s FIELD Global Immersion
First-year Harvard Business School MBA students take part in the FIELD Global Immersion course. Over the course of a semester, they work with a global business, which has a product or service issue to solve. Students are expected to choose a city or country they do not have prior experience with, and the course culminates in a weeklong visit to the business. There are so many reasons the study abroad component has become indispensable to the MBA education. To study abroad is an opportunity to understand–as current HBS student Reggie Smith wrote in a recent blog post–how to “innovate in the globally competitive 21st century economy.”
Read on for a first hand account of the FIELD Global Immersion at HBS.
The following piece has been republished in its entirety from its original source, HBS Blog MBA Voices.
Expanding My Worldview Through HBS’s FIELD Global Immersion
by Reggie Smith '20
Eight of us (six HBS students, a translator, and a driver) packed into a nine-passenger minivan for a winding drive through the bustling streets of Seoul. Our driver navigated us to a small office building as child-like anticipation grew in the van. The building was very clean and felt sparsely populated. We hopped in a small elevator and quickly arrived on the 7th floor. The open office floor plan had six rows of computers with the company’s CEO and the newest hire sitting practically shoulder to shoulder. We soon realized we had just stepped into the “Silicon Valley” of Seoul.
Read more
Published: September 5, 2019
Fridays from the Frontline: Yale SOM Internship Spotlight – Anna Collura ’20
The first-year MBA internship is arguably the second-most important milestone behind actually getting into business school. It is the moment where theory translates into praxis; when business school students have an opportunity to fully embody a year’s worth of knowledge and see how it applies to real-world situations.
Second-year MBA student Anna Collura ’20 took to the Yale SOM blog to explain how she applied lessons from her first year at Yale her internship at George State University this past summer.
Read more
Published: August 29, 2019
Fridays from the Frontline: Pursuing an MBA at MIT Sloan as a Parent
There has been much digital ink spilled on these Clear Admit pages about how prospective b-schoolers can navigate the major life transitions that MBA degrees entail. Usually these articles take the form of balancing school with a demanding job or uprooting across the country (or continents). However, one issue that has not been discussed as widely in business school circles is pursuing an MBA as a parent.
Mid-career professionals have historically used the MBA as a way to climb the corporate ladder or pivot to new lines of work. As the profile of an MBA student skews older, the reality of life outside the classroom and/or boardroom naturally gets more complicated as personal and professional responsibilities compete.
Current MIT Sloan student Hadar Ben Ari (MBA ’20) took to the Sloan blog to discuss the art of earning an MBA as a parent.
The following piece has been republished in its entirety from its original source, the MIT Sloan blog.
Read more
Published: August 22, 2019
Fridays from the Frontline: Moving to Rochester? Current Simon Students Are Here to Help!
When you are about to embark on a major life change like an MBA, it's not only the curriculum and campus that can feel daunting. Learning new neighborhoods and deciding where to call "home" for two years also presents unique challenges. That's why Rochester / Simon Business School students shared advice to ease the transition for future Flour City residents.
The following piece has been republished in its entirety from its original source, the Simon Admissions Blog.
Moving to Rochester? Current Simon Students Are Here to Help!
Picking up your life and moving to another city to begin a graduate business program is a big change. One of the things you’ll need to check off your “to-do” list is finding a place to live. But where should you begin?
Read more
Published: August 15, 2019
Fridays from the Frontline: Duke Fuqua – Gaining Marketing Experience During the Brand Challenge
Brands are more than just umbrellas or avatars for a business—they reinforce what a business stands for. When businesses develop initiatives to bolster their brand equity, they are really trying to influence the associations the general public makes with their product(s). To manage the “perceived value” of a business is a delicate process that Duke Fuqua MBA graduates are quite well suited to oversee.
Tarun Desai, Daytime MBA ’20 and a five-year veteran of the strategy consulting and private equity industries, recently took to the Duke Fuqua blog to discuss his illuminating experience with the Marketing Club’s annual Brand Challenge.
The following piece has been republished in its entirety from its original source, the Duke Fuqua Blog.
Read more
Published: August 8, 2019
Fridays from the Frontline: NYU’s Student-led Impact Investment Fund Completes Its First Deal
If you want to understand some key hallmarks of the MBA experience, look no further than NYU's Impact Investment Fund (NIIF). First, it's student-led, giving participants hands-on leadership experience and skills that translate to real world success. Second, it represents the educational advantage of being part of a larger university–NIIF was born out of collaboration between the NYU Stern School of Business, the Law School and the Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. And what's more, it represents the ideal goal of blending business and social impact.
Recent Stern & Wagner double-degree student Gabriel Ng ’19 recently shared with Clear Admit his experience with NIIF and the educational journey to its first deal. Read on for some on-the-ground insights.
NYU’s Student-led Impact Investment Fund Completes Its First Deal
by Gabriel Ng MBA/MPA ’19
Read more
Published: August 1, 2019
Fridays from the Frontline: Tuck WIB – The Moment I Knew Tuck Was Right for Me
Many applicants spend so much time wrestling with fundamental questions about their MBA programs before taking the plunge: Which school is the right cultural fit? Which schools will open doors in X industry? Which school offers the best value?
Dartmouth Tuck MBA student Alex Wood T’20 took to the Tuck 360 Blog to unpack the moment she decided the school was the right place for her, and how their Women in Business Conference informed her involvement with the event now.
The following piece has been republished in its entirety from its original source, the Tuck 360 Blog.
Read more
Fridays from the Frontline: Lessons from MBAT – Trust, Camaraderie, and Leading from Behind
MBA students spend a lot of time with one another both in and outside the classroom. Since community is at the heart of the MBA experience, many programs spearhead innovative—and fun—initiatives to fortify the relationships that naturally develop between students.
Colin Tierney '18-'19 took to the Oxford Saïd Business School blog to share lessons learned from the recent MBA Tournament, which assembled students from across the world to spar in a friendly competition featuring sports, dance, music, and more.
The following piece has been republished in its entirety from its original source, the Saïd Business School blog.
Read more
Fridays from the Frontline: My MBA Timeline – Year 2 at Chicago Booth
Last week, Fridays from the Frontline featured the first-year experience of recent Booth graduate Monisha Shivakumar. Now, we continue along the rest of her business school path, from a summer internship through graduation.
The following piece has been republished in its entirety from its original source, the Booth Experience Blog.
Read more
Fridays from the Frontline: My MBA Timeline – Year 1 at Chicago Booth
The business school experience crams so much into such a short timeframe, it’s easy to blaze right through those two years. Given the combination of coursework, internships, case studies, networking, and extracurriculars—not to mention exploring your surroundings—it’s understandable why many students find it difficult to stop and take stock of the once-in-a-lifetime experience an MBA offers when they’re in the thick of it.
To encourage current students to reflect, recent Chicago Booth graduate Monisha Shivakumar took to the Booth Experience Blog to share a timeline of the first year of her MBA degree.
Tune in next week for Monisha’s summary of her second year.
The following piece has been republished in its entirety from its original source, the Booth Experience Blog.
Read more
Fridays from the Frontline: Tips for MBA Students and Their Partners from a Kellogg Spouse
Business school often turns one’s life upside down—whether interrupting a career, requiring relocation, or balancing professional goals with the needs of a burgeoning family. The greatest shockwaves, however, may be felt by one's partner.
Samantha Dorsey—a member of the Joint Ventures (JV) club and whose husband attends the Evening & Weekend MBA program at Northwestern / Kellogg—is intimately familiar with the challenges an MBA lifestyle can bring. So, she took to the Kellogg blog to help incoming MBA students and their partners smoothe the transition to a hectic, but ultimately rewarding, lifestyle change.
The following piece has been republished in its entirety from its original source, the Northwestern Kellogg Blog.
Read more
Fridays from the Frontline: Recruiting for a Non-Traditional Industry at Anderson
While finance, consulting and technology tend to dominate business school employment stats, the recruiting landscape can, in fact, support a variety of goals—real estate, energy, sports business, non-profit and more. The MBA is a versatile degree, empowering business school students to blaze brighter professional trails.
Current UCLA Anderson student Tim Maleski '20 opted to pursue an MBA to give himself a leg up in the lucrative, but unconventional, field of sports business. Maleski took to the Anderson blog to unpack how to find a job along the professional road less traveled.
The following piece has been republished in its entirety from its original source, the UCLA Anderson Blog.
Read more
Fridays from the Frontline: What I Did Differently Before Reapplying to HBS
The MBA admissions process can be a humbling one. Many applicants to elite MBA programs seemingly tick all the boxes—an excellent undergraduate GPA, high GMAT score, robust work experience, poignant essays—but may still face rejection. However, one round of dings does not need to completely dash one's dreams—re-applicants often find success in subsequent admissions cycles, usually after a period of self-reflection and action to improve their candidacy.
This week, we hear from current HBS student Arman Keshani, who shares his experience of getting rejected by Harvard and then taking steps to re-apply successfully.
The following piece has been republished in its entirety from its original source, the HBS Blog.
Read more
Fridays from the Frontline: How Gaining Leadership Experience at Fuqua Transformed Me
Commencement ceremonies currently abound for the MBA Classes of 2019, and many new graduates are reflecting back on their transformational two-year student experience. While many MBA dreamers may just be starting their applications while first-years tackle their internships, we wanted to showcase the positive perspective after the two-year journey of a full-time MBA program.
Janette Hwang, a second-year MBA student at Duke Fuqua, took to the Fuqua blog to share how she took on leadership responsibilities she never imagined during business school—and how the journey transformed her.
The following piece has been republished in its entirety from its original source, the Duke Fuqua blog.
Read more
Fridays from the Frontline: FAQ about MIT Sloan
In a weekly LinkedIn blog, current MIT Sloan MBA student Melinda Salaman fielded some of the most frequently asked questions she’s received about her MBA experience from prospective students.
These questions range from why Salaman decided to go to business school in the first place to her experience with Sloan’s curricular and extracurricular offerings. The goal was to offer an “insider scoop” to address concerns that many prospective students share and would benefit from hearing more about in more detail.
We've compiled the first few entries for this edition of Fridays from the Frontline, and look forward to another post in the near future with her additional insights.
"Why B-School?" and Other FAQs about my MBA program (Part 1)
The following piece has been republished in its entirety from its original source, MIT Sloan’s LinkedIn page.
Read more
Fridays from the Frontline: Interning with Dow Chemical at the intersection of sustainability and business
The summer internship is a significant piece of the business school journey. From searching for a fitting role to landing the position and then doing the actual work, the internship offers valuable real-world business experience from beginning to end, and prepares business school students for post-MBA professional life.
Matt Pundmann, a second-year Johnson MBA student and Environmental Finance and Impact Investing Fellow, took to the Johnson Cornell blog to discuss his summer internship, from finding one to fit his seemingly atypical interests to lessons learned throughout the experience. Read on for his rundown of his summer internship with Dow Chemical’s Plastics & Specialty Packaging business with a focus on sustainability.
The following piece has been republished in its entirety from its original source, the Johnson Cornell Blog.
Read more
Fridays from the Frontline: Sloan and Sports
The MIT Sloan School of Management has long been a bastion for the intersection of sports, business, and data analytics. Their Sports Analytics Conference, which was just held for the thirteenth year in a row, is a forum for industry professionals and students to learn about the global sports industry. The two-day event includes a research paper competition, numerous competitive advantage panels, startup trade show competitions, workshops and more.
Current Sloan MBA candidate and former Deloitte management consultant (and college baseball player), Jason Rehhaut, took to the Sloan blog to discuss his experience as part of the Organizing Committee for the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference.
The following piece has been republished in its entirety from its original source, the MIT Sloan blog.
Read more
Fridays from the Frontline: MacEachern Symposium Brings Unique Perspective to Healthcare at Kellogg
The beauty of the MBA is its versatility. Despite the public association of the degree with the realms of finance and consulting, there is a pressing need for MBA graduates in virtually every industry.
Take the healthcare sector, for instance. From big pharma to government policy to startups and everywhere in between, the business of healthcare is teeming with opportunities for MBAs.
Current Kellogg students Scott Belsky and Lauren Hunter offered their take on the recent MacEachern Symposium, which explored trending topics in healthcare as well as predictions for where the industry is headed.
The following piece has been republished in its entirety from its original source, the Inside Kellogg Blog.
Read more
Fridays from the Frontline: My First-Year Tuck Project with Authentica, India
One of the major perks of an MBA is the opportunity to practice in an international business environment. On site, MBAs develop new strategies to adapt to distinct cultural norms and do business under very different sociopolitical circumstances than the ones to which they are accustomed.
While most MBA programs offer optional study abroad components, Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business stands out for its “travel requirement” that students must fulfill in order to graduate.
First-year Tuck MBA student and New Zealand native Marianne Poh took to the Tuck Blog to discuss her collaboration with an Indian experiential learning program provider.
The following piece has been republished in its entirety from its original source, the Tuck Blog.
Read more
Fridays from the Frontline: Cracking the Code at Wharton
In recent years, technology has risen to become one of the top career choices for MBA grads and with it, so has the desire for more tech skills and an understanding of some of the related building blocks. The tricky part is that the majority of MBA students arrive on campus with limited coding experience. At the Wharton School, students sought to address this issue head-on with a new club: The Coding Club.
Current MBA students Kahini Shah WG19 and Anthony Farias-Eisner WG20 put together an op-ed for Wharton Magazine about the new MBA club developed to “bring tech novices and experts together to build software and their skill sets.”
The following piece has been republished in its entirety from its original source, Wharton Magazine.
Read more
