The Most Important Aspect of Your Owen Education

Every single student decides to go to business school for a different reason.  Some go for a career change, some go to advance in their respective careers...some go for a stellar marketing program, and some go for a world-renowned finance faculty.  When I started school at Owen last year around this time, I had my reasons as well.  Regardless of whether or not they were the right reasons for me to pick Owen; they were MY reasons.

After completing my first year at Owen, as well as my summer internship, I came to the conclusion that the most important aspect of one's b-school education is not the faculty; it's not the classes; it's not the career management center.  What is it?  In my mind, it's your network.

This summer, I had the chance to work with other MBA interns from a variety of b-schools ranging from HBS to Stanford, and I can confidently say that most every top b-school teaches the same material. "NPV "is the same whether you go to Wharton or UMiami, and journal entries don't vary from Owen to Stanford. Most every top school has brilliant professors who have PhDs in their respective fields...

Therefore, I believe the connections you make at (and through) your b-school are vital for your personal and professional life after school. Your network can be of great use to you in order to land that dream job or internship, both while you are at school and long after you have graduated. Please use this time you have at Owen wisely; and make friends instead of enemies. Get out of your comfort zone and meet people outside of your study groups, classes, and even your graduating class.

Now, just take a step back and think to yourself why you are REALLY here...