After applying to MBA programs during the later rounds, Maddie Rottman (Marshall, ‘21) came to USC Marshall and had a short time between when she was accepted and when she stepped foot on campus at USC. In this interview, Rottman shares her journey to USC Marshall, her thoughts on the transition to business school, and some of her learnings from her first year in business school at USC Marshall.
MBASchooled: After you decided to attend business school, what was your timeline like leading up to business school? What did you do leading up to coming to school, and when did you arrive on campus?
I had a somewhat accelerated timeline as I applied to MBA programs in the last round (mid April). I was able to find out whether I got into the schools very quickly and once I made the decision to attend Marshall, I only had about 2 months before orientation began. I used that time to move and take online prep classes.
MBASchooled: What was a surprise or something you had to navigate either in the transition to business school or early on?
I didn’t realize how much of a life change business school would be. I thought it would be easy to transition from full-time work to being a student again, but it was much more challenging than expected. I think this is because business school includes so many other non-curricular commitments. In addition to class and homework, there’s also club meetings, campus events, case competitions, networking, and internship applications/recruiting.
MBASchooled: As you transitioned to school, what resources or programs were most helpful in getting up to speed?
As I transitioned into B school, I mostly depended on 2nd year students . I was able to form very close relationships with several people who provided advice and support in the Fall semester. I also had an official mentor through one of my clubs who was incredibly helpful in guiding me through the internship recruitment process.
MBASchooled: During your first semester, what was your favorite experience, and why?
My favorite experience was being in a core with 70 other students. Initially it felt strange to take all of my classes with the same group (we also had assigned seats!) but I think this helped us form a very close bond. It also allowed me to become much more comfortable and gain confidence in my own opinions.
MBASchooled: What were some of the initial challenges you first in your first quarter/semester of business school? How did you overcome them?
I had a lot of trouble managing my time and stress. I cared way too much about grades and tried to do everything at 100%. I overcame this by learning how to say no and setting up boundaries. I also started creating priority lists and giving myself time limits on specific tasks. Basically it was a lesson in letting go of perfection and being strategic about my time.
MBASchooled: During your first semester, what did you decide to recruit for and why? (as a follow up, was this what you intended it to be coming into school, and if it was different, what prompted a change?)
I decided to recruit for brand management positions in the food/beverage industry. Going into business school I knew I wanted to pursue brand management as a function, based on my prior work experience in advertising agencies, but I wasn’t sure about industry. I landed on food/beverage as I wanted to work on a tangible product and work in an industry that is seeing major growth and innovation, especially from a sustainability standpoint.
MBASchooled: Knowing what you know now, what else would you have done prior to business school to prepare for the first semester?
Our first semester was very quant-heavy. As someone who doesn’t have a quant background, I found this particularly difficult. So I would have spent time over the summer taking online quant classes to better prepare myself for the academics.
MBASchooled: Given the shift to a virtual MBA Experience as a result of COVID-19, what was the last part of your year like?
It was definitely an adjustment to move to an online format, especially for those courses that are highly participatory and discussion-based. But I think the toughest part was just how much we were all needing to use Zoom. Beyond classes, we were using the platform for team meetings, campus events, social get-togethers, etc. I think all of us experienced Zoom fatigue. The other piece was just feeling disappointed. One of our spring core classes had an international travel component, so it was a bummer that we weren’t able to do that.
MBASchooled: How did you adjust to the virtual academic experience? What worked for you, and what was challenging?
For me, it was helpful to create an actual “office space” at home. I turned my kitchen table into a desk and bought a monitor and mouse. The challenge was being at home all the time and staring at my computer. I tried to break up my day with runs or walks. I also called friends instead of using FaceTime or Zoom.
MBASchooled: What advice do you have for how prospective MBA students should prepare for going to business school, especially considering we are not yet sure what the MBA Experience will look like come this summer/fall?
I think prospective students should talk to as many current students as possible to get a good sense of each school’s unique culture. Business school is all-consuming so you want to make sure that you’re choosing the best possible place for you to learn and grow based on your own individual needs and wants.
Given that the MBA experience may be virtual in the fall for some (or all) schools, it’s important for prospective students to find out how the schools are planning for that. I would suggest asking the admissions office how they’ll adjust orientation, core classes, alumni events etc.
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