Its over, and I'm alive! I didn't faint, I didn't collapse, I didn't freeze up and forget my own name. In fact, I think I rocked it, if I do say so myself! It was a very long day though...
Obviously, being all nerves, jetlag, and anxiety, I didn't actually fall asleep until 7 in the morning. I'm glad I know myself well enough to have had the foresight to schedule my interview for the afternoon. I still had to wake up at 10:30 though, as I had made plans with Desiree to have lunch at IESE and do a campus tour.
Just my luck, it was pouring rain today so when I got out of the subway at Maria Cristina, the subway stop closest to the school, it was too wet and cold for me to figure out what bus to take, so I hopped in a cab and, just like Desiree had said, it only cost 5 Euro and got me where I needed to go in no time.
My visit at IESE was awesome. Desiree's friends were great, and she introduced me to the President and VP of the "Energy Club". All the kids there are super friendly, super close, and SUPER polished. They're definitely future CEOs in the grooming. Obviously, I'm not, but I'd love to be around them, because I could learn so much and be so challenged from being surrounded by such composed, talented, eloquent, driven people. The abundance of attractive men doesn't hurt, either. IESE's campus is really nice also, with a church and a cute courtyard, trees and greenery, and something resembling a coffee shop inside.
I have to say I wasn't a huge fan of the ESADE campus. Its very "futuristic", and feels very "institutional". The school having their "Career Week", so all around the institution, students were in business suits and there were obviously a whole lot of recruiters there. I sat and killed time in a waiting area and finally, 3:30pm, it was time!
First, I was thrilled that she actually remembered that we had met in LA. That made me feel a lot better, even if she didn't actually remember me but appropriately filtered her e-mails. Anyway, she gave me the mini case study, which was about Microsoft having to buy Yahoo, to compete with Google. I had to analyze the pros and cons, present what issues MS would face, how Yahoo should deal with it, and how Google should seize the opportunity. Honestly it was so much easier than I had expected, and I think at this point I'm pretty good at delivering presentations. I think I rocked that part, for sure.
Then was the interview. For the most part, it was what I expected. There were a few that I didn't know how to answer:
1. What is some constructive criticism that you've received in your work?
2. How is your professional self different from your personal self?
3. What do you expect the biggest challenge to obtaining your MBA in Barcelona to be?
4. If you're accepted everywhere, what is going to make or break your decision?
The interview ran 30 minutes long because we had so much to talk about! Then she took me around and introduced me to 4 different students who she had interviewed the year before: Said, Maurizio, Paolo, and a German guy who's name I don't remember. She was all smiles, very enthusiastic, and telling everyone to tell me good things about the school. Maurizio and Paolo spent a long time talking to me about the program, though they didn't talk about their program the way that Desiree's friends talked about IESE.
Paolo then matched me up with a girl, Alexandra, who was heading home in my direction and with her help and Fabrizzio (lots of Italian men ;) ) I got home safe, dry, and pretty damn happy!!!
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