Originally posted by Jordan Fujiwara.
Hello and welcome to the very first blog entry for the Corporate Residency MBA at Dalhousie University! This is a new and rather exciting venture: it’s untested, full of potential for incredible stories and interactions.
Let me get started by introducing myself and how this page will work. My name is Jordan Fujiwara. I am a current Corporate Residency MBA student – part of the very first class in fact. I’m actually working for myself during the 8-month corporate residency, and part of my job will be to publish this blog. Every week (on Thursdays, starting February 11) there will be a new entry. Most of these entries will feature a current student and give you some intimate insight into what they are doing, how they are feeling and the challenges they’ve conquered. Every now and then we might do a feature on a particular professor that a new Corporate Residency MBA student is sure to encounter, or perhaps regale you with tales of some of the amazing experiences the current class had during the 2009 summer and fall semesters.
I said this blog has the potential for some incredible interactions – that declaration comes from the hope that YOU, yes you, will actively participate and help steer the direction of this particular piece of publication. There should be a comment section somewhere south of all these words. Find it, and let us know what you want to see here. I’ve got some pretty good ideas for what to put in here and I’m sure my classmates will be able to provide some wonderfully entertaining content… but the primary purpose of this blog is to let the greater public know about our truly unique and innovative program. We want to showcase not only the academic and professional benefits but also give you a glimpse into the lifestyle and social aspects of the program. So I highly encourage you to make suggestions, provide feedback and requests (and praise ) so I can adjust the content of this blog to best suit those who are the most interested in exploring the opportunity that Dalhousie has created with this fascinating new graduate program. That goes for prospective students, employers, professors, alumni and John Q. Public.
I’ll touch briefly on my own experience and background so far. I was born and raised in the Halifax area and did my BSc (Psychology) at Dal. I always did well academically but never really knew what it was I was going to do in “real life.” Bet you’ve never heard that story before, huh? The Corporate Residency MBA was exactly what I needed. It not only doesn’t require any prior work experience, but actively encourages students to apply straight out of their undergrad. I’ll have my MBA before I’m 25 and be able to fast-track my career. My professional network has ballooned extravagantly: I’ve chatted and dined with CEOs and VPs and Presidents of various firms (many of these events occurred during the regular semester just by the nature of the program), not to mention my forty-odd classmates who are now out there in the workforce impressing people and building their own (and by association, my) networks.
Have you gotten the impression that this program is intense? Good. It is. But in a really great way, kind of like a good roller coaster rather than a life or death struggle. Have you gotten the impression that this program is for the hyper-elite, super-sparkly, A+ honour roll valedictorian students? If so, my bad. My candour may have made this out to be a wildly exclusive club. Truth is, while your grades do matter for getting in, that’s not the end of the story. The gatekeepers are also looking for employable people. Sociable people. Friendly, good-hearted folks who are aware of the fine line between confident and cocky. They did a damn good job of picking those folks for my class, and they’ll continue to do so for the years to come. My classmates are among some of the most engaging and enjoyable people I’ve ever met, and the experience of the first week of orientation will be sure to solidify the bond that will exist between every class of Corporate Residency MBA students in the future, as it did for us. You’ll get to “meet” these lovely individuals in blog posts to come. Stay tuned.
So, have I found what I want to do yet? Not exactly, but I can feel myself getting closer. This program has provided everything I need and more when it comes to answering that existential question. For those who already know, they’re getting to where they’re going even faster than me.
Why don’t you join us on the fast track? At least check in with us every week or so; comment and suggest, or just chat! We love talking to new people. See you next Thursday!
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