Deciding where to pursue your MBA education is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Below, students talk about their decision to come to Owen.
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| Courtney Simons Vanderbilt MBA Class of 2007 Concentration: Marketing Internship: Nike |
I made my decision to come to Owen while visiting during Welcome Weekend. I was a little nervous about picking up and moving my life from Los Angeles to Nashville, Tennessee. I didn’t know anyone when I arrived here on Friday afternoon, but by the time I got back to the airport on Sunday, I had made friendships that I am now confident will last a lifetime. The decision to come to Owen was really all about the sense of community and how comfortable I felt with these amazing people. I wanted a place that I could call home for two years and I found that place at Owen.
My time at Owen has been challenging; academically, personally and professionally. I have been forced to take a good look at the person I am and the person I want to become. I am lucky to be surrounded by such nurturing and intelligent individuals who have been willing to help me grow. I made the right decision in choosing Owen – I am pleased with what I’ve accomplished here so far and I am honored to contribute to the continued development of this institution. Owen will not just be home for two years; it will be a part of who I am forever.
My Top 5 Favorite Things About Nashville
1. The weather in the spring and fall
2. Live music
3. The sandwiches at Bread & Company
4. The friendly people
5. My little home in Green Hills
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| Matt White Vanderbilt MBA Class of 2007 Concentrations: Accounting and HOP (Human and Organizational Performance) Internship: Nissan |
I came to Welcome Weekend last year and realized this was the place for me. The people of Owen will be lifetime mentors, advisors, debaters, and most importantly friends.
I encourage everyone to make a list of what they want to do at Owen. Write it down and look at it one year later. I recently reflected on the list and I laughed because I am amazed by how much more I have done and grown than what I expected since coming to Owen. I have visited six new cities, traveled outside of the United States (to Germany) for the first time, participated in a case competition at Wake Forest, was taught by U.S. Congressman Jim Cooper, met Warren Buffett with TVA Investment Challenge, and participated in doctor rounds at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. None of the items listed above were on my original list. You will be surprised by what you will do at Owen and that is what makes the Vanderbilt MBA such a valuable and rewarding experience.
My Top 5 Favorite Things About Nashville
1. Music - you will see celebrities here
2. Entrepreneurialism and Internationalism - Nashville is a hot spot for entrepreneurial and international business
3. Nashville is a Southwest Airlines city - cheap fares and lots of nonstop destinations
4. Hiking trails - from Percy Warner Park to Fiery Gizzard
5. The Parthenon - How cool is it to have a life-sized model of the Parthenon less than a mile away?
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| Karin Thul Vanderbilt MBA Class of 2007 Concentrations: HOP (Human and Organizational Performance) and Marketing Internship: Deloitte Officer, Net Impact and Global Business Club |
When I visited Owen for my interview, everyone in the office knew my name, and it was obvious that they had read my resume. I felt like the school was just as interested in me as I was in them. After arriving at Owen, it was obvious it wasn't just a recruiting tactic. The faculty and staff really are interested in your professional development and will go out of their way to help you.
My Top 5 Favorite Things About Nashville
1. Owen
2. Southern hospitality
3. The Loveless Cafe for chicken and biscuits
4. Live music every night of the week
5. Unpretentious people
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| Grant Kinnett Vanderbilt MBA Class of 2007 Concentrations: Finance with Emphases in Real Estate and Entrepreneurship Internship: Boyle Investment Company |
My decision of which business school to attend was a very stressful one at the time, but in the end, it was a very easy decision. I was choosing between Owen and another very prominent, high-ranked school in the East. I spent endless hours analyzing the pros and cons of each school. The main reasons I chose Owen are as follows:
1. The close-knit nature of the entire Owen community was something that I did not experience at any other school. You have the opportunity to get to know almost everyone, which allows for great friendships and networking opportunities.
2. I knew I wanted to attend a small school where I would be able to experience a more intimate classroom setting.
3. Owen has a very entrepreneurial spirit and encourages students to think entrepreneurially no matter what career field they are pursuing.
4. The flexibility to start choosing early on the curriculum that most interests you and caters to your career objectives.
5. The Owen community is very receptive to spouses and families.
6. At the end of the day, I would tell any prospective student to go where their heart and their gut tells them to go. I analyzed the details of all my offers endlessly but ended up just going with my gut feeling of where I felt I would be happiest and have the best two-year experience. I could not be happier with my decision.
My Top 5 Favorite Things About Nashville
1. Percy Warner Park
2. There is music everywhere (and not just country music)
3. Friendly people
4. It is a smaller city, but extremely vibrant with as much to offer as any city three times its size
5. The traffic in town is minimal
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| Rachel Pike Vanderbilt MBA Class of 2007 Concentration: Marketing Internship: McNeil Pharmaceuticals |
I considered a number of factors when choosing an MBA program—rankings, size, cost, curriculum, geography—but I ultimately decided that the overall learning environment was the most important factor to me. As soon as I visited Owen and met the faculty and students, I realized that this was the best fit for me. Owen draws an incredibly friendly student body from around the world, and the level of teamwork and support among students here is exceptional. Whether you’re completing a final project or preparing for a job interview, you can count on your peers to lend help and advice. In addition, the small class size ensures that you develop relationships with both your professors and your peers. Finally, the sense of community you find at Owen does not end once you earn your MBA. Owen alumni maintain close ties to the school and are often great sources for obtaining career advice and jobs.
My Top 5 Favorite Things About Nashville
1. The friendliness of the city
2. All of the great concerts Nashville offers (there's so much more than country music!)
3. Knowing that Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman dine at the same restaurants I do...and I might just see them one day
4. Picnics in one of the city's many lovely parks
5. Spending an afternoon visiting the wonderful boutiques on Main Street in nearby Franklin
I chose Owen because I wanted a top-notch finance degree, I wanted to direct my career towards health care, and because I wanted to stay in Nashville to get my MBA. Owen has provided an environment where I can achieve all of these goals. Owen has also given me the flexibility to study disciplines outside of my main concentrations, which will give me a truly well-rounded education that will serve me well after graduation regardless of the direction my career takes. I am also learning the communication and teamwork skills that are difficult to quantify but that are imperative to employers. What really sets Owen apart, however, is the environment where classmates can be friends, where competition is constructive, and everyone celebrates everyone else’s successes.
My Top 5 Favorite Things About Nashville
1. Southern hospitality
2. Four seasons, but a mild winter
3. Live music
4. Great parks all over the city
5. Wide variety of cultural attractions
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| Corey Smith Vanderbilt MBA Class of 2007 Concentrations: Operations and Strategy Internship: Citi Cards President, Owen Black Students Association Member, KeyBank Case Competition, 1st Place Team |
As I assessed the business schools that would give me the best opportunity to enhance my skills, take a wide array of classes, and reach my career goals, I found Owen to be at the top of the list. Owen was the perfect choice for me because the school has a challenging curriculum as well as a supportive environment. These were two qualities that I looked for in a business school because I wanted to explore new career paths and determine which path best suited me. A prospective student should know that the Owen School is challenging, but very rewarding. The administration is truly interested in helping the students achieve their goals. The faculty is excellent in preparing us for our future careers by providing models to deal with real world business issues.
My Top 5 Favorite Things About Nashville
1. Friendly people
2. Wide array of outdoor activities
3. The ethnic diversity
4. Wide range of sporting events
5. Great restaurants
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| Gina Montana Vanderbilt MBA Class of 2007 Concentrations: Finance and Strategy Internship: Goldman Sachs Officer, Women’s Business Association and Consulting Club |
I chose Owen because I saw a place that fostered
I chose Owen because I saw a place that fostered growth—academically, professionally, personally, and socially. For me, Owen embodied a sea of opportunity to learn from highly acclaimed faculty and a diverse student body all amidst a supportive, ambitious, and energizing environment. From day one I have felt that the faculty and staff have genuinely taken a vested interest in my development, as well as in each one of my classmates. They truly want each of us to flourish, not only during our time at Owen, but beyond that in whatever our future endeavors entail. I feel the faculty and staff’s dedication to the Owen student body is continually demonstrated both inside and outside of the classroom.
At Owen, nothing is out of reach. Put simply, the Owen community is a hub for innovation, achievement, and collaboration.
My Top 5 Favorite Things About Nashville
1. The weather (the majority of the time)
2. Diverse music scene
3. Friendly people
4. The Pancake Pantry
5. Very reasonable cost of living
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| Nat Robinson Vanderbilt MBA Class of 2007 Concentrations: Finance and HOP (Human and Organizational Performance) Internship: China Abroad President, Global Business Club, and Officer, Net Impact |
My major reason for selecting Owen was the opportunity I saw to have a positive impact on the school. I have a passion for international issues, and Owen presented a chance for me to create more of a global awareness. In only my first year I was just amazed at how responsive the administration is to student ideas and how easy it is to create positive change at Owen. I’m not sure if any of the other schools I applied to would be as receptive to student-driven change. This is why Owen was the perfect choice for me.
Prospective students should:
1. Look outside Owen for opportunities. Vanderbilt University is a tremendous resource.
2. Try something new. Take an HOP class.
3. Don’t get so caught up in the rankings and reputation. They change every year.
My Top 5 Favorite Things About Nashville
1. Downtown - the entertaining nightlife at The Stage, Tootsies, Lonnie’s and Wildhorse Saloon never gets old
2. Great close airport with Southwest Airlines
3. Young vibrant feeling with lots to do
4. Low cost of living
5. Close to several rivers, major parks and national forests
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| Bobby Molina Vanderbilt MBA Class of 2007 Concentrations: Finance and Accounting Internship: UBS Board of Directors, Max Adler Investment Fund |
I chose to come to Owen because of its support system. Both internally and externally, I felt that there were people who would keep my career goals in mind and help me get there. My original impression was confirmed based on the help that I have received from the Career Management Center, the second-year class, and the alumni network. I greatly benefited from their time and effort dedicated to my internship hunt. Secondly, I was attracted to the idea of small community. In large organizations, you can just be another face and get lost in the crowd. At Owen, you have many opportunities to be memorable and to make an impact. Finally, the Owen environment fosters healthy competition. While we all want to excel individually, we also want to help our classmates. These mutually beneficial relationships are a major intangible asset of Owen.
I think a prospective student should know that Owen is beyond what you will find in the viewbook. I strongly encourage that you speak with current students, faculty, and alumni to develop many data points on the school and formulate your own generalization. You will be pleased with your discoveries.
My Top 5 Favorite Things About Nashville
1. Weather
2. Affordable cost of living
3. True Southern hospitality
4. Barbecue
5. Music scene
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| Chris Baxley Vanderbilt MBA Class of 2007 Concentration: Finance
Internship: JPMorgan President, Owen Student Government Association |
My decision to attend Owen was based on a few key metrics and, after completing my first year, I’m happy to say that I’m pleased with that decision. I wanted a place with a diverse set of strengths. Because I was changing careers, I knew that I didn’t want to limit my potential by attending a school that lacked strength across all of its offerings. I didn’t want to attend a “Finance School” and end up deciding that Finance wasn’t my thing. I didn’t want to attend a “Marketing School” and decide that marketing wasn’t right for me, etc. At Owen I’ve found a breadth of disciplinary strengths that have allowed me to explore my interests with the confidence of knowing that whatever my ultimate professional decision is, I’ll be well served by my time spent at Owen.
I also wanted the advantage of a low student-to-faculty ratio. I have found professors here at Owen to be as approachable as they are knowledgeable. Whether discussing the merits of Freakonomics on a bike ride with Luke Froeb, former FTC Chief Economist, or discussing the future of the health care program over a panini with Jon Lehman, dean of the Health Care program, I’ve found the faculty to be very willing to give their time for both academic instruction and general conversation.
My Top 5 Favorite Things About Nashville
1. Witnessing the seasons come and go
2. Big city offerings, small town charms
3. Buckets with friends after an exam
4. Complaining about “traffic” that stretches my 15 minute commute to 20 minutes
5. The Bluebird Café - on any night
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| Tomoaki Asanuma Vanderbilt MBA Class of 2007 Concentration: Marketing
Internships: Johnson & Johnson and Eli Lilly |
The primary reason that I decided to come to Owen is that it is well-balanced in terms of academic, professional, and social aspects. On the academic side, Owen’s flexible program allowed me to take four electives in the spring semester, which reinforced my marketing expertise before my internship. I am very satisfied with the quality and quantity of marketing courses at Owen.
Regarding the professional aspects, I had numerous chances to meet with my target companies throughout the year. Owen’s great reputation, combined with my past professional experience, was strong and competitive enough to convince company representatives. I successfully obtained an internship offer from several companies.
Lastly, Owen’s close-knit community is beneficial for international students. The school offers a lot of chances to actively participate in group projects and club activities. By working with diverse students, I feel closely tied with the Owen community. I would like to help next year’s students “shape their world.”
My Top 5 Favorite Things About Nashville
1. Beautiful scenery in Bellevue area
2. Nice weather and friendly people
3. Churches offering free English lessons for my family
4. Japanese and Korean restaurants
5. Country music radio stations
