Why Owen?

(Third in a string of posts answering questions employers, friends and associates have asked me recently about my pursuit of an MBA)

Owen was a perfect fit for me in my search for a MBA business school. Despite being an alumnus from Vanderbilt undergraduate school in 2002, I was drawn to Owen for its Health Care MBA. I was intrigued in the ability to understand all facets of this complex industry from some of the most premier professors in the b-school/health care environment. This past Mod I took Health Care Law and Regulation from US Congressman and Owen Professor Jim Cooper, a key opponent to Clinton's Health Care plan of the 1990s and he was recently asked by the White House, despite being a Democrat, to come advise them individually on the President's proposed health plan. Yet Congressman Cooper is not alone, from Core professors like Michael Lapre (below) to the Dean of Students and Director of the Health Care program Jon Lehman, the professors and staff are truly caring and accommodating to students.

I also found the immersion aspect of the program intriguing, for it afforded tremendous intimate exposure to various facets of the industry, its players and its leaders.

As for Owen itself, I found the small size a benefit. The first year class is only 160 students, significantly smaller than some our b-school rivals. It affords the opportunity to get to know your professors on an individual level, while becoming a true community with your peers. There is little competition amongst students, although most strive for success; this apparent contradiction is due to the tremendous amount of group work that we do within our studies. Business is about people, not only your customers and competitors, but also the people around you. So, learning to work dynamically in a group, with different personalities and skills, is a tremendous asset.

Vanderbilt's local, regional, and national reputation is also a boon. Employers know of Vanderbilt for various reasons: from our stellar finance department to the new health care program. The alumni network also extends all across the country and world, and, because of the smallness of the community, alumni truly strive to assist current students with internships and full-time employment after graduation.

It is because of the Owen community, from administrators, to faculty, to students and alumni, that I believe Owen is unique in the B-school environment. While this blog environment is not intended to be a promotional site of Owen and Vanderbilt, I have honestly found that the school's promotional materials were truthful and couldn't convey properly the true benefits of an Owen education. I might sound like our marketing department, but, while there are some areas that could need some additional attention (as seen in previous posts this past year), the school is truly a spectacular place to learn.