As you are mulling over your many B-school offers, I strongly recommend researching which companies recruit at your prospective school. Companies have a long history with specific business schools. If a company recruits at your school, your ability to get an interview, that magical ticket, increases dramatically. For example, if you would like to work at Mattel, Marshall is definitely the place for you. However, if P&G is your dream company, then maybe another place will better help you get in the door.

I can tell you it's tough to swallow when you look up a company that you're interested in and your school is not in the seemingly random list of schools the company's reps are visiting. It's not impossible to forge a new relationship with a company for your school, but it is the road less traveled and unfortunately, that may indeed make all the difference in finding an internship.

I did have one on-campus interview, with SBC's Summer Management Program, and since you already know the ending, I won't take you through it. However, I can say the interviewing process at Marshall is just like every other aspect of the Marshall MBA: It's all about the good of the community. Prior to the interview, two second-year students who had internships this past summer, held an information session to coach the first-year applicants. As I walked into my interview, someone who had just walked out wished me good luck.

During the interview I basically knew every question that was coming thanks to the assistance from various Marshall graduates. Then, after what apparently was a less than overwhelming performance, I did what came naturally -- I told the next person interviewing what to expect in the interview. Throughout the process everyone did whatever he or she could to maximize the interview performance of every person from Marshall. Yes, we are competitive, but it is a constructive, not destructive, competition.

So the on-campus recruiting train has now left the station. I bought one ticket, but failed to get it punched. Now the off-campus search begins in earnest.

STICKING MY THUMB OUT  After the formal on-campus process comes the more frenzied off-campus recruitment. These positions are at companies that do not have large formalized internship programs, but could use an intern or two for the summer. Many of these positions are posted on the Marshall Career Services Web site, some are found during late night desperation Google searches, and some are passed through Popovich Hall by classmates (a big thank you to Core-mate Steve for providing me with my latest lead). Off-campus recruiting feels a bit like hitchhiking as I'm sending out resumes to companies that post for internships at B-schools all across the country and am hoping one slows down long enough to pick me up.

Although I'm standing on the side of the road with my resume in hand, I remain very optimistic. The networking contacts, the focus statements, and the company research I packed up in the first semester continue to provide sustenance during the trip. Further, classmates are certainly along with me offering contacts and opportunities all along the way. While I am still focused in education, entertainment, and/or strategy, I am expanding my search to include opportunities outside of those industries that will better position me to pursue a career in those areas.

I'm also optimistic for another reason. I have one resource that my fellow internship searchers don't have: the ability to shamelessly inquire about internship opportunities in a national magazine's online edition (a strategic planning internship for an edutainment company anyone?). So if you are looking for someone, well, like me, for the summer... rumor has it, that I'm available (but don't tell my parents that – I'm still working on excuses for when they call).

Guess the pros outweigh the cons after all.

If you have any questions about Marshall or business school (or, perchance, have a really interesting internship you want to offer me), my e-mail address is, AdamMBAJournal@hotmail.com.

To all Marshall Class of '06 admits, I look forward to seeing you at Admit Weekend!

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