Archive for September, 2011

Penn State and Smeal for Life!

Monday, September 26th, 2011

     MBAs have many challenges—one of them is the fact that they are physically only at Penn State for two short years. There is so much to see and do, so many ways to make a difference, so many ways to connect. There are many late nights, finals, classes, interviews, group meetings, and information sessions. Academia and the ever present job search take over and other things, out of necessity and priority, slide by the wayside. How will YOU handle the challenges? Will you take the “other stuff” for granted and muscle through with blinders on? Or will you take a minute to stop and see what’s really available to improve the quality of your experience? An MBA is so much more than just a degree. It’s a gateway to creating not only a stronger professional career for yourself, but a more enriching personal future as well. While the big stuff is important, the little stuff can be important too. When you look back at Penn State and Smeal, what do you want to remember?
     As a Penn State alumni living in Happy Valley, it’s easy to take for granted what it means to be a Penn Stater and how much is really available through the University for everyone, be it students, faculty, staff, residents of the town, or family members along for the ride. I’m here– all the time—and for me, that’s a good thing. State College is a great place to live and work, and I feel I’ve chosen wisely. I get immersed in my job, planning events, evaluating candidates, interviewing interesting people from around the world…and I get immersed in myself sometimes just like everyone else. Is the house clean? Are the groceries bought? Are the dogs brushed?
     There have been many days lately where the excitement of fall and the crispness of the changing leaves have gone unnoticed in my world. And it’s kind of sad, because fall is my favorite season. And then, I hear it– Blue Band drums. I can hear them from my office, practicing for the big game on Saturday. What a luxury! I smile and take a moment to realize what being part of Penn State means. (And then I pull up Facebook, and I write on my wall how cool it is to be in earshot of the Blue Band, therefore, making friends and former classmates really jealous of me for at least a few minutes!)And the next time I start to take it for granted, I remember what a privilege it is to be part of such a great place—whether it means physically living here for 2 years ,or 4 years, or even decades, you’re really truly “here” for a lifetime.
-Stacey Dorang Peeler

Tags: alumni, MBA, organizations, Smeal, student life
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Hitting the Road

Monday, September 12th, 2011

For the admissions team, this is a time of great anticipation.  We are gearing up for our first application deadline (November 11th), and recruiting season is in full swing.  We have already had alumni &/or admissions representatives in nine different cities, and have more stops ahead in the upcoming weeks.  Recruiting events are fun because often, they are our first connection with applicants.  It is wonderful to get to know candidates, hear their stories and share our PSU experiences.  Part of the anticipation is our hope that those we meet “on the road” will quickly become part of our application pool. 

So to those of you in New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake and Chicago, we look forward to meeting all of you soon.  We hope our friends in Shanghai and Beijing enjoy meeting our alumni!  Finally, for anyone else, we would love to see you on campus at one of our MBA for a Day Events, or to connect with you on our social media sites! 

Until then….

-Ann Mallison

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments

Avoiding Admissions Mistakes

Thursday, September 8th, 2011

So many programs. So much information. So many opportunities to shine…or make mistakes! What are some of the top Admissions Mistakes we see each year? Essays that don’t answer the question asked (or follow the directions), lack of preparation for interviews, inappropriate interview attire, failure to articulate goals, and lateness (whether it’s for an interview or when submitting application materials). And these mistakes just are just the tip of the iceberg! The worst part about witnessing applicants make these types of mistakes is that they are fully preventable with just a little bit of research and effort. Don’t be the applicant the committee can’t stop thinking about for all of the wrong reasons. Plan ahead, follow directions and prepare! To help you get started, take a look at our latest webcast, “Avoiding Common Admissions Mistakes” (iTunes University). We hope it will get you started moving in the right direction and help you make the most of your MBA admission experience!

–Stacey Dorang Peeler

Tags: admissions, mistakes
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments