Goizueta or Bust

As a marketing major in college, I knew I wanted to pursue my MBA eventually. When I landed in the marketing and communications department at a prestigious business school, I didn’t anticipate I’d use that experience to gather information on the kind of program in which I wanted to enroll.

In 2022, I decided it was time to think about applying, so I made my list:

• Top 20 program
• Small cohorts
• Major city
  • Warm weather
  • Diversity in people, culture, and food
  • Strong sports culture – especially around NFL, MLB, and NBA
  • Business opportunities
• Scholarship
• Opportunities to get involved
• Outside of Texas

While most people consider career outcomes, specializations, faculty, network, etc., after working in the industry, I knew that any top 20 program would provide me with excellent measures for all those important considerations. I had decided that it was “Goizueta Business School or bust.” While I did apply to a backup school, I had my mind set. But what has made this absolutely the right decision for me is everything I didn’t know prior to committing.

Prior to business school, I hadn’t left the city of Houston. I wanted to take the opportunity to move to a new city to discover myself more by going out on my own. The Full-Time MBA program offers you a chance to step away from the working world to learn, but also to make new connections. The built-in social aspect of the program made it so much easier to make the jump to a new city. But I wasn’t going to move just anywhere.

Aside from checking my boxes related to location, Atlanta really called to me because of the rich culture in the city. Atlanta’s music, entertainment, food, and social scenes are vibrant, and there is always something to do. What’s even better, the school actually provides a lot of opportunities to experience it. I have been to Braves, Falcons, Hawks, and Atlanta United games through opportunities provided by the school. I have also been able to go to exclusive events at the High Museum, the largest museum for visual art in the Southeast. I have been to the Fox Theatre to see Jane Goodall speak, been to several restaurants through the Global Grub Series (a way to try authentic food that celebrates the different cultures represented at Goizueta), and got to walk in the Pride Parade. I have really appreciated the opportunities granted to me to get outside of the classroom, experience the city, and meet new people along the way.

At school, on the other hand, I was elected VP of KEGS (Keeping Everyone at Goizueta Social), a weekly happy hour hosted by the school. In this position, I work with my team to provide complimentary food, beverages, and a welcoming space for students to socialize and unwind after a long week of classes. Working in this position has helped me get to know my classmates better, but has also opened me up to be able to make more connections with the class before and after me. In business school, the one thing you will absolutely carry with you forever is your network. I feel very fortunate to have been elected to a position that caters perfectly to building those relationships.

Moreover, the program itself brings incredible talent. Among my classmates, we have a viral content creator, a former Army intelligence officer, alumni from Harvard and MIT, JD/MBAs and MPH/MBAs, someone who’s acted as an extra in films, former teachers and even a former fashion professor. The amount I have learned from these people – no matter their background – is unmatched. And that’s just from my classmates. The faculty in the program have far exceeded my expectations. In one day, I learned that my pricing professor spoke to the media about egg prices, my digital and social media professor was on CNN International speaking about Super Bowl commercials, and my entertainment and media professor’s research on Grammy winners was referenced in articles by Forbes and BBC. But that’s just scratching the surface. We have also had guest lecturers from C-suite executives to music producers to directors of museums – all of whom are very open to connecting outside of the classroom to share advice, talk more about their career paths, or simply to chat.

On the staff side, the Full-Time MBA team is dedicated to making the program better. They have actively sought feedback and created committees that include students committed to improving operations, education, diversity, and more at Goizueta.

My time at Goizueta has been an incredible journey – one that has shaped me in ways I never expected. It’s been full of highs, a few unexpected lows, and even some loop-the-loops I didn’t see coming, but the experiences, people, and opportunities have been worth every twist and turn.

My advice? Whether you’re like me who decided “Goizueta or bust” or are trying to figure out which school to commit the next two years to, embrace the unpredictability, take full advantage of every opportunity that comes your way, and focus on making genuine connections. It’s easy to get caught up in the superficial aspects of “networking,” but true success comes from building friendships and meaningful relationships. If you’re willing to dive into the process with an open mind and a spirit of curiosity, the rewards are beyond what you can imagine.

Interested in exploring Full-Time MBA opportunities? Learn more about Goizueta’s Full-Time MBA program.