Andres Fuentes-Afflick, Michigan Ross MBA Class of 2020
Age: 27
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Yale University, Class of 2013, B.A. in political science
Pre-MBA Work Experience: 5 years, consulting
Why business school? Why now? Business school is a unique opportunity to pivot careers, address business skill deficiencies, and develop an incredible network with future business leaders! Now is a great time to make that step while the degree will enable a smooth transition into another field of work and I have fewer personal and professional obligations.
Why Michigan Ross? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? I know it sounds cliché, but the people are the most enduring brand at Ross. When considering schools, I was amazed by how supportive and engaging the entire Ross community is. I spoke to a lot of folks at Ross, and Michigan more broadly, and everyone was willing to go the extra mile to provide me with any information I needed to make the right business school choice, whether that was Michigan Ross or not.
Second, my campus visits were incredibly welcoming and comfortable—Ross felt like home from the outset.
And finally, Michigan is a world class university with top graduate programs across the board. The opportunity to take classes in other disciplines is one I plan to explore more after I’ve completed the core during my first year.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2020? I am very much a people person. I draw a lot of energy from interacting with and learning from folks with different backgrounds, personalities, and motivations. Bringing diverse people together is paramount to me, and something I plan on doing every single day during my time at Ross and beyond.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? I bake cookies once a week. I used to share them in the office, but it looks like Section 4 (four to the core!) will be benefiting from that habit this year!
Post-MBA career interests? Coming from a human capital consulting background, I am looking to pivot into an operations or supply chain management role in the consumer goods industry. Going back to school now enables me to up-skill in operations quickly, leverage my consulting background effectively, and hit the ground running during my internship and full-time roles.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? Lean on people you know at the different business schools. Be very diligent about what you want in an academic and cultural experience at any particular school. Understanding what works for you, and what doesn’t, is extremely important as you navigate the application process!
–One thing you would change or do differently? Space out your application writing as much as possible. I developed most of my apps in the month before deadlines, and that was extremely stressful.
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? The mountain of GMAT studying was brutal! However, I kept reminding myself of the long-term payoff (b-school acceptance) and I leaned on my network of friends navigating the process at the same time. That made the GMAT prep and exam process much more tolerable.
What is your initial impression of Ross’ students/culture/community? Getting onto campus and meeting everyone during orientation has confirmed I made the right choice. I love my classmates and the broader community here at Michigan is amazing. The amount of work that the admissions team and program office do is no joke, but it’s amazing to see it pay off with such a dynamic group of Ross 2020 classmates.
One thing you have learned about Ross that has surprised you? The range of things people want to do post-graduation is astounding. I am continuously amazed to hear about how people want to apply their business education in the near future.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year? Everyone says striking the right balance between academics, social, and professional is a challenge. I am anxious (but also excited) by the prospect of finding the mix that works best for me.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year? “The people, the people, the people.” That’s actually a play off a famous quote from Michigan’s most successful football coach. However, it’s absolutely true. Learning with and from my classmates is something I am incredibly excited by and I can’t wait to get started. Oh, and football season! I’ve always been a Michigan Wolverine at heart—time to go crazy at The Big House on game days. Go Blue!
