OwenBloggers | Ask An OwenBlogger

What is Owen's PhD program like and how hard is it to get in?

From Shawn Mobbs, Finance PhD Candidate:

One of the benefits to the PhD program here at Owen is the small size. Even though the program may be growing in the future, it is still relatively small. The downside of a small program is that it probably tougher to get accepted. However, the small size means you get more quality time with faculty and individualized attention earlier in the program.

Also, since most of your fist year courses are Econ PhD courses you will have plenty of peers in all of your classes (a lot of econ students also take finance classes). I am just about to complete my program and I have to say that it has been a very challenging 5 years, but it has been a great experience and I am excited about how the program here at Owen has prepared me for a career in academic research.

Technorati Tags: Finance PhD, Owen Graduate School of Management, Owen PhD, Vanderbilt PhD

Can a long distance relationship work in business school?

From Colleen:

So, should you relocate to Owen for your MBA and leave your Sig-O behind? Ideally, the best program for you would be in the city your Sig-O was in, or they would be willing to relocate to Nashville for two years as you go to Owen. Unfortunately, life doesn't always work out that way. So, is a long-distance relationship possible? Of course, but it all depends on what you put into it.

For the first 3 mods of b-school, it will probably be pretty tough. Most weekends you will need to be here or working on your job search. If your sig-o has a more flexible schedule they should be prepared to be doing most of the travelling for the first part of b-school. If this is going to be a huge problem, well...that doesn't bode well. But if you both are comitted to the relationship and don't have to see each other a certain amount of times per month or what have you, then go for it. Plus, Nashville is a Southwest city so depending on where you are coming from it won't be that expensive.

Will you miss out on some of b-school? Of course. There will be weekends you'll be away with your Sig-O, or weekends they visit where you focus mainly on spending time together. There will be times where you won't go out or attend an event due to the time you have to make for them over the phone or on the computer. But when I was writing this I got to thinking of all the long-distance relationships I know here - and it's quite a few. One student just got engaged to her long-distance boyfriend, another got married to her long-distance finacee, two professors have both been in long-distance marriages for years at a time. One second year got engaged to her boyfriend who is serving in Iraq and another is marrying her long-distance fiancee the fall after she graduates. The list goes on - what I'm trying to say is: it's possible.

Of course, a few come to mind that didn't work out - so do a few relationships that people have had with a sig-O that has come to Nashville with them. All in all, b-school can be taxing on a relationship. But with good communication, understanding and a committment to the end goal, you can get a great education, a wonderful experience and keep up your relationship. Good luck!

To Read More Posts From Colleen - Click Here

Technorati Tags: business school, long distance relationships, Sig-O, surviving business school

How did you feel when you received the admission decision from Vanderbilt-Owen and how has life there added to your personalities thereafter?

Here is another great question from a prospective MBA student:

Hi Owenbloggers,

I am from India, an applicant to the Full-Time MBA Program at Owen school.

I would like to share a very funny incident that happened with me last night. I had a dream, and what a sweet dream it was!!! Right in front of my eyes, there sat a mail in my mailbox, containing the golden words 'Vanderbilt Owen: Accepted'. My excitement was so intense that I woke up from my sleep, still unable to comprehend whether I was actually dreaming or not. I quickly signed into my mailbox just to be disappointed. If a mail containing an invitation can cause heartbreak, imagine what this would have done to me.

I want to take this opportunity to ask the alumni and current students at Owen school, how they felt when they received the admission decision from the University and how has life at Owen added to your personalities thereafter?

I wish GOOD LUCK to all the applicants to Fall 08 batch.

Thanking You,
MBA Applicant - India

Response From Matt: The most excited I couldn't be

In response to an inquiry from India, I wanted to relate the story of when I received my notification from Owen that I had been admitted.

My situation is one that I thought was unique before I got here, but later discovered to be quite common. I did not like my boss. Even now, I am hesitant to disclose my real feelings, but I think it's safe to say that if my boss was not that interested in how I felt when I sat ten feet away from him, he probably won't be checking up on this blog, which he doesn't even know exists. Anyway, I digress. I "didn't get along with" my boss. (Feel free to insert your preferred euphemism in the quotes.)

Much like our anxious applicant I imagine, I was checking my personal email almost twice a minute in the days leading up to the decision deadline. I received mine at work, while I was busy with some other projects. I managed to excuse myself and read the email in private. It's been a while, and in the time since I have received that notice I've been distracted with numerous other projects. But as best I can remember, I was so excited that I squeezed my eyes shut. In my head I was imagining what curse words I would use while I dramatically stormed out of the office. In reality, I sat back down at my desk and tried to wait until the end of the work day to get a well-deserved beer.

I think my story highlights an important aspect of business school, and even business in general. There will be many times that your own aspirations will not coincide with the aspirations of your employer. You must strike a very delicate balance between the two in order to make a self-interested transition like leaving work to go to business school. There is no better example of this than having a supervisor, who relies on your contributions, write the letter that will facilitate your departure. I found that the best way to bridge the gap is with with honesty, and assurances that as you manage your departure for better opportunities, you will not abandon your current duties. I even drew out a timeline that mapped my life through my expected departure date.

There's no right way to leave a company, but there is definitely a wrong way. In an ideal world, you leave a company with a strong network of colleagues intact who are delighted that you are moving on to such an opportunity as business school--but that's just one example. Depending on the company, there are any number of other intangible assets you can take with you as you leave. The key part is that you avoid burning bridges and wasting all of those assets you could have carried with you to school.

I wish you the best of luck in the next few days. Business school will open many doors for you when you get here. Just remember not to slam the doors behind you before you arrive.

To Read More Posts By Matt - Click Here

Technorati Tags: MBA, Owen Graduate School of Management, mba application, Vanderbilt University

Do you have any advice to calm the nerves of an expectant applicant?

We recently received the following question that we think we should share:

Dear Owenbloggers,

As a perspective Owen member myself, I enjoy reading your site and look forward to hopefully joining your ranks.

I have a topic of comical concern that Owens needs to address. Students that have turned in their applications and are awaiting a response remain on the Owen recruiting mailing list. I'm down to six days before the decision due date. I'm to the point where I check my email every 15 minutes. My trained eyes are awaiting the subject line "Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management." Every 15 minutes I scan email headings from kings of Zimbabwe wishing to give me millions, starving artists needing a bank account in the US to stash some cash and lotteries that I've won without even choosing numbers desperately looking for the one email with the details of the next two years of my life. Yesterday it came.

My heart skipped a beat as a stared at it. What will it say? Will I go or will I wait to hear from other universities? Should I call my wife? With fear, excitement and hesitation I click the email. Guess what?! I'm invited to Discover Weekend in February!

It's cruel and unusual punishment. As a person living on American soil, I'm protected against that!

So, I write to you. Do you have any advice to calm the nerves of an expectant applicant?

Sincerely,
Anxious

Dear Anxious,

First off - BREATHE!

Think about it: you've come an awful long way so far. You've braved the the GMAT, the interview and even that frightful moment when you click "submit" on the online application. For that, you should already congratulate yourself. If you haven't gone out to celebrate that, you should!

That being said, waiting for anything is never easy. Keep in mind that the Owen application process is like any other. In fact, from what we hear, there are a lot more of you that want to become a part of the Owen community...I mean A LOT more. That means that if things go a little slower this year, it's because the admissions team is making sure they give everyone due consideration.

Finally, the application and admissions process is only only step on a very long road to your MBA. You've still got the summer, orientation, your first MOD, your first grad school hangover...we mean exams, not to mention your internship and job hunt. Trust us when we tell you that there will be plenty of time for worrying later.

For now, enjoy your time, stop checking your e-mail compulsively and if you are really still that eager to filter out the e-mails, set your e-mail program to only alert you to the one with the subject heading "Your Application Status." That's the one you're looking for.

Best Wishes & Good Luck!
The OwenBloggers

Technorati Tags: ask an owenblogger, business school admissions, emails, NYRA, Owen Graduate School of Management, OwenBloggers, puppy, Vanderbilt University

What's the most fun you've had at Owen?

From Sam:

What's the most fun you've had at Owen?

That would have to be the night after our last final, Mod I.  We started drinking around 4pm.  Some people, I'm told, made it until daybreak.  Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective), I was not one of those people.  Unfortunately, I fell squarely into the category of people who made it until 9pm ... and then stumbled home and poured themselves into bed.

Come to think of it, I might be the only person in that category ...

Nonetheless, it was nice, after a long week of studying after a long Mod of studying, to go somewhere not inside the 4 walls of Owen and see ... all of the exact same people.  The upside is that I got to see them in a completely different context - rather than at school, running from class to class, we got to sit, talk, have a Jeagerbomb or 3, and unwind.

I've already blogged about the experience - just follow the link above.  Incidentally, although the cat still responds to his new name, he hasn't yet forgiven me for it.

Back to finance ...

To Read More Of Sam's Blogs Click Here

What are some lessons you learned over your first year of business school?

From Sharran:

Some lessons looking back over the last 4 Mods...

1. Without a dependable study group, I would have probably quit in October
2. The only way I got through Mods 1 and 2 was staying two weeks ahead of the class in terms of reading and assignments (wherever possible)
3. I am so thankful that my class schedule allowed for flexibility during Mod 3 because I spent the entire 7 weeks on career management. If you know which Mod is going to be loaded with internship search, weight your classes accordingly
4. Decide what you want your transcript to look like... if you know that you are going into a field that is not going to scrutinize your GPA, don't sweat it... work for the B. My point - if you know you want a vowel-based transcript, say "yes" to school work and "no" to the extra-curricular stuff... because its hard to juggle them all AND do them well... and worst of all it will kill you. I speak from experience.
5. Force yourself to get six hours of sleep... the super-human spirit at school carries over into our personal lives and sleep deprivation is not cool. If you get at least six hours of sleep a night, you will do amazingly well at bskool.
6. Do not ever eat Pizza... in fact, give up pizza for the two years you are here.
7. Take 1 day off a week. Block off your schedule. Don't care about what people say. It is your day. Do whatever you want. Study. Sleep. Whatever. But don't schedule anything for that day. Let your body, mind, and spirit get rejuvenated.
8. Take full responsibility for your internship search. Put the CMC, your peers, and your contacts in a position to help you. Work on your career from Day 1... think of it as a project that does not end until you get that internship offer. This means that if you don't know what to do when you grow up, please don't try to figure it out on your own... please, please, please get help.
9. Go out with the Owen gang. You don't have to drink... just go out. Amazing friendships are built at the local watering holes... and 10 years down the road the beer you bought me might come back to you 10,000-fold :)
10. Optional reading is exactly that... optional. Don't be an overachiever and try to read everything... you cannot. I thought I could - but I could not. Dude, there is no way you can do the optional readings in addition to everything else that you have going on. (Maybe if you are super interested in the subject matter, once in a while it might be worth it)

To Read More Blogs By Sharran - Click Here

What do you wish you had known before your first year of business school?

From Sharran:

1 year down. I am spent. But I feel awesome.

This past year has been filled with all kinds of joy and junk. I have learned more in this past year than I have during any other period in my life. For all of you getting ready to come to Owen or go to business school elsewhere, here are a few things I wish I had known before I came to business school:

1. Everyone gets through business school... how you get through is what is left to be decided. Right from the first day you have to make choices... and the more things you say "yes" to the more things you will have to say "no" to. For example, if you say "yes" to a full range of extra-curricular activities, your grades will probably suffer. My point: have a rough sense of what you want out of your business school experience. This will act as a filter and allow you to make choices that are right for you.

2. Extra-curricular activities are not like the ones that you did in undergrad. These are a lot more involved and demanding, and you cant get away doing a poor job. Well you could, you would just let down a lot of people and that is no fun. So add things to your plate carefully.

3. Study your brains out. Ask for help. Find people with like-minded goals and from a study group to keep you in line. Study your brains out. Ask for help. Did you hear me? Study your brains out.

4. You don't have to party hard, but show up for social gatherings. I would recommend that you show up for every social gathering, even if it is just for a part of the time. Nobody is going to force you to drink, hang out with a Sprite and get to know your school mates. And there is absolutely no freaking excuse for you to EVER miss a social gathering at school... remember, at least show up.

5. Be selfless. Everyone is at school to move forward in their lives, its just not you. The best thing that you can do is always be available and accessible to help anyone that you can in anyway that you can. Don't hold back your answers to the Stats homework. Share your contacts with your classmates. Show up at their parties. Don't be selfish, everything will come back full-circle.

Oh, and everyone is going to be stressed... so smile.

To Read More Blogs By Sharran - Click Here

What should I learn before business school?

From Sharran:

One of the most valuable skills that you can develop before/through business school is the ability to speed read. By this I don't mean that you have to read War and Peace in one afternoon, but to have the ability to rapidly scan through a conceptually dense document and quickly grasp the big picture will do wonders for you.

Business School does a good job of giving you relevant material to read... you will never find professors just assigning chapters of textbooks for you to read. A typical reading assignment out of a text book will look like:

Chapter 2: Read pp. 14-17, skim 17-25, read case on 26.

So if you were half-way smart, you would understand that you need to pay specific attention to the just three pages and skim the rest/look at the pictures, whatever.

There is no shortage of information for someone interested in working in the financial world. This summer, I have been reading everything from technical manuals on the Volatility of Options to Freakonomics, and I can see my speed and comprehension improve everyday. By the end of the summer I am confident that I will have read/skimmed at least 15-20 of the business best-sellers.

So a few pieces of advice, especially if you are an incoming MBA student:

1. Take a speed reading class if possible, I can guarantee that it will be worth every penny
2. Start reading "technical" stuff outside your area of expertise, especially if you have an engineering background (yes, engineers don't read much).
3. Pick a newspaper and read it everyday, skim another (to work on your skimming)
4. Read before you go to bed; even if it is a few pages
5. Read digg.com

Learn to use a highlighter. I will write about the Four Wise Men Highlighting strategy sometime, because that's definitely the rhythm of the samba...

To Read More Blogs By Sharran - Click Here

What made you pick Owen?

From Sam:

I should preface by saying that I have had what most would call a non-traditional path to my MBA. Basically that means that I wasn't an investment banker, a consultant, or an IT guy. As a matter of fact, what I was could not have been further from that reality if I had been, well, on a reality show.

I had spent the better part of the past 10 years as a science geek. After finishing my undergrad, I spent a few years working in basic science research labs. I liked it so much that I decided to go to graduate school in biomedical science at Baylor College of Medicine, which is in the lovely city of Houston, TX. A short 6 years later I finally got around to defending my thesis and left Houston with a Ph.D. in hand. Two years later, after completing a postdoctoral fellowship (at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center), I decided that I loved science so much that I would do something completely different.

And thus the Owen dream was born.

Why did I choose Owen? Actually, I chose Owen for a few very simple reasons.

The Healthcare program

Given my background in basic science, it seemed only logical to me to combine my past science experience with a little bit of business training and try to leverage those things against future employment. I had talked to a few people, each and every one of which said that I should look into the Healthcare MBA program (which is actually a Healthcare specialization on top of a "normal" Vanderbilt MBA ... more on that in a future post). A few emails later I was having coffee with Jon Lehman (current Dean of Students, former Dean of the Healthcare program) to discuss it further. The rest, as they say, is history.

The Vanderbilt name

As you might have noticed, I have a bit of history with this place. I did my undergrad here, I did my fellowship here, and now I'm doing my MBA here. Obviously I think there's something to the Vanderbilt name. So much so that I chose it over one or two other fine institutions. (I don't know, however, if I'm a "Double Dore" or a "Triple Dore").

Nashville

I am and always have been a huge fan of Nashville. There's an incredible amount of things to do - outdoor type stuff (hiking, biking, etc), great music (both country and real music), good restaurants, major league sports, and all the other things people mention when they talk about how many great things there are to do in a city. Plus, the summers aren't really all that hot and the winters aren't really all that cold. Oh, and there's a really cool bar only 384 feet from the front door of the school.

Personal reasons

As is increasingly common in this day and age, I come as part of a matched set. My blushing bride to be (103 days and counting) is working on her Ph.D. at the Vanderbilt Medical Center (by the time we're done, we'll have 2 undergraduate degrees encompassing 4 majors and a minor, 2 PhD's, and 1 MBA hanging on the wall ... not to mention a whole boatload of debt following us around). I had offers to go other places, but taken in conjunction with #1-3 above, it made the most sense to stay in Nashville.

So there you have it, Sam's Top 4 Reasons to attend the Owen School. I'm sure everyone has different reasons. I urge you to ask the other bloggers on this site (you can get to their blogs through our main page), either by posting comments or using the "Email Me" link located in the left column of each person's blog.

Oh, and in case you're worried about bothing us, I'll tell you that we're all pretty geeky (some more than others) and spend entirely too much time with our heads in the email client - one more isn't going to put us over the edge.

To Read More Of Sam's Blogs Click Here

What are three things about the application process you wish you knew when you were going through the process?

From Sam:

Boy meets girl.
Boy gets girl.
Boy loses girl.
Boy gets girl back.

Anyone whose seen even a few movies knows that there are only so many different variations on the theme. The differences come in how you dress it up and the details with which you concern yourself. But at the end of the day it doesn't really matter how many little details you change, the underlying story arc is the same.

While it seems like a hundred million years ago, at approximately this time last year the application process was in full swing for most of us here at OwenBloggers.com (Nat, Susan, Sun, and Hwee - better known as our Second Year Contingent - were going through this process a year before that).

I know other members of OwenBloggers.com have written extensively about the relationship between your personal story leading up to business school and the application process. Sharran and Asif in particular have a couple of nice posts that discuss this very topic (here, here, and here). Rather than repaint the picture they've so nicely drawn, I'll focus here on this other aspect of your story arc - connecting what was before to what will be after through what is now.

Thinking back, I think the one thing I would liked to have understood better is how my personal story arc ties all the elements of business school together - from applications to admissions, through classes and the job search, and ultimately ending with a life and a career. At the time I thought I had a fairly clear understanding of, as Professor Froeb likes to say, "Where we've been, where we're going, and how we're going to get there." Coming from a background in science, I thought what I wanted to do could be found at the intersection of marketing and biotechnology.

Once I got to school, however, I found myself presented with a multitude of bright and shiny objects that did exactly as they intended - they lured me from the Yellow Brick Road into the Forbidden Forest (its entirely possible that I'm mixing my metaphorical references, but you get the idea, I hope).

Don't get me wrong - a healthy dose of self-aware contemplation and introspection is not only good, but its good for you. But the time allotted for these considerations is not long. Furthermore, its dropped squarely into Mod I, a time better known for driving you to the intersection of ADD and GTD.

More to the point, things I think every application should take the time to think about include:

Work backwards

• What job do you want to have after school?
• How does your prior experience relate to where you want to be?
• What do you need to do between now and then?
• Keep your eye on the ball
• Information sessions are fun and exciting, but its easy to get caught up in that excitement and try to go to as many as you can possibly fit into your schedule.
• Don't do this - you'll get burnt out ... quickly ...
• Pick and choose the information session you want to attend. Again, focus on where you want to be in 2 years.

Admit your deficiencies

• When it comes to the application, there's a not-so-very fine line between presenting yourself in the best possible light and outright lying.
• Its better to skimp on the former than risk the possibility of the latter.
• Recruiters - ours, others, whatever - can smell the BS a mile away. They've done this long before you decided to apply to business school and they'll be doing it long after you graduate. Also, they're a lot of things, but stupid isn't one of them.
• Admitting your faults gives you an amount of credibility when you say "I fell like I'm really good at this."
• Think of it this way - if you're perfect, why do you need to go back to school?

To Read More Of Sam's Blogs Click Here