My Fisher Grad Life – Stories from graduate students at Fisher College of Business

My Year in Review

It is very bitter-sweet sitting here writing my last blog post. I am definitely in denial that my time here in the MAcc program is over and the real world is approaching fast. Here is a list of why the MAcc Program here at Ohio State has exceeded my expectations and been a great time:

Football Season – One of my favorite experiences here at Ohio State was all the football games. It was fun tailgating with all the MAcc Students and watch the Buckeyes become the Big 10 champions. The Michigan game in particular will be an experience I will never forget. Even if you are not a sports fan it is something you need to experience.
All the social events – There is much more than just classes in the MAcc Program. Between intramural sports, tailgates, MAcc Council and Fisher Social Chair events there is always something going on. Some of my favorites times this year were at these events like Fisher Formals, my sand volleyball intramural team, and winning the student/professor kickball tournament.
Sand Volleyball Intramural Team
The Friendships – I came into the MAcc Program not knowing anyone and can say I have made some new friends for life. The MAcc program is a tight-knit group always going out and doing things together. We have survived numerous group projects and celebrated many occasions together. The people I have met made this year one of my best experiences.
Columbus – I had never been to Columbus before orientation and it has exceeded my expectations. There is always something to do whether on campus or throughout the many areas of the city. I loved exploring German Village or going to my first hockey game to cheer on the Blue Jackets. Columbus will always be a special place for me.

Overall my time here at the MAcc Program was amazing. The classes here make me feel prepared to go out and start work soon. I am going to miss my time here, but excited to start another new experience at my job. Go Bucks!

Next Stop: California

The school year has ended! I am now officially halfway through the Masters of Human Resource Management program here at Ohio State and one step closer to receiving my degree. Whether you have been following my blog posts throughout the year or are just tuning in, one aspect of the MHRM experience I’ve tried to highlight is how the program prepares students for success by offering multiple opportunities to turn theory into practice.

The Ohio State University Oval in full bloom

One of the MHRM program requirements is to complete either a thesis or a practicum. So what does this mean exactly? Students choosing the practicum plan pursue an internship to gain practical experience in an HR role. The internship is a full-time 40/hr. a week working commitment, typically completed during the summer between years 1 and 2 of the MHRM program. The focus of this plan is to allow students to practically apply knowledge and skills acquired through MHRM coursework in a real business setting. In addition to this, an internship or practicum experience is an opportunity for further career exploration, leadership and skill development, networking, and can lead to a full-time job offer.

I along with a majority of my peers have decided to pursue the practicum option. Although our final exams and projects have concluded, the first year MHRM students, myself included, are now gearing for our summer internships where we will be taking on various human resources roles all across the country. In two weeks, I will be heading out to Ontario, California to intern with Niagara Bottling Company. I will be working in the human resources department on their workforce analytics and compensation team for 10 weeks. I’m excited to take a break from classes and to see what the west coast has in store for me, however, I will admit I’ll be taking some of my textbooks with me in case I need to reference them on a project. I’ll be sure to write a blog post about my internship experience when I return for the fall. Have a great summer everyone!

Why The Ohio State University was the Right Choice for Me

As my time in college is coming to an end, I can only reflect on how deciding to attend The Ohio State University was the best decision that I have ever made. Ohio State offered me the perfect combination of academics, athletics, and a social atmosphere. While at Ohio State, my professors challenged me day in and day out to get outside of my comfort zone. This allowed me to become a more knowledgeable and confident individual. I am positive that I would not be headed off to work for the most valuable company in the world (Microsoft) without the skills I learned in my Fisher classes.

Every weekend at Ohio State, there are dozens of things to do. Concerts, clubs, sports games, bars, or just hanging out with friends to name a few. Having the city of Columbus at your doorstep offers the same opportunities any major city can provide you.

Where else but Ohio State can you walk down the sidewalk and bump into Top 5 NFL draft picks each year? Or go to speeches from presidential candidates? Or be able to earn both a Master’s and a Bachelor’s degree in four years? The opportunities here are endless.

If you are reading this, you are probably on the fence about whether you should come to Ohio State and be a part of our MAcc Program. Remember, you can make a big school smaller, but you can’t make a small school bigger! Why be a big fish in a little pond, when you can be a big fish in a big pond?

Thanks for following along all year and feel free to reach out for any advice or questions! Go Bucks!

And, on to the Next Chapter

To say the Fisher MBA program has been a whirlwind is most definitely the understatement of the year. It has been the opportunity of a lifetime, the chance to pivot my career trajectory back toward social impact, an environment of experiential learning and continuous growth, one of the hardest things I have ever done, and, ultimately, an experience I will never regret, but rather, value now and into the future.

Looking back, I wonder how well prepared I was for this experience. The first year was definitely challenging and included many ups and downs. From constant interviews and internship rejections to an amazing entrepreneurial summer internship with NAWBO and a global consulting experience in Ethiopia and Kenya through GAP, first year included both some of the hardest and most rewarding parts of the program.

Going into the second year, after taking time to self-reflect and refocus over the summer, it was a slightly easier transition back into the academic world. However, the hunt for a full-time job was overwhelming at times. With the constant pressures surrounding us in this program, I found the time to take a step back and self-reflect to be essential for my journey.

Now, looking back, I wish I would have taken more time for this, as well as more time to develop relationships outside of student organizations/course work. This 2-year experience not only provides an education and opportunity for career growth, it is a chance to build and grow your network of personal and professional relationships with some of the most intelligent individuals you’ll ever meet.

Sitting in Gerlach Hall on this beautiful spring morning, I cannot help to embrace the bittersweet feeling of graduating and heading into the next chapter as an OSU alum. I am so excited for this next part of our journey, as my husband and I will be moving to Washington, DC where I recently accepted my dream job! I will be working with Management Sciences for Health (MSH), a global health NGO, in their operations and business development team. Without a combination of the experience in this program, along with taking time to self-reflect on why I came back to school in the first place, I would not be in this position today. To all pursuing this journey in the near future or finishing the program next year, I wish you all the best!

Where Did Two Years at Fisher Go?

Wow, I cannot believe in a less than a week, I will be graduating from The Fisher College of Business with my MBA. Where did the time go?

My incredible core team (L to R: Gustavo, Shiva, Michael, Ben and myself). We spent so much time together our first year working on projects for every class. Some of the best friends I made here at Fisher.

I still remember going through pre-term before classes started where I met my cohort and my amazing core team (picture of us above!). I felt so much energy from my peers, from professors, and from the professional staff at Fisher who would help and guide us all through two of the hardest years of our lives. That energy carried through the entire first year, and was replaced by a different, but equally amazing, type of energy in the second year where my peers and I felt more at home at Fisher and with each other.

Jeff, Nikki, Margot, Adam, and I picking apples for my birthday!

I came to business school to pick up the technical skills I didn’t learn in undergrad. As a journalism and art double major, I never touched subjects like accounting, finance, economics, or operations. Those skills, I knew, would be critical to my success in the next phase of my career.

Margot and I at one of the home football games in The Shoe.

But what I didn’t expect was how much I would grow as an individual and as a leader, and how much I would discover about myself. Within the walls of Gerlach Hall, I was exposed to topics on leadership, motivating teams, and developing subordinates. I was forced to think about who I wanted to become, what type of leader I wanted to be, and what I wanted to be remembered for. Professors challenged my ideas and views on a variety of topics, which pushed me to think differently and take a hard look at how and why I saw the world in a certain way. Sure, I gained technical skills that will undoubtedly help me after I leave Fisher, but those softer skills and self-reflection will be the driving force behind my performance as a leader in the workplace.

Meeting Anderson Cooper (for the second time!) at the ROMBA Conference in Boston.

One of the main reasons I chose Fisher was because of the casual environment. When I came to campus for Red Carpet Weekend, I felt this unique energy among the people around me. The focus was on collaboration over competition, and students were encouraged to be themselves versus trying to fit into whatever mold they thought a graduate business student should be.

My winning case competition team (L to R: myself, Matt, Sammy, and Ross).

After two years at Fisher, I cannot tell you how beneficial that feeling is. I never felt pressured to come to class in a suit every day, and I knew if I was ever having a bad day, all I had to do was walk into the Graduate Programs Office or the Office of Career Management unannounced, and one of the professional staff members would have the right words to help me through whatever I was dealing with that day. That, without a doubt, is one of the selling points of Fisher. Classes are classes, but the people who help you along the way make so much of a difference on your success.

My good friend, David, and I. We were both in Seattle last summer for our internships. He was at Starbucks and I was at Expedia.

Business school is one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. But it’s all worth it. After two years of staying up late reading cases, working on an assignment, or trying to build the perfect financial model, I am so happy with this decision. It’s one of the best I have ever made. I met my best friends at Fisher, and I know the best is only yet to come for us. Somehow, I also found time to start my own online business, which my Fisher peers and professors were instrumental in helping me get off the ground.

My dad and I in The Shoe for his first OSU football game!

And so, as I begin the next phase of my life, I leave you with this. It’s not a sales pitch for Fisher (though I do hope you consider it!). Instead, find the program that works for you. Find the energy and support I found at Fisher. Find the place that will push you harder than you ever thought possible. But most of all, find the place that feels like home. I found that at Fisher and I hope you find that too.

April at Fisher

Nice weather is back again! Although sunny days come hand in hand with rainy days, I’m excited to announce that snow has stopped, and trees are started to blossom again. While experiencing beautiful weather throughout these past few weeks, Fisher organized a couple of events that were unique in nature.

We had an Indian Festival celebration, and the Black MBAs organization’s An Afternoon of Culture. I found it quite brave from many students to stand in front of the entire Fisher student body and staff to dance and walk in a fashion catwalk. Both events included a dance out session, ethnic food and a fashion show. My fellow SMF GA Tatenda got to participate in the second one (fashion show) and I got to witness the great dances during the Indian Festival presentation.

It is great that Fisher organizes a series of activities during the year for student to participate – or in my case to observe, ha! – to get their minds out of their busy academic schedule. This past week I had two final presentations for two of my classes: Private Equity and Corporate Restructuring and Bankruptcy. It is bittersweet that classes are getting to an end, but it has been an enjoyable ride so far and I still have two more weeks until I graduate. As I type, I am thinking that I need to go find my tassel and graduation cap soon as a group of students are planning to take graduation pictures with our graduation outfits soon.

During campus tours with prospective students, sometimes we get to visit the 11th floor of Thompson library. If you come visit The Ohio State University at some point, I highly recommend you check out this view.

The Oval view from 11th floor Thompson Library

I went for a jog the other day around the Oval (as I mentioned the weather is beautiful these days), and saw students playing frisbee, reading books, just hanging out and having a good time.

Also, in my last post I mentioned I was crossing fingers to win one of the gift cards or giveaways that were distributed during the Fisher Graduate Appreciation Week (especially for one of favorite places in Columbus). Unfortunately, I did not get a gift card for the place I was hoping for but received a gift card from one that is in my top 5. Not too shabby!

Memories from the MAcc Class

It’s hard to believe that I’m sitting down writing my very last blog post of the year. I remember wondering in August how I could possibly have material to write about consistently throughout the year. Little did I know that the MAcc program is about way more than just completing 31 credit hours! I decided to reach out to some of my fellow classmates to learn about their favorite memories from their time in the MAcc program!

“I would say my favorite part has just been getting to meet so many people from all different backgrounds. Most of us probably would have never crossed paths without this program.” – Tyler Stacks, MAcc ’19

“Attending the Washington Campus during the Spring break was one of my best MAcc experiences. Through the unique learning opportunity from professionals in the accounting industry, I was able to equip myself with a well-rounded education that could not easily earn inside of the classroom as well as a strong rapport with my peers.” -Oscar Han, MAcc ’19

“My favorite memory of this year was probably the kickball tournament. We assembled a team of all our close friends and had so much fun! We ended up winning the tournament for a free lunch!” –Stephanie Saccogna, MAcc ‘19

“I had a lot of fun at Washington campus! I learned a lot of interesting views from the guest speakers and it broadened my perspective about the accounting profession. It gave me a chance to re-think my career plan for the future. Also, visiting the Capitol and alumni networking event was fun too!” -Min Kwon, MAcc ‘19

“The corn-hole event in fall was a great way to get to know my peers outside the classroom!” -Kelsey Kirkpatrick, MAcc Council President

Finally, I’ll end with mine:

My favorite memory from my time in the MAcc program has been my position as a GA in admissions. I have had the opportunity to coordinate and host prospective student visit days, where I have gotten to know students from all walks of life. It has helped me to better understand the various paths that students take that lead them to pursue a MAcc degree. The position has also helped me discover that my interests and strengths align closely with those necessary in recruiting, so I will be sure to get involved with campus recruiting when I start my career with Deloitte.

Some of the Graduate Programs Office GAs at Formal!

Internship Relocation Guide

If you went through the recruitment process this school year and secured a summer internship then you may be feeling a sense of accomplishment and relief that it has come to an end. For those who are required to relocate for the summer, finding housing is more thing on the to-do list that can be a timely challenge if you are moving to an unfamiliar location. Questions such as: Where do I live? Who can I live with? How do I find something short term? How much is this going to cost? I found myself asking these questions and more as I prepared to head to the west coast for the summer. I hope that my experience of finding summer housing can help those reading with their own moving process!

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Full disclosure, the cost of living and availability of housing will differ between locations and it is worth asking the organization if they offer relocation stipends or having corporate housing options.

Connect with Other Interns

Most organizations will utilize Linkedin Image result for connect icon or Facebook groups to introduce incoming students to their internship cohort. This is a great opportunity to expand your network and find others who are looking for roommates and housing options as well. In addition, there may be students who already live locally that can offer suggestions on where to live or provide housing resources in the area. If the employer you’re going to be working for doesn’t do this currently, ask if you can have a contact list of the incoming interns.

Short Term Options

Some apartment complexes will offer short term leases but with a premium on top of the regular rental prices. This definitely isn’t the cheapest route to take and I would research other options prior to resorting to this one. Other options include searching for colleges in the area rent out vacant dorm rooms for the summer, hotels that offer short term stay discounts, or utilizing Airbnb.

Subletting

Subletting is more than likely going to be the best value, many students will be looking to sublease their apartments for a lower price than they actually pay. Some of these offers may also include utilities or come furnished. Search for colleges within the area and see if they have an off-campus housing page. If you don’t find it at first don’t be afraid to call the university and ask for it. A quick google search can also provide many links to sublet apartments in the area.

I hope these options will help you to find the perfect place for the summer! When in doubt, don’t hesitate to reach out to family or friends who may have contacts in the area your looking for. Congratulations on the opportunity to expand your resume and gain real-world experience. Best of luck this summer my fellow interns!

Fisher Graduate Student Appreciation Week

A couple of weeks ago was Fisher Graduate Student Appreciation Week. I wasn’t aware of this precious week before starting my Master’s program but it is honestly a golden opportunity for student to win free prizes and get fantastic discounts in many restaurants in town!

Throughout the week, Fisher had a random drawing every day of the week to determine the lucky winners! Some examples of things you could win included: hot/cold tumbler, free food (gift cards), free coffee and donuts, among others! One place offering a free tour was Watershed Distillery, a micro-distillery in Columbus, owned by a Fisher alum Gregory Lehman. Among others, I was happy to hear that one of my favorite restaurants, Brassica, was participating in the gift card drawing process.

In fact, I had just been in Brassica the other weekend with a couple of friends from the program, and of course, our meal was delicious.

After my meal, I definitely felt appreciated as a Fisher graduate student! 🙂