Meeting Potential Fellow Johnson Student

On Saturday I had the pleasure of meeting a potential fellow Johnson student!  So my tutor, whom I'll never have to use again, emailed me saying that another one of his students had received an interview invite to Johnson (Cornell) and asked if he could forward my information on to him.  Of course I said yes... this was before I received my acceptance but after I completed my interview.

So we met at the Starbucks across from Le Cirque on Saturday.  My tutor said that the two of us would hit it off and THAT we did.  At least I think so lol.  It was very weird being on the other side of the table/process so to speak.  He thanked me for meeting with him and I was like "oh please no problem at all... i remember being on the other side of the table where I would be wanting to meet with people who had "beaten" the process!"

I found myself asking questions that had been asked to me just a couple weeks ago from random folks.  So why MBA?  Why Johnson? et. al.  What's funny is that any time you meet with a current student or admissions person... OUTSIDE OF AN INTERVIEW they may ask "So WHY MBA?" and then follow that up with "Oh I don't mean to put you on the spot."  LOL... I said the same thing, but I was genuinely curious.  Then again anyone who gets to the interview stage of things definitely has an answer for Why MBA and Why School X.  His answer showed me why he's not the typical candidate but would fit perfectly at Johnson.  He also spoke with a passion which is key.  I was interested in what he was saying even though I know nothing about the field.  I loooove talking to people who have a passion for something.  It's refreshing.

He's a very nice guy and I won't go into detail what we spoke about but we did speak for 2 hours.  I will say this though... when he emailed me to see if we could meet up I thought to myself "I should tell him to bring a notebook."  Then I thought, "No...  if he's serious he'll bring a notebook."  So that's the first thing I noticed when I sat down.  He had a notebook so I knew he was serious.  I'm really about putting the onus on the applicant.  I think it's a function of me doing so much research and work that I feel that if one is truly serious about an endeavor they'll take the necessary actions to come out on top.

What was interesting is that this applicant and I have very similar stories and MO's.  So now I wonder if this is the common thread that Johnson students have.  It was very warming to just be able to be bond over similarities in our MO's even though other people don't understand them.  His personality was very warm and as I think about all of my other friends who have been accepted to Johnson I see that we're all very similar in that regard.  Warm...inviting...welcoming... accomodating...  I definitely see a common thread between current students and students who have been accepted.  I think THIS is what the admissions committee is looking for when they interview a prospective.

There may be some things in one's candidacy that they're also looking to dive deeper into but for the most part I think they're looking to make sure you're not a crazy haha.  This prospective student is definitely NOT crazy and I hope he rocks his interview!  I'm actually nervous for him because I want him to be a potential classmate!  I hope all of the information I was able to give him will be useful, although I think it will.

BEST OF LUCK BUD!  remember to text me when you get out of the interview.  I want to know how it went.

PS - My Johnson School Binder Comes Tomorrow!!!  Hey!  it's the little things people lol.. the little things....

Cornell Johnson Interview - Yay!

So you know how sometimes you just feel when something goes well?  That's the case with my Cornell interview.  I'm back on the bus now but I felt that my interview was smooth and perfect.  I was cool calm and collected and was at ease the whole time.

Did I research questions that I thought I would be asked?  Yup sure did, I mean they're out there so why not right?  I didn't type up answers or anything like that though.  I just read through them and thought of stories or anecdotes that I would use.  I didn't even do too much of this because I didn't want to sound too rehearsed because then if I was thrown off my game it would not have a good outcome.  People were asking me if I was nervous at all and I made sure that I was prepared to the point where I would experience a little nerves.  I know how I operate and a little bit of nerves keeps me on my toes, so that's what happened.

My interviewer did not throw any curveballs at me.  Sure there were some questions that I had to pause for, but that's fine because I was simply collecting my thoughts.  What's my definition of Leadership?  Sure didn't think I would be asked that but I mean I have my own definition and here it is.  I didn't say that exact phrase but that's what went through my head.  No biggie.

What surprised myself is that I was making connections to things that I didn't even know I had in me... it's hard to explain but I guess it's a function of being in a different mindset 4 months ago versus now even though I've had the same story ya know?  I think my interview showed how genuine I was which is what I wanted to convey and why I'm glad I took the trip up to Ithaca.  I always said that if I just got an interview I know I can do well.  Which brings me to my next point...

If you can interview on Campus DO SO!!!!  I heard a story about someone from Peru who flew in to visit campus, from Japan, and from India.  I know the guy form India was visiting because he was waitlisted from R1 - we were sitting in the admissions office together.  So there are people who are traveling from every corner (there are no corners) of the Earth, so my little measly 5 hour trip back to NYC was nothing compared to these folks.  Just keep that in mind that you may not want to take a 5 hour trip up to Ithaca or Hanover, or a 2 hour flight to Michigan etc etc... but there are people gunning for that same spot that you want and they/we are taking those trips and interacting with folks at the schools.

You may think "oh... I just need to visit"  well no... interact... I mean think about it... Me...someone who just left Ithaca and was int he admissions office for all of 10 minutes has heard about that prospective student who flew from Peru to visit, last week I think.  So people are still talking about that prospective from Peru and the one from Japan weeks after their departure.  Do you think that person will be memorable?

You be the judge... I've said my piece.... go visit!  I'm going to take a nap because this baby is crying on the bus!  Peace Peace

Oh sidenote - my friend got a Full Ride to Cornell!!!!!!!!!!!