B-school application will be 2 yrs old on June 19th!

Question

OK, so I wasn't around back then (the subforum started in June and I joined in September), but if my memory serves me right this:

103-t30822

Was the first post in the subforum*. To the contributors who were already around, feel free to organize or correct the story, but legend has it that:

- A bunch of guys from the GMAT forum had finished with the GMAT and wanted to apply to B-school.
- Hjort's forums were of invaluable help but the guys wanted a specific forum to exchange ideas and support each other without hijacking Hjort's workspace.
- The idea of a new dedicated subforum was spinned to (if I'm right) Praetorian and the forum was created.
- A very small crowd started contributing and the forum grew in usefulness and popularity.
- Members I remember contributing frequently through that period (the first batch): rhyme, Hjort (thanks again), willget800, lhotseface, pelihu, sm176811, necromonger, aaudetat, 3underscore, johnnyx9, helg, bb (already at LBS at the time), swgotz, Ozmba, Mark 4124 and venky1979. A bunch of these and other guys started populating the (then) International B-schools subforum (currently The B-School Application - Asia, Australia and Europe) as well, but that's another story.

Most, if not all, of these members have made it to business schools of their like. Gmatclubbers class of 07 (MBA class of 09-10) have made it into virtually all schools in the Ultra Elite and Elite clusters (except for, if I remember correctly, Stanford GSB).

Thanks to all for helping make this happen. I would be very thankful if some old timers could chime in with the actual story, since, as I said, I wasn't around when it all started.

And happy birthday forum!

L.

* Note: there are a few earlier posts in the subforum but those were moved there at a later date.

pelihu · Answer

2 years? Damn, it's crazy how time flies. To tell you the truth, I don't remember the specifics of getting started in this sub-forum. One day we were all talking about taking the GMAT, and then all of a sudden we all wanted to talk about applying. Sort of a natural migration I guess.

I do want to comment on how time has flown by - 2 years, I still can't believe it. From the time you decide to study for the GMAT, things really move at a breakneck pace. You spend a few months (or more) studying then taking, and if necessary re-taking the GMAT. Time flies when you're having fun. Then, months roll quickly by as you visit schools, attend information sessions and bury yourself in the application process. A few excruciating months of waiting and boom, it's time to start making preparations for relocating your butt to school. For me, this included selling my house, which definitely kept me really busy. The summer before you start flies by as you savor your last few months of freedom and visit family and friends to let them know that you'll be out-of-pocket for the next two years, and before you know it you're on campus meeting hundreds of new people. I know some schools have a recruiting blackout period, but for us, recruiters started showing up 2 weeks after classes started, so with classes, activities, learning team and recruiting, not to mention getting adjusted to a new city and lifestyle, the fall was even more of a blur. With job in hand (hopefully), the spring and rest of the school year goes by quickly as you become a veteran of the MBA process and finally have some time to enjoy yourself.

Now we're into the summer internship, and with new colleagues, yet another city and lots of new experiences, there's no doubt that the summer will fly by at a supersonic pace. Looking forward, returning with a job in hand and/or a successful fall recruiting season will mean the opportunity to enjoy a final year of school before diving into work in earnest. The second year should include the chance to take lots of interesting electives, travel abroad, awesome activities and the opportunity to build relationships with fellow students and new colleagues from the summer (and at Darden lots of golf). This past year, as the second years prepared to graduate, they told us that we had one more year in paradise before facing the real world; and I really think this is true. Compared to how quickly two years of hard work have flown by, let's hope that we have the chance to savor our last year in paradise.

lsuguy7 · Answer

I will be 24 on June 19th, how the time flies...

kryzak · Answer

wow, time does fly! I joined about the time when all the first "class" finished the process (1 year ago). I remember reading some of the old posts and going, "How the heck am I going to survive this application season?" and "How the heck do these people know so much about the process?" A year later, I can't believe the application process is all over, and the entire b-school experience stands right before me.

Cheers to this great subforum for helping me and all of my "class of 2010" buddies get into the school of our dreams. This year, we've broken the Stanford curse (yay to terry12) and got someone into EVERY UE and E school in the nation. Hopefully we can have a few active ambassadors from each school to help everyone out in this forum and the "Ask a B-school Ambassador" subforum in the coming year.

Hip hip Hooray!

ncp · Answer

I am so glad the founding fathers of this sub-forum decided to start this. I would have had NO chance of getting into a top B-school without the collective wisdom of my fellow clubbers. Thanks everyone!

sm332 · Answer

Thanks to all the founding fathers and mothers for creating this excellent resource. I swear by the GMATClub and recommend it to all others pursuing the MBA track

Praetorian · Answer

rhyme and lhse... i forget the username .. are the founding fathers. The key to a forum's success is a group of enthusiastic leaders. If any of you have any ideas, don't hesitate to share. The results are there for everyone to see.

My ambitious goal is that all of you complete your MBA, start your shiny new six figure job and come back. Wouldn't it be aweseome- someone starting out would love to talk to 10 different people from 10 different business schools who have the complete perspective . 
We will be a very personalized version of linkedin - the first generation could set up interviews for internships for the next and the chain will begin. Yes, its always difficult for the first gen, but count your blessings.

I love you all.

bb · Answer

Stumbled upon this thread. It is hard to believe this was not always a part of the GMAT club and started out just a little while ago. Bravo and kudos for the initiative!!! The new members will probably appreciate this as well. Just imagine - we used to only have the GMAT section :shock: