USC Marshall 2012 - Calling All Applicants

Since someone asked I'll throw my reasons there and let you know how they matched up with reality.

1) Entrepreneurship - I'm interested in starting my own company either now or in the near future. USC has one of the top ten ranked entrepreneurship programs in the country. It's easy to see why - the Greif Center for Entrepreneurship is excellent for students and very supportive. It's tough to do it in the first semester of the MBA program though; you'll probably be overwhelmed with school & clubs while complaining that the program doesn't give you any flexibility. Just wait until the core semester is over, you'll see the light.

2) Location - I grew up on the west coast and my family is here. Wanted to come back and be closer to my family. This was successful.

3) The people - I found that when I visited USC Marshall, there wasn't anyone here that I disliked or had an uneasy feeling with. I connected well with all the admitted students as well as the current students. This has proven true during my time here. I wouldn't trade the world for the experience that I've had with my classmates so far. Everyone here is incredibly collegial, yet competitive for the school. We love taking part in competitions, we love winning, but everyone is super-supportive of one another. I liken it to a family here (but I'm sure others would disagree).

**EDIT**

4) International focus - there's a huge international focus here. Just in my first year I'm taking trips to 4 different countries (with the possibility of another one) for consulting projects. It's pretty amazing and I never thought I'd have this opportunity to go across the world.

I applied to Marshall for these reasons:

1. It was right in my GMAT/GPA area.
2. It was in California.
3. I have extensive (19th century) history with USC.

The only other option that fits the first two criteria is UCLA, and the last item marks that one firmly off the list. I sent in my deposit this past weekend.

A good amount of information is given out during Admit Weekend (I'll be there!) and in the admissions binder. It basically boils down to Downtown LA, Koreatown, Mid-Wilshire/Miracle Mile, and Santa Monica, with some people sprinkled around Echo Park/Silverlake, Pasadena, Brentwood, and the other beaches.

There's no official poll, and maybe I'm biased, but most first years seem to settle around Downtown LA. It's a quick 2-mile drive to campus, and the density around here means you're close to lots of bars, restaurants, and other Marshall MBA students. The building I live in (Pegasus) houses about a dozen current Marshall students, mostly first years, so it's been convenient to meet up and study with classmates.

If anything, I'd try to live close to other students. It's a pain driving out every weekend to meet up with people -- the Santa Monica, Downtown, and KTown people are generally a short walk or taxi ride away from central bars, and it's easier to get back home after a long night.

As far as logistics, I met a bunch of people during Admit Weekend last year, and decided to look for a place with a fellow admit. We looked at apartments in DTLA in May/June, and settled on a place in early July, with a mid-July movein date. Expect to spend around $1200-$1400/mo. for rent (most people, regardless of studio vs. roommate or location, end up in this range).

I haven't found any information about Admit Weekend. Has it been planned for this year?

It's on April 27-28. We're still planning it... but get ready for a weekend of awesome.

That's too bad, I won't make it back to the States until mid May.

Wednesday cannot get here soon enough...

Noooooo! Is that date confirmed yet? Will be out of town but definitely did not want to miss this.

Yeah... dates confirmed. Sorry guys! We didn't want to conflict with Coachella...

I pretty much love that you didn't want to conflict with Coachella. Pure awesomeness.

So we supposedly find out about interviews today? Can people please post when they get their email?

If the previous round is any indication, I wouldn't expect any news before 4pm EST or 1pm PST. Good luck everyone!

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Do all interview invites get sent out today? Or is it rolling all the way till April? They don't send out final admissions news till April though right?

I believe all interview invites come out today.

This is exciting. haha. I guess if you don't get invited, then you can only hope that you got in with no invite.

is there any such thing?

start the countdown...