Meet Maryland Smith’s MBA Class of 2018

University of Maryland's Smith School of Business

University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business

DC RANKS AMONG THE TOP METROS FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Perhaps the most underrated aspect of the Smith program is its close proximity to the Washington D.C. metroplex. The area is home to 15 Fortune 500 companies worth a collective $380 billion in revenue annually, including Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Lockheed Martin, Capital One, Northrop Grumman, and Marriott. Beyond financial and defense contractors (along with government agencies and think tanks), the area has also emerged as an entrepreneurial hub. In 2016, the Kauffman Foundation ranked the DC metro area #1 in its annual Kauffman Index of Growth Entrepreneurship based on three indicators: startup growth, share of “scaleups” (startups transforming from small to medium or large-sized firms), and density of high growth companies. In other words, DC finished better than big names like San Jose, Austin, and New York City, with recent area success stories including Blackboard and LivingSocial. Not surprisingly, the area has also attracted investors, with the Metroplex finishing eighth in the world for venture capital according to a 2016 study from the Martin Prosperity Institute.

With 30,000 of Smith’s 55,000 alumni living in the Metroplex, Terp MBAs are poised to capitalize on networks that are difficult to find anywhere else. “ Smith makes sure its students are able to tap into the immediate UMD alumni network and develop connections that continue to guide careers long after graduation,” says Erin Moore, who was previously a sustainability engagement manager at Cornell before coming to Maryland.

Washington, DC

Washington, DC

But it’s not all work and no play in the Metroplex, with the area’s biggest attractions including the National Mall and the Smithsonian Institution (not to mention the spring Cherry Blossoms). That doesn’t even count nearby Baltimore, with its grand inner harbor and stunning National Aquarium. “There is always something to do and you are sure to find a hobby that you enjoy,” adds Isaac Ashong, a Ghana native who speaks four languages. “The location also provides access to some of the best companies in the United States.”

RATHORE’S DREAM: HE’S NOTHING LIKE WHAT HE USED TO BE TWO YEARS AGO.”

The program is also renowned for its experiential learning model, which rests on the themes of globalization, entrepreneurship and technology (known as GET) that are woven throughout the curriculum. To further this hands-on mission, the program offers benefits like the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship to support student startups and facilitate networking across the Metroplex and Netcentricity Laboratories, which brings together faculty, students, businesses and government for cutting edge research in areas like eCommerce and financial trading. This real world focus, coupled with the chance to partner with leading companies in the area, was what separated Smith from the pack for Sean Gilson, a tax analyst from nearby Frederick. “I was impressed by the seven different experiential learning courses that were offered via the Smith Experience,” he notes. “As an MBA focused on finance, I was immediately drawn to the Mayer Fund, which allows students to fine-tune their asset management skills while learning to make critical investment decisions in a global marketplace. I knew that all of these aspects combined would best prepare me for a successful road ahead post-graduation.”

terrapin

For the Class of 2018, the Smith MBA community is also marked for its inclusiveness. Lee, for example, touts the program for its 50-50 by 2020 initiative, which seeks to promote gender equity at the school in the next four years. Rakita Garner, who hopes to combine her interests in employee retention with training after graduation, can see the difference. “I chose Smith over other programs because I really wanted to be a part of a school that valued minority and women perspectives in not only the classroom but within business as a whole,” she says. “Smith sees the value in creating equal opportunities and it really shined through in my interactions with the admission committee and alumni.”

Looking towards graduation, the Class of 2018 is hoping the next two years produce growth. Adoum, for one, would like his peers think of him as someone “destined for great works.” Goodard wants to be remembered as a “good teammate who helped my peers, asked the right questions, and always found ways to have fun.” However, Rathore takes a more transformative tack from his classmates. What would he like his classmates to say? “He’s nothing like what he used to be two years ago.”

“I embrace change and I believe with the right efforts and right direction, changes can do wonders,” he explains. “Where we all are right now is certainly because of our efforts. At Smith I want to amplify my efforts to catalyze the process of personal transformation, so that when I look back, I can say, for sure, that I have grown for good.”

DON’T MISS: THE STEREOTYPE-DEFYING MBAS IN THE CLASS OF 2018

To read profiles of incoming Smith students — along with their advice on tackling the GMAT, applications, and interviews — click on the links below.

Zane Adoum / Laurel, MD

Isaac Ashong / Accra, Ghana

Staci Bank / Plainview, NY

Rakita Garner / Gaston, NC

Sean Gilson / Frederick, MD

Colin L. Goddard / Kenya

Ryan Hagemeyer / Willmar, MN

Catherine Lee / El Dorado Hills, CA

Aurin Lewis / Bronx, NY

Erin Moore / Greensboro, NC

Rahul Rathore / Indore, India

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