Meet Emory Goizueta’s MBA Class of 2017

Madison Akerblom  

Emory University, Goizueta Business School   

Hometown: Pacific Palisades, CA

Undergraduate School and Major: Vanderbilt University, Economics

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Raymond James- The Atlanta Consulting Group (Atlanta, GA), Performance Analyst

Hall Capital Partners, LLC (San Francisco, CA), Portfolio Management Analyst

Recalling your own experience, what advice do you have for applicants who are preparing for either the GMAT or the GRE? I believe that programs such as Manhattan GMAT and Kaplan are very beneficial and can help you stay on track while balancing work and social schedules. Take many practice tests and don’t get discouraged! I scored better on my actual GMAT than any practice test I had taken, and my practice test scores fluctuated quite a bit. Time management during the test, such as which question you should be working on at a certain point during the test, greatly improved my score.

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? Consider where the school is located since it likely has ties to the regional employers (with many top schools having ties nationwide). If you know what function or industry you want to work in, you can narrow down your list of schools to those that specialize in those areas. Consider what your goals are in attending business school, whether it is leveraging the social and professional network or improving an area of academic weakness.

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? First, figure out and perfect your story. This will help with essays, interviews, and networking activities as you progress in the application process. Business schools want to know about your skills and previous work experiences, but also about your personality and interests. I also recommend attending any and all networking and recruiting events so the admissions staff gets to know you from the beginning of the application process.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? My background is in finance, yet I want to switch into marketing. Goizueta has a very reputable marketing program, especially in Marketing Analytics. I was very drawn to the small class sizes, which are uncommon in many business schools based in large global cities. Atlanta is home to many Fortune 500 companies, and Goizueta has strong connections to many of the top employers in the city. Atlanta also has an energetic social scene, as well as hundreds of amazing restaurants.

What would you ultimately like to achieve before you graduate? Going to business school is an incredible opportunity to build a foundation of skills and meet new people, both of which can help you acquire and succeed in your full time job. I want to build my network by forming new professional and personal relationships with alumni and current students. I hope to travel and further my understanding of international business leadership, and I want to take advantage of many of the leadership opportunities that Goizueta offers. I hope all of this helps me land an awesome job in Atlanta or Nashville!