McDonough School of Business- Georgetown University

1) What’s the single most exciting development, change, or event happening at your MBA program this coming year?

The MBA program has introduced a swath of new scholarship opportunities organized into categories of merit, diversity, global, industry, spirit of Georgetown, and also include those offered by external partners and donor-sponsored. Our intention with this expansion is to be inclusive in our offerings to ensure we continue to attract a high-quality and diverse cohort of applicants. The variety of offerings helps showcase our value of bringing together individuals with unique contributions and perspectives. 

2) What 2-3 qualities, skill sets, experiences do your program value most in applicants?

Service-minded: Stemming from our Jesuit values, Georgetown University attracts students, faculty, and staff who seek to make a positive impact in the world, to offer a social good. From a day-to-day standpoint, this translates to our community being extremely collaborative where individuals sincerely care for one another. For example, we regularly see students share job interview questions with one another, tutor each other in courses, and celebrate each other’s accomplishments. Our students also participate in activities like the Small Business Corps, Entrepreneurship for the Common Good, and a variety of clubs and organizations that seek to leverage business to be a positive force for change in the world.

Curious: There are endless opportunities for where MBA students can spend their time and energy. We have over 50 student clubs and organizations, categorized into affinity clubs, professional clubs, and social/networking clubs. We have numerous guest speakers, workshops, volunteering, leadership opportunities, consulting projects, and case competitions available. We value students who are ready to explore and engage throughout our offerings. They are ready to push themselves outside of their comfort to learn, grow, and to reach a new potential. Resilient: The MBA curriculum is rigorous. The extracurriculars, team exercises, and recruitment is designed to push students outside of their comfort zones to truly learn and grow, both personally and professionally. While we have a bounty of resources to support students, they need to be resilient and ready to embrace this challenge. 

3) How does your team approach the essay portion of the application specifically? 

We require one written essay while offering three prompts to choose from. By offering three options, we recognize in Admissions that there is no “one size” for who will succeed at Georgetown. We want applicants to strategically select a prompt that resonates most with them and can be a vehicle for sharing their authentic selves.  We rely on the essays as one component of the application to get to know the candidate on a deeper level. We use the essay to help determine their fit at Georgetown based on traits they highlight and stories they tell. Of course we are also paying attention to their writing style and ability – so it is important to proofread!

4) Do you have any application tips (for essays & recommendations) for MBA applicants? Are there common mistakes that applicants should try to avoid?

The best recommendations are those that reinforce how the applicant has been describing themselves. If the candidate has self-described great interpersonal skills, this strength will be echoed by the recommender. Therefore, I encourage candidates to meet with their recommender in advance to ensure they are aligned on why an MBA, why Georgetown, strengths, and areas for improvement. These are key topics that all recommendation forms across schools, in some fashion, will address. In terms of missed opportunities, sometimes recommendations are too short to be fully helpful. Again, equipping the recommender through a preparation conversation can help them craft their content.

5) How important is standardized testing for an MBA application to McDonough, and is there a preference for GMAT, GRE, EA for your full-time program?

In MBA Admissions, we are evaluating candidates on three verticals of assessment: academic readiness, professional and recruitment fit, and community and culture fit. All verticals are equally important to ensure students are successful in the classroom, in recruitment, and within our community. In the academic readiness vertical, the main indicators used for predicting success are the standardized test or waiver, academic history, professional certifications, and any ad-hoc coursework. Therefore, standardized tests are one metric for consideration. However, standardized tests can be especially helpful in giving us confidence if there was lower performance or lack of evidence of MBA-relevant courses in the academic history. Therefore, these metrics can help balance each other. Keep in mind that the Admissions Committee has no preference for standardized test type. We are seeing a growing trend of GRE takers with almost half of test takers taking the GRE, but we happily accept the GMAT, the Executive Assessment, or, for those that qualify, the test waiver. For those undecided on which test to take, I recommend taking a practice test and choosing the test that naturally resonates most with the candidate.

6) What resources are available at your MBA program to assist with internship and full-time job opportunities?

Whether candidates are interested in switching careers, advancing on their current path, or pursuing their own venture, the McDonough Career Center can connect them to a number of resources. Starting with our Summer Webinar Series, incoming students will learn successful approaches to strategically leverage the MBA in their career advancement. They can enhance their portfolio by getting involved in student organizations, attending Career Days and Treks, and making important connections with employers through on- and off-campus events. And finally, once a Hoya, always a Hoya — the McDonough Career Center proudly partners with our strong network of McDonough School of Business alumni.

More specifically, our Career Team is structured in an industry vertical model where there is a certified career coach overseeing recruitment in a particular vertical. It is that individual’s job to know where that industry’s employers are hiring, how they are hiring, when they are hiring, and who the key alumni are in those industries. Being equipped with this knowledge and context supports the students to navigate their recruitment experiences – and to set them up for success. In addition to our industry vertical experts, we also have functional specialists and second year student peer advisors. Across these resources, students can truly customize their recruitment pathways.

7) What is the one aspect of your program that you wish applicants knew more about?

The uniqueness of our community. Our community is richly diverse, with representation of over 40 countries. Only about 1/3 of incoming students have studied business as an undergraduate, so we have diverse academic backgrounds as well. There is no “traditional” path of professional experience, as we find many roles translate well into post-MBA placement. On top of all these unique perspectives, our community is focused on a values-based approach to business and building a global mindset that provides the context to conduct business both at home and abroad.

8) Fun Fact about McDonough— such as where is a favorite hangout for your MBA students?

A favorite hangout spot is called Uncommon Grounds. It can be accessed within the Georgetown University bookstore. UnCommon Grounds is a coffee shop of “students serving students”. It is part of a public, non-profit, and charitable organization at Georgetown University. Proceeds go towards philanthropic purposes, including undergraduate scholarships. It is the best way to have a noble and delicious cup of coffee.