Guest blog by Donovan Lowe
“Why Booth?” This question presents itself in so many different settings. From admissions interviews and chats with students to recruiting with firms and beyond, people want to know the reasons behind making such a monumental decision in one’s life. Whenever I’m asked this question, I try to be as simple as I can while still capturing the powerful details needed to justify my decision. Recruiting success, learning environment, social life are all reasons I wanted to come to Booth, but they all stem from one primary driver that makes everything possible: the pay-it-forward culture. I want to walk through how this culture drives all the other positive aspects of the program.
Prospective Student Networking
My introduction to the pay-it-forward culture actually happened before I even stepped foot on campus. Connecting with current students as a prospective student is an exciting yet sometimes daunting task. You gain valuable insights that can’t be found on a website, but it can feel like you’re imposing. However, I found my interactions with current Boothies to be open, honest, and fun. Many times, the student I was chatting with would offer to connect me with other Boothies who could better answer specific questions related to my interests.
Recruiting
The recruiting process for consulting intimidated me as I got closer to starting at Booth. I had heard that it was intense, competitive, and long, so I expected sharp elbows from classmates as everyone competed for coveted internship spots. As recruiting season kicked off however, I was surprised to find not only that the sharp elbows weren’t there, but that there was a great deal of collaboration. Second-year students poured in support to help us prepare for coffee chats, casing, interviews, and to answer any questions we had. As the process went on, my fellow first-years constantly made themselves available to help one another prepare or simply to commiserate about the stresses of recruiting. I believe the pay-it-forward culture translates directly into Booth’s incredible recruiting success, as students are better prepared due to the strong support system.
Social Life and Classes
Most of your time as an MBA student is spent either in class or socializing with classmates. One old stereotype that still occasionally surfaces is that Boothies are “cold” or “individualistic.” If that were true, classes would be hard to navigate due to a lack of collaboration, and social life would suffer from a lack of openness. But even after just a week or two at Booth, I could confidently say those monikers don’t apply at all. In fact, making friends has probably been the easiest part of the MBA experience. Boothies have a genuine desire to make deep connections. Most of the friends I’ve made here came from others inviting me to various events. In the classroom, I’ve learned as much from my classmates as from my professors due to their willingness to share experiences and lend a hand during group work or projects.
Booth and Beyond
I can say without a doubt that the pay-it-forward spirit has been evident in every aspect of my Booth experience. I’ve gotten so much out of my MBA because of this culture in which students are truly driven to help one another. I’ve tried to pay it forward as much as I’ve received, and that desire will stay with me as I become a Booth alum. If you want to get a real sense of how strong an MBA program is, look no further than how students treat one another. At Booth, the pay-it-forward culture is everything.
