It's exactly 3 months until graduation and I can't believe how quickly time has passed. I began to think back on how and why I started this MBA journey. It started back in 2004 when I had a conversation with a fellow UT alum. He told me he was starting MBA school in the fall and how exciting it was going to be. At that time, I had dreams of going to MBA school but figure it was either too expensive or too time consuming. From that conversation, I realize my dream was possible and not hard to reach, but it would take self discipline and work. Self discipline came in when studying for the GMAT. Hard work came in when looking for the "right" MBA program. Why is it hard work? There are hundreds of MBA programs out there. How does one know which one is the "right" one? This is a challenging question but my advice is to talk to as many current MBA students as possible (especially at the schools you are interested in).
It's really easy to get sucked into the Business Week or Wall Street Journal rankings. The truth is the rankings really don't mean much. I know its hard to believe that when someone from a top ranked school says that, but my MBA experience has shown me anyone who invests time and work will eventually get what they want out of their MBA experience. Yes, some recruiters may recruit at certain schools but even then I know plenty of students that have found internships and jobs from top notch companies that never been to Tepper.
Try to figure out what b-school characteristics are important to you and which one really matters. For myself, it was important to be part of a school that really takes pride in its program and genuinely cares about the student's needs. I made my final decision when I visited Tepper during Welcome Weekend and interacted with the students. Not all b-schools are made equally, but why should they be when you have thousands of individuals with different needs and goals. Two years later with graduation right around the corner, I'm still proud and ecstatic to be part of this school.
