Meet Yale SOM’s MBA Class Of 2022

Yale SOM Classroom

4) Holistic Philosophy: “SOM’s approach of understanding academic material from the perspective of all parties involved will allow me to better understand how my own results impact the world around me.”
Brett Davidson (’22)

“In my six years in the working world, I’ve come to appreciate the elasticity of my liberal arts education; by far the most valuable thing I learned in college was how to apply lessons learned in one subject area to something completely different. Given the number of unexpected turns my career has already taken, the integrated curriculum appealed to my desire for more interdisciplinary thinking.”
Anna Lincoln-Barnes (’22)

5) Voices: “My favorite SOM tradition is Voices. Voices is a weekly event in which three of our classmates share their stories. I believe Voices represents our school’s culture in many ways. As a class, we value getting to know other, and Voices provide a platform for students to connect with one another in meaningful ways.”
Giovanni Cruz (’20)

“Voices is SOM’s traditional opportunity for MBA students to share their personal stories and experiences (their voice!) with each other. I’ve found it really meaningful to be able to hear from both classmates I know well and those I only know in passing about their individual journeys. I shared my Voices a few weeks ago and felt pretty nervous and vulnerable ahead of doing so, but friends and classmates I’d never met before were incredibly supportive and helpful before and after. To me, Voices is SOM in a nutshell: it has given me both a chance to reflect on and come to new realizations about my own story, and to be overwhelmed and reassured by the thoughtfulness, warmth and connected experiences of old and new friends across our community.”
Helen Knight (’20)

“During Welcome Weekend, we got to attend a session called “Voices”—essentially a club where SOM students share stories about themselves. I loved the tone the speakers took; during the MBA admissions process, I often felt like I was seeing the most polished, professional versions of everyone I met, and this event where people were raw and vulnerable was such a breath of fresh air. I’m excited to hear from more of my classmates.”
Anna Lincoln-Barnes (’22)

Yale SOM Walkway. Photo Credit: Tony Rinaldo

ADVICE TO FUTURE SOM APPLICANTS

What can this year’s applicants do to increase their odds of landing a spot in Yale SOM’s Class of 2023? This is what spring graduates had to say:

“My best advice would be to be thoughtful about your story. Make sure to spend time thinking deeply about how the decisions you’ve made so far (both personally and professionally) connect with why you want to pursue an MBA and what you’re looking to do afterward. Having a consistent, well-thought-out story will not only help you succeed in the application process but will be helpful as you start to navigate career options post-MBA and beyond.”
Giovanni Cruz (’20)

“Really take the time and put in the effort to reflect on your goals and how this specific program can help you achieve them. Reach out to current students and alumni and visit if possible—get a sense for the school’s culture and why others have self-selected into this environment. Also, make sure to sample all three legendary New Haven pizzas and be ready to explain your preference in your interview (just kidding! But you should try the pizza!).”
Helen Knight (’20)

“Many MBA applicants, particularly those to Yale, are seeking to make a positive societal impact through their careers in one form or another. One thing I would recommend to such applicants is not to focus so much on the ‘what’ of social impact, such as the sector or geography, but rather the ‘how’ of social impact. By this, I mean to consider your personal theory of change when it comes to impact and where you may have a competitive advantage or interest. For example, you may want to drive social impact through impact investing, advocacy for policy change, effective altruism, or corporate social responsibility. Having a grasp on the ‘how’ will allow you to better understand what skills you already possess. Even more importantly, it will show you what skills you want to focus on and as such how to optimize your time within an MBA program.”
Tony Senanayake (’20)

What led the Yale SOM Class of 2022 to pursue an MBA degree? What programs did they consider? What was the toughest question they were asked in the admissions process? How did they determine the right school fit? Find out answers to these questions and many more by clicking the student links below.