Sarah Brannigan (B’28) is a sophomore at Georgetown University in the McDonough School of Business. She loves golfing, traveling and Dunkin’ Donuts.
During my senior year of high school, I envisioned myself majoring in computer science, a subject that I enjoyed because of the challenge and problem-solving. It wasn’t until my second semester of senior year, after all of my college applications had been submitted, that I discovered a new passion. I completed the Girls With Impact Mini MBA Program, which changed my path altogether and helped me decide that I wanted to be in a business school environment for my undergraduate career. I was drawn to business because I enjoy building meaningful relationships and discovered that I can turn those relationships into a lasting impact.
Before committing to Georgetown, I transferred from the College of Arts & Sciences to the McDonough School of Business (MSB). There are several reasons why I chose Georgetown in particular to study business, and each time I reflect on my college experience so far, I am grateful for the decision I made.
One of the reasons why I chose Georgetown to study business is the professors. I have had the opportunity to take courses with faculty members who are teaching the Georgetown Master of Business Administration students as well. Many of them have held leadership positions in business and government, and have a focus on global business.
Last summer, for example, I studied abroad with Dr. Rachel Pacheco at Oxford University. Her expertise on management provided my class with an immersive learning experience abroad while we completed consulting projects for firms in London and beyond. Something that surprised me, coming from a small high school, is that Georgetown professors know you by name and want you to succeed. Most of my MSB classes have a maximum of 45 students, but I have also taken classes as small as 10 students. Intimate class sizes have given me the opportunity to ask meaningful questions, form strong relationships with my peers and go deeper into subjects that interest me. Professors often tailor their curriculum to the interests of their students, which is something I would not have been able to take advantage of in a larger business school.
Another reason why I chose Georgetown as a business student is the wide range of courses. Yes, as an undergraduate in the MSB you will receive a foundation in accounting, finance, management, marketing, and operations and analytics. However, there are so many other courses to take advantage of. Some classes that I find the most exciting are Foundations of Entrepreneurship and Business of Global Sports. Georgetown has a brand new Sports Business Fellowship program, which shows how the MSB is also looking for new curricula that students are interested in exploring. MSB classes have exposed me to nontraditional career paths that I may be more interested in than what I originally thought I would pursue after graduation.
MSB classes do an exceptional job at preparing students for your career. Our location in DC allows for learning to go beyond the classroom and connect to real-world careers. It also gives professors the opportunity to bring in guest speakers who are working in industries that make classroom learning feel more dynamic. In my Business and Government Relations class, for example, we had a guest speaker who is a counsel at the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Something that I am grateful for now, but didn’t realize would be so impactful on my college experience, is the range of personal and professional development opportunities for students in the business school. Deciding what you want to do after you graduate can be difficult, but the MSB provides students with numerous resources and opportunities to make it easier. I have been fortunate enough to participate in the Kosoy Women In Business program, which has provided me with mentorship and educational opportunities. We traveled to New York City on a career trek, where we visited companies in finance, media, and healthcare and learned about open positions.
Another resource I have taken advantage of are the Peer Career Advisors, or upperclassmen who can provide resume reviews, recruiting advice and interview preparation support. This semester I went to Peer Career Advisors to do mock interviews and hear about their past experiences. Every Thursday, the MSB also has Bagels With the Deans, a grab-and-go breakfast that provides you with the opportunity to check in with your dean and form a personal connection. At some universities, your dean is someone that can be hard to track down and form a relationship with. However, at Georgetown students have plenty of opportunities to grow that connection.
Overall, the McDonough School of Business is my favorite community on campus. While it may seem unusual to describe a school within a university as a community, the MSB has been exactly that for me. From classes I would not have taken otherwise to professors who have helped me discover what I want to do once I graduate, the MSB has shaped how I approach problems, opportunities and my role within the broader business world. The McDonough School of Business makes me both proud and grateful to call myself a Hoya.
