How about I start with the good news? I made it onto closed lists for several companies: consultancies, marketing for a pharma and general mgt for a financial services company. There. You have the good news.
Now to move on to - well, the not-so-good news: I am dealing with being dissed by companies for the first time ever, people. Specifically, by the consulting firms. I think people forgot to tell me that each firm is interviewing at 5-7 business schools to fill 10 - 15 positions or so. 'People' also forgot to tell me that all of my classmates would decide to submit apps to consulting firms and prepare for cases. I'm talking about classmates (and friends at other b-schools) who never mentioned being interested in consulting even once. The third and final part of this is that getting to know consultants at the firms really, really well - beyond just the events etc - is critical so you stand out when interviewees are being evaluated.
In short, your girl did not realize exactly how competitive landing a summer internship in consulting would be. I am one of those people who interviews very well - once I've gotten a face-to-face, I'm straight. But here? There is no love to be found. It is just too competitive and subjective a process. Sure it's supposedly about 'cracking the case' but if you don't, you can still be fine. And if you do, it does not mean you're definitely moving on the second round of interviews!
Though I have run out of consulting options, I do plan on interviewing for more general management and marketing strategy positions and those have been going smoothly. I will keep you updated as best as I can.
Of course, there are also classes. I'm taking an elective for the first time since starting at CBS and it is so much better than the core!! It's Corporate Governance and is an absolute delight. I am actually happy working on the assignments that are due at the start of each class. It's a challenge interviewing for a summer j.o.b. and dealing with classes and assignments at the same time, but I'm sure it will all be worth it. I am doing my best to remember that it is not about the job I leave here with, but about what I feel I am capable of...and about being ready for whatever I'm doing 10 years down the road.
Posted by deeuniverse at February 7, 2005 04:58 AMFirst of all, I would like to tell you that your blog provided a real inspiration for me through the process of researching b schools that I'm in the middle of right now. Reading about how you prepared for GMAT, wrote essays, waited anxiously for results, got into Columbia,and then had to deal with courses and job search was like watching a Truman Show for MBAs.
Besause of this personal connection that I felt with your experience, I really trust you with answering a question which is crucial to my decision to attend an MBA program. Here it goes: I'm Egyptian, I am contemplating attending an MBA program in the States. I think that I have very good reasons for this decision, but this is another story. Anyways, there remains a practical issue that I don't have enough information on: if i am to attend an mba in a top school (columbia is definitely up there on my list) i have to carry a considerable debt, which is ok with me as long as there are realistic chances of a major career move after graduation. From your experience how welcoming, or not, are the recruiting companies to international students? Any comments would be helpful. Thanks a lot!