‘Married’ to the Johnson School
Corwin Shropshire ‘03
Issue date: 10/29/01 Section: Viewpoints
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“She’s beautiful,” I said to myself as I glanced over at the young woman sitting near the front of Professor Libby’s accounting class. Just look at her eyes, that smile, that, that… After class, she and I will definitely engage in a little social interaction. I can’t wait for the last debit to be issued; I want this love connection to happen now.
Finally, it’s 11:25 and I begin my journey towards the loveliest woman in Sage Hall. As I gently tap her on the shoulder, I quickly think of something clever to say. Perhaps I’ll hit her with my ‘Barry White line of the week.’ Instead I offer, “what do you think of the accrual basis of accounting?” Man, where did that come from? I’m doomed, I know it. The future mother of my children will never talk to me again. Luckily, her sweet giggle saves me from the oncoming panic attack. Beauty and a sense of a humor, that’s good, very good. I’ve met the woman of my dreams; she without a doubt is the ‘one’. The one who will … wait a minute, what’s that thing on her finger? Wouldn’t you know it, she’s married!
You may be unaware, but married MBA students belong to a growing population in business schools across the nation. According to the Graduate Management Admissions Council, almost 40% of MBA’s have tied the knot before entering B-school. Here at the Johnson School, approximately 27% of students are married, and interestingly enough, the class of 2003 has five married couples and two more that are engaged. The Core is tough enough; the pressure must intensify when your spouse is also a student. Karen Hittle, for one, would probably disagree. “It might be a little easier as a married student. Brian and I help each other and its beneficial to hear a different perspective on what was discussed in class.”
Another advantage to being married and attending graduate school is that couples get the opportunity to spend more time with each other. Brian, for instance, was in the Navy prior to coming to Cornell and was constantly traveling. Now he and Karen have similar schedules and are involved in some of the same extracurricular activities.
Finally, it’s 11:25 and I begin my journey towards the loveliest woman in Sage Hall. As I gently tap her on the shoulder, I quickly think of something clever to say. Perhaps I’ll hit her with my ‘Barry White line of the week.’ Instead I offer, “what do you think of the accrual basis of accounting?” Man, where did that come from? I’m doomed, I know it. The future mother of my children will never talk to me again. Luckily, her sweet giggle saves me from the oncoming panic attack. Beauty and a sense of a humor, that’s good, very good. I’ve met the woman of my dreams; she without a doubt is the ‘one’. The one who will … wait a minute, what’s that thing on her finger? Wouldn’t you know it, she’s married!
You may be unaware, but married MBA students belong to a growing population in business schools across the nation. According to the Graduate Management Admissions Council, almost 40% of MBA’s have tied the knot before entering B-school. Here at the Johnson School, approximately 27% of students are married, and interestingly enough, the class of 2003 has five married couples and two more that are engaged. The Core is tough enough; the pressure must intensify when your spouse is also a student. Karen Hittle, for one, would probably disagree. “It might be a little easier as a married student. Brian and I help each other and its beneficial to hear a different perspective on what was discussed in class.”
Another advantage to being married and attending graduate school is that couples get the opportunity to spend more time with each other. Brian, for instance, was in the Navy prior to coming to Cornell and was constantly traveling. Now he and Karen have similar schedules and are involved in some of the same extracurricular activities.