Meet Virginia Darden’s MBA Class of 2017

Mark Schmid

University of Virginia, Darden School of Business 

Hometown: Granville, OH

Undergraduate School and Major: Georgia Tech, Mechanical Engineering

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: Caterpillar, Inc.

Started as an Associate Engineer, promoted to Sr. Associate Engineer and then to Design Engineer.

Recalling your own experience, what advice do you have for applicants who are preparing for either the GMAT or the GRE? Pick a test date, make a study schedule, and stick to it! Also, pay more attention to the free GMAC practice tests. The other practice tests by other companies don’t simulate the real test nearly as well.

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? In the year or so prior to applying, try to make it to see the campus of each school you may be interested in. Definitely do research online and by contacting alumni or current students. Try to narrow your list down to schools you would really be excited to go to. The application process is stressful and expensive, so you don’t want to apply for any schools that wouldn’t be a good fit.

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? Start early! It can be overwhelming in the last few weeks before applications are due. Get as much done ahead of time as possible, like your resume, letters of recommendations, and the essays (if they are available). For interviews, definitely practice! You can find out how the interviews are structured by researching online or talking to alumni. Always remember to be yourself; admissions committees are trying to find people who will be a good fit, so if you “fool” them, you may end up at a school where you aren’t going to be happy.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? There are a few big reasons. First, the culture at Darden is wonderful. People genuinely want to help you succeed, whether they are fellow students, faculty, staff, or even other people around Charlottesville. The students at Darden are also a very tight community (they seem to do everything together!) which is really fun. Second, Charlottesville is beautiful, relaxing, and full of activities. I also have family nearby in Virginia, who needless to say were very pro-Darden!

What would you ultimately like to achieve before you graduate? I would like to grow as a person and as a business professional. I’d like to graduate with the confidence to enter the world of business and make an immediate impact. I would also like to build a network of friends and colleagues that I will take with me into my new career.