MBA or bust.

Cold calls always make me nervous, but they are a necessary part of life. I did my first informational interview with a Fuqua alum who went through the Health Management program (introduced to me by a colleague that is also a Fuqua alum) yesterday morning. Initially, I was sweaty and awkward, but once things got flowing, I settled down and asked him about everything I wanted to know.

For my six (I might need to whittle this list down for R1) target schools, I’ve identified some people to talk to. Most are at least one degree removed from me. Hopefully I can arrange a weeklong storming of East Coast bschools sometime in September. Haas is pretty easy to arrange since I can just find a morning off and cross the bridge.

Harvard
My former PR guy, who I’ve kept in contact with, has several friends who are HBS-ers. Hooray for networking via IM! However, I would like to speak to someone who is currently there. Forums might help if I can’t find someone who is currently attending through my own personal network.

NYU
Fellow blogger that I’ve been in contact for the last 8 years (but never met) is matriculating this year. Good friend from college graduated from Stern a few years ago and is actively involved with the admissions process. I’m meeting with him today to pick his brain.

Kellogg
This is where I seem to have the most contacts. A woman we just hired (who coincidentally took a job that I passed up) is a Kellogg alum. My manager’s wife is also a Kellogg alum. A good friend just graduated this year. He has put me in contact with a classmate who is going to work at a biotech. My cousin’s former direct report just graduated this year. My old roommate’s sister just finished her first year.

Columbia
I think I have the least contact here. J’s coworker is matriculating this year. Need to blanket my friends and family to see if there is anyone else they can put me in contact with.

Fuqua
My colleague, his friend, and my cousin’s colleague who is matriculating this fall.

Haas
I have a friend who is currently in the PT program. A few of J’s coworkers are also in the PT program. I have a cousin-in-law who graduated from the FT program. A colleague also graduated from here…although I’m not sure I want to reveal my bschool intentions to him.

Unfortunately, I’m kind of a big mouth, so many people at work already know my bschool intentions. Hopefully I am targeting the right schools to ensure matriculation next year. I’d be incredibly disappointed if I didn’t get in ANYWHERE although I know that such things do happen to people.

For my undergrad degree, I was pretty low-key in my applications. I only applied to one school that required an essay (Cal), and all of the other schools (small private schools in the Bay Area, Oregon, and Washington) let me in automatically based on my profile (solid academics and extracurriculars; underrepresented minority). I didn’t apply to Ivy Leagues because I knew my family didn’t have the money. This time around, I’m aiming high. Money be damned, I’ll pay it back later.