Meet Columbia’s MBA Class of 2017

Marqui Mapp Taylor-Columbia-PoetsAndQuants-Classof2017

Marqui Mapp-Taylor

 

Columbia Business School

Hometown:  Williamstown, NJ

Current City and State: West New York, NJ

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Pennsylvania, Communications and Political Science Double Major

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

CBS News: Broadcast Marketing Associate Producer

WLUC-TV: Reporter

Freelance Digital Journalist

CNBC Associate Producer (I produced segments for Maria Bartiromo and then Becky Quick on the nationally-syndicated program “On The Money”)

Recalling your own experience, what advice do you have for applicants who are preparing for either the GMAT or the GRE? I took the GMAT twice. I hired a tutor to prepare for it, which didn’t work out well for me for various reasons. I’d suggest giving self-study a go first because taking the GMAT is an expensive process. If you decide to get a tutor, definitely interview at least 3 tutors and talk to their references.

Of course, practice solving GMAT questions with a timer. You need to answer questions under two minutes each on average, which leads me to my next point.  Make sure to finish the GMAT, even if you have to guess some answers. That can give your score a major boost.

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 in Management Leadership for Tomorrow MBA Prep, which helped us prioritize what we wanted personally in a school and rank schools based on that information in an Excel sheet. I personally didn’t consider too many schools because I knew I wanted to be in NYC, with access to business leaders and top companies. Outside of rankings, some things to consider are location. What the program is known for? How big/strong is the alumni network? Which companies regularly recruit on campus, the size of the class, etc. I’d also recommend keeping an open mind and visiting all the schools you’re even remotely interested in. Culture and fit do make the difference in the end, 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? If a school is your top pick, say it. Tell admissions and current students…over and over again.

In addition to talking with admission officers, cultivate relationships with students at the schools you’re interested in. A lot of times, they recommend future classmates to admissions. Also, once you’ve made a few connections, don’t be afraid to ask for their help in proofreading your essays and preparing you for your interview. They’ve been through the process, let them help you.

This might seem obvious, but it’s not. Applicants should ask colleagues who loved their work and with whom they have a rapport to be their recommenders. Don’t feel obligated to ask your direct manager or an old boss you worked with for a long time to write your recommendation.

Above all, know your story, which should consist of who you are and why an MBA now at X school. This will help in writing your essays and preparing for interviews. Practice makes perfect on this one.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? The people! I got into all three schools I applied to; but in the end, I felt at home at Columbia Business School. I loved the students and alumni, enjoyed the classes, and the admission officers were great. It just felt like a tight-knit community that would be really supportive as I made a career change. It doesn’t hurt that it’s a top-ranked school in NYC with tons of connections.

What would you ultimately like to achieve before you graduate? I’d love to have a start-up established before I graduate and to get accepted into the Columbia Business Lab.

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