Zigzagging to Business School

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I must confess that, at first, business school seemed like a magical silver bullet, something to focus on to give me short-term direction and get me out of my quarter-life crisis. Writing my application essays, researching schools, and reading career profiles of MBA alums, I came to see the long-term validity of my decision. My employer's immigration policies have already proven to be a blessing in disguise. Without the proverbial rug being pulled out from underneath me, I would have never questioned whether higher education was my calling or simply the only thing I knew how to do.

Respect for Jesuit Values

The only way to find out whether my career choices were simple inertia was to try something radically different and compare how I felt about it. As an immigrant, I also needed to be a stronger candidate looking for jobs that required or highly valued an MBA. However, I knew my résumé didn't reflect the breadth of transferable skills I needed to make this jump. Ergo: business school!

Georgetown was also a result of a recommendation. A friend mentioned its international focus, and once I dove into my research, I knew it was the right school for me. The program's reputation was strong, but there was more to it. My undergraduate education was at a small Jesuit institution with historical ties to Georgetown. While I am not Catholic myself, I appreciate Jesuit values of education, reflection, and service. I wanted to be a part of an alumni group that shared similar values so that I may not only network, but be proud of shared experiences when talking to other alumni.

I am nothing short of ecstatic about getting to know Washington, D.C. There are so many international organizations, federal agencies, and consulting firms to research, network with, and ask questions that can help me focus my interests. As I continue to clarify my work values, I want to find an environment that fosters the best things I liked in my previous profession: social responsibility, dealing with tangible objects rather than abstract financial concepts, and achieving impact fairly quickly. Having finished Tom Friedman's Hot, Flat, and Crowded, I am turning my attention to the world of renewable energy. I feel that sustainability is an area where my contribution will not only benefit the social good but also challenge my skills in a new, rapidly growing industry.

Chemistry is Key

I feel like I am finally growing up, setting the stage for the next 30 years. There's more to explore, but I'm committed. Choosing the right business school is like dating: sometimes it's love at first sight; other times a slow build up. You may meet on match.com or via a mutual friend. Start courting schools early and find out whether there's chemistry between you.

My advice to prospective candidates is to create your own personal story. You will be amazed how much soul-searching you can accomplish through application essays. While your personal statement may have nothing to do with fleeing a war-torn country, figure out how you create your own slice on the Admissions Office incoming pie-chart. As the world changes, a "typical" MBA student is ceasing to exist. Find your own voice by clarifying your interests and values. Above all, take risks—you never know what wonders hide around the corner.

Rusmir Musić is enrolled at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University and is expected to graduate in 2011. A war refugee, Musić and his family fled their home in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992. Coming to the U.S. on his own at 17, he earned a bachelor of arts in chemistry in 2001 from the College of Holy Cross and a master of arts in humanities and social thought in 2003 from New York University's Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Before enrolling in business school, he was the assistant director of experiential programs at the Hiatt Career Center at Brandeis University.

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