Three years since I left the US and I still reminisce fondly on a blissful undergraduate life I had a short swim over the pond. Maybe it was the slight contrast between my college experience and my investment banking one but I somehow came to miss the US a lot while I was living in London. Don't get me wrong this year's Olympic host city is pretty fantastic and it's a phenomenal place to work but there was something that I was missing and honestly, I still don't quite know what it was.
I desperately needed change...
When I was a senior in high school I really wanted to go to the US. I was a long-haired kid who listened to heavy metal and played soccer, I had been living in Belgium most of my life and I needed change. I was looking for the college experience that I saw on movies as I tended to believe that Hollywood's portrayal of undegraduate experiences was exactly how it happened. Spoiler alert: it isn't - but I still managed to have four amazing years out there.
Can I come back please? - Obama inauguration 2009
I don't know if at some subconscious level I'm trying to recreate what I had but when I applied to business schools I didn't even look at European or Asian programs, it was the US all the way. I was also looking more towards the West Coast, here were some of my primary reasons for wanting to go back:
- Strength and reputation of the programs - might be obvious but I truly believe the US is still way ahead of other countries in their approach to MBAs
- Opportunity - possibly archaic European thinking but I still look at the US as a place where things can really happen for you if you work hard and stick to your principles
- Inherent diversity - having never lived in the countries whose nationalities I hold, I don't really have a place I really call home and the idea of mixing and mingling with people from all over again is just really cool
- Philly cheese steaks - I really miss my week-end breakfast. I think on the West Coast I'll have to get my fill of In-N-Out to satiate my appetite
Doesn't that look amazing first thing in the morning? I'm pretty sure it covered all the major food groups
There are countless other reasons I know but I prefer to keep this one to the point. Basically, if you're in Europe or anywhere abroad really and are considering the US for business school (or even undergrad although I'm not sure why you're on this blog) and don't really know that much about it, make the leap, it won't disappoint you!
-Chris Varin, 14'