The Second Year Sprint

As 2012 draws to a close, Nupur Bhargava reflects on the first quarter of her second year at Booth. Life as a second year is certainly action-packed, but in a different way than it was during first year, as Nupur describes.

Dana
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Happy holidays!! It’s been a while since my last post and as the year draws to a close I thought it might be a good idea to reflect on the quarter gone by.

This quarter felt a lot calmer than my first year at Booth in some ways, and a lot more hectic in others. On the calmer side, getting used to Chicago being home played a big role. When I came back this year I looked forward to being in the city, seeing my friends and navigating my way from downtown to Harper Center again. I knew what the weather would be like, and I knew how to find cheap coursepacks (thanks to a classmate, Farhan Ahmed, who created boothsell.com!) and I just felt a great deal more comfortable. Recruiting, on the other hand, did come a little bit faster and more intensely than first year. Whereas first year recruiting was more of a marathon, second year recruiting was a full-out sprint for a month. After our summer internships, most of us came back with a better answer to ‘what do I want to do when I grow up?’ or in many cases ‘what I definitely don’t want to do when I grow up’, which was important, as we needed to quickly act on these thoughts in order to secure full time positions. A large percentage of my friends have found jobs and our overall anxiety levels are significantly reduced.

The good news is the lightning fast sprint was over quickly and allowed me plenty of time to get to know lots of first-year students. It’s amazing how the caliber of students gets better each year, and I have to say I was completely blown away by the accomplishments and stories of many of the first years. My job now is to assist them in polishing and tailoring their stories to effectively navigate the first year recruiting marathon that they will go through in Winter Quarter. Helping many with resume reviews and coffee chats about the summer this fall was both rewarding and nostalgic, as I could remember going through the very same process last year and the people that helped me so much during that time. I’m very happy to pay it forward and am sure the tradition will continue!

Outside of the official work, be it classes or resume reviews, it has been fantastic to relax a little bit with my fellow classmates; whether it’s a game of Taboo, a quick Thanksgiving trip to Jamaica, or a night out in Chicago with my closest friends, it’s been a great quarter to further strengthen the bonds with my classmates, and I look forward to continuing to do so in the last couple of quarters we have left before we enter the big bad “REAL WORLD”!

In keeping with the holiday spirit, I wanted to have some fun and do a Booth fall quarter summary in numbers for me:
Number of admissions applications read (I'm an Admissions Fellow) = 24
Number of on-campus recruitment interviews conducted = 5
Number of coffee chats with first years = 8
Number of resume reviews done for first years = 15
Number of case interviews with fellow second years = 45
Number of books read (non-coursework related) = 1
Number of house parties attended = 15
Number of movies watched in the AMC theatre near Gleacher Center = 10
Number of holidays planned = 4 (executed 2, 2 more being figured out)

Happy holidays and good luck with the applications, especially as the Booth Round 2 (Jan. 9!) deadline draws closer!

Why Are We Here And Not Somewhere Else?

Boothies all recognize the light installation that adorns the Harper Center asking "Why are you here and not somewhere else?" As a student body this is something we think about often. If you come to Booth you'll find everyone has a story and many are here because they want to make a career change. Yesterday's Economist MBA rankings placed Booth #1, largely because it offers unparalleled new career opportunities and "its graduates find employment in the widest range of industries." We're proud to be part of a community that has extremely varied interests and an institution that provides the resources for us to pursue so many paths. If you speak with Booth students, you will hear over and over that Career Services, academic flexibility, and strong community are what makes this possible. Today, four students reflect on why they believe Booth is #1 and share why they are here and not somewhere else.

Beth
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"I truly believe that this ranking recognizes Chicago Booth's well-rounded program and its strong commitment to excellence. Booth not only offers unparalleled flexibility in the academic curriculum and a first-class faculty, it also has one of the most reputed career services team and a tight and diverse student community. I could not ask for a better launching pad towards my goals. "Challenge everything" also means that we never settle, and that we raise the bar year after year; that is why Chicago Booth is number one and surely will continue to be for years coming. Being an international student (Spain) and a career switcher (lawyer), I really wanted to partner with the best to secure success in this challenging journey. I could not have chosen better." - Borja Soldevila, Class of 2014

"For me this ranking reflects what Booth has always been in my mind: #1. Booth was always my #1 choice for business school, because of the outstanding people, faculty, alumni, resources, and curriculum. Though I've only been a first year for a month, I've already had access to leadership panels, CEOs of various companies, and alumni who act as mentors. I know I have every resource available to me at Booth, no matter what path I decide." - Arti Shah, Class of 2014

"Booth offers flexibility and truly unique opportunities. This allows you to add the skills you need to the experiences you have to set you up to do the things you dream about." - Harrison Wheaton, Class of 2013

"The people are the reason why I am at Booth. When I came to visit as a prospective student, I didn't know anyone and I'd never been to Chicago. Throughout the visit, people included me in activities and made sure I was having a great time. I came here a stranger and in just days left with a group of friends and knowing Chicago is an amazing city. The welcoming community helps you build relationships that will last a lifetime." - Victoria Varau, Class of 2013