Sheron Torho, UVA Darden MBA Class of 2020
Age: 25
Hometown: Bound Brook, NJ
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Amherst College, economics and psychology
Pre-MBA Work Experience: 1 year in wealth management and 2.5 years in software and digital marketing sales
Why business school? Why now? I have been considering business school since I was in college. Because I attended a liberal arts institution, I knew that in order to get to a place that I felt competent and confident enough to have a major impact on a business I would need to pursue an MBA. I actually considered some deferred enrollment MBA programs during my senior year, but ultimately knew that I wanted to gain more real-life experience before making any decisions. After working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment in the software space, I felt I had a stronger foundation to pursue my degree in business.
Why Darden? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? I’m a firm believer that things typically work out as they should. When I first began my business school search my first broad criteria was geographic location. I had spent so much time in the Northeast so I eliminated that as an option entirely. I was living in DC at the time and loved it, so I considered the DC area, the south, as well as the West Coast. I didn’t expect to get into Darden or to love Charlottesville, but as soon as I stepped on grounds for my interview and interacted with the community I knew I could see myself here.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2020? I was born in Ghana, but I have lived in the United States for the majority of my life. As a result, while growing up I felt that my home culture was at odds with that of the United States. This perspective has allowed me to become more open to diverse opinions and backgrounds. In both my work and personal life, I am usually the mediator or connector between friends and peers. I hope I can use my background to cultivate a community in which differences are celebrated and people step outside of their comfort zone to learn about those who are different from themselves.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? My sister and I have the same birthday, but she is six years older.
Post-MBA career interests? I plan to pursue roles in either digital marketing or brand management. Post-MBA I would love to be a brand or marketing manager for an innovative company and then eventually start my own business.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? Many people recommended that I visit schools before applying and though that may be helpful to some, I realized that was not the best use of my time or money. Most schools I waited to visit during my interview or after I got in. I also attended some visit days that allowed me to interview early, but mostly explored through MBA fairs and school events in my city.
–One thing you would change or do differently? I would have taken a GMAT prep class. I took the GMAT once during and then a few months after college and did all the studying on my own. In the end my GMAT score was the part of my application that made me the most anxious, so if I could go back I would have invested in an official GMAT course to add some points to my overall score.
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? Honestly, I am not a big fan of shameless self-promotion. Many of the recruiting events consist of potential students boasting about their own achievements, huddled around one school representative. Funny enough, recruiting for jobs while you’re in business school is similar. I try to focus on my end goal and try to be as authentic as possible, and that usually gets me through.
What is your initial impression of Darden’s students/culture/community? Everyone is extremely kind and helpful. Whether it be for assignments, recruiting or just everyday logistics of life, Darden students are willing to drop everything to help their peers. It’s nice to know that a helping hand is always just a call or text message away.
One thing you have learned about Darden that has surprised you? Before I got here I was told that life at Darden would be extremely busy, but I probably underestimated the magnitude. Because of how our courses are structured with the case method and learning teams, in addition to recruiting and extracurricular events you could easily go the whole day without leaving the academic building or having an hour to yourself.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year? I am definitely anxious for our final exams. Because we are on a quarter system, finals are coming up in a few short weeks. The case method is great in that it enables students to teach each other on teams and within class, but it is also nerve-racking that the final will be my first and only assessment in each course.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year? I am most excited about the Darden Worldwide Courses. These are electives that give students the opportunity to travel abroad and gain access to companies and cultural experiences that we would not be able to access on our own. This is also the first year that we have a worldwide scholarship fund that will cover program fees for every student who chooses to participate. I hope to travel to Japan or China!
