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(4.5) |
Like many of you reading this review, I had quite a lot of anxiety before embarking on the journey at one of the top business schools in the US. Having lived and worked in India, I was concerned about the cultural assimilation, going back to education after 8 years and capturing success in a new country. Everyday my mind battling the questions like you are probably right now- Will I be able to adjust in the social fabric of a new country?, How will my wife and I align our careers in the US when we are faced with so much uncertainty to start with, Is a $175K overall investment going to give me the ROI?
As as I write this review sitting in the living room of my Washington DC apartment overlooking the Potomac river, I walk down the memory lane reliving my fondest memories. Right from the day I stepped foot onto that Turkish Airways airplane from the Mumbai airport to this day, the journey has been exhilarating.
The credit goes to a welcoming, well designed and a truly global MBA program at McDonough. Coming to the program I had 3 expectations from the school and myself . First, get a job in a Leadership Develop Program (LDP) or a Consulting role. Second, get an opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the brightest minds and third,learn what it takes lead and work in a multi-cultural climate.
1) Getting a Job: As you already know, getting a job in the US for an international student is hard but not impossible. I was a total disaster during in internship recruiting which starts in a month's time after you step foot on campus. I was fortunate to have interviews from some of the top tech firms, consulting companies, airlines and other industries. Unfortunately I couldn't convert any. I didn't have an internship offer until the last day of the first-year of my MBA (May of 2019). I stayed put and kept my networking game and interview prep ON. I finally landed a respectably paying MBA internship in one of the most science driven Pharma companies in New York. While the role wasn't what I would have died to work for, It helped me to train myself to work in a multi-cultural environment in America. I felt much better prepared for full time recruiting just with that internship. When I came back to campus for my 2nd year of MBA, right from day 1 I worked VERY hard to prepare for interviews. My hard work paid off and I thank God that I landed 2 offers - one from a Big Tech and other from a Big 4 Consulting firm. My first expectation was met and I credit McDonough for laying out the platform for me to get ready for it.
2) An opportunity to rub shoulders with bright minds: I was amazed to have classmates from all walks of life - US Government, military who served in Afghanistan, Technology, Investment banking, Engineering, Non-profits, etc. You name it and we had people from the sector. For the first time in my life I got to work on teams with Asians, Americans, LGBTQ+ community, etc. It was a steep learning curve. I made mistakes but I failed fast and learned quickly. I had a valuable opportunity to work consult a multi national oil exploration company in Ghana on a semester long capstone assignment. I traveled with my team to Accra for a week to do the field work and meet the client.
3) Third, learning what it takes to become a global leader in a multi-cultural climate: US business schools empower you to chart your own path- You can lead clubs, become a student ambassador, participate in paid Inter-school case competitions forming your own teams, Network with alumni , Organize events, Make decisions on social events, Manage a $500K fund to learn money management, etc. In my two years at McDonough, I made most of this culture of empowerment which I am grateful for. I was on board of Consulting clubs where I interacted with high achieving classmates, I participated in case competitions across the country to bring home cash prizes (My Blog- https://medium.com/@kavish2000/business-school-an-unforgettable-journey-of-experiences-def6e869bd0a ) and became a Leadership Fellow at school (Read my blog here- https://medium.com/@kavish2000/mba-has-been-a-leadership-development-crusade-for-me-4741ac5c9148?source=friends_link&sk=cf040fafa5f05ab19950fa16c9c15406 )
My expectations got met and exceeded in some cases on these three fronts. I can confidently say that I am a transformed person personally and professionally from what I was 2 years ago. That, I believe, is the biggest gift of attending a top notch business school.
Suggestions for future applicants:
1) Recruiting: This is probably the first thing on most applicants' mind. Getting a job in the US (esp, with the current administration's protectionist policies) for an international student is hard. Every year there are internationals who succeed and others who don't. That's true not just for McDonough but most top schools. While the career center is supportive, do not rely on it as a ONE STOP shop for the culmination of your career search. Certain roles are hard to succeed at for Internationals- Federal consulting, Marketing/Branding, Wealth management, etc. Be mindful of that before taking the plunge. Look outside and learn the tricks of networking with alumni early on. I found my internship only because I networked well. Additionally, your ability to articulate well and have an executive presence is the single biggest driver of recruiting success.
2) Be prepared to slog it out: Recruiting is a different ballgame in the US. You have to slog and give your best and leave the rest to the fate- Case prep, Mock Interviews, Networking, etc.
3) Cherish the journey: Might sound cliche but I will still say this. No matter where you end up you must know that the experience will transform you in ways you do not realize. The transformation will be permanent and the core principles will stay with you forever.
4) Talk to an existing student AND alumnus at Length before making the decision
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The MBA program at Georgetown McDonough should be judged not only on the ranking of the program, but in the additional name recognition that comes from being tied to Georgetown University. The Georgetown name is known worldwide, and I have been stopped in multiple countries overseas by alumni when I'm wearing school hats or t-shirts.
The program itself is comprehensive, as you'd expect from a school at this level. The Global experience is not to be missed - in your second year, you consult with a company overseas and then fly and present your findings in-person in your final semester. This final travel with your classmates is a great opportunity to solidify those lifelong friendships you've created.
99% of the faculty are great, there are a few that aren't as much but you'll find out who they are pretty quickly. They keep classes small enough to encourage interaction, and the overall class size of 250/year keeps the alumni network large enough, but class sizes small enough.
The school has made great strides in job placement, and has some strong connections beyond the traditional consulting/marketing/finance tracks - specifically, entrepreneurship, nonprofit, and government work. Keep in mind that job placement, like any school, will still be largely up to you. The career center can provide connections and support, but at the end of the day it's just one tool in your toolbox - which should also include connections you develop on your own, connections from undergrad, and connections through your classmates.
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McDonough provided the tools I needed to achieve my career aspirations. The location of the school provides ample opportunity to work with international organizations. The practicing professors that are brought in are also incredible - some really heavy hitters including David Roux (Private Equity)
For a career search, some legwork and networking will need to be done on your own. The Georgetown brand does carry a lot of weight, but do not rely purely on career services to achieve your aspirations - you must include personal initiative as well. You can land a job at almost any firm from McDonough, but many of the top firms will need to be pursued outside of official avenues. For consulting, the Big 4 come on campus as does Bain (plus lots of smaller firms).
Professors are fantastic. Many are still practicing and are titans of their industry. (I.E. David Roux)
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Georgetown MSB was a great experience for me. As a career switcher I thought the school did a great job of providing me with all the necessary information and opportunities to explore different career paths. The classes were all helpful, for the most part, and the student body was active and engaged.
The Career Services department was excellent and were actively engaged in helping you find a job. Through the school we had access to most major employers in the finance and consulting fields and a fairly strong alumni network to rely on.
There was a wide variety of electives to choose from and the core classes were challenging and manageable. Georgetown requires a global business consulting project in the second year that requires you to travel to a foreign country for a week. The projects you got to work on were interesting and it was a great experience overall.
Being a dual degree with the law school I can say that the business school goes above and beyond to care for its students.
For future applicants I would suggest stressing your ability to contribute to a global mindset as it is highly valued by the admissions team.
Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
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While I initially had trouble selecting a bschool to enroll in, I eventually chose Georgetown after visiting the campus, and in retrospect, I have no regrets. McDonough students are one of the friendliest and collaborative in the bschool realm, as well as diverse and intelligent. Even though McDonough emphasized academics and it often seemed career development wasn't as high a priority, it made me feel prepared for my interviews and post-MBA job. DC is a nice city to live in, metropolitan without being too hectic. Georgetown itself boasts a beautiful campus within walking distance of the city's prime shopping district. All-in-all, McDonough has been a fun and rewarding experience.
Overall BSchool experience (4.0)
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There are so many student clubs, including career clubs and social clubs. Students can find their own interests and inclusion.
The curriculum is pretty intense, the opening term has two courses to offer. It is the best way to get adapted to MBA studying in fall semester.
Steers Real Estate Center is super resourceful for students like me who have real estate focus on post-MBA career. There are many real estate courses such as real estate private equity, real estate public equity and real estate public debt. And workshop Real Estate Clinic is very practical and helpful. Student can devote to Real Estate Clinic, underwrite live deals and real transactions for real estate investment companies.
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Classes are engaging, students are motivated yet down to earth, and career opportunities are abundant. MSB really provides the foundation to be successful in the professional world and helps you build a strong network of peers to support you as you continue to progress. Although there is a heavy presence of DC-based firms on campus, the Georgetown brand name is nationally recognized, which gives students an advantage when applying to jobs outside of the career center. The career center is constantly increasing presence of companies on campus and providing numerous opportunities to find placement in the ideal job upon completion of the program.
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Great solid school overall.
Perfect for applicants who are following traditional post MBA paths in consulting, Finance, General management and Marketing. Location also clearly helps with govt and non profit jobs.
Opportunities are slightly less numerous in the less traditional pths such as Tech, Real Estate, Media, Auto, etc... but coaches in the career center are really helpful.
I loved my coach - he clearly helped me in landing a great strategy internship in tech in San Francisco at a top tech firm.
Culture is great and collaborative. Very healthy competition.
Great diversity with 40%+ internationals students (I am an international student myself).
FYI, DC is great and changing rapidly. Quality of life in DC is extremely high.
Overall BSchool experience (4.0)
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While consistently ranked as a top 25 MBA program, MSB is truly a "hidden" gem relative to the rest of the top 25. All the resources are there for students to pursue whatever career path they desire - it's up to the students to put in the effort. Nothing is handed to you but everything and anything is possible with a MSB degree.
Biggest pain point is with scholarship funding. The endowment size is small relative to peer institutions. Dean Thomas is well aware of the funding needs and I hope he's able to drive results.
Note: IB recruiting is absolutely the game changer for Gtown. They compete at top 10-15 level for MBA hiring.
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" The moment I saw the mail from my dream university, welcoming me to their MBA program, I was so happy and on cloud nine. I lived the time of my life for the rest of my days in India before I flew to US. I was doing nothing stressful, enjoying all day, meeting friends and partying. I was happy that all my effort and struggle for the past 2 years , finally came good and I was as excited as ever to live my dream of MBA in a top school. I received a surprise gift of USD 50,000 from the university to fund my tuition to double my Joy. The day finally came and I got the best sendoff possible with my loving family and caring friends , all coming to the airport to say bye and wish me the best. I am generally an emotional idiot and would cry a lot for missing anything I like, but the euphoria of being able to realize my dream and the perception that I can come back whenever I want, made me leave as if I am going on a holiday. I never knew that I cannot meet any one of them at least for the next year or so :-(.
I had a good flight. I was travelling alone and during the flight, all my life till date flashed in my head. I had 100 questions running in my brain. Is it true am on the flight? Am I still dreaming? what if I did not apply to this school? can I survive in US? Did I made a mistake to not take the safer option? I kept on thinking and before I realized , I reached my destination. My cousin came to welcome me. Few hours after reaching his house, I started feeling that I am very very very far from my home and I started to miss it. My first tears in US rolled down my cheeks and I checked the price for a return flight. I felt like I am behaving like a 5 year old kid and calmed myself. In a few days I started enjoying my time. My best friends are around and I had a very good time with my cousins and friends.I spent two weeks in New Jersey and then left to Washington DC for my school. I felt sad,anxious, nervous , what not as I will have to live in a new place with people I never met.
I had a few days to adjust before my school starts. Luckily I have good roommates and it helped to settle down. I went to the school to complete some documentation and the moment I entered the school , I fell in love with it. I was soo excited to go to school on the first day , only to realize how strenuous and exhausting it is to be in the business school. I had a extremely demanding, horrible, terrible first week at school , which is just the orientation. I was happy that the Orientation is completed but I never know that what was to come is thousand times worse. The pre term or famously called hell at Georgetown started and we had a intense intense 3 weeks, full of classes and meetings. I was under a lot of stress to stay on level with the class. Everything in life seemed to be a fight. To cook and eat, to find some sleep, to study , everything seemed like one. I struggled a lot but at the same time enjoyed the challenge. I got the best possible study team with 4 awesome Americans and an equally awesome Zimbabwean and by the end of the term I had mixed feelings. I was happy that the term is over and sad at the same time that I will miss my team. Finally my MBA started officially...
The Euphoria ended. I sit in a class where people are from all parts of the world. I enjoy the mix and diversity but at times when I feel like sitting next to an Indian, I hardly find one. The feeling of missing home, friends, food and life back at home started to get to me. I started missing India each day and feeling like flying back home. I be with all kinds of people , I like some and frankly I hate some. Even with people I like a lot, people who are so good, I find it tough to be , because of the difference in age and thinking. Being so young, I have completely different view of taking things and I started to find it difficult to be with people even with those whom I like. I do not drink , I do follow a lot of religious practices that stop me from eating meat at times. As a result I do not find fun in parties. Every week its a fight between my resilience and my necessity to live the american life.Every simple thing seems so tough and it adds up to the frustration. I always thought MBA in US to be completely different from MBA in India in terms of the rat race for grades. I thought of taking time and learning something without the pressure of grades but surprisingly its the same situation here and the relative grading makes it even worse. I love the challenge but all other factors that pull me down , do not let me do my best. It took me a good part of 2 months to get used to this and now I enjoy it.
The professors are really good. Especially the finance and strategy professors run the experience of how your MBA will feel like.
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Thank you for sharing your experience KM. All the best for future.
Thank you for sharing your experience kavish