Tim Pryor, USC Marshall MBA Class of 2023
Age: 29
Hometown: Adelaide, Australia
Undergraduate Institution and Major: University of Adelaide: Bachelor of Engineering (Civil & Structural) and Bachelor of Science (Theoretical Physics)
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 6.5yrs – Engineering, Utilities & Infrastructure
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I decided to come to business school this year to improve my business acumen, build my professional network, and most importantly, help me pivot function within the tech industry. Coming from a country where MBAs aren’t as highly valued in the job market, I was amazed when I first learned about how many doors business school in the US can open. I’d already made the decision to go back to school before the pandemic begun, so it didn’t have much of an impact on my plans.
Why did you choose USC Marshall? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
USC appealed to me for a number of reasons. The program’s strength in tech recruiting has been rapidly improving in recent years and I knew that Trojan alumni were famously loyal and willing to help out current students. Location was also a big driver in my decision. Before moving to LA I’d been living in Chicago for a few years, so I was keen to escape its bitter winters for some year-round sunshine. My partner is also from LA originally, so moving here allowed us to be closer to her family (and made me 5 hrs closer to Australia too). Finally, USC had recently hired a fellow Australian as Dean of the business school, so I figured they must know what they are doing.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2023?
I’ve traveled to quite a few countries to deliver project work, so I’ve got a lot of experience working in different cultural environments with diverse teams. Early in my career I designed a lot of wastewater infrastructure, so I visited many wastewater treatment facilities and saw some pretty gross stuff. If any classmates need help with plumbing issues I can probably help out.
Tell us a fun fact that didn’t get included on your application:
I once raced in a rather hilly 100km (~62 mile) ultramarathon. Would not recommend, I could hardly walk the next day and had terrible chafing.
Post-MBA career interests:
I’d like to land a Product Management role somewhere on the West Coast. I’m mainly targeting big tech companies, as well as companies in the entertainment and gaming spaces.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Talk to current students at schools of interest. Talking one-on-one with students gave me a better feel for culture than attending formal admissions events or looking at university websites.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I was too shy with my application material. I didn’t get anyone to read over my admissions essays or short answer responses and did most of my interview preparation alone. If I had my time again I would seek out a lot more help from friends and family.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The waiting. The whole process is very long. I applied early in Round 1, so I had to wait several months after my interview before finding out if I was admitted, then another 7 months after that to start school. I used the waiting period to try and develop new skills that would help me with my post-MBA career, but the time still went by slowly.
What is your initial impression of the USC Marshall students/culture/community?
All the students have been awesome. I was a little worried that I’d forgotten how to socialize after COVID-19, but everyone has been so open and friendly that making friends has been a breeze. The second year students have also been very supportive and invested in helping first years succeed.
What is one thing you have learned about USC Marshall that has surprised you?
The quality of teaching so far has been very impressive. In my previous studies I had a lot of lecturers who were great academics, but perhaps not the most natural teachers. All of the lecturers I have had so far at USC have been super engaging, so the classes seem to fly by.
Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your personal application or admissions process in any way? If so, how?
I was originally scheduled to take the GMAT in March 2020, but my test got cancelled one day out because of COVID-19, so I didn’t end up getting to take it until August. It was tricky to find fresh study questions to prepare for the August test date because I’d used all of my resources up in preparation for March.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
The recruiting and interviewing process. I didn’t have to go through a formal interview process for either of my previous jobs, so the thought of facing 4-5 interviews in succession on a single day is a bit daunting. Once I’ve secured a good internship for next summer I’ll be able to sleep much easier.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Getting involved in lots of clubs and learning about new industries. Also hoping to get along to plenty of USC basketball and football games (although enthusiasm for the football team has been dampened by its underwhelming start to the season).
