QS MBA Community Scholarship: 2019 Winner Jesse Manders

We’re pleased to announce that one of the winners of this year’s QS MBA Community scholarship is Jesse Manders.

The scholarship is awarded to five students annually, with each receiving an award of US$2,000. Recipients must attend a QS event, start their first year of MBA study in the next academic year, and the scholarship must go towards tuition fees.

What are you studying, and why did you choose the university you’ve applied to?

I’m studying for my MBA at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. I chose the business school because of its high caliber of students, professors and connections to the technology industry in Silicon Valley.

What do you hope to gain from your degree? How will it affect your career plans?

I hope to gain classroom business knowledge, of course, but just as importantly, to gain knowledge through experiential learning modules and make personal connections that will last a lifetime.

Hopefully, my time at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business will allow me to take on increasing levels of responsibility and to run a business unit or even a whole business in the technology industry eventually.

How did you find the scholarship application process? How many sources of financial aid did you approach?

I found the QS application process relatively straightforward. Telling a compelling story is one of the most important skills in business, so this is a helpful exercise. I am counting on scholarships, savings, and loans to fund my program.

What was your experience of a QS event like? What were the highlights of your time there, and what would you recommend to future attendees?

I went to two QS events and found both very helpful. They were well organized and had a lot of representatives from major and smaller schools that you could talk to, as well as many admissions consultants.

I found the one-on-one conversations with admissions reps to be very helpful, but there are also info sessions on GMAT prep, application tips, professional photo headshots, etc.

I would recommend you had already started going through the process of studying for GMAT and have several schools picked out that you want to talk to personally.

For the top ranked schools, it can be tough to get one-on-one quality time with an admissions staff member in person, so be prepared to ask your most important questions when you get the chance. Then follow up with them personally via email to thank them for their time and conversation. Personal touches help you stand out among the thousands of applicants.

What difference will this scholarship make to you? How would your plans have differed without this financial support?

This scholarship saves me lots of money in principal and interest on my loan and allows me to stretch my savings further. I would have still gone to business school without this scholarship, but this scholarship relieves a lot of stress and helps me focus on my goals, so I’m very thankful to be a winner.

What advice do you have for prospective students applying for scholarships?

Tell a story that’s true to yourself and figure out why you’re a good match for that scholarship. Also, apply to as many scholarships as you can – it’s free money!