Meet Harvard’s MBA Class of 2017

Brandon Kaufmann

Harvard Business School 

Hometown: Denver, Colorado

Undergraduate School and Major: Brown University 2012, Dual degree in Economics and International Relations

Employer and Job Title Since Graduation: Equity Capital Markets Analyst for Morgan Stanley in Menlo Park, CA (3 years)

Recalling your experience, what advice do you have for applicants for either the GMAT or the GRE? I took the GMAT while I was still an undergraduate student. I found this helpful to take the test while I was still well-versed in studying for and taking exams because it was a skill very easily forgotten when I started full-time work. I found it helpful to pick a date 2-3 months ahead and work backwards from that date to plan my studying preparation. I took an online Kaplan GMAT prep course which was really helpful for asking questions and having a great resource of practice exams to highlight my weaknesses to improve upon. Lastly, I would recommend taking either exam at a relatively lower stressful time in your life, meaning avoid right before or after final exams or periods of work which you know are seasonally busier than others.

Based on your selection process, what advice do you have for applicants who are trying to draw up a list of target schools to apply? I think it’s important to think not only about the school you will be attending, but its location. Not only is that key for preferences regarding weather and things like that, but also the industries that each particular city is well known for or has an abundance of career opportunities in. Local resources are the best available options you have for market research, career opportunities, etc.

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?   The key thing that I focused on in my application, interviews and recommendation requests was honesty.  Rather than focus on what you believe people want to hear, instead prioritize your own voice, your values, and your priorities. I wanted to be as genuine as possible in my essay.  Additionally, when I selected my recommendation writers, I tried to match people with whom my interactions directly related to the topics and experiences I referenced not only in my essay but also in other parts of my application.  Through this I tried to be as consistent as possible among the various portions of my application.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? The emphasis on the case method at HBS, as well as the large class size, was the most important to me when I chose to attend HBS.  I had taken Socratic seminars in my undergraduate program and really enjoyed participating in that class format. The large class size at HBS is also appealing to me because I am interested in meeting people with as diverse set of backgrounds as possible. I figured a larger class size increased the likelihood of accomplishing this goal, and I definitely have found that to be true.

What would you ultimately like to achieve before you graduate? I would like to take advantage of as many opportunities to travel and work outside of the United States as possible during my two year program. Secondly, I look forward to utilizing the leadership training courses as well as the alumni network to decide what next step in my career, both location and industry, will be best for me.