Allegra Porter (Goizueta, ‘22) decided to pursue an MBA to gain the skills and experience she needed to advance her career in the healthcare industry. Ultimately, Allegra chose to attend Emory University’s Goizueta Business School because of its communal feel, small class size, and interactive teaching style. In this interview, she elaborates on her decision to seek a higher degree, why she chose Goizueta, and her advice on how prospective MBA students can select the program that is right for them.
Name: Allegra Porter
Class: 2022
Hometown: Atlanta
Career Interests: Internal Strategy, Operations Management
MBASchooled: What did you do before business school, and why did you choose to come to business school?
I have experience in a variety of roles and industries, including Tech, Hospitality, Travel, and Healthcare. After working in business development and operations management for a medical practice, I decided to pursue an MBA because I knew that I needed more formalized training to be able to take the next step in my career and make a greater impact in the Healthcare industry. I’m on a constant journey of self-improvement and I’ve always loved school and learning, so I knew that getting a higher education was the best next step for me.
MBASchooled: Why did you choose to attend Emory?
When selecting a school, I of course valued their reputation and academic rigor, but I also wanted to find an environment where I could become an integral part of a close-knit community. Having the ability to connect with my peers on a deeper level was very important to me, and I felt that it would be more difficult for me to have this experience at a larger institution. Something that I loved about Emory Goizueta was that it offered me the best of both worlds: the opportunity to be a part of an intimate community within a larger university.
I learn best from interactive teaching styles where there is a low student-to-teacher ratio, so I prioritized schools that offered that experience. Although it wasn’t my top priority, I also hoped to find a school with a collegiate feel and a beautiful, centralized campus. Emory Goizueta checked all of these boxes.
MBASchooled: What was your decision process like? (When did you find out, were you considering other schools, when did you make your final decision?)
Although I was considering other schools, I’ll admit that I knew early on that Emory was where I wanted to be. I was accepted into the program in early January and took a couple of weeks to reflect and consider my other options before accepting. As I sit here now, I am confident that I made the right choice.
MBASchooled: What resources were most helpful to making your decision? Did you talk to any people that were especially helpful?
I was able to get a strong sense of Emory’s environment by attending school events, touring the campus, and meeting current students. I was also able to sit in on a couple of classes, which I really enjoyed.
MBASchooled: Did you attend any virtual admitted students events? If so, what were those like? Were they helpful?
One of the first events I attended at Emory Goizueta was an evening hosted by Goizueta’s Women in Business club (GWIB). Witnessing the warmth and power of that support network really impressed and inspired me. I left that night feeling as though I belonged there. That experience was very memorable and absolutely factored into my decision to attend Emory.
MBASchooled: Oftentimes, the word “culture” gets thrown around when talking about MBA programs. Can you characterize the culture at Emory? Can you share an example of an experience that you think personifies what this means?
When I visited campus for the first time, I felt at home. Everyone was incredibly welcoming and helpful. I could tell that students, faculty, and staff alike were genuinely happy to be there—I think that says a lot.
I feel that Emory’s culture is exemplified by the extensive effort they make to create an environment that is open, accepting, and supportive. They strongly encourage honest, positive, and constructive discourse because they know that this is critical for the creation of meaningful change. Emory facilitates events where students can come together to learn from each other, challenge their own biases and beliefs, and discuss issues such as race, discrimination, privilege, and disempowerment.
Although these conversations can be uncomfortable to have, I’ve found that the community at Goizueta is eager to take part in them because they recognize the need for change, believe in their responsibility to create and support change, and genuinely want to grow and learn from each other. I’m inspired by my peers’ courage and willingness to challenge themselves and their belief systems and I’m very proud to be a part of a community that sincerely values empathy and integrity.
MBASchooled: Obviously, it’s a little more challenging to find out what a school or program is like as a result of COVID-19. What advice do you have, or what specific actions would you recommend admitted students take, to really get to know a school before selecting a school?
Although it may be more difficult, it is certainly still possible to find resources that will help you decide if a school is right for you. I’d recommend speaking with as many students/alumni as you can, attending virtual events, sitting/zooming in on a class, and researching the school’s courses and specialties. I would also recommend analyzing the school’s employment reports to see if their industry placements match your interests and investigating the breadth of their alumni network.
MBASchooled: What’s something you wish you knew more about before starting your MBA at Emory?
Coming from a liberal arts background, I hadn’t anticipated how much emphasis there would be on quantitative skills. Had I known, I would have prepared more before starting the program.
MBASchooled: Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to recently admitted MBA students about how to make the best possible admissions decision?
First and foremost, I think it’s important to determine the kind experience you hope to have in business school. Understand what you want to accomplish during your M.B.A, beyond receiving the degree. You are going to commit significant time, effort, and resources to this program, so be sure to consider the bigger picture.
Reflect on the kind of environment you want to be in, the community you want to be a part of, and the people you want to be surrounded by. Consider the teaching style that works best for you. If you’re able to, visit the campus and talk to as many people as you can. Listen to your gut feeling.
Something that I believe is very important to pay attention to is how the schools you’re considering treat you as a prospective student. I believe that a school’s treatment of those who are still applying is a true reflection of their culture and how they value their students. If a school treats you poorly while you’re applying, but then changes their tone drastically once you’ve been accepted–that’s a red flag in my book.
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