"Heads Carolina, Tails California" - My Journey to a Top MBA Program

About one year ago, I made the decision to attend Duke University's Fuqua School of Business to pursue an MBA. The decision was the culmination of months of business school research, applications, interviews, rejections, and acceptances. Following my decision, I wrote the following article, but never got around to publishing it because of the chaos that entered my life. At that time, within a few short months I would be leaving my job, leaving China and repatriating to the US, living nomadically in California and Utah with a family of five, finding a suitable school for my children in North Carolina, and finding a place to live. Not to mention the time I was spending to get back into school-mode after being in the professional world for over eight years.

As my first year at Fuqua comes to a close, I have been reflecting on the past year, and I was reminded of the un-published article. In hindsight, I have seen the huge blessings that have come to me and my family as a result of my decision to go to Fuqua. With far too much that I could write about related to my first-year experience, I will save that for another time. For now, I'd like to take care of un-finished business and share the article below with you.

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A hit song from country music singer Jo Dee Messina contains this lyric:

Heads Carolina, tails California

Somewhere greener, somewhere warmer

Up in the mountains, down by the ocean

Where, it don't matter as long as we're going

Somewhere together, I've got a quarter

Heads Carolina, tails California.

I was in junior high when this song debuted. My music interests at that time were pretty much limited to songs produced by Dr. Dre, so it wasn't until 10 years later while in college that I heard this song for the first time. And it struck a chord with me. Perhaps its was because I knew what living in California was like, having spent the first 19 years of my life there. Or perhaps it was because I was eager to travel, and the Carolinas were a place where I wanted to spend more time.

Another 10 years down the road to a day a few months ago, this song resurfaced from my memory bank. I was in the process of deciding the school I would attend to pursue an MBA. Coincidentally, I was choosing between schools in Carolina (North) and California. I felt very fortunate to be in the position I was in. However, the path leading to that decision was not smooth sailing.

An MBA initially became a goal of mine while I was a Management undergrad at Brigham Young University. It wasn't until nearly a decade later in August 2016 that I felt ready to apply. I had created a compelling candidacy for myself for the world's best programs: I excelled in my undergraduate studies, I worked for a multi-national Fortune 500 company, I gained expertise in various functions and roles, I worked on business problems around the world, I achieved fluency in Mandarin Chinese and worked in China for nearly five years to put that speaking ability to use. To cap those off, I achieved a GMAT score that was higher than the average scores at all of the world's top business schools.

I applied to three household-name MBA programs. Countless hours were spent researching; understanding the curriculum, experiential learning programs, and clubs; writing and re-writing my applications and essays; and checking in with the people writing my recommendation letters. When the grueling process was over, I was confident that I would hear good news from each school.

After weeks of waiting, I finally heard back from the schools. It wasn't the response I expected.

And that was it. No feedback. No discussion.

My applications, essays, resume, and background didn't even spark interest to discuss my candidacy through an interview.

Not even an interview? Really?

I was crushed! I felt that the work and effort I had put in over the years was all for naught. I couldn't help but think to myself, "You know, the end result would have been the same if I had flunked out of college, bombed the GMAT, never worked a day in my life, rolled out of bed moments before the deadline and half-heartily BS'd my way through the application."

Those were some low days.

My family and friends picked me up off the ground and patched my wounds. They reconfirmed the value that I could bring to MBA programs. They encouraged me to dust myself off and try again. In timely fashion, around this time I read a statement from LinkedIn Influencer Liz Ryan:

"Only the people who get you, deserve you after all!"

The schools that rejected me didn't get me, and therefore didn't deserve me.

With renewed enthusiasm for my MBA dreams, I started a second round of school research and applications. Before diving in, I reflected on my round one application experience. I tried to figure out where I went wrong, and planned to make the necessary adjustments for round two.

During my reflection, I came to the realization that there are thousands of exceptional MBA applicants throughout the world, each that has a unique perspective, background, and set of experiences. Achievements based on the "averages" are not enough to get into a great program. How can an admissions committee say that one person's achievements under one set of circumstances are better than another person's achievements, who comes from an entirely different set of circumstances? They can't! So the application is the forum to create a story and vision that is compelling.

For round two, I worked on my story. I tied it to why the MBA was critical for me, and how I would use it to benefit organizations and communities. I casted a larger net, applying to six schools. With improvements in my applications and an increased number of schools, I submitted my round two applications confident that I would receive positive results.

And I did! Four out of the six schools extended invitations to interview. As for the two schools who rejected me...really? Not even an interview? Whatever! You don't deserve me either!

Three out of four schools interviewed me in-person through their admissions officers and alumni network. The results were three acceptance offers!

One school conducted the interview via Skype. The result? Wait-listed!

With three acceptances from excellent programs, I decided there was no need to remain on a waitlist, so I withdrew my interest from the fourth school. I felt extremely fortunate and blessed to be in my position. In the span of six months, I had gone from defeated to triumphant. I looked forward with great anticipation for the upcoming two years. But I had a very difficult decision in front of me.

I continued my research of each school. I spoke with admissions officers, financial aid offices, current students, and alumni. I re-connected with my interviewers to pick their brains. I consulted with my family and tried as much as possible to match their life activities to where we would live for my schooling. After this research, the list of three schools narrowed down to two--one in Carolina and one in California.

Enter in Jo Dee Messina. As the decision loomed in my brain, I couldn't help but sing her song out loud.

So, where will I be spending the next two years?

Heads!

#FuquaBound #MBA #Classof2019