3 Tips (& 3 Crucial Questions to ask Yourself) for MBA Applications

It’s application/new student recruitment season, which means that I’ve had a wealth of opportunities to interact with prospective students- which I have to admit, has been pretty fantastic.  It’s a little crazy to see people where I was only a year ago, and very rewarding to be able to share as much knowledge as I possibly can with them to help them on their own journey- besides; NYU Stern is an amazing place, and whatever I can do to attract even more fantastic applicants/prospective classmates?  Well, I’m there!

Talking about my experiences during the application process forced me to reflect on my own application strategies and some helpful tips I learned along the way from trial & error, readings, and conversations with friends who have started/graduated from MBA programs.  The most important tips – and the 3 crucial questions to ask yourself when applying to an MBA program- are below:

Tip 1: Read Between the Essay Lines

Why Business School?

Why Our School?

Tell Us About a Time…

All of these questions are basically asking the same thing-

My Journey Back to School: 2 Weeks In

Things have been going a mile a minute and while I have a bit of free time (read: I'm forcing myself to take a break from the 100+ pages of marketing reading I have to do before I get started on accounting homework) I took some time to email a general update on school and my life to people who I've worked with, am close too, and generally think are great.

So- if you're interested in what the life of a first year MBA student looks like at the beginning - with all the insanity of class, recruitment worries, social interaction, school-involvement, and the inside scoop on NYU Stern then read on, my friends!

I'll admit that I was nervous about some of the potential students and faculty I would come across- many of you know that I'm more than a little passionate about social issues and will choose doing the "right" thing over what's best for my own pocket (be it through career choices, the way I vote, etc.).  That said, B-school isn't really known for its promotion of contributing to the greater good of our world over the greater good of shareholder's equity.  Most of this anxiety was thankfully allayed during NYU Stern Launch 2011 - Stern's completely revamped orientation program, premiered just for the class of 2013..

You Must Be True To Your Heart..

Mulan, 98 Degrees & Stevie Wonder had it right- you've gotta be true to YOUR heart!  Also: Festivals are awesome.

I don’t know about you, but I thought that peer pressure (and the need to be like the cool kids) was just an adolescent phase.  When I left high school I knew that surely college would be different- I wouldn’t feel like I had to dress or look or act a certain way, I could be completely Brittany and not apologize for it.  Well, things didn’t go the way I thought they might.

In fact, the peer pressure cycle has continued itself through nearly every major stage of my life- first in recruiting post college, next in searching for a new job after a reduction in force caused me to lose my first job...  now peer pressure seems to be rearing its ugly head again as I start school- and I haven’t even had my first class yet!  Between huge career fairs, receptions, and recruiters striking up conversation at any and every moment, there are tons of events dedicated entirely to recruitment (translation: having to be ON all the time- hello awkward networking).

This is all great, but with unlimited recruitment opportunities, and tons of unsolicited invitations to interview- how can you say no?  And beyond that- do you have the right to say no?

Networking 101: But I'm So AWKWARD.

Yes, I realize that this picture is, in and of itself, awkward.  It's the best I could find, though!  That feisty Google...

I don’t know what it is about our generation, but we are so very, painfully, laughably awkward.  We don’t always know what to say, when we do know what to say it often comes out wrong, and we have a terrible habit of body language that can often communicate: “Hey, you should probably avoid me.  Because I feel uncomfortable.  Or at least, I’d really rather be talking to people who I know instead of talking to you about things that mean nothing.”  Okay so maybe that’s not all of us, but the awkwardness of our generation is no secret!  It’s in movies (Superbad, Bridesmaids), television (The Office, Parks & Recreation) and even literature (I haven’t even read it, but Twilight seems like the ultimate awkward teen tale posturing as a sexy adventurous romance).

The fact that everybody knows we’re awkward is actually to our extreme advantage!  It’s true that self-deprecating humor and sarcasm aren’t always the best route when it comes to networking in professional settings, but I’ve found that embracing the awkward in me goes a long way when it comes to breaking the ice.

So, for this inaugural blog post I have decided to break down two very specific (and very relevant for you young professionals and potential-MBAs) kinds of events where awkwardness can be at your detriment or used to your benefit.

Situation: The Cocktail Party

Aka Umm Is It Really Ok to Drink Here?

Your boss is throwing a cocktail party to celebrate new investors in the company/say farewell to an amazing co-worker/introduce friends of the organization to employees/make you feel awkward.  There are tons of free food & drinks (delicious), a handful of people that you know (your co-workers) and a whole bunch of people you’ve never seen before (Them).  You’d be completely comfortable & in your element, if only your co-workers would stop networking with Them!

And we've got it!

I know it's been a while since I've updated, but I just wanted to let you know that, after all the hard work, kindness of others (and a little worrying on my end), I've made my goal and will be enrolling in the next few days!

This past weekend was Admit weekend at my new school and let me tell you- I am so. Excited.

Once I give official notice I'll share more details re: where I'm going, what I'll focus on and my plans leading up to it, but for now suffice it to say thank you to everyone who was able to help and for those who sent well wishes- it is all greatly appreciated, more than you know!

So about being a full-time student..

As each day passes stress finds its way into my psyche, washing over me and passing like a continuous ebb and flow of anxiety. Make no mistake- I'm SUPER excited about the fact that I'm going to school. Crazy excited. Ridiculously excited- but that doesn't mean there aren't a few things about my new life that I keep thinking on.

My life is going to change dramatically when I become a full-time student. Below are a few of the changes that give me the most cause to worry..

• Attire. Ok, I'm by no means a slob nor do I dress inappropriately, but many of the events that most Business Schools prompt you to attend are "business attire," "business formal" or some other two-word translation of uncomfortable. In all my time previously spent in Corporate America, I never worked for a company who required me to don a lady's pantsuit on the regular. Boy do I hate blazers/jackets/arm prisons..
• Social balance. One thing that I love about b-school is the constant exposure to network expanding opportunities. The most valuable capital at any organization is people, not just those that you employ/interact with, but the people and organizations you connect with to make your goals happen. It's no secret that the social schedule of a b-school student is a bit hectic- and sometimes I worry if I'll be able to successfully balance my b-school friends and responsibilities with my college friends and the life I've already established here in the city.
• Schedule. This feeds off that social balance note- basically I'll be busy. Really really busy. I really just hope that I don't get buried under the work and responsibilities to the point where I don't appreciate each moment, you know? I really hate when hecticness makes time seem to zoom by.

All that said, there obviously tons of great things to look forward to as I get ready to go to school, like:

• Health & Fitness. I'll be in school. Which means free gym membership. Hold me to what I say, but even if that gym is inconveniently located for where I live, I'm going to make a point to take advantage of the facilities (something that I didn't do when I was at Harvard and literally lived across from the mak).
• Awareness. I've always found that school makes me more socially and politically aware, or even just on the surface level more in-the-know about news and current events. I know, I know- I should be up on this now, but sometimes work gets in the way!
• Diversity. I am super excited to get into the classroom with professionals from different industries, walks of life and levels of experience. It will definitely be challenging to get on the same page with some people, and inevitably differences lead to (generally minor) conflict, but it will be great to have my perspective widened by being exposed to lots of different people.

Now if I only had a sure solution for this housing conundrum..

Gentrification: am I helping or hurting?

This week has been a rough one- lots of work to handle, got sick enough to have to stay home one day and got some not so great news early Friday (nothing devastating but basically I have to do a whooooole lot of work on something I've already been trying to develop for a while). Needless to say I needed to take a little bit of time to de-stress. Read: drinks with friends!

A few of my favorite co-workers rallied together and headed to what is quickly becoming one of my favorite spots in the city- happy hour includes super low cost drinks PLUS you get a mini pizza. A MINI PIZZA, you guys! In love.

We talk over work victories, frustrations, funny moments and generally light issues and are having all sorts of bonding moments when one of my co-worker's husbandshows up. I'd only met him once before very briefly, so it was cool for all of us to get the chance to talk a bit before the couple went off for an adorable married-people dinner. He and I had the chance to talk, and as we talked about our respective backgrounds and the NY neighborhoods we call home, we inevitably landed on the taboo topic du jour of young New York professionals: gentrification.