Meet Yale SOM’s MBA Class of 2017

Alice Xiang

 

Yale School of Management and Yale Law School (Joint Degree)

Hometown: Kingsport, TN

Undergraduate School and Major:

Harvard College, A.B. in Economics (2013)

Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, A.M. in Statistics (2013)

Oxford University, MSc in Economics for Development (2014)

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

LinkedIn, Data Science Intern

Department of Justice, Civil Appellate Intern

Recalling your own experience, what advice do you have for applicants who are preparing for either the GMAT or the GRE? For standardized exams, I find it most helpful to take as many practice tests as I have time for and to review any questions I miss.

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? I was actually already enrolled in the law school at Yale when I decided to pursue the JD/MBA program. As a result, my chief criterion for drawing up a list of target schools was whether there was a joint program available with the law school. I ended up only applying to SOM though given the unique offerings of the accelerated joint program.

Generally though, I would recommend doing as much research as possible into the schools and making a list of what you really want to get out of business school. Talk to alumni and current students at the schools to get a sense for which schools best fit your goals.

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? I would recommend setting aside a substantial amount of time to writing your application essay(s) and going through multiple drafts. Think hard about your future plans and why you want to go to business school. Get friends or family members who really know you to look over the drafts to make sure they capture your authentic voice.

For interviews, I would recommend carefully reviewing everything on your resume, doing mock interviews, and practicing behavioral questions.

For letters of recommendation, inform your recommenders well in advance and give them information about why you want to go to business school. Perhaps even send them some of your application materials so they will know the context in which their letters will be viewed. If possible, try to meet with them in person to discuss your interests in the MBA program.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? I was drawn to SOM’s focus on creating a global and socially conscious student body and curriculum. SOM seemed to be an exciting environment to meet innovative students from around the world, build management skills, and learn about business strategies. Also, compared to other joint programs, the accelerated JD/MBA program at Yale is a really unique opportunity to pursue both degrees in an integrated 3-year program. I think the ability to fully participate both communities during the latter two years of the program really allows joint students to get the best of both worlds.

What would you ultimately like to achieve before you graduate?

As a JD/MBA student, I hope to find ways to integrate my legal and business training, build lasting friendships and mentorships in both schools, and leverage the many curricular and extracurricular offerings the programs offer.