‘The Perfect Place For Exploration’: 3 Tuck MBAs On Choosing The Right School, Imposter Syndrome & The Tuck Experience

Here in Admissions, we know choosing the right MBA program can be one of the hardest decisions of your life. From the academic environment and career services to community and culture, there are many factors to consider when choosing the right MBA program for you.

We sat down with current Tuck students Andrew Key, Ania Aliev, and Abby Rohman—who are pursuing careers in nonprofit consulting, entrepreneurship, and health care, respectively—to see if they could shed light on why they chose to pursue an MBA, what stood out to them about Tuck, and their advice for prospective MBAs who may be feeling imposter syndrome. From a “life-changing class” to a “culture of co-investment,” the three offer detailed highlights from their Tuck MBA experience thus far.

 

ANDREW KEY T’23

“Just as you (probably) would not write a fifty-item checklist for a new friend, focus on your key non-negotiables and operate with an open mind from there. Like friends, the schools with which you click might surprise you.”

Career/Industry: Consulting/Nonprofit

Hometown/state/country: Gaithersburg, MD USA

Undergraduate Education: Cornell University, BS, Industrial and Labor Relations

Prior Employment: Consultant, KPMG. Advised large enterprise clients through their digital transformations of their HR, Finance, and Supply Chain functions.

Tuck Activities: Diversity Conference co-chair; Low Income/First Generation at Tuck (LIFT) co-chair; Consortium for Graduate Study in Management co-liaison; Non-Profit Board fellow; Center for Business, Government & Society fellow; Study Group manager, Tuck Business Bridge; Tripod Hockey

Summer Internship: Consultant, The Bridgespan Group. Helped nonprofit client operationalize a new service delivery model as part of a strategic refresh.   

Favorite course at Tuck: Corporate Valuation; Managing for Social Impact; Countries and Companies in the International Economy

After Tuck: Consultant, The Bridgespan Group

What made you decide to pursue an MBA? 

I had an internship at The Aspen Institute’s Initiative on Financial Security that really reframed for me the ways in which I could contribute to societal good. I no longer had to become a policy analyst or a speechwriter (or specifically a Sam Seaborn for my fellow West Wing fans out there). I saw that MBAs in the public, private, and social sectors could speak a common language and get things done, leveraging the individual strengths of the various sectors for a comprehensive solution. 

This latter approach resonated better with me in terms of a theory of change as well as in terms of the professional experiences that I could potentially have.

Why Tuck?

After setting my personal non-negotiables (top program, explicit focus on cross-sector collaboration, small class size), I knew I was optimizing for happiness. Tuck quickly established itself as the far-and-away leader on that dimension. While I technically applied to multiple schools, in my heart of hearts, I only ever truly applied to Tuck.

I loved that it is a community of people who specifically wanted this experience; a “24/7 MBA” in a small town off the beaten track, and that they were willing to uproot themselves in order to get it. And based on the levels of alumni engagement, it was clear that the attachment to this community had real staying power—it was not just something you did to help two years go by more pleasantly. By going to Tuck, you were expanding your identity for life.    

What have been a few highlights of your Tuck experience so far? 

As someone who earned his high school varsity letter in debate, going into a real Division I locker room and hitting the ice beneath the jumbotron for Tripod tryouts (everyone gets picked, they just want to evenly distribute the lucky few who went to ice rink birthday parties as kids) was easily my first Friday Night Lights-sort of experience. That was just a really, really cool moment, and I am absolutely going to hang my framed hockey jersey one day.

More substantively, I remain in awe of the heart that every one of my classmates brought to our hybrid acting/leadership development/public speaking course, Communicating with Presence. The confluence of sincere reflection and the courage to publicly share one’s true self-caused emotional tears to be a regular byproduct of class time. Oftentimes this came just minutes after a good run of laughing tears because the radical shedding of self-consciousness and hesitation required us to be plenty silly. I cannot tell you the first thing of how/why this class works, only that Professor James Rice is a miracle worker.

What Tuck resources did you most leverage during your MBA experience? 

Caroline Cannon T’98 is the career adviser for social impact and entrepreneurship (in addition to holding a number of other cool complementary roles at Tuck, like being one of my professors for the Diversity Entrepreneurship Collaboration Practicum) and she is my rock. When I told her that my first-choice employer had invited me to interview, she was fully there for me, scheduling at least a half dozen mock interview blocks. And thanks to deep personal familiarity with the field, she was able to just devise new cases on the fly. By the time the interview came, I felt super ready, and I was able to secure the offer.     

What do you think makes the Tuck community distinct from other business schools? 

Tuck’s small size plus its culture of “co-investment” means that there is no room for loafers. Intentionality with this school does not end once you unload your moving truck; by choosing Tuck, you are choosing to take ownership of a slice of life at Tuck. Even something as simple as making sure that Tuckies get home safely after long nights out is student-owned; we have the SafeRides club to coordinate nightly coverage of designated drivers from a student body-wide pool of volunteers.

The number of jobs to be done lines up pretty well with the number of students, and it creates a motivating sense of shared communal purpose. Moreover, I think it means that there are enough leadership and other developmental opportunities to go around: Getting involved in campus life does not come with the corresponding hoopla of getting involved in a competition. In addition, I think it also keeps the programming fresh and relevant. Events happen because a group of students care enough about the event to put their own sweat equity into it. That’s very different from a model where the school’s administrators take the lead on coordinating student life. 

 

How has Tuck’s unique location impacted your Tuck experience? 

When I was a teen living in Florida, a lot of people used to say, “I live where you vacation,” and that used to make me roll my eyes. But now that I live in a place where I inhale the scent of pine as I canoe, where I sit under a starry night sky with my firepit, where I’m a text message and a short drive away from being with a dozen buddies at a world-class ski resort (and then just run into a dozen other friends when I’m there), I finally understood what those Florida folks were getting at. I just didn’t appreciate at the time that my idea of an amazing vacation involved wearing flannel and eating maple everything. It’s a real gift to be able to call the Upper Valley my home, even if only for a short period of my life.

 

What advice do you have for prospective students considering applying for an MBA? 

Just as you (probably) would not write a fifty-item checklist for a new friend, focus on your key non-negotiables and operate with an open mind from there. Like friends, the schools with which you click might surprise you. On that point, after you have had some time to reflect, trust me that deep down you will know whether a school feels right. From there, you can do no wrong.

 

ANIA ALIEV T’23

“Imposter syndrome can creep in as you think about recruiting and what you would like to do post-MBA. It is important to remember that you are meant to be where you are and it is completely normal to ask tough questions of potential employers.”

Career/Industry: Entrepreneurship 

Hometown/state/country: Boston, MA

Undergraduate Education: Trinity College

Prior Employment: Institutional Sales Associate on the Sales & Trading Desk at Needham & Company 

Tuck Activities: Tuck Women in Business President, Entrepreneurship Club co-chair, Inclusive Workplace Fellow

Summer Internship: Maynard Grant Participant

Favorite course at Tuck: Corporate Communications and Power and Influence  

After Tuck: Entrepreneurship through Acquisition 

What made you decide to pursue an MBA?

I decided to pursue my MBA because I wanted to make a career change and pivot more into an entrepreneurial path. I felt like the path I was on before was very linear and I would not be able to switch to a more entrepreneurial role without filling out some missing skills. Given that, I thought pursuing an MBA would be the perfect opportunity to fill some of those gaps and make the big change to entrepreneurship. 

Why Tuck?

I picked Tuck because of the small class size and emphasis on community. I knew I wanted to be a part of a more intimate class and saw the value of that right away. At Tuck, you can participate in almost any activity or club that you want. Additionally, due to the class size, you naturally get to know more of your classmates better as well as many of the professors. Finally, I wanted to be part of a strong community (both with current students and alumni) and that is exactly what I have gotten here. 

What have been a few highlights of your Tuck experience so far? 

There are so many things to get involved with at Tuck, but one of the biggest highlights for me has been my involvement with the Women in Business Club. I was fortunate enough to serve on the board during my first year as a programming and events co-chair and this year currently serve as the club President. I am extremely passionate about the promotion of Women in Business across all sectors and have enjoyed helping facilitate all that the club does for current students and alumni. One of the new initiatives that I implemented for this year was the creation of a newsletter team. The newsletter team focuses on creating an issue (around a certain theme) once a term highlighting female classmates, professors, and alumni. 

What advice do you have for prospective students considering applying for an MBA? 

I would advise people to think critically about why they want to pursue the MBA and what is most important to them about a program. Additionally, I would encourage people to think about what career paths are most interesting to them before getting to business school, but to not be afraid to explore something new. I feel that Tuck is the perfect place for exploration given its size, so there is never a doubt that you can explore new industries and career opportunities (whether it be through clubs, classes, or chatting with alumni). For example, many of my classmates have experimented with entrepreneurship while at Tuck, but few are starting their careers post-MBA in that industry, so overall, this is a great time to try something new and explore new industries even if it is not where you are planning to start out. 

What advice do you have for prospective MBAs who might be experiencing feelings of imposter syndrome?

It is completely normal to have feelings of imposter syndrome. Personally, this is something I had to quickly get over as I am one of the younger members of my class. At first, I felt like others had more experiences to draw from, but I realized that almost everyone’s background was different and we could all learn from each other. Additionally, imposter syndrome can creep in as you think about recruiting and what you would like to do post-MBA. It is important to remember that you are meant to be where you are and it is completely normal to ask tough questions of potential employers. 

 

ABBY ROHMAN T’23

“Classmates throw themselves into new activities or academic challenges with the knowledge that it’s healthy to feel challenged and it’s safe to fail intelligently.”

Career/Industry: Health Care 

Hometown/state/country: Larchmont, NY 

Undergraduate Education: Dartmouth College ‘16

Prior Employment: Healthcare Consulting at EY-Parthenon and Kx Advisors

Tuck Activities: Women in Business (Co-Chair), Tuck Sailing Club (Co-Chair), Fellow in the Center for Private Equity and Venture Capital and Center for Health Care, and LOTS of road biking and skiing 

Summer Internship: Digital Strategy at UPMC Enterprises (Corporate VC at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center)

Favorite courses at Tuck: Communicating with Presence; Countries and Companies in the International Economy; and Leading Individuals in Teams

After Tuck: I will likely sign an offer in ~1 week or 2! 

What made you decide to pursue an MBA? 

I knew that I loved the health-care industry but hadn’t found the right role yet. While exploring roles after consulting, I saw that most people in my dream jobs had MBAs. I recognized that the investment in myself as well as the opportunities available in business school would help me accelerate my career trajectory. 

Why Tuck? 

Tuck’s location makes it distinct from all other schools that I explored. My classmates have all opted into this experience; students and partners have consciously made the decision to move to a rural area and be active participants in the Tuck community. People take the commitment to the community seriously. I’m always amazed by the creativity, support, and enthusiasm of my classmates, the Tuck partners, professors, and staff. Additionally, I love the outdoor opportunities available in the Upper Valley! 

What have been a few highlights of your Tuck experience so far? 

The class Communicating with Presence was a life-changing experience for me. It’s a small class that is taught by a theater professor. Every week, we would practice 45 minutes of acting warmups. These exercises reinforced the importance of interpersonal connection and of presence within the body. We practiced communicating a variety of stories—made-up fairytales, our life stories, and a classmate’s life story. This course changed my relationship with my voice and gave me confidence in my ability to communicate effectively. Most importantly, practicing being present has drastically improved my stress levels. 

What do you think makes the Tuck community distinct from other business schools? 

Students allow themselves to be vulnerable at Tuck, starting from Tuck Launch, our orientation program. During Tuck Launch we’re partnered with a classmate to share our “River of Life.” In this multi-part exercise, we share our story with one classmate and craft a personal mission statement. I believe that by starting with vulnerability from day one, we have created a trusting, supportive environment. Classmates throw themselves into new activities or academic challenges with the knowledge that it’s healthy to feel challenged and it’s safe to fail intelligently. 

How has Tuck’s unique location impacted your Tuck experience? 

Tuck’s remote location encourages connections across classes, faculty, and staff. An example is Professor Leslie Robinson’s Tuck Community Rides. Road bikers of all stripes meet up for 15- to 25- mile rides around the Upper Valley. Every week brings new participants: students, staff, professors, alumni, partners, etc. Professor Robinson is passionate about engaging her students outside of the classroom setting and encouraging us to explore the Upper Valley. On these rides, I’ve met students in other class years, received career advice from alumni, and have occasionally discussed accounting concepts with Professor Robinson! 

 

 

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Amy Mitson is director of admissions, recruitment and marketing, at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and has been at Tuck since 2000. Amy serves on the admissions committee and leads recruitment and diversity-focused initiatives. Her student services and admissions experiences have helped acquaint her with Tuck’s operations, history, vibrant campus, and alumni community. Amy’s favorite aspect of Tuck is the people; working with current and prospective members of the Tuck community is a consistent source of motivation and inspiration. Tuck’s Round 3 application deadline is March 27.