Meet The Incoming Haas Class of 2017

Joanna Shujman

University of California-Berkeley, Haas School of Business

Hometown: Altamonte Springs, FL

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Pennsylvania – Anthropology; Cinema Studies

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: Deloitte Consulting – Senior Consultant; Consultant; Human Capital Analyst; Tribeca Film – Acquisitions Intern

Recalling your own experience, what advice do you have for applicants who are preparing for either the GMAT or the GRE? Keep your chin up! The GMAT is a special test, and it’s trying its best to psyche you out. It’s not just testing what you know – it’s also testing how you react. The test is designed to create a stressful atmosphere and then see how you cope with it. As you’re studying, don’t just focus on learning the subject matter. Put the same level of effort into mastering your sense of timing and ability to move on from questions that you don’t immediately know. Most importantly, stay positive and know that you can absolutely do this.  So many people experience doubts and anxiety when preparing. If you notice those feelings creeping in, take a deep breath and remind yourself that it’s just a test. Keep it in perspective, and the rest will fall into place.

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? Take a moment to consider the following distinction: Where you think you’re supposed to go vs. where you feel a connection. Now is the time to get in tune with yourself and what you’re honestly looking for in an MBA experience. Think about the type of environment that will help you flourish, in terms of class size, location, culture, etc. Once you’ve identified a few schools that seem to match your requirements, talk to as many current students and alumni as possible. With each conversation, you’ll start to understand some of the intangible aspects that separate one school from another. Pay attention to how you feel during each interaction, and go with the school where you feel like you can be your authentic self. At the end of the day, the biggest factor in having a fulfilling experience will be your connection to the school and to the people around you – not rankings.

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? Apply only when you’re ready. There is no rush, and the application process will be immensely easier if you are confident in your reasons for wanting an MBA. Have a solid grasp of your own story and be able to connect the dots between your past experience and where you want to go in the future.  Help your essay readers, interviewers, and recommenders out by explaining clearly and concisely why an MBA is the right experience to bridge the gap between your past and your future.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? I first became interested in Haas because of its location in the San Francisco Bay Area. As I continued researching, I fell in love with the school’s culture. I felt extremely comfortable with each person I met from Haas. With each conversation I had with students and alumni, two key themes emerged: An extremely supportive culture and an emphasis on exploration. I wanted a program that would challenge me to think differently about how I view the world, and I loved that Haas’s small yet incredibly diverse student body would expose me to a wide range of career paths. I wanted my MBA experience to be transformational, and Haas represented the perfect fit.

What would you ultimately like to achieve before you graduate? I want to challenge myself to take greater risks and push myself to uncover passions that may not be obvious. I want to build a foundation of knowledge that I can draw upon in any situation going forward, and I want to make lifelong friends from all walks of life who will continue to challenge and inspire each other throughout our careers.