Jessica Prellberg (W.P. Carey, ‘22) worked in the real estate industry for seven years before deciding to explore new industries and careers through an MBA degree. After navigating the MBA application process, Jessica enrolled at the Arizona State W.P. Carey MBA program. During this interview, Jessica spoke about her decision to get an MBA, why she chose W.P. Carey, and her advice for prospective MBA applicants.
Name: Jessica Prellberg
Year: 2022
Hometown: Chandler, AZ
Career Interests: Business analytics specifically in healthcare or technology
MBASchooled: What did you do before business school, and why did you choose to apply?
Prior to business school, I spent 7 years as an apartment property manager and then 1 year doing software support for a property management company. I chose to apply for business school because I wanted to be able to pivot out of real estate/property management and felt that business school would help open more doors for me. Additionally, growth is something that is important to me and I felt that was lacking in the careers I was in before business school.
MBASchooled: When did you find out when you got admitted? How did you navigate your decision process if you were evaluating multiple schools?
I submitted my application in January of 2020 and I conducted an in person interview (pre-covid) in February and found out I was admitted in February/March. For me W.P. Carey was my first choice because when I applied I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do the full time program or the part time program so that I could continue working. I also did not want to move. I had some other schools in mind to complete an online program if I wasn’t accepted to W.P. Carey, but I likely would have started later if I hadn’t been accepted at ASU.
MBASchooled: What were the most important questions you asked in order to help make your admissions decision?
For me there was a big debate with the value of a full-time program vs. ASU’s proflex program. I knew that my job would be flexible with me if I decided to do the proflex program but needed to know what set the full-time program apart from the proflex one. What would be the benefit for me to attend the full-time program.
MBASchooled: What sources of information (ex: people, resources, websites, students) did you evaluate when making your admissions decision?
I attended an MBA information session and then I did an in person interview and had the opportunity to speak with some of the current students and faculty about the benefits of the program. The executive mentorship program and interdisciplinary learning lab drew me to the full time program. Additionally, ASUs website and discussion with people about W.P. Carey. In Arizona, W.P. Carey is pretty well known and will hopefully open doors after I complete the program.
MBASchooled: After spending a semester at Carey, what’s something that you now know about Carey that you wish you knew when you applied ?
I don’t think there was anything that I know now that I didn’t know then. It wasn’t before I applied, but before the program started I wish I could have known how COVID-19 would affect the program, but this was something that no one could have predicted.
MBASchooled: Oftentimes, the word “culture” gets thrown around when talking about MBA programs. Can you characterize the culture at Carey ? Can you share an example of an experience that you think personifies what this means?
The phrase that comes to mind with W.P. Carey is that “business is personal”. Normally, I think it’s easier to make business personal with an in person program, however with the pandemic, that has become a lot harder. Going into the program, I have felt like the group of students in the program is very open to figuring out new ways to make connections. One student created a discord server that most of the students use to connect and interact with each other virtually.
MBASchooled: Now that you’ve been at Carey for a semester, is there a specific moment or highlight where you felt confident that you made the right decision?
I was nominated by the program ops team as being a Net Investor in the first quarter. W.P. Carey defines a net investor as “students who want to engage with the MBA community and leave the program better off than they found it”. I was selected because of my efforts to help include students who were attending virtually for either health related reasons or because they were international students who were unable to get visas in time to make it to the U.S. in time for classes to start. Being recognized for doing something that came so naturally to me validated that I came to the program at the right time despite my concerns for how COVID-19 would change things.
MBASchooled: What advice do you have for admitted students on how they can make the best decision?
Be flexible and open to new experiences. Especially given that we don’t know how COVID-19 will continue to affect our lives. Say “yes” to as many experiences as possible. Make sure you are aware of your own priorities and how each program meets those (program offerings, location, price etc.). Getting your MBA is never a mistake because you are investing in yourself.
MBASchooled: What advice do you have for admitted students on how they can prepare for their MBA experience?
Get in the mindset for information overload in the first semester. Prepare for some of the hard skills like statistics, finance, and accounting by completing pre-work or taking additional courses through Khan Academy or other sources to gain confidence in some of the “hard skills”. Also try to connect with current students as much as possible. W.P. Carey offers an ambassador program to connect incoming students so it helps to have a friend or two who has recently gone through what you are about to go through.