Get an insider's perspective from a W. P. Carey Ambassador

As a prospective student, there are lots of ways you can learn about what life is like in grad school. But the best way to really get a sense of what it’s like is by talking to current students, who are living the life and have more than likely faced the questions you have.

At the W. P. Carey School, we have Business Ambassadors for every graduate degree. I had personal interaction with an ambassador while I was looking at schools, and that experience is one of the reasons I’m an ambassador today.

When I made my on-campus visit as part of the application and interview process, I had the opportunity to interact with a variety of student ambassadors who were part of the Full-time MBA program. The conversations we had were insightful and immensely helpful in my decision-making process, but most of all they were refreshingly honest.

Now in my second year at W. P. Carey, I serve as co-director of the Ambassador Program. It’s my responsibility to oversee all ambassador-related activities pertaining to the recruitment and onboarding of potential and incoming students. We foster an environment of authenticity and encourage all Ambassadors to be honest and genuine in sharing their insights with prospective students. Our program is small compared to most full-time MBA programs so it is important that incoming students understand the values and attributes that define W. P. Carey. Our aim is not to 'sell' candidates on W. P. Carey, but to arm them with the information they need so that they can ensure they maximize their MBA experience.

“There has been no greater way to give back to the W. P. Carey program and help assist in their efforts,” says Paul Rumsey, my fellow co-director of the MBA Ambassadors. Paul also makes a great point about what it means to be W. P. Carey and how he can help further the school’s name and reputation. “I like to think of the W. P. Carey MBA as a brand, and like all brands it requires constant dedication and effort to maintain its status and awareness in the world. So I want to do whatever I can to help build the brand, as it is now a part of my career and life.”

So, from the prospective student perspective, the ambassadors are a great resource to learn more about the ins and outs of the W. P. Carey School and see if you’re a good fit. But once you’re here, so many of us jump at the chance to become ambassadors ourselves because we’ve been there before. My own involvement with the Ambassador Program, and the voice I have in shaping future W. P. Carey classes, has been one the most cherished aspects of my W. P. Carey experience.