Meet The Kenan-Flagler MBA Class of 2017

Brett McFarland

University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School 

Hometown: Houston, Texas

Undergraduate School and Major: Ohio State University, Finance

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: Precision Castparts, Financial Analyst

Recalling your own experience, what advice do you have for applicants who are preparing for either the GMAT or the GRE? Stay persistent. Continue to work problems over and over until you understand them, and give yourself time to master concepts. Also, if the first GMAT test doesn’t go as well for you, there is nothing wrong with taking it again until you feel comfortable. Just give yourself time for the entire process.

Based on your own selection process, what advice do you have for applicants who are trying to draw up a list of target schools to which to apply? Do tons of research, from as many sources as possible. Utilize online rankings, school presentations, and school visits to see if the school is the right fit. Know what is important to you, and see how the school ranks in those categories. Also, see if the area is a place you can imagine living for two years – they will go by quickly, but you still want to experience life outside the classroom.

What advice do you have for applicants in actually applying to a school, writing essays, doing admission interviews, and getting recommenders to write letters on your behalf?  Get as much accomplished as early as possible. Give yourself plenty of time to write well thought out essays and give your recommender plenty of opportunity to write your letter of recommendation essay. Also, don’t forget to get a thank you gift for your recommenders! 

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? UNC is highly ranked for its focus on leader and leadership development, and that is something I wanted to be a part of. Additionally, the school spirit, Southern hospitality and ease of meeting people here makes it a great place for someone who is traveling far from home to attend school.

What would you ultimately like to achieve before you graduate? Before I graduate, I want to expand my professional network, take classes that will challenge me like never before, and help make the community around the school a better place than before I arrived on campus.