Meet Ohio State’s MBA Class of 2018

Garrett Michael Black

Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business

Hometown: San Jose, CA

Education:

Brigham Young University, BS Psychology

The Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business

The Ohio State University, College of Public Health

Employment:  Baylor College of Medicine, Research Coordinator

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: I work hard for success and learn from failure instead of letting it define me.

Fun fact about yourself: I have been guiding white water rafting trips since I was 12 years old.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: In academics, the publications I have participated in have been a great accomplishment, but what I consider my most important accomplishment is the respect and trust I have worked to gain as a recent graduate among tenured professors and colleagues. I began as a volunteer research assistant and have worked my way into a project coordinator, being recognized by for the value I could add in a short time.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants?  I don’t think it can be overstated that you should find the right match for you personally. To do that, invest a little financially in your applications (after all, you’ll be investing a lot in tuition). Don’t underestimate yourself. Apply broadly to both reach schools as well as schools where you are confident an acceptance letter will be extended. After knowing your options, consider the school as a whole (opportunities, ranking, reputation, financial commitment, alumni network, scholarships, mission statement, student body, etc.) instead of simply picking the best-ranked school you’ve been admitted to. All of the top MBA programs can get you where you want to go, but your personal success will largely be dependent on your fit with the business school you choose.

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? I chose The Ohio State University because it was the best fit for the goals my wife and I set for the time I would dedicate to graduate school. Ohio State and the city of Columbus had the right balance of high-standard education, financial aid and affordability, and career advancement opportunities for both my wife and I. Most importantly, my goals and vision, and that of the business school, were well aligned which made me feel immediately welcome and involved.

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? I’ve always wanted to improve the healthcare industry. Following graduate school, I would like to work for a medical innovation or biotech company, such as Johnson & Johnson, to improve operations management and efficiency. Eventually, I want to advance my career to a position where I can participate in making decisions about the direction of the medical innovation industry.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program? I would like my peers to say that they would be happy to work with me following graduation, not because of friendship, but because of the attributes they watched me demonstrate throughout the program.