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MBA - Application Process

ROI on Forté MBALaunch Has Exponential Benefits

Divinity-Matovu

I would recommend Forté MBALaunch to any woman who is interested in the MBA. Even if you’re not in a hub city like New York, Chicago or Los Angeles, you can still benefit from this program and a diverse network of multi-faceted, multi-cultural women from a broad range of industries.

Networking Connections

I connected with prospective MBA women as well as current students, Forté alumnae, motivational speakers and even corporate recruiters who presented at the MBALaunch Kick-Off, the Annual Women’s Leadership Conference and the Forté Forums. The access to Admissions Officers is a major bonus of MBALaunch. I was able to build relationships with AOs from top MBA programs through Forte’s Expert Office Hours.

Forté MBALaunch gave 2014 participants the opportunity to develop a 1-on-1 mentorship relationship with a current MBA student. When choosing my mentor, I felt like a kid in a candy store. There were hundreds of dynamic women leaders who were in MBA programs that I was interested in. To be able to connect 1-on-1 and get coaching from these women was a phenomenal experience.

I reached out to Margaret Farquharson, a Forté Fellow and 2nd year MBA student at Yale School of Management. Margaret has been an invaluable resource to me. Through monthly phone calls and occasional text messages, Margaret supported me during the GMAT struggle, answered my questions about business school, and challenged me to dig deep to think about what I really want to do post-MBA.

GMAT Preparation

The most beneficial aspect of Forté MBALaunch was the GMAT module which helped me identify critical topics I needed to focus on during my test prep. I loved that the GMAT webinars were on demand so I could go back and re-watch them at a later date. The webinars featured instructors and tutors from all the major GMAT prep companies, which was helpful for me as I was trying to decide whether to enroll in a prep course.

Knowing that there were other talented women from all over the country struggling with the GMAT let me know I was not alone. The women in my cohort were very supportive. We created study groups, shared study materials, and sent motivational text messages and emails to encourage one another.

There was one webinar featuring a woman who spoke to us about stress alleviation techniques like meditation, exercise and breathing techniques. Thanks to her advice, I got a mani/pedi and a 90 minute massage the day before I took the GMAT for the 3rd time. Needless to say, between Forté’s awesome webinars, the support of my fellow Launchers who doubled as accountability partners, a private tutor, and eight months of intense studying, I finally rocked the exam!

Final Steps

I am currently working on my essays and putting the final touches on my Round 2 applications. I’ll definitely be taking advantage of the fee waivers offered by Forté sponsor schools, which is a huge cost-saver for Launchers. The value of these waivers alone would make Forté MBALaunch well worth the modest program fee. The return on investment in the program is truly exponential.

As a mom, the culture of the university I ultimately attend and the environment of the surrounding community is very important to me. I’ve committed to visiting every program I’m interested in which has kept me busy the past few months.

Many of the current female students I’ve met during school visits are Forté Fellows. By the time I submit my applications, I will have visited every program on my school list. I am so excited about the future. I can’t wait to celebrate with my fellow Launchers once we all get our admission letters in a few months!

Divinity Matovu is a fiery entrepreneur and independent thinker who graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2008 from the University of Southern California. She currently manages her own firm, Matovu Consulting, in Los Angeles. Prior to that, she served as the Executive Director of a youth development non-profit she launched in Uganda. Post-MBA, Divinity plans to gain experience as an Investment Portfolio Manager with a social venture fund. Long-term, she aspires to launch a women’s leadership institute in Uganda. You can connect with Divinity on Twitter @divinitymatovu.

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