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.

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!
  

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!

MSA/MSF?

by Lynne

If you've read my "About Me", I am sure you are wondering why is a Biology graduate pursuing her MSA/MSF? Why the change?

You are definitely not the first nor the last individual to ask that question. I always excelled in the Sciences throughout high school and figured that a career in the Healthcare industry would provide me with a stable job that will always be in demand around the world (my family is from Brazil and I thought that I might want to live there in the future). I decided to pursue a BS in Biology during my undergraduate career and to look into the various career paths available. During my summers, I worked in research labs and at the end of the second summer, I decided that research was not for me: I was on the wrong side of the Healthcare Industry.

A friend of mine in CSOM suggested that I take a couple business courses to see if they would interest me. With her recommendation I took a course called Persepectives on Management taught by John Clavin and Richard Powers, both graduates of Boston College who have gone on to have very successful careers. This class was a combination of case studies, lectures and a weekly outside speaker (usually a BC alumnus). It provided me with the opportunity to learn about the management of a variety of different industries including not-for-profits, large accounting firms, entrepeneiural ventures, the healthcare industry, etc. The experiences of the our guest speakers really resonated with me. After enjoying and exceeding in this class I went on to take Accounting and Finance courses in CSOM.

With my senior year underway, I decided that I should continue my academic career after graduation. I began looking into Master's degree programs and I was excited to find that Boston College had a MSA/MSF degree that could be tailored to a non-business degree undergraduate. I felt as though the MSA degree would provide me with a strong foundation in the "language of business" and that the MSF degree would allow me to pursue my goal of working on the corporate finance side of a pharmaceutical or healthscience company. December came around, I applied and I was accepted!

With that said and done, its been a crazy 6 months with my May graduation, summer classes and now my fall classes. Luckily, I have managed to meet some great new people in my classes as well as others through the Graduate Management Association (I'm a rep woot woot!)

Decisions, Decisions... Choosing an MBA & Boston College

by Siobhan

Why an MBA? By the time you arrive at b-school, you’ve answered this question hundreds of times. However, by the time you sit down in your first class, the answer you might have given before you took the GMAT, or the answer you gave during your Admissions interview, or the answer you told your uncle over the summer before school started, may be completely different. At least, this was the case for me! For me, the decision to get an MBA can be summed up in one word: change (which is probably why my answer was ever-changing).

Not only had I wanted to change the organizations that I had worked for, but I was ready to experience a change in my role and perhaps even the industry I had worked in over the past 5 years. Most importantly, I was ready to change myself – not in a drastic way – but to change the knowledge and skillset that I hope to bring to my career and to future organizations – whether for-profit or nonprofit – that I will work with down the line. I knew that in order to make these changes, both internally and externally, I needed to go back to school and knew that an MBA would allow me to influence my career and the organizations in which I will work, the most effectively.

But why BC? Deciding to come to Boston College was an easy decision. Obviously, when weighing the various factors that influence your choice of the best b-school for you, there is PLENTY to consider. For me, coming from a more non-traditional background, the two questions that were most important to my decision were:

1) Which program stresses not only gaining the business skills I need to be successful in my career, but focuses on how to be a socially conscious business leader?

You already know the answer to this question, but BC! Unlike many business school programs, BC has a mandatory service requirement for graduation. While any added extracurricular activities tend to make any MBA student a little nervous, having started at BC, I can honestly say that the student body is generally committed to service – and not only committed, but excited to engage with the community. Invest N’ Kids is a program that brings local, at-risk youth to BC for tutoring and mentoring throughout the semester. A number of my classmates immediately jumped at the opportunity to get involved with this opportunity (and by the end of the semester – all of them will have already completed their service requirement!).

I’ve elected to serve in a different capacity, as a Board Fellow with a local nonprofit program, where I hope to fuse my previous experience in the sector, with the new skills that I’ve developed over the first six weeks of business school. I couldn’t be more excited to learn about what nonprofit I will be placed at for the semester and begin the process of supporting my project.

While the service element is a key component of BC’s uniqueness as a b-school, the commitment to producing socially conscious business leaders is integrated throughout our coursework – which was another key element for me. This was something discussed during my interview and again when I visited campus after I was admitted, but I can now say that everything I was told is 100% true. The Carroll School has a set of core values that the faculty and professors stress upon us to follow and uphold. We even had an assignment this quarter to write about our Core Values, forcing all of the First Years to identify what “makes us tick” as ethical individuals both personally and professionally.

2) Which program has the people that are the best for me?

The minute I stepped into the BC Admissions Office, I knew that BC was the right place for me. Greeted by a warm, engaging Admissions team, who were genuinely excited to get to know ME (not a candidate, or an applicant, but ME), I knew that BC was it. This was reinforced by my visit after I was accepted to BC and I had a chance to meet current students, other admitted students, faculty, and professors who stressed one thing: the sense of community. The sense of being a part of such a powerful, committed group of motivated, intelligent, passionate individuals exuded from every member of the BC community that I met with on campus. For me, I needed to be a part of an MBA program that promoted this inclusive network. As soon as I arrived, I knew that I belonged. After being at BC for six weeks, I can say that I made the best decision for me. I have classmates willing to set aside time to help me understand the accounting or statistics homework that I might be struggling with or read the paper that I want to make sure is grammatically correct. The community is here to support its members to ensure the success of the group, versus the success of the individual.

No matter what, any MBA program give you the business toolkit that you need to succeed. However, it’s critical to identify what type of program will allow you to thrive.