Meet Vanderbilt’s Owen MBA Class of 2017

Keiffer Garton

Vanderbilt University, Owen Graduate School of Management

Hometown: Castle Rock, CO

Undergraduate School and Major:  University of Pennsylvania, Philosophy, Politics & Economics

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Hilton Worldwide – Revenue Management Consultant

Navigant Consulting – Senior Consultant

Recalling your own experience, what advice do you have for applicants who are preparing for either the GMAT or the GRE? Plan time into your daily schedule to study and make sure you stick to it.

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? Focus on what is most important to you when looking for a program. Schools offer various attractive traits and you must decide which ones you think will give you the experience you are looking for.

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? Give yourself time to commit to all steps of the process so you do not end up having to cut corners in order to meet a deadline.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? Vanderbilt offered what I was looking for in an overall experience. I played quarterback in college and I really enjoyed the teamwork that’s involved in athletics. Vanderbilt puts a big emphasis on teamwork in its educational approach, so that was very appealing to me. The intimate size at the Owen School provided the personal touch that I desired coupled with the strategy focus I wanted to pursue. And the school’s location in Nashville made it a perfect fit.

What would you ultimately like to achieve before you graduate? I want to use my two years at the Owen School to continue to develop my leadership abilities and find a fulfilling career path.