The Way Ahead

by Khanh

When choosing a graduate program, it is hard, if not impossible, to take the career aspect out of the equation. Unlike undergraduate students, graduate counterparts may carry with them tremendous responsibilities to their families, and figuring out where they would end up after enrolling in a PhD, MBA, MSF or MSA program is a top priority. Fortunately, the Carroll School provides students with a solid preparation not only in terms of the knowledge they acquire, but also necessary skills with which an effective job seeker should be equipped through the dedicated staff in the Career Strategies Office. One-on-one advising, interview preparation, workshops and networking events are constantly available to students.

The arduous process is also supported by the School’s prominent reputation. Every semester, numerous Wall Street bulge brackets, middle-market and top-tier consulting, accounting, and technology firms flock to campus to look for their next batches of bright employees. Credit Suisse, Barclay’s, UBS, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte, and State Street are just a few names among the firms that make their annual pilgrimage to Boston College. In fact, in a recent Wall Street Journal article, BC was ranked as a top 10 feeder school to the Asset Management industry.

Delving deeper into my particular story, I was grateful to all the help I received from the Career Strategies team and the vast network of BC alumni. I was able to meet and connect with my future employer at one of the countless information sessions organized and held in the Carroll School. After an initial phone conversation and four back-to-back “Superday-typed” interviews, I finally received an offer from Analysis Group, a Boston-based economic consulting firm, where I will have an opportunity to work with Fortune 500 and top law firms in various litigation cases.

During my preparation for the interviews, I also received tremendous guidance from my career adviser through various resume, cover letter and mock interview sessions. Certainly, the relative small size of the Carroll Graduate School helps with the amount of care the career advisers put into the process. Looking back, I believe the practical knowledge I gained in the MSF Program and the exposure to the dedicated BC alumni network are the decisive factors that helped me through the entire employment process.

Conversation with a CEO

by Casey

As a Boston College Carroll School of Management graduate student, we have many opportunities to interact and brush shoulders with high level executives from a wide range of companies located in Boston and throughout the world. One of these opportunities is our Manager's Studio. What is Manager's Studio, you ask?

Manager's Studio is an event held quarterly here at the Carroll School of Management that brings top executives from a variety of different industries to campus to share their personal and professional experiences with students.

Hosted by BC faculty member Bob Radin, the Manager’s Studio session begins with an interview of the CEO, offering a rare glimpse into the executives’ personal lives, which is then followed by a student-led Q&A period. Discussions cover topics such as personal goals, challenges, career paths, managing and leading, and the business environment. It is the perfect opportunity to get inside the mind of the executive and find out what their lives are really like!

Recently, BC had the honor of hosting Jim Calhoun, the CEO of Converse, at a Manager's Studio session. Jim shared his career journey, leading him to Converse, and the insights he learned along the way. One of those insights was learning how to be a good teammate. For Jim, "figuring out the concept of team" was crucial to his success and his advancement into management. He learned what type of people work well together and leveraged this knowledge to form high-performing teams that fueled company growth.

Jim also learned the importance of failure, "At Converse, we fail a lot. I'm a super big fan of failure." He touched on the concept of "failing forward," and how from your failures you learn invaluable truths that show you how to move forward in your business. Many leaders have a moment of failure at some points in their career that is fundamental to the decisions they made and the paths they chose, and Jim shared one such story with us.

In addition to sharing his own personal stories, Jim also shared some wisdom for us as MBA students. He encouraged us to follow our passion no matter what, as that is where we will find true fulfillment in our careers and jobs. It is also important for us to be always "forward thinking and forward looking" - it can be easy to be complacent and content with where we are at, but it is crucial to always be looking to the next step in our careers.

As a CEO of a large, well-known company, Jim obviously has a depth of knowledge about the business but also talked about surrounding himself with others who know more than he does. "Leaders don't have to be the smartest in the room." Acknowledging this has freed him to be more open and honest with his co-workers and staff.

When asked about advice for us as we start interviewing and looking for jobs, Jim said that he always asks potential job candidates why they want to work for Converse specifically, and that we should also be prepared to talk in details about the job or industry we are applying to. He also looks for individuals who would be the right fit with the culture at Converse, and is seeking out those that he believes would be strong "change agents" for the company.

After the session was over, students had the chance to attend a reception where they could talk one-on-one with Jim more in depth and network with him directly. Manager's Studio really is an excellent opportunity to gain exposure to high level executives, receive some sound business advice and build your network and own personal brand. I personally can't wait until the next one!

Managing High Performing Team - Experiential Learning in the BC Tradition

by Matt

When the term “High Performing Teams” is used, the initial thought that jumps to the mind of many people may be a SWAT team storming a building or a championship sports team taking the field. While these examples certainly apply, high performing teams exist in many areas of this business world as well. From the innovations at Apple to the successes of the world’s largest financial institutions, skilled, well-orchestrated teams are often the driving force behind these achievements.

I was lucky this semester to take part in one of the most interesting classes I have taken in my MBA career, Managing High Performing Teams, taught by Professor Scott McDermott. This class seeks to explore not only how these high performing teams are created, but how we as future MBA’s can leverage their traits in the everyday work place. Through the course of the semester we were lucky to have a wide variety of speakers and out of classroom experiences in addition to our case studies and group presentations, giving us a real world look at how these groups operate.

As we explored what components made up these high performing teams, we were lucky to have some excellent speakers come to share their experiences and explain how they apply what we were learning to real life situations. From mountain climbers to the crew of a U.S. Coast Guard cutter, to members of a jazz band, all these individuals had one thing in common: commitment to a shared goal and the willingness to do whatever it took to get there.

Outside the classroom, we experienced some of these adept teams in action. A night at the Improv Asylum in the North End of Boston gave us a quick tutorial in improvisational comedy and the nuances of how four people take random situations and create comedy on the spot. We were then treated to a full show to see it happen for real. Pete Brock of the 1985 New England Patriots Super Bowl team hosted us at Gillette Stadium and showed us how a championship caliber football team comes together.

Looking back on the semester, I’ve realized a few things. Although I will likely never climb Mount Everest or take the field as a pro football player, the key attributes that bring these teams together can be applied across the business world. Possessing a common goal and collecting dedicated individuals devoted to reaching it will always produce a successful outcome.

The Internship Search

By Lauren

"Congratulations, we would like to offer you a position as a Summer Associate....."

Those are the words every First-Year MBA student is waiting to hear. After a TON of time and effort, I can happily say that I finally heard those words, and my internship search is over! The internship search is daunting, time consuming, and a lot of work. But it's also exciting- you get to explore new companies and career paths. Through the process, I learned a lot about myself and envisioned myself in a number of different companies and career paths.

While everyone's internship search is different, here is my advice on going about the internship search.

Lauren's Keys to Successfully Finding an Internship

1. Start Early!
2. Network, Network, Network!
3. Attend Information Services
4. Use Career Services

Start Early: Beginning in September, I met with my Career Services Advisor to identify an internship search strategy that involved networking, attending information sessions, and exploring companies I was interested in. She helped me realize that any work I did in the beginning of the year would help me later on and that the sooner I started, the more companies I could explore, the more connections I could make, and the more I'd learn about what I really want to do.

Network: I set up a number of informational interviews throughout the first semester that positioned me well to secure an internship at the beginning of my second semester. I held two informational interviews with two employees and networked with several other people at the company I am interning for this summer. Those conversations not only helped me learn about the company, but were incredibly helpful during my interviews because I had prior insight into the company, demonstrated interest in the company, and a good explanation for why I wanted to intern there.

Attend Information Sessions:  BC brings top-ranked companies to campus for Information Sessions such as John Hancock, Liberty Mutual, Hasbro, CVS Caremark, EMC, and Oceanspray, to name a few. I attended as many information sessions as possible to learn about companies and industries I was interested in as well as ones I wanted to learn more about. Every information session is a learning opportunity as well as a great way to network with company representatives and establish relationships for the future. I made connections with several representatives at information sessions and made a point to introduce myself to the representatives of the company I'm interning for!

Use Career Services:  My career advisor was amazing. She was willing to meet with me as often as I needed to help guide me through the process. At first, I met with her every two weeks to prepare for informational interviews, brainstorm new companies to target and connections at those companies. She provided helpful advice on some of my cover letters. The day before one of my interviews, I had a freak out moment, and frantically emailed her asking for advice on how to prepare. She met with me for an hour, simulating an interview, helping me build my impact stories, and providing insight on the types of questions they would ask and pointed me towards facts I should know about the company. She also pumped me up and gave me an extra boost of confidence for the interviews.

The Interviews

So, what are internship interviews actually like?

First Round Interviews: Most of the companies I interviewed with started with a 30-45 minute behavioral interview where they asked basic questions like:

• Why an MBA?
• Why do you want to work for this company?
• What is your least favorite class?
• Tell me about a time when you had to use data to make a decision
• Tell me about a time when you navigated a difficult situation
• Tell me about a leadership experience

Most of my behavioral interviews were very relaxed- the interviewer was trying to get a feel for who I am as a person and if I would fit into the company culture.  

Second Round Interviews: Most of my second round interviews involved a 30-45 minutes case and a 30-60 minute behavioral interview. The cases I did were not as bad as I imagined they would be, but I would say they definitely require preparation! During the case, my best piece of advice is to take a minute to organize how you are going to present your analysis so that you come across organized and make a more compelling analysis.  

"Super Day" Interviews: Some companies host "Super Day" interviews, where they bring lots of candidates to the company's office in for a series of interview (mix of case and behavioral). During these days, they not only evaluate you on how well you perform in the interviews, but also on how you interact with others while you're waiting for your interview. They may have a room reserved for candidates, where they converse with each other and current employees. This is a great opportunity to show that you can play well with others and fit in with the company culture. Not surprisingly, the interviews during Super Days vary- for example, one company I interviewed with had four separate 30-minute, back-to-back interviews, while another had a very relaxed pace. I came an hour early for my interview to mingle in the candidate lounge and stayed afterwards to eat lunch with candidates.

That has been my experience so far!  Hopefully these tips are helpful!

Changing lives - one way we make a difference

by Zach

As a Jesuit School, Boston College has long been steeped in not only developing a strong community but also helping those around it. With a long tradition of community service, Boston College Graduate students have been serving their communities in a variety of ways, from working with non-profits to feeding those most in need. Today, every Carroll School Graduate student volunteers at least ten to twenty hours towards community service. Through continuing this long tradition, we gain experience working with many different community-based organizations and individuals. It also reflects our tradition of experiential learning. After just one semester, I have found that my classmates and I are well on track to far exceed, if not double or triple, the ten to twenty hours!

Graduate students enjoy many community service opportunities, ranging from student organizations like Net Impact to working local and national organizations in the Boston area. The Carroll School of Management even plans activities for Boston College's annual Jesuit Day of Service.

One of the most rewarding, for me personally, is participating in Invest in Kids (INK). INK is a joint program between Boston College and Brookline Public schools. This program pairs a graduate student mentor with a 7th or 8th grader. The students I have worked with have really impressed me and I continuously find myself learning more from them than they probably learn from me.

While part of the INK program focuses around school work, the other part focuses on connecting student and mentor through a series of activities. These events range from costume competitions (during Halloween), to meeting student athletes, to scavenger hunts around campus.One of the first events we held was a stock picking challenge that took place between 1915 and 1930. One of the kids in my group astutely pointed out that the Great Depression was coming up and convinced his fellow students to liquidate, propelling our group into first place!

Reflecting on my first semester, I feel that INK was a great source of stress relief and helped me keep things in perspective. While grades and internships are important, it was great spending two hours a week giving back to our community!

A few quotes from my classmates regarding their experience with INK:

"I love having the chance to take a break from studying and schoolwork and give back to the community. The kids always have the ability to brighten my week and I love helping them work towards their goals." - First-Year, Full-Time MBA student.

"Ink is AMAZING!" - First-Year, Full-Time MBA student.

"A nice departure from schoolwork." - First-Year, Full-Time MBA student.

"Fun & Rewarding... Brings out the kid in me!" - Second-Year, MSA/MSF Dual Degree student.

The G51 Venture Capital Scholar Program

by Khanh

In my last post, I briefly talked about my decision to attend the Carroll School and how much I enjoyed the applied learning aspect of the program here. This time, I would like to delve deeper into my favorite program, the G51 Venture Capital Scholar, and relay my experience so far.

The program was started approximately ten years ago by Rudy Garza, the Founder and Managing Partner of G51 Capital. Initially, Rudy was working with a couple of in-state institutions in Texas, including UT Austin and Baylor University. Thanks to its overwhelming success, the program quickly grew to a national level and, as of this fall, involved more than ten top tier institutions, including MIT, Harvard, Northwestern, Duke, and Boston College.

For every school, Rudy aims at selecting three to four graduate students from diverse backgrounds, such as business, engineering, and computer science. All share the same passion for entrepreneurship and venture capital. Working with Rudy and the other Managing Partners has been a fantastic experience and, frankly, my learning curve has grown exponentially over the course of three months.

During the program, G51 Scholars are expected to fulfill the following tasks: deal flow review, communication with entrepreneurs, local deal flow and specific projects as assigned by the Managing Partners. Says Rudy, “Our goal is to create an exceptional network of future business leaders grounded in technology innovation and entrepreneurship. We are connecting with the best business schools and entrepreneurial institutions, in the United States and internationally, to enable a global renaissance of science and technology commercialization.”

Since G51 invests in hardware, software, clean technology and internet service companies, the Scholars have plenty of freedom to carry out the sourcing process. So far, I represented G51 at a number of start-up events, including the MIT Bootcamp, Harvard Cyberposium, and the Babson Entrepreneurship Forum. In addition, another rewarding aspect of the program is our exposure to some inspiring visitors in the field of technology entrepreneurship during our teleconference. At one point, I found myself pitching a company to Rudy, without realizing that Lee Walker, the first President of Dell Computing, was also in the room. Thankfully, his follow-up comments were positive.

The G51 Venture Capital Scholar Program has been an amazing journey for me here at BC. I look forward to continuing my commitment to the program in the spring.

Coffee Chats and Business School

by Lauren

From Coffee Chat to BC...
Last year, when I was applying to Business school, I never expected that a coffee chat would be the deciding factor in which B-school I would attend. During the interview process, I chose to fly up to Boston from North Carolina for an in-person interview instead of a Skype interview because I wanted to see BC's campus. A few days before my interview, it occurred to me that BC had options to check out the school- coffee chats, class visits, information session etc. It was last minute, but I emailed the Graduate Admissions Office and asked if I could meet with a student. Luckily a First-Year student was free one hour before my interview for coffee.

There's a lot you can learn about Business schools from their websites, promotional materials and third party sites. However, you gain so much more from talking to a current student. What would life be like as a BC MBA? Could I imagine myself there? BC is a small program, would I like it? How could I leverage the BC network? Would I be happy at BC or would I be happier somewhere else?

The First-Year MBA I met for coffee answered all of those questions. And honestly. She told me what she liked and what she didn't. I felt comfortable asking her every question I could think of (I wanted the truth!). After 45 minutes, I felt like I had a pretty clear understanding of what it was like to be a BC MBA, the strengths and weaknesses of BC, and what I would get out of the program. (Thanks, Jaclyn!)

In the end, I had to choose between two great business schools and relied heavily on my coffee chat. I knew how the two schools looked on paper, and I could see myself at either one, but which one was the right choice? Luckily, I had met with students at both schools I was deciding between and compared their feedback on both schools and my gut feel from each.

After a few weeks of deliberation, I chose BC. At the time, I felt confident that BC was the right school for me and that I was making the best decision for my career because of my coffee chats. Now almost one semester in, I have no regrets and am even more confident that I made the right choice.

Who would have guessed that coffee would decide which B-school I would go to?

Chocolate Bar in Stokes Hall

Paying it Forward
Just as Jaclyn met me for coffee, I've been meeting prospective students for coffee at the Chocolate Bar in Stokes Hall (so delicious!) to answer their questions about the program and help them decide if BC is the right school for them. I valued honest feedback, which is what I try to give during my chats. I didn't want to meet with someone who would give me canned answers on how great the school was- I wanted to know what I was really getting into!

Advice for Coffee Chats: Come with Thoughtful Questions
Everyone has different concerns when they look at schools: community, specializations and classes, clubs, social activities, leadership training, field learning, and of course, careers. All of these areas are important, and to get the most information from a coffee chat, make sure you come prepared with thoughtful questions! It's hard to get a meaningful answer from generic questions like "What's the community like?" and "How are classes?" Although these are good starter questions- I'll tell you that I love the BC Community because the people are friendly, motivated, fun, and I learn a lot from my peers. But what are you interested in getting out of a community? Think about that when you go into the chat and ask follow up questions. Do you have X because I'm really interested in __?  The more questions you ask, the more you will get out of the conversation.

So go grab a cup of coffee- it's worth it!

Introducing...

by Christopher

By ways of a late introduction, my name is Chris and I'm a Full-Time MSF student in the Carroll School of Management.

I know, I know, you've been reading these posts and everyone is either a Full-Time MSF or MBA student in the Carroll School here at Boston College. What makes me different? After I chose Boston College, Boston College chose me. That's because I'm a "Double Eagle."

Here's the part where I explain why I decided to come to Boston College and pursue my Master's in Finance. But that story begins nearly five years ago, as I was in the midst of undergraduate college applications. When I visited Boston College for the first time, I fell in love. The beautiful campus, the strategic location right outside the city, the homey feeling, and of course the fall New England weather, pulled me to Chestnut Hill like static cling from a helium balloon. After receiving my Bachelor of Arts in Economics this past May from the College of Arts and Sciences, I knew I had to come back.

Most of my finance-related experience was personal - that is, non-academic. Though I took a number of electives in the school of management as an undergrad, my focus on economics detracted from my ability to foster and cultivate my expertise in financial theory - my other passion. Sure, I was trading stocks on an almost-daily basis during my sophomore year, and served as the Vice-President of the Boston College Investment Club during my junior and senior years, but if you asked me about the assumptions of the capital asset pricing model I would've been totally lost. So I came back to the place I called my second home for four years to get in some more schooling before going out into the "real world" - because a place like this makes you want to kick that can down the road for as long as possible.

So here I am - enrolled in the graduate program, taking four night classes while working as a Graduate Assistant. And I must say, the program is great. In the first seven weeks of the semester, we've already had a career fair, countless information sessions, and on-campus interviews. In addition, we've had numerous networking opportunities both on and off-campus, as well as multiple chances to reach out to recruiters about open job positions. I think you see where I'm going - Boston College has an amazing network. I know, lots of people say that. And even more people question how BC can have such a tight alumni network given how large of a university it is. But that's just it. Even if you didn't sit next to the head recruiter at your dream job during your seven-person senior seminar and grab dinner with the director of human resources after completing a group project, BC grads are BC grads through and through.

It's purely because Boston College graduates take so many different trajectories and career paths that going to a large school like BC gives you the benefit of a high-volume network and also a close-knit network. And for me that was really it - the people. I came back to BC because of the people, and I don't just mean the network. The students, the professors, the administrators, all the way to the man who starts his day cleaning Fulton Hall just as my day is ending - they're all classic. They're all great, wonderful, inspiring people, who each have a story to tell. And I'm here to listen to all their stories.

Until next time,
Christopher

Why BC?

by Lauren

I can't believe how quickly the last seven weeks have flown by! I just spent the last week crunching for final exams with my classmates and am relieved that they are finally over!

I'm excited to share my experiences over the next two years with you through this blog. Since this is my first post, let me start by telling you a little bit about myself and how I found myself pursuing an MBA at Boston College.

About Me:
I grew up in a suburb of Boston and went to Colgate University, earning my bachelor's degree in Political Science and History. Not yet ready to return to Boston, I moved to North Carolina (a big move for me!) to work in business development and marketing for an International Development non-profit. Now, you might be wondering, what exactly does that mean? It means I worked for a U.S. Agency for International Development contractor that designed and implemented programs to improve health, education, and governance systems in developing countries.

Raleigh, NC, 

I loved the work of the non-profit, but realized I was also passionate about marketing. So after two years, I made a career switch and started working in the marketing department for a pharmaceutical manufacturer. There, I had my hands in everything from event management, to online advertising, campaign development and other marketing activities.  I was also heavily involved with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society- Greater Carolinas Chapter in my free time. I loved it!


Why an MBA? 
I chose to get an MBA to advance my career. In my last job, I found myself struggling to understand some parts of the business, and realized that if I wanted to run my own department, I needed to have a better understanding of business and management. I saw a gap between where I was and where I wanted to be in my career. I knew an MBA would give me the skills, education and experience to get there more quickly.

Why Boston College?
I chose Boston College for a number of reasons, but the number one reason is the people. I was blown away by the sense of community I felt among the students I met. Everyone was engaging, motivating and had interesting backgrounds. BC is also one of the few schools I looked at that requires MBA students to complete a community service requirement.  Giving back to the community and being a part of the community has always been important to me and something I really enjoy, so I knew that BC would be a good fit for me.

Photo Courtesy of Boston College

The second reason? Boston! It's a great city with tons to see and do. Not only is it a fun city, but also it's the city I see myself ending up in after I graduate, and I wanted a school with strong connections in the Boston community. My family is also in the New England area, and I wanted to be closer to them.

The third reason is that once you're an Eagle, you're always an Eagle. Alumni networks are powerful, and BC has one of the best. It was important to me to be able to tap into an alumni network while I explore internship and job opportunities. While I also see myself ending up in the Boston area, I also wanted to go to a school with national connections, and there are BC alumni groups everywhere!

Great Decision!
It has only been seven weeks, but I already love Boston College! For a small program, there are a lot of events, information sessions, and activities going on. There's no shortage of things to do and resources to take advantage of.  So far, so good!

Making the Big Decision - Picking the Right Business School

by Zach

Welcome! My name is Zach and I am a first year MBA student at Boston College.


I grew up in Denver, Colorado, and graduated from Colby College in Maine, where I received a bachelor's in Mathematics. After graduating, I returned to Denver, where I worked for the Colorado State Treasury issuing municipal bonds to build public schools around the state. While I really enjoyed my time at the Treasury, I decided to move back to the East Coast. I took a job for a large financial services company in Boston, where I worked for two years before applying to business school.

I found the process of applying to business school to be a long and arduous task. Starting with the GMAT all the way through interviews; it was a stressful and time-consuming process. However, at the end of the day, I personally found making the final decision on where I should go to be one of the most difficult decisions I've ever had to make. Business school is a major investment in my future and will have an enormous impact on my career and life going forward. I'd like to take the time to let you all know the criteria I used to make my final decision.

Alumni Network
The biggest item I weighed in my decision process was the alumni network. I wanted to go to a school that not only had a robust alumni network, but also one that had close ties with the school. If I have learned anything since graduating from Colby, it's as much about who you know as what you know. I have found that BC grads really are committed to the school and actively help and mentor current students.

Once I committed to Boston College, I was shocked by the number of people at the organization I worked who came up to congratulate me and let me know each of them were BC graduates. Since starting b-school, I have also been surprised to see just how deep the alumni network goes. As I begin my internship search, I plan on starting with the BC alumni network.

Culture

The second decision criteria I used was culture. I wanted to go somewhere where I could develop close friendships and work in a collaborative environment. One of the first things that stood out to me was BC's Core Values: Honesty & Integrity, Mutual Respect, Pursuit of Excellence and Personal Accountability. You'll find these values framed and posted in every classroom in Fulton Hall. Visiting the campus, it is clear that these values are one of the driving factors of our culture. Since starting school, I can attest to the fact that we are a very close community who work collaboratively to further our understanding and skills. We also live by our core values.

Class Size
The third decision criteria I looked at was class size. I wanted to go to a school where I could really get to know my professors, advisers and classmates. Each incoming Full-Time MBA class is roughly 100 students. The smaller class size has allowed me to get to know each of my classmates as well as my professors, academic and career advisers on a personal level. So far, I have had a wonderful experience and could not be happier with my choice.

Location
Location was another major factor in my decision. Because I would ideally like to stay in Boston after I graduate, I picked a school close to the city. Going to Boston College has allowed me to develop my network and connections and target companies I am interested in within the Boston area. Finally, the BC name and reputation has proven to be invaluable in building my network in Boston. 

A Final Thought
Making the final decision can be very stressful and difficult. In order to make the process easier, I would suggest you pick a few important criteria to help you weigh the options.

If any of you have different criteria or suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment!
  

My Summer Internship

by Jaclyn

I wrote in a blog post last year about the student adventure known as The Internship Search. In that post, I spoke to the amount of time that went into resume writing, networking, interviewing, etc., but also to the support that the Career Strategies Office provides in finding a placement that is right for each student’s interests and goals. Which leads me to my summer placement at...

So, I wanted to kick off my posts this year with a recap of my summer at the toy company that has brought us toys like Play-Doh, Mr. Potato Head, Monopoly, Nerf, My Little Pony, and Transformers, to name only a few. The interview process for Hasbro was rigorous, but a very positive experience, mostly because every person I met, from BC alumni to other Hasbro employees, immediately made me feel at home and excited for the summer.

I was recruited to an 11-person class, along with three of my fellow Boston College MBA colleagues. We were provided with our assignments before the summer started, in one of three brand management functions: Global Marketing, Global Product Development, and Regional (US) Marketing. I was placed in a group called Boys New Brand Franchises, which was a start-up size team responsible for identifying opportunities for Hasbro by leveraging existing brands, evaluating incoming entertainment properties or proposing new segments for the Boys portfolio.

In addition to my individual projects, the intern class was challenged with a group assignment: “The Future of Retail.” We researched the limitations of the current retail environment, consumer shopper trends, and upcoming technologies and worked with designers on what a long-term retail strategy might look like for Hasbro. Our intern class had the unique opportunity to present our solution to an audience of 60+, including senior executives. 

The Hasbro internship was also extended through social events, a mentorship program, and roundtable sessions. The roundtable sessions were scheduled every week with representatives from the Executive Team, who each provided insight on career planning, lessons learned, and the direction of the company. The entire intern class really appreciated having this time to personally meet and ask questions of such respected and successful individuals.

If I could share only 3 things about my summer internship at Hasbro, they would be: 1) toys are awesome, and so is working with them, 2) some of the friendliest and smartest people I've ever worked with are at Hasbro, and 3) I still can’t believe how much I accomplished and learned, from my manager, my mentor, and my peers.

For all those currently looking for a summer internship, GOOD LUCK!

Epic Football Game

by Stephen

Last Sunday marked an epic football showdown, one that will be remembered through the ages. I’m not talking Broncos vs. Cowboys, or Patriots vs. Saints, those pale in comparison to the Section 1 vs. Section 2 Full-Time MBA flag football game at Boston College. The BC MBA program offers lots of social and sporting events for its students, and flag football is one of the favorites in the Fall semesters. Both teams were amped up come game time, and with some amazing plays and a down-to-the-wire finish, it certainly did not disappoint.

There was lots of chatter before the game about who would win, and once the match started Section 1 quickly took their opening drive into the Section 2 red zone, but a tipped pass resulted in an interception. Section 2 capitalized with a drive down the field for the opening score.  A couple of plays later, one of Section 1’s receivers caught a long pass in the back of the end zone to tie the game.  On their next play Section 2 lined up and immediately went for it all, and their star receiver caught a long pass for a touchdown to retake the lead. Section 1 was unable to maintain their ensuing drive and Section 2 got the ball back and scored again. The whistle for halftime was blown, and now down two scores, things were looking pretty dire for Section 1.

But on the opening kickoff of the second half, one of Section 1’s players caught the ball and, with a couple of key blocks from his teammates, burst into an open seam down the sideline and took it to the house! Section 1’s sideline erupted and the effort sparked the team to get back in the game. After a defensive stop, Section 1 got the ball back and a couple plays later ran it in for another touchdown, tying the game.

The game was nearing the final minutes now and both teams could feel the excitement building. Section 2 got the ball deep in their own territory and built a steady, methodical drive down the field. A quick slant to their star receiver resulted in a touchdown to once again take the lead.

“5 seconds left!” the ref announced. Section 1's quarterback brought the team together and said, “Ok last chance. Everyone go deep.” With that, his team lined up and took off down the field. The quarterback rolled out and heaved the ball to almost the same spot as before, but this time it was in bounds and his receiver made an amazing catch with no time left on the clock. Once again, the sideline erupted with celebration. It now came down to the extra point to try and win the game. Section 1 hurried to the line and ran the play. The pressure was high as the QB lobbed the ball to one of his key receivers in the corner of the end zone, but at the last second a defender came in and swatted the ball away, winning the game for Section 2.

As quarterback for Section 1, I was still thinking about what an awesome game it was a week after it ended. And though we were opponents on the field, after the match our teams took a picture together and talked about what a great time we all had. It’s great to get to know my classmates in school, but I also really enjoy seeing another side of them out on the football field. And though it wasn’t quite the Super Bowl, it was still really fun.

First-Year, MBA Full-Time Flag Football Teams

Looking Forward

Casey, MBA '15

by Casey

Hello and welcome to my blog! I am excited to share with you all of my upcoming adventures in the MBA program here at Boston College. Although I have only been here a little under two months, I already feel at home. A Home is a place where you feel loved, accepted and can be yourself – and I can honestly say that is how I feel about my new BC community. Everyone from my classmates to the professors to the administrators has welcomed me with open arms!

Who Am I?
I grew up in a suburb of Buffalo, NY, and attended SUNY Geneseo (about an hour away from Buffalo) where I obtained my bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a minor in Spanish. After graduation, I returned to live with my parents and begin the dreaded first job search. The jobs available at that time were slim and so I accepted the first one that came along – a floor sales position with a furniture company. I quickly realized that this was not the job for me and began looking for something else. I visited a friend from college who was living and working in Boston, and she helped get me a job with her employer. Within a span of 4 weeks, I packed up my life in Buffalo and moved to Boston to embark on a new adventure. Boston is an amazing city and I am proud to call it home!

Why MBA?
Getting my MBA has always been a goal of mine, ever since I was an undergrad. Several of my Geneseo classmates were going on to get their MBAs right away, but I knew that I wanted and needed job experience first. An MBA is a seemingly natural progression from a business administration undergraduate degree, and so while I never considered obtaining any other master's degree, for me, it was all about timing. Could I get my employer to pay for my MBA? Should I go part-time or full-time?

Why Now?
For the last six years, I worked at a top 4 accounting firm in downtown Boston, preparing tax returns for international executives. I came in with no prior experience but was able to learn on the job and grow comfortable speaking the language of tax. I grew within the company and was promoted several times during the course of my employment. I was being challenged and the work was interesting, but I knew that I was not passionate about it and sometimes even dreaded the work day ahead of me. I was complacent at my job and fell into a rut. A change was needed! I had set a personal goal of getting my master’s within five years of graduating, but life got in the way. There comes a time and place (and this was true for me) when you can no longer make excuses and just have to make a decision. I realized last November that there is no time like the present! I kicked my MBA grad school application process into high gear so that I could make application deadline cutoffs for the fall start date.

Why BC?
The Carroll School of Management was the only MBA graduate program I applied to - and I'll tell you why. Hands down, it was the strength of their community. Because the MBA program is relatively small, I knew that the community of my classmates would be especially important. Now that I am here I also realize another key factor that I might not have known before attending, and that is that the students are collaborative rather than competitive. Personally, I do not think that I would have thrived in a highly competitive program, and so I am infinitely grateful that this is not one of BC MBA's espoused values or part of its culture. Does everyone want to do their very best and work hard in every class? Of course. But we are not cutting each other down to be the best we can be. Working on teams has really shown us the positives of being collaborative and working together. I know for a fact many of us would not have survived accounting otherwise!

Another part of BC's community is their alumni network. Although I did not know anyone that had graduated from the MBA program here, I knew several other alums from other BC graduate schools and they could not stop raving about BC and their experiences. There seemed to be such pride in being an "Eagle" that I just couldn't wait to be one myself! BC alumni seem to be in every city of every state of the country, and even internationally. The network is HUGE and a great resource for current students and recent graduates. With the support and guidance of this strong alumni network, I knew I could go and do just about anything.

From a purely aesthetic point of view, how could you NOT want to go to school on BC's beautiful campus? Since moving to Boston, BC had been in the back of my mind as the dream campus - the rolling hills, the beautiful buildings, the green quads, all next to the blue waters of the reservoir. When friends came to visit, I would actually take them walking around BC just because I thought it was picturesque.

What Happens Next?
Although I want to cherish these next two years, I know the time will fly by. We are challenged to look forward to what we will do when we leave here. I am excited to discover more about myself - my passions, my abilities, my skills, my weaknesses - and use this information to help direct and steer my career forward. Change is scary and we can dread the unknown, but I am confident that the MBA program here at Boston College will help equip me to be the best 'me' I can be - as corny as that sounds. They truly want me to succeed, even more than I do! I feel blessed for all the opportunities I will have and the doors that will open for me. Can't wait to see what the future holds!

Follow the Eagle

by Khanh

“Teacher, why did you decide to come here instead of Hawaii? I heard that place is like a paradise,” asked one of my students. I winked at her and answered, “Well, this place is like a paradise to me too, because I have always wanted to come here and realize your dream.” We were sitting under the burning sun in Save, a small town about two and a half hours away from Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. It was mid-August and I was teaching a group of aspiring high school students from all over Rwanda about entrepreneurship and leadership skills, thanks to a program organized by my alma mater, Babson College. I knew I always wanted to pursue a field in which I could help people grow their businesses. Fortunately, I can rekindle that desire at my new home—the Boston College Carroll School of Management.

Back in April, it was not a difficult decision to pick BC and send my regrets to other institutions, since, as I mentioned above, the Carroll School could help carry on my dream. Not only does it have an intensive and solid curriculum in asset pricing and management, the Carroll School also provides students with practical opportunities to get their hands dirty in the fields of entrepreneurship, private equity and venture capital. One of my favorite classes so far has been the G51 Venture Capital Scholar Program. Partnering with G51 Capital, an early stage venture capital based in Austin, Texas, the Carroll School is one of only five schools in the country selected to participate. Through a period of up to two semesters, this highly selective program provides graduate students with a unique opportunity for hands-on learning and mentorship with G51 Managing Partners. Particularly, students get to review, analyze and evaluate business plans each week, and share their investment recommendations with other graduate students and the G51 Partners. They are invited to partake in Deal Flow Review meetings and listen to the entrepreneurs’ pitches.

Moreover, the Carroll School offers graduate students opportunities to participate in the Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) and the Entrepreneurship Clinic program. The VCIC offers selected students an opportunity to act as venture capitalists during a national elevator pitch competition, in which they have to compete with other top graduate programs. The Entrepreneurship Clinic program provides students an opportunity to act as business planning advisers to real entrepreneurs who are seeking valuable advices in different fields including law, marketing, finance, accounting, etc.

Clearly, all these wonderful programs are keeping me busy, but I am happy knowing that, as soon as I receive valuable knowledge and theories from my professors, I get to apply them right away in the real world. For more information about other applied learning programs that the Carroll School offers, you can check out this link.

The BC community embraces the words of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit Order, "Go set the world aflame." I am certainly excited and happy to be a part of this mission. Please check back this blog regularly to look for updates on my journey.

Student Spotlight: Kevin Robar

Kevin Robar, MBA/MSF '14

Name: Kevin Robar

Class: MBA/MSF '14

Undergraduate School: Skidmore College

Previous Career: Restaurant Owner/Financial Advisory

Hometown: East Longmeadow, MA


Why did you decide to pursue the MBA/MSF dual degree?

Before school I had a varied work experience, which consisted of an entrepreneurial venture of starting a restaurant, and most recently I was working as an analyst at a small financial advisory firm. From my experience, I knew I wanted to change careers and begin a career in corporate finance, and I found that an MBA program was the best option to build a skill set that would allow me to do so. I decided to add the MSF degree to further strengthen my skills in finance.


What attracted you to Boston College?

BC is well known as having an expertise in finance and has a great network for someone who wants to begin a career in corporate finance. The small classes provide more direct exposure to professors, and it's in Boston which is a great city. Also, after growing up in Massachusetts, I couldn't move far away from the Bruins.


What has been your favorite class or project so far?

It is hard for me to select my favorite class, but I will have to pick Contemporary Topics in Corporate Reporting with Professor Mark Bradshaw. The class was very interactive and included both academic readings and case studies, atypical of what comes to mind for a corporate reporting course. Overall it was a great learning environment and the interactive format of the course kept the content engaging.


What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue their MBA?

Network, network, network!


Anything else you'd like to add?

The best advice I can give is to keep an open mind. When you begin your MBA, you have a strong idea of what you would like to accomplish during school as well as what you would like in a career. My advice is to listen to as many people as possible to get as varied of an experience as you can during the short period of time you are a student.

First Year vs. Second Year? The Difference is Night and Day...

by Matt

Welcome back to another great year here at the Boston College Carroll School of Management. My fellow second year classmates and I are coming back from a summer of internships, travel and a break from classes, to get the ball rolling on our final year in this MBA journey. Also, I’d like to welcome all our new first year MBA candidates to Boston College. Good luck and enjoy the ride!

My summer internship was spent in Hartford, CT, with the Hartford Insurance Group. While I was there, I was tasked with scheduling people and resources for 150 projects in their Middle Market and Specialty Commercial division. It was a great experience and gave me a look into an industry that I never had exposure to before. Now that it is done though, I'm very happy to be getting going with my final year of the MBA program.

So what’s the difference between first and second year? There are three things that stand out immediately:

1. This year is comprised almost entirely of electives. During your first year, many of your classes are chosen for you and consist of mainly the core MBA classes (statistics, accounting, marketing, etc.). During this second year, students take classes that relate directly to their specializations and have the chance to take elective courses.
2. The one required course, Management Practice III (MP III), focuses on entrepreneurship and business plan writing, and serves as a capstone for the program. In this program, student groups are paired with an entrepreneur and are tasked with writing a business plan for a product, service or other start up venture. These are then presented in the annual business plan competition at the end of the year.
3. Most of our classes are at night. We share these night classes with Evening MBA students, so it is nice to see some new faces, meet some new people, network, and get a fresh perspective. These students have the additional challenge of maintaining their full time job while pursuing their MBAs at BC, and they always bring a great point of view to the conversation. The shift in scheduling also allows Full-Time MBA students to have internships during the academic year and gain more experience.

Overall I’m excited for this year for a number of reasons. Being able to pick and choose our classes gives flexibility in scheduling and allows us to pursue specific classes we find interesting. In addition, MP III gives us exposure to entrepreneurs looking to break out on their own, and adds perspective for those of us who are also looking to do the same. And finally, like most of us, I’m looking forward to a new job (and paycheck) when my time here is complete.

So welcome back for another great year, I hope you enjoy the rest of my time here!

For Here, All Are One

Crowd outside of St. Ignatius to sign the banners

By Siobhan

For those of you who have had a chance to visit BC’s campus and speak with a current student, you have probably heard that the sense of community you experience as a part of the BC family is a strong aspect of the program. I know I have even mentioned this in previous blogs, but the commitment of the BC community to its own has been overwhelming over the past few weeks.

As many of you know, two second years in the program, as well as a BC alum were injured in the Boston Marathon bombings. I truly believe that in dark times and tragic moments, the true colors of a community are shown. While that sentiment has been true for the greater Boston community as a whole, it’s been unbelievable experiencing it as a member of the BC community.

Banners & Gift Baskets for Liza & Brittany

From banners signed by hundreds of undergraduates for graduate students they will never meet, to the organization of charity softball tournaments by members of the Law and Business Schools, to donations from faculty for a charity raffle the power of the BC community has not been something that is just spoken of, but has been put into action. Within the Carroll School, members of the various programs – MSA, MSF, Part-Time, Full-Time – along with the faculty have joined together to support our classmates. Whether through cards and words of support, donations, or even through supporting other classmates struggling to understand what has taken place, the sense of being a part of something bigger than yourself has been infused throughout the halls of Fulton Hall and all over the campus as a whole. The week after the bombing was a crazy time for First Year MBAs, with our massive final reports for our consulting projects due and my team was even in the process of preparing to make our final presentation to our client. My team recognized that I needed some extra support and rallied around me to make sure that everything we needed to do to prepare for our presentation was taken care of and ultimately, our presentation went off without a hitch.

My post is titled, “For Here, All Are One,” which has been evident in every action I have experienced after April 16th. We have come together as one – not as one class, or one program, or one school within the university – but as one entity representing the spirit and strength of the Boston College community as a whole. While the last few weeks have been challenging, I have never been more confident that my choice in coming to BC was one of the best decisions I have made in my life.

The Part-Time, Full-Time Decision

By Jaclyn

For some, only one of these options will be a consideration. But for those of you who may be choosing between the two programs for the MBA, read on...

A QUICK SNAPSHOT:

	Full-Time MBA	Evening MBA
Length of Program	2 years	Varies; typically 3-4 years
Credits	56 total	56 total
Number of Students	Approx. 100 students; Split into cohorts of 50 for Year 1	Approx. 100 students; Options for Cohort or Self-Paced
Curriculum Requirements	Core courses +   specialization (6 electives)	Core courses +   concentration (3 electives)
Experiential Learning Components	Year 1: Design Thinking + Consulting Project Year 2: Business Plan Project	Business Development Workshop
Career Strategies	Access to all career services; Summer Internship, and opportunity for academic year	Access to all career services
Other Programs Offered	Access to lectures and events, international opportunities, and off-campus excursions	Access to lectures and events, international opportunities, and off-campus excursions

STUDENT PROFILES:

Meet Benjamin, an Evening Student...

1. Why did you decide to get your MBA?

I decided to get my MBA because I knew based on my career trajectory, I would manage people, operations and processes in a relatively short amount of time. The MBA has provided the theoretical knowledge I needed to thrive in a supervisor position when the opportunity was given to me.

2. Why did you choose the Evening program?

I chose the Evening program because, being that I am career young, I wanted to further my educational development while pursuing my career simultaneously. I knew it would take my 3-4 years to complete the program and in that span I would gain valuable full-time work experience.

3. What do you consider the strengths of the Evening program?

In my opinion, one of the greatest strengths of the Evening program is the opportunity to take theories and put them into practice literally the next day. There have been several times, where I learn a new concept or gain insight about a company's best practices and I can relate the idea to my current job and make suggestions for implementation.

Meet Rachael, a Full-Time Student...

1. Why did you decide to get your MBA?

I chose to get my MBA for several reasons. My previous academic experience is in humanities and prior to attending BC, I worked at an international nonprofit. I was therefore eager to complement my nontraditional background with a rigorous business education. Also, I plan to work in brand management following graduation, so as a career switcher an MBA has given me the practical and theoretical tools needed to thrive in a new industry. Finally, I was eager to be in a classroom of peers and professors with diverse backgrounds. I've learned a tremendous amount from class discussions and case analyses, and now have a strong personal and professional network that will last long after graduation.

2. Why did you choose the Full-Time program?

I was eager to be immersed in the business school experience, and felt that it would be a challenge to fully take advantage of the social and academic aspects of the program if I were also juggling a full-time job.

3. What do you consider the strengths of the Full-Time program?

I feel that the greatest strength of being a full-time MBA is that you are fully immersed in the program, which contributes to a rich and holistic understanding of business. For example, topics I learned in a first quarter strategy course have continued to develop in future classes, and being in the program full-time highlights those connections and helps crate a comprehensive understanding of the enterprise. As full-time students, we are also committed primarily to this program, which fosters a sense of camaraderie that will lead to lifelong friendships.

For more information, please visit:
Full-Time: http://www.bc.edu/content/bc/schools/csom/graduate/mba/fulltime.html
Evening: http://www.bc.edu/content/bc/schools/csom/graduate/mba/evening.html