First off, the Eagles won. Second, I still had a few prospective students show up at the Philadelphia-area coffee break despite the fact that the football game of the year was on.
Since the football game is a great excuse for not showing, and because some prospective students may not have a chance to stop by a coffee break, I thought I’d share some of the great questions that were asked (and my answers). At the end of the day, you can use the glossy brochures to make your BSchool decision, or you can talk to students, visit the campuses and get the real skinny on where you may be spending your next two years.
1) How early do Owen students start searching for internships and does everyone get one?
From what I know, we have had 100% internship placement for every student who was searching (some go back to family businesses or their former companies over the summer) for the past several years. You’ll start searching and get help from our CMC almost immediately. You’ll have your first CMC session during orientation and take a career class in your first two mods. The help is there, and it comes early.
2) Is the curriculum really diverse and as experiential as I have been told?
Absolutely. We’re case based and lecture in some classes, but there are other classes that are experience based (you work with actual clients) and a number of project-for-credit opportunities every mod. In my year and a half at Owen, I have worked on a project for a sports complex (NASCAR), the Nashville fairgrounds, and a large consulting firm. I have friends working on a product innovation project right now for Griffin (they make Ipod accessories) and I’ve heard from amazing in-class, live case examples including F500 companies, fast growing businesses. I even heard from a former Forbes reporter who helped crack a business book scandal for a large company and a business owner who was managing campaign advertising for over 50 races during this past election cycle. I can’t imagine it being any more diverse.
3) What’s Nashville really like?
A self-defined city girl, I was worried that I wouldn’t like Nashville. And while there are some things that I miss about being an urban dweller (how can I make all of Nashville drive faster?), Nashville in and of itself is a growing metropolis. You can find every type of music here and every type of bar and restaurant. I’ve even found really good sushi. While you will drive everywhere (public transportation isn’t very popular), you can actually find parking and don’t have to worry about feeding the meter (in most cases) or moving your car for street cleaning once a week (popular NYC and DC gripes). The pace is slower, but the weather is great and I term Nashville a pleasant residential surprise.
4) What sets Owen apart?
There are a ton of reasons that, in my mind, set Owen apart from other schools. For one, we’re on the mod system (4 quarters a year) and our students begin taking electives in their first year. It’s great to tell a internship recruiter that you’ve gone past the core and are already diving into your speciality area. Students here are also humble, honest and upfront. We don’t walk around bragging about grades or great jobs. Instead we use our experience to help our fellow students.
5) What does Owen look for in your application?
The honest truth here is that I don’t know for sure–I don’t work in admissions and I am not a part of the decision process. But what I can tell you, and this is true for all schools, is that you have to tell your story honestly and specifically. Make it easy for Owen to understand why you’re at this juncture in your career and why business school is the impetus for moving forward. Be sure to differentiate how and why you’re different, and what in your background makes you unique. No one has the perfect GPA, GMAT and career path so be honest about your record of achievement and clearly define “why Owen?”
If you have any more questions, post them in the comments section and I’ll continue to answer as many as I can, completely honestly.
Loading ...