After 100 years, one can expect a few changes.
The Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business, nearing it’s centennial celebration, is a perfect test-case for how much change can mean. Founded in 1920 as the Department of Commerce, the Dallas metro business school has gently evolved from a modern Methodist research beacon into one of the most transformative schools in Texas.
With over 11,000 students at SMU, including 5,170 graduate students, the Cox School of Business hosts nearly 600 MBAs in its various programs. For any Cox student, one of the definitive advantages of the business school is the advantageous proximity to Dallas’ thriving business community. Ten companies in the metro land within the Fortune 500 ranking. Among the group, four companies—Exxon Mobil, AT&T, Energy Transfer Equity, and American Airlines Group—land in the top 100, with two in the top ten. With high national regard, including a top 50 ranking for the school in U.S. News & World Report, plus the bevy of major companies as neighbors, these factors can seem overwhelmingly beneficial to a successful career.
When talking with members of the SMU Cox School of Business Professional MBA class, however, the allure of the program went beyond the obvious career benefits that Dallas can offer. For any well-regarded business school, the makeup of the class can seem familiar. The average GMAT for the PMBA Class of 2019 is 613. The GPA is 3.3. Most of the group has about five years of prior professional experience before enrollment. But just going off the bare statistics hardly tells the entire story.
To get a greater understanding of the SMU Cox School of Business Professional MBA class, we spoke with several current students, including a self-described “Army Brat,” a former law school student, and a consultant originally from Kathmandu, along with a handful of other future grads. Read on to see their stories and what the future may hold for life after an MBA.
Jessica Groshek, SMU Cox PMBA
Age: 31
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Why business school? Why now? In looking at where I was in my career compared to what I wanted to achieve, I felt a bit stagnant, and I knew I had to take some action to advance and develop my financial proficiency and grow my network. I completed a Certificate of Finance Program through SMU, per a friend’s recommendation, which I utilized to assess if I was interested in continuing my education and whether I was capable of working full time while attending class in the evenings. Finishing the certificate program solidified my desire to get my MBA and to do it now.
Why the SMU MBA program? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? When comparing SMU Cox to other MBA programs in the Dallas area, the two biggest drivers were the network and reputation that SMU carries in Dallas, as well as the ability the program gives me to choose my concentration and classes, which in turn allows me to tailor the program to my interests.
Jessica Groshek, SMU Cox PMBA
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to your MBA class? I worked for a non-profit before transitioning to a corporate position. Having worked for both types of organizations provides me an opportunity to share a variety of experiences in discussions. It also shapes how I define success, assess motivation factors, and evaluate culture.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? More of a surprising fact about me is that I do NOT like ketchup.
Post-MBA career interests? I recently accepted a new job, Investor Relations Manager for Vistra Energy, just over a year into the MBA program. I have been able to apply my MBA knowledge immediately to this role and new lessons I’m learning in my business classes continue to complement the role well.
Advice to Prospective MBA Applicants
One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? One thing I would absolutely do again is to attend the info session and reach out directly to the admissions team. I think creating a relationship and meeting the admissions team face-to-face helped ease any concerns I had.
One thing you would change or do differently? I would start earlier! I was a late applier to the program and only had about one month from committing myself to the application deadline and taking the GMAT. In short, I really had very little prep time before taking the GMAT.
Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? I would skip taking the GMAT! I knew it had to be done so I just powered through it.
Greatest highlight so far at SMU Cox? The greatest highlight I’ve had so far is the people I have met. I knew I would be building my network in a professional sense, but I didn’t realize it would have a personal impact as well. I am enrolled in our Global Program and will be traveling to Malaysia for class. I will be extending the trip with classmates and traveling elsewhere in Asia after the class ends. Post this trip, I am sure it will be the highlight of the program! But again, it will be because of the people I am traveling with and the experiences we share.
One thing about SMU Cox that you didn’t expect before arriving? The diversity of the class…I know it sounds strange but almost every school touts diversity. I really didn’t expect the variety of backgrounds: undergrad education, current careers, life experiences, etc. that my class has and the value it brings to discussions.
Thing you were most anxious about in your first year? I was very anxious about whether I’d have enough to time to study. Eventually you learn to prioritize and determine how much time to dedicate to certain tasks.
Thing you were most excited about in your first year? I was most excited about seeing the final grades for the first two classes. It helped confirm that I am capable of mastering the PMBA program, which then set the mood for the rest of my two years.
Dan Keefe, SMU Cox PMBA
Age: 34
Hometown: I’m a proud “Army brat”—born in Ft. Sill, OK. Grew up in Norfolk, VA; Ely, England; Ft Campbell, KY; Bamberg, Germany; Vicenza, Italy; Carlisle, PA; back to Ft Campbell, KY.
Why business school? Why now? I knew that I had great experiences and real world problem solving skills, but I needed the business specific knowledge that only an MBA could provide. Timeline-wise, I had successfully made the transition from a US Army officer to the civilian work force and was ready to take on the additional challenge of an MBA program that allows me to work while completing the program.
Dan Keefe, SMU Cox PMBA
Why the SMU MBA program? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? I knew that I wanted a top ranked program, but was not in a position to relocate my family. SMU has a reputation as a top academic program, and has an incredibly powerful alumni network.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to your MBA class? I feel that my real world experiences, leadership traits, and project management skills are most beneficial to my study team and cohort.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? I love challenging myself both physically and mentally. I love hiking and adventure/obstacle course racing.
Post-MBA career interests? Ultimately, I want to help organizations strategically align and be a driver of change. I want to help shape the company culture, not just fit in.
Advice to Prospective MBA Applicants
One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? I would work very closely with the admissions team, and be upfront about my strengths/weaknesses and what my goals are. Once I took the GMAT and seriously began my path to getting an MBA, I was on the phone with the Admissions staff nearly every week asking questions to help me make my decision and helping to paint the picture of who I am and my goals.
One thing you would change or do differently? I would have started the GMAT and admissions process a few years earlier (GMAT score is good for five years!). I think I was waiting for the “right time” to apply, and I finally realized there wasn’t going to be a perfect timeline or scenario that told me I could go back to school.
Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? The GMAT! It had been more than a few years since I took a standardized test, and it took me some time to fall back into good study habits. The biggest help was attending a GMAT prep course that was offered thru SMU.
Greatest highlight so far at SMU Cox? Working with and learning from my fellow PMBAs. Everyone always talks about how powerful the alumni network is, but they all started right where we are now. I am making some incredible friends and I have already seen classmates helping each other thru networking, business advice, or as study partners to clarify issues.
One thing about SMU Cox that you didn’t expect before arriving? The flexibility of the professors. They know that we are all working professionals and many of us have families, but they also know that we are very motivated to be here and want to learn. The professors are very understanding about our tight schedules and work with us if a work or family event impacts our class schedule.
Thing you were most anxious about in your first year? I was most anxious about the workload outside of the classroom. In addition to working a full time job while attending SMU, my wife is working a full time job while pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing and we have a 2-year-old at home, so time is a precious commodity for me.
Thing you were most excited about in your first year? I am most looking forward to attending the Disney Leadership Institute over the winter break. I believe that you should always be trying to improve yourself, and I hope to learn some great lessons from an incredibly successful brand.
Chhitiz Basnet, SMU Cox PMBA
Age: 30
Hometown: Kathmandu, Nepal
Why business school? Why now? Getting an MBA for me was important because I firmly believe that seeing the global business world through the structured format of an MBA program is the best way to build a solid foundation in many aspects of the business environment like finance, strategy, operational efficiency, and organizational behavior all at once. I chose to do my MBA at this age because I wanted to ensure I would be able to offer substantial real world experience to the classes.
Chhitiz Basnet, SMU Cox PMBA
Why the SMU MBA program? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? The SMU Cox MBA was my ultimate choice as I lived and worked in Dallas. It offered great flexibility through the Professional MBA format to attend classes, while allowing me to continue working. The campus location right in the heart of Dallas and the reputation it earned in producing great business professionals over many years did play a great role in my selection.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to your MBA class? I bring eight years of global experience to the classroom. Working in consulting positions at a Big 4 firm, I was able to closely gauge the business world in Asia and Europe. I often find myself in a unique position to contribute when international business issues are the subject of discussion.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? I am a big politico-economy enthusiast, an avid follower of geo-politics and its influences on businesses and financial markets. I occasionally contribute op-eds to national journals expressing my views on general or specific issues on politico-economic topics. Apart from that, I love to ski and play soccer and cricket. Thinking that I might go off on a tangent and mindful of word count restrictions, this side of me didn’t get much or any spotlight on my MBA application.
Post-MBA career interests? Leveraging my skills and experience with the depth and breadth of my SMU Cox MBA, I want to work as a Private Equity Associate. This is a position where I believe my experiences and interests greatly align and would allow me to harness all my potential.
Advice to Prospective MBA Applicants
One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? While making sure that I best conveyed my personality to the admissions committee, I asked my wife, mentors, co-workers, and close friends to read my application. Their feedback allowed me to assess what aspects I needed to stress more and which ones I should ignore.
One thing you would change or do differently? I regret that I spoke less with the admissions counselor prior to my application process. I spoke to the admissions counselor only after I completed my application process. Speaking with admissions gave me great insights about the school, courses, professors, etc. I firmly believe that one should speak to the admission counselors prior to starting the application and leverage that communication to frame a great application.
Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? Hands down it’s GMAT. Finding the right amount of time and energy while working full time for me was a great challenge, but then I slowly I figured out that GMAT is just like your hour long gym that you need to do on a daily basis. That helped me get a decent score on my GMAT.
Greatest highlight so far at SMU Cox? This fall, I was accepted to the portfolio management practicum class. We work with Bloomberg terminals in SMU Cox’s state-of-the-art Kitt Investing and Trading Center. Working in those high-end terminals for financial analysis is still absolutely surreal for me.
One thing about SMU Cox that you didn’t expect before arriving? Not just one, there are many–the Cox mentorship program, the Cox Business Leadership Center, access to the world of resources, and the amazing alumni network are some of the many surprises that I wasn’t even expecting from the program.
Thing you were most anxious about in your first year? Time management, of course. I am working full time and having to balance my work and study made me anxious. But the SMU Cox PMBA program with its structure and flexibility made things relatively easy for me to navigate my academics with my work.
Thing you were most excited about in your first year? Being in a class full of smart people, and being able to contribute the real world experience in the best way possible for a meaningful classroom experience keeps me going and excites me about the SMU Cox PMBA program.
Nathan Omid Moayyad, SMU Cox PMBA
Age: 32
Hometown: I was born in Chicago, but I consider Dallas my hometown.
Why business school? Why now? I originally wanted to do a JD/MBA dual degree when I was in law school at SMU, but the opportunity and timing weren’t quite right. I got a second chance to complete my education the way I wanted because my employer was willing to pay for me to come back and get an MBA.
Nathan Omid Moayyad, SMU Cox PMBA
Why the SMU MBA program? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? The reputation of the program combined with my prior experience in law school made SMU Cox an easy decision for me.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to your MBA class? I bring to the table a genuine appreciation for being in a cohort with some talented individuals who are leaders in their companies. Every time I walk into class or partner with my classmates on a project, I bring enthusiasm and listening skills. Working with them makes me better and inspires my future career development.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? I am a HUGE foodie. If you have any restaurant recommendations, please let me know!
Post-MBA career interests? After I complete my MBA, I hope to move up within my company and step into a leadership role where I can help guide it into this ever-changing and rapidly advancing business environment.
Advice to Prospective MBA Applicants
One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? I would do the interview again. My interviewer was wonderful and I’d love to revisit that portion of the process again.
One thing you would change or do differently? I would worry less. I’m sure, if you’re like most applicants, the stress and worry of getting accepted will wear on you. If I could do it again, I would trust myself, and my qualifications, more and enjoy the process.
Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? Nothing!
Greatest highlight so far at SMU Cox? My classmates are the highlight. I really feel fortunate to be around some of the brightest minds in the DFW area.
One thing about SMU Cox that you didn’t expect before arriving? I didn’t expect the opportunity to connect with business leaders so easily. The number of executives and senior leaders locally that present in my classes with frequency is truly exceptional.
Thing you were most anxious about in your first year? I was most anxious about the heavy dose of mathematics that I was about to get. You’re talking to a guy who studied history as an undergrad and then went to law school. Math was never my strong suit.
Thing you were most excited about in your first year? I’m most excited about being a student again. Returning to a higher education environment makes me feel young again. Challenging my body and mind with the responsibility of going back to school while continuing my existing obligations was challenging, but I was eager to make the most of my time in school again and could not wait to get started. That excitement remains with me to this day.
Morgan Schadegg, SMU Cox PMBA
Age: 27
Hometown: It’s a bit complex, but I spent the most time in Lawrence, Kansas.
Why business school? Why now? A few years after working as an engineer, I realized that I wanted to continue to move upwards. I thought about switching industries and getting higher-level positions, and it became apparent that I would need some business knowledge to make it to where I wanted to be.
Morgan Schadegg, SMU Cox PMBA
Why the SMU MBA program? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? At first, I thought I would just take classes online. I spoke with everyone I could about pursuing an MBA, and I learned an on-campus experience would better meet my goals to strengthen my local Dallas-area professional network. The next piece of advice I received was that if I am looking to switch industries, I need to choose the school with the best network possible. From my research, it was evident that SMU Cox has that network, and that was ultimately a driving decision for me.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to your MBA class? Coming from the nuclear industry, I tend to have a very different perspective on problem solving. The industry has so many regulations and red tape surrounding the work that it has forced me to ensure I look deeper and really find the best solution. Having the strong technical background combined with a strategic thought process is where I believe I bring the most to my class.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? If I’m not in school or at work, you’ll probably find me at Goodwill looking for a bargain. I thrift and resell clothes as a side-hustle.
Post-MBA career interests? I hope to be in a management role where I can use my strategic thinking to make a difference.
Advice to Prospective MBA Applicants
One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? I went to info sessions at the schools I was looking at, and that played a huge role in helping me make my decision. I might not have made the same choice had I not done that, and I’m so glad I did.
One thing you would change or do differently? Study more for the GMAT! I can do calculus all day, but the simple math wasn’t something I was used to doing quickly and in my head. I wasn’t as prepared as I could have been.
Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? Again, the GMAT. My husband is going through the MBA program with me, and we were able to help support each other and get through the test. My best advice would be to start studying early (just do 1-2 questions per day), and remember the test can always be retaken. Don’t stress!
Greatest highlight so far at SMU Cox? The people. I can’t say enough about my classmates. I’ve made some great friends, and everyone is driven to succeed. I strive to do better just by being around them.
One thing about SMU Cox that you didn’t expect before arriving? I didn’t expect to enjoy the classes as much as I do. Engineering was hard to get through; it was hard to be interested in the subject matter when I felt as though I’d never have to use it again. I’ve taken something away from every class I’ve been in at Cox, and I can apply it right away to my work and life.
Thing you were most anxious about in your first year? I was extremely nervous about the workload and managing school plus a full-time job. It’s been tough, but I’ve learned great time-management skills, and it’s not as bad as I thought it would be.
Thing you were most excited about in your first year? I was most excited about getting to meet new people that had the same goals as I did. Everyone in class is there for a reason, and we are all so driven.