Meet Georgetown McDonough’s MBA Class of 2017

Gerald Gangaram 

Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business 

Hometown: New York City, NY

Undergraduate School and Major: United States Military Academy (USMA) in West Point, NY  — Geospatial Information Sciences (GIS)

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

U.S. Army Aviation Officer: Company Commander, Executive Officer, Battalion Adjutant/Personnel Officer, Platoon Leader, and AH-64D Apache Helicopter Pilot

Recalling your own experience, what advice do you have for applicants who are preparing for either the GMAT or the GRE? Know what the deadlines are for the schools you are applying to and do some reverse planning to give yourself adequate time to study. Three months would be good enough in my opinion.

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? Remember to not only consider the school’s reputation, but also the location. This is particularly important for your networking, desired social activities, and living arrangements for any family members you may be bringing with you.

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? Practice your interview with someone else. You can look up interview questions online, some even program-specific, and have someone ask you in a back-and-forth setting. Being comfortable selling yourself takes some quick practice.

Meet with your supervisors before having them write your letters of recommendation.  Hopefully they have been able to witness your strengths first hand, but it always is better to quickly conduct a personal meeting to remind them of what you hope they will include.  Finally, give them as much time as possible and be sure to gently follow-up as deadlines approach.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? Georgetown University has a great academic program, a reputable alumni network, and a strong location in Washington that provides a great opportunity for future career growth for me and my wife.

What would you ultimately like to achieve before you graduate? I intend to gain a formal, prestigious education while engaging in amazingly memorable experiences with my peers and alumni, ultimately expanding my network and professional horizons.