After a diligent and thoughtful approach to selecting the right MBA program, Ashley Hall (Johnson, ‘21) selected the Cornell University Johnson MBA Program for it’s tight knit community and humble but accomplished student culture. As a result of doing her homework and getting to know the Johnson students and community, Hall felt right at home in Ithaca when it came time to start her MBA program. In this interview, Hall shares with us her criteria for selecting Johnson and why it was a great fit. She discusses the research she did to ensure it was the right fit, and she offers advice to help admitted students make the right MBA admissions decision.
MBASchooled: What were the big questions you considered when making your decision about which school to attend?
Pre-MBA decisions are made to open post-MBA doors, so making sure I had access to the right opportunities was most important in my search. My first question was, does the school have strong connections in the industry and function I am looking to transition into?
I also asked:
- Does the teaching style align with how I learn best?
- How diverse are the classes?
- Does the school have a strong support system for women in business and what resources are available?
- Can I make an impact at this school?
Finally, I asked myself, would I be happy as a student here?
MBASchooled: What characteristics were important to you in selecting the right MBA school?
I wanted to be confident that I would be given the tools to succeed post-MBA, I wanted to be heavily involved on campus, and I wanted to feel like the school would support me.
Most importantly, I wanted to make sure that the program I chose would prepare me for my desired career. I looked at each school’s courses, clubs, projects, and competitions to see what opportunities I would have from an education and experience standpoint. Johnson offers immersions that align with specific career paths. I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in marketing, so I wanted to take advantage of Johnson’s Strategic Product and Marketing Immersion. Another benefit to a program like this is that it gave me the opportunity to work with a client to fix a real business problem. It’s similar to an “internship before your internship.”
I also wanted to be heavily involved on campus and be able to make an impact, so I considered extracurricular activities for each school. I identified opportunities for involvement in professional, social, and diversity clubs.
Lastly, I wanted to be supported as part of an MBA family because I felt like the support would not only help me achieve my goals but also make my overall experience more enjoyable.
MBASchooled: Why did you choose to attend Cornell?
Johnson ticked all of the boxes for my business school search:
- I knew that obtaining an MBA from this program would open all the right doors for my career, and I was confident that I would be prepared to succeed.
- I was incredibly excited about the immersion program and the project I would be given.
- There were clubs for all of my interests.
- The Cornell alumni network is extremely strong.
- I liked the idea of smaller classes. Personally, I was more excited about getting to know 300 classmates very well rather than be part of a huge class of people I barely know.
While all of these criteria were important to me, the opportunity to attend Johnson’s Women in Business event (JWiB) is what sold me.
I attended JWiB as someone who never thought they would fit into an Ivy-league culture. I distinctly remember sitting in the airport on my way to Ithaca, NY, and seeing that my flight had been cancelled because there was a category 4 hurricane between me and Cornell. I contemplated whether I should just take it as a sign that this was not going to happen.
Luckily, I chose the latter and embarked on a 14-hour journey to Ithaca. From the moment I stepped onto campus I felt like I belonged and that the Johnson community was genuinely there to support me in doing whatever I dreamed. JWiB as a whole was one of the most special events I have ever been to. When I was traveling home walking through the airport in my new Johnson sweater, I felt this insane sense of pride. That is when I knew that Johnson was the program for me.
MBASchooled: What about the culture and classmates stood out to you about Johnson?
The people of Johnson are remarkable. It is a community of high performers who are inspiring to be around, but they are also humble and welcoming. I felt like a member of the family before I even applied for the program, and that is something unique about the Johnson community. The school does a great job of connecting people. Between the cohort system, small class size, and weekly socials, you will definitely make strong connections.
MBASchooled: What resources, programs or information were helpful to you in making your decision?
When I was just starting my school search, I attended a multi-school MBA fair where I was able to network with admissions and alumni from some of the top MBA programs in the country. From attending that event, I gained clarity about what my options were and what I truly wanted. I actually signed up for the event to speak with one school specifically, but left with my mind set on Johnson.
From speaking with Johnson’s admissions representative at the MBA fair, I learned about Johnson’s Women in Business (JWiB) event and decided to apply. JWiB is an annual event where female prospective MBAs spend a weekend networking with current students and staff. After attending this event I was basically sold on attending Johnson. Many schools host diversity events like this, and I would highly recommend attending one if possible.
Admitted student weekends are also great for those who are still deciding between schools. These events provide yet another opportunity to imagine life as a student at that school and ask any remaining questions before you make a final decision. I also found it helpful to read articles about the schools, follow the school’s social media accounts, and connect with current students.
MBASchooled: What parts or aspects of the academic experience attracted you to Cornell?
The immersion program was the biggest attraction for me. Being able to work for a big client on a project to solve a real business problem is a huge opportunity for professional development and to create impact.
When I was networking with students, I also learned how transferable the coursework was to the real world. I heard from numerous second year MBAs who said their courses and immersions more than prepared them for their internships.
I also loved the opportunity to take advantage of what the greater Cornell community has to offer by taking courses in other colleges at Cornell. Whether you want to explore professional or personal interests, Cornell probably has a course for you.
MBASchooled: What were some of the best aspects of Cornell, outside of the classroom?
My favorite thing about Johnson is how tightly-knit our community is. We truly are one big family. Our class is constantly organizing gatherings for group hikes, game nights, reality television viewing groups, etc. Another benefit of having a family culture is that we support each other. We have a mentality that we are not competing against each other, but rather we are competing together. Sharing internship opportunities and helping each other prepare for interviews is common practice at Johnson.
Another great aspect is the location. Ithaca may not be in the heart of a big city, but it has a lot to offer – reliable public transportation, reasonable housing options, wine country, and the natural beauty of 150 waterfalls within a 10-mile radius.
I also appreciate being part of a very diverse community. Having people from all over the world come together and share pieces of their culture and experiences is such a blessing. Johnson encourages diversity by hosting cultural events throughout the year to share traditional cuisines and to celebrate events like Diwali and Carnaval.
MBASchooled: What has been your favorite moment or experience during your first year of business school?
My first year of business school has been filled with amazing experiences, but I would have to say participating in Johnson’s Battle of the Brands competition was my favorite. Battle of the Brands is an annual marketing competition at Johnson where first year MBAs create a marketing campaign for a product that is assigned to them. At the end of the campaign, each team sets up a booth to sell their product to the Johnson community. Let me tell you, we got creative. People dressed up as cheese balls, some teams had games at their booth, and my team had an exclusive lounge for our customers.
I learned a lot about what it takes to be a marketer, and I had a blast doing it.
MBASchooled: What advice do you have for those who are evaluating where they want to attend business school?
The process of choosing which business school to attend can be stressful, so my first piece of advice is to always remember that the effort you are putting in now will be worth it in the end.
Before narrowing down your list of schools, do some soul searching. Think about what you want to get out of your MBA:
– What career path do you want to take?
– What industry do you want to work in?
– How involved do you want to be on campus?
– Is location important to you?
– What are your non-negotiables?
If you have the answers to these questions, great! If you don’t, you are not alone. Thinking about where you want to end up (even if you are not 100% sure) will help you pave the way to get there. Use your list of what you want to get out of business school to narrow down your search. I found it helpful to have a list of schools that would likely accept me and a list of “stretch” schools that I would have to work hard to get accepted to.
Once you have a list of your top schools, reach out to current students to set up a call. The best place to start, if you do not have personal connections in the program, is the school’s “connect with students” page where you can search for students with similar career interests. For the call, make sure to have questions prepared and be clear about what you want to accomplish with your MBA. Naturally, you will have questions about career opportunities and academics, but don’t forget to ask about life as a student as well.
If possible, attend a recruiting or diversity event for your top schools. This is the most efficient way to network with a lot of people and determine if the program is a good fit.
Last, but definitely not least, if you want it, go get it! I never thought I would be a Cornell student, but here I am!
For More Details on How to Prepare for Business School, Check out our Preparing For Business School Guide