What Is Business School Like? An Honest Assessment.

What is it like going to the best business school in the world?

Hard. Lovely. Maddening. Inspiring. Exhausting. Pleasant. Disappointing. Worthwhile.

What do you mean?

Hard. One of the reasons the Kellogg School of Management is so highly ranked is because the humans who choose to study here are wicked smart. Accordingly, the coursework is dense and plentiful, with oodles of reading, individual assignments, and group projects crammed into 10-week quarters. You must become a calendar commander quickly to keep up. Oh, also, only the top 40% of students in each class will get an A… so… good luck.

Lovely. The people here are brilliant, and they are from all over the world. Your fellow students have started businesses, led non-profit organizations, served in the armed forces, and more. Being surrounded by such talented human beings is pretty amazing, and it makes for a lovely experience. Also, your building is brand new and looks out over Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline in the distance. It’s nice.  

Maddening. You fail here. You try to get into programs that you think you are qualified for, and often you get rejected. You get turned down from enviable jobs because you are competing against the best. You get frustrated and sad. Then you swallow your pride, you pause and remember the bigger picture, you focus on your immeasurable depth of gratitude, and you move on.  

Inspiring. You thrive here. You try hard, really, really hard, and it pays off. You get a good GPA. You help a non-profit organization create a new strategic marketing plan. You are selected to promote social impact initiatives, and diversity and inclusion initiatives across the school. You get invited to interview with some of the most selective companies in the world.

Exhausting. You try your absolute hardest to get the job. You attend months, literally, months of social events, coffee chats, and lunch and learns. You practice “cases” --- essentially solving complex, 30-minute business puzzles, in person, on the spot, in front of friends and strangers, as eloquently as possible. You bring your authentic self to the interview room, focusing on your breath, doing everything in your power to remain calm. Sometimes you flounder. Sometimes you shine.

Pleasant. You count your blessings. You are not hungry. You are secure. You are supported. You are free. You drink coffee in the morning, eat chicken sandwiches for lunch, take time to meditate throughout the day, and enjoy brisk walks in the Midwest winter air. You are filled with hope.

Disappointing. You fail. Again, and again, and again. The opportunities that were within your grasp elude you, and you are left questioning the practicality of a six-figure education. Why am I here? Where am I going? Will I succeed?

Worthwhile. You will. I know you quite well, and I promise you, you will. Because here is the bigger picture. In this life, it is all about the climb, and when you are able to, and when you have the courage to, it is always a good idea to bet big on yourself. You are up for the challenge, and it will all be worthwhile.

You succeed.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." -Theodore Roosevelt