<aside> 💭 I’ve journaled probably for as long as I could write. I’ve always looked to words on paper to get a better understanding of my thoughts and feelings. I think this definitely set me up for success ahead of the business school application process.
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Many of your application essays will ask you to dig deep. Business schools want to know not only what you’ve accomplished, but who you are, how you do things, and what you believe in. Do some intentional self-reflection and soul searching before you tackle your essays. This will help you better connect the dots, articulate your story, and identify how going to business school is an important part of your journey.... which brings me to my next point.
Business schools want to make sure your story makes sense. Where are you now? Where do you want to be? How will you use business school to get you there? For example, a common reason for business school is to pivot into a new industry or a new function.
Some people, like me, were never formally trained in business. I know having a foundation in things like management, accounting, finance, marketing, etc. would make me a better entrepreneur, operator, and investor in the future.
One of my goals is also to be able to lead other leaders. In business school programs, you're often challenged to work closely with your classmates — not only in classes but on campus. I wanted to get as many reps as possible working in team environments with other super smart people with super diverse backgrounds.
Honestly, I also wanted to have two years totally dedicated to my personal and professional development and growth— two years to really hone the skills I need to accelerate my career, two years to take risks, two years to network with a group of incredible peers, two years to build something, two years to fail, two years to be a student again!
So... why do you want to go to business school?
Before you even begin researching schools, consider the factors that are most important to you in a school. There are lots of business school programs out there, so reflecting on these different factors will help you narrow down your list.
My biggest priorities were culture / vibe, commitment to social impact, opportunities in social entrepreneurship / startups, and ranking / reputation. Some things that I surprisingly ended up caring a lot about were class size and and teaching methods. I wanted a smaller class size so that I could have more opportunities to really get to know all of my peers. For teaching methods, as I began my research I gravitated towards schools that have more experiential learning opportunities, since I love to learn by doing.
Being really clear about what I was looking for in my business school experience helped me rule out top schools like Harvard Business School and Wharton, even with their high rankings.