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March 29, 2006
All the News
So my last entry was merely the day before my HBS interview, and now it's weeks later. I've had my HBS interview and my Stanford interview, spent 10 days in Brazil, and I even have my decisions to share!
My HBS interview was short and sweet. It was 30 minutes and with a friendly woman. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. I stayed calm, confident, and brought in a revised ONE-PAGE version of my resume. (Note to undergrads: As much as you want to pack in all the great stuff you've done--especially to show that you can compete with the big kids--just keep it to one page. Really.) Would they want me to know the latest trends and news in the Business World? Would I have to work through a case? My interviewer was intimately familiar with my application. She asked me very specific questions about my plans, preferences for the order of my joint degree, and also listened to my reflections about my own candidacy. Her specific questions required specific, confident answers, which I was excited to be able to give. I left the interview feeling extremely confident about my candidacy and excited to join HBS.
And I got in!!! I've been elated since the day I got the email saying I would join the Class of 2010. Yes, B-school will not begin for me until 2008--after a year in Ghana as a Rotary Fellow and a year at the Kennedy School (which I am also thrilled to have gotten in to). I feel like a superstar.
But what about Stanford? Well, my interview was with a young, energetic, and admirable Latina who graduated recently. We met at the Chado Tea Room, an elegant locale that people come and have afternoon tea. It started off a little rocky, because I showed up a whole HOUR AND A HALF early (at least I was early rather than late). I read a few of the many magazines the tea room had on hand and waited patiently. After traveling back from my HBS interview, my computer's clock had gotten very confused and reset my appointments in my Outlook Calendar. Anyway, my Stanford GSB interview was very different. It was in-depth and more interactive. She was not as familiar with my application (I'm not even sure if she had any info on me besides my resume). Her questions required reflection on past experiences, and an ability to articulate to her the varied reasons why I would be a valuable contributor to the Stanford GSB community. I could hear myself talking A LOT and I was pretty confident that I gave honest, insightful, mature answers. However, I didn't feel AS CONFIDENT about my candidacy.
And I was waitlisted--which is still a really big deal because I might actually get in. I'm wavering back and forth between accepting a place on the waitlist and not. I haven't visited Stanford GSB and it may be a better program for me in its smallness and West Coastness and its wonderful Stanfordness.
However, staying at one institution for the 3 years is also very attractive. Spending 3 semesters each on two opposite coasts doesn't sound that great. I feel that I would be overextending myself trying to get to know two different communities in such a short period of time. Harvard also seems to have a lot more fellowships available (or maybe they do a better job at advertising them...)
So my mind is kind of already made up. I definitely don't want to just take a place on the waitlist for an ego-trip because that's ridiculous and might take someone's spot. I will decide by the end of this week and go on from there. I'm pretty much thinking it's going to be Harvard though! Two really exciting things about my going to the Kennedy School is that two of my very best friends in the whole world, Shadiah Sigala and Kevin Curry will be there. I am so blessed to have two essential members of my support network so close to me in my future!
I went to the Recent Admit reception in LA for the So-Cal admits to the MPP program at the Kennedy School. Not only was it fun, every single person there (with the exception of one person) was a person of color--including alumni, admissions and financial aid directors, and admits! I was delighted. However, I also had a great conversation with a current MPP student at Harvard who let me know that the numbers of African-American students are pretty similar to that of my undergrad--PITIFUL, though a ridiculously wonderful group of people. I hope that more initiatives like MBA Diversity can draw more students of color into the top schools like Harvard and the other schools that sponsor the organization. There are just too many wonderful, talented, intelligent students of color in this country whose potential gets eclipsed by challenges that they have little control over.
I certainly look forward to using the rest of my life to be an agent for social change so that people who look like me will be a part of the norm rather than the exception. Thanks for reading!
What's next: applying to the University of Ghana for my fellowship year, hearing back from Harvard regarding my fee waivers for the oh-so-high tuition deposits, what my boyfriend KT is doing next year (and how I fit in), and finishing up my last few weeks of college...
Posted by kaneisha at 09:29 PM | Comments (1)
March 08, 2006
Day after my HBS Interview
So I had my HBS interview, and it was fantastic! I was relaxed, confident, and actually enjoyed it! I interviewed with a member of the admissions committee--a woman, which made me happy. She basically just asked me to expand on things mentioned in my application, asked me questions about my plan so that she could understand my timeline better, and was really upbeat, encouraging, and wonderful. I left the interview feeling elated!
I visited a class, Real Properties, about Real Estate which wasn't that outstanding, but it was a visiting prof and the first session, so I'm sure it will get better--and if it doesn't, it's only a half-course. I really enjoyed the class atmosphere and think I would fit in really well both at the Kennedy and Government schools. I have absolutely loved my visit here.
A wonderful and wild coincidence is that the student who conducted my Info Session was Will Hsu, fellow blogger for MBA Diversity! When he said his name, it struck me as familiar, but it wasn't until he mentioned working with MBA Diversity that it clicked. I was so delighted to get to meet him in person! He seems to have loved his two years at HBS, and has his whole post-grad plan worked out nicely.
While on my Harvard visit, I've also met two fabulous women who did SEO during their college years, and it was so encouraging to see SEO alumni doing fabulously and commenting on the greatness of the program. I am so happy to have been offered the job. I'm excited to hear about where I'll be working.
I'm still contemplating the benefits of working for a few years, so I am just going to wait until I hear back from schools until I start thinking about it too much. Priority right now is to make good grades, make progress on my thesis, and get ready for my Spring Break trip to Brazil with my honey!
Posted by kaneisha at 02:20 PM | Comments (2)
March 06, 2006
Day before my HBS Interview
Hey, everyone!
So my HBS interview is tomorrow morning. Right now, I'm sitting in the Kennedy School library on campus, reading Business magazines so I don't seem completely out of touch with the Business world for my interview tomorrow. I still don't know exactly what to expect but I'm not wracked with nervousness so that's good.
Visiting here--and by here I really mean the two days I've been here at KSG since my B-school visit is tomorrow--has been extremely eye-opening and informative for me. Talking with students--especially Black female students--about their experiences here has really put things in perspective for me.
I've realized that the vast majority of what I want to do--if not all--can be accomplished through getting a MPP from the Kennedy School. I had no idea how many opportunities to engage in notions of business and enterprise were available here. I thought that to get the "real stuff" you had to get an MBA. That said, I still hope to get accepted into the MBA program so that I can at least have my choice of pursuing the degree, but right now, I'm feeling very excited about the idea of doing less degree-wise and getting more out of it.
"Doing less and getting more out of it" needs to be my motto for the next few years of my life, because I have become increasingly aware of how my "doing everything" has really left me feeling exhausted and spread too thin. I find myself asking where I can possibly cut out commitments and time-consuming activities--and there just doesn't seem to be any room. I barely have any time to hang out with my girls or my boyfriend--and that's just not how I want to live.
I also have started to embrace the idea of "taking my time to get there" more as well. Many of the women I've spoken with here took years to work before going to school and it seems to have made them all the more ready to take advantage of the opportunities that graduate school has to offer. The idea of taking time to work for two years seems increasingly appealing to me. But it could also be my self-confidence wavering--me thinking that I won't get as much out of the program if I go straight in.
I find myself asking "What's the rush? Why do I need to go to graduate school right away (well, after Ghana)? What could hurt in taking some time to work wherever you want in the world, enjoy life, and get some worldly adult life experiences? Will I be missing out on a special time to do those kinds of things by going straight to school?
It seems that the best plan is to not let these questions suffocate me or drive me into a panic about my future--but to be liberating in a way. If I don't get in to my graduate schools, of course I'll be disappointed. But I'll also be free in a way--free to get a job, make a difference there, and live school-free for a bit.
With decisions coming out by March 30, I don't have long to wait to have more concrete answers about possibilities for my future. I'm psyched about going to graduate school. The question now is when in my life do I want to do it.
Posted by kaneisha at 09:34 PM | Comments (2)