Dean’s Weekend is an invitation-only, comprehensive campus
visit for prospective MBA students. The weekend is filled with events to help
students network with Weatherhead alumni, meet faculty, connect with other
prospective students and see the city of Cleveland.
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This all-expenses paid weekend helps students see what life would be like as a student at Weatherhead. We’ve seen the amazing opportunities that come out of Dean’s Weekend in the past. But we understand that you probably want to hear it from someone who was once in your shoes.
Meet Harsh Ranjan, a current student in the MBA program at
Weatherhead, the Executive Vice President of the Graduate Business Student
Association and an Admissions Ambassador. His journey at Weatherhead began at
Dean’s Weekend, and he is happy he made the trip!
Question: What
factors were important in making your final decision on an MBA school?
Answer: The
primary factors were:
·
A school with high credibility in the industry
and has the respect of employers
·
A city and school with people I can see myself
fostering meaningful relationships with as I would be practically starting new after
moving half way around the world. This is crucial as a strong support system
helps cope with the large change.
·
A school where the faculty are excited about
seeing my successes and willing to share their network
·
The school’s MBA program should be a good return
on investment in terms of job opportunities and alumni network
·
The school had to have a diverse student body
with an experienced cohort
Q: What would you
tell applicants who are considering coming to Dean’s Weekend in 2019 but
haven’t made the decision yet?
A: I would
strongly advise them to consider applying to the event since the primary
purpose of Dean’s Weekend is to expose them to as much information as possible
to help make their MBA decision. It is a great way to expand their professional
network and interact with prospective students about their hunt for the perfect
school. I know I found that school in Weatherhead.
Q: Describe your
experience at Dean’s Weekend. What did you learn?
A: From the very
start of coming to Cleveland for Dean’s Weekend, everything was perfectly
planned out and executed. I got to meet and introduce myself to other
prospective students who were very smart and engaging. I participated in
various workshops which replicated the MBA program experience at Weatherhead.
These workshops included lessons on becoming a resonant leader, which was
especially fascinating for me as I could relate to everything based on my
experience working in the corporate world.
Q: What stood
out?
A: In addition to
these sessions, there was a pitch competition where we were randomly assigned
to groups and told to tour the Global Center for Health Innovation in downtown
Cleveland. We were instructed to choose one of the numerous healthcare
innovations on display and come up with alternative uses for it, along with a
corresponding marketing strategy. This exercise helped my team bond and brought
out the best in us while summarizing the skillsets the MBA program at
Weatherhead would help us develop.
Q: Did you meet
with faculty and current MBA students?
A: Our group
project was followed by a tour of Cleveland and then dining with faculty to
understand their vision of how they want to shape Weatherhead’s students to
become leaders of tomorrow. I learned a lot of interesting architectural facts
from Professor Fred Collopy about Peter B. Lewis building, who took interest in
my architectural background and shared stories working with architect Frank
Gehry who designed the building.
This also gave me ample opportunity to interact with current
Weatherhead students to get unfiltered insights about the program. Since they
were not part of the administration, their positive feedback was a big part in
influencing my decision to attend Weatherhead. Additionally, the admissions
team hosting the event did a great job making me feel welcomed and comfortable.
Q: What did you
learn?
A: By the end of
the three days, Cleveland won me over. All the team bonding and challenging
workshops made me feel like I knew the prospective students and administration
teams for years. I still remember feeling sad saying goodbye to Deborah and
Julie, along with the rest of the admissions team who had taken such good care
of me! It felt like I was leaving friends behind.
Q: What were the
benefits of the group exercises, working with other students, meeting the
faculty, etc. during the weekend?
A: The group exercises
highlighted the importance of teamwork, which is an integral part of the MBA
program at Weatherhead. Being an international student, it gave me valuable
insights to group dynamics and behaviors regarding the forming phases of the
team. The faculty were very approachable and interested in knowing the
background of each student. They shared details about their research with
students.
Q: Were there
other schools you were looking at?
A: I was
considering other strong schools in cities where I had family.
Dean’s Weekend played a critical role in introducing me to Cleveland
and the people who live there with heartwarming mid-western values, which made
me feel confident in starting my journey away from family. I learned of the
tremendous opportunities available through Weatherhead.
Ready to learn more
about Dean’s Weekend? Visit the website and feel free to reach
out with any questions!