Carter Douglas, Johns Hopkins MBA/MA Class of 2024
Age: 26
Hometown: Easton, MD
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Villanova University, BA in Political Science
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): I worked in public accounting as an auditor (2 Years) at Marcum LLP. However, I currently have an internship with Walmart’s Global Government Affairs team working on policy strategy and government advocacy that I started over the summer.
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
When I originally applied to graduate school, I decided I wanted to pursue an MA in International Relations, which led me to attend JHU’s School of Advanced International Service last year. However, during the fall semester, I realized that pursuing a dual degree MBA with Carey would be an incredible addition to the experiences I gained at SAIS. I saw this program as an opportunity to hone my professional skills, develop a strong network, and gain real-world experiences through their experiential learning programs.
Why did you choose Johns Hopkins Carey? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose to apply to Carey because of the strong focus on experiential learning. The Community Consulting Lab offered to FTMBA students was a key driver for me because I want to pursue a career in consulting and was excited by the opportunity to gain additional work experience while helping the local community. This opportunity, and so many more, made the time I would spend at Carey invaluable toward my career goals.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2024?
The diversity of students is incredible! I have never been able to engage with classmates from many different countries and professional backgrounds. Even just a few weeks in, I have learned so much from my classmates and their experiences. For example, I’m in a group project with a student who worked in supply chains for a hospital during COVID-19. Their experiences have given us a great deal of additional insight into how we are solving our group’s problems.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I love to cook and am currently working through a new favorite cookbook (Deliciously Ella by Ella Mills)!
Post-MBA career interests:
I love to solve hard problems, and this interest has led me to want to pursue a career in strategy or political risk consulting after graduation.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I spent a lot of time thinking about how to tell my story in my application because I come from a multidisciplinary background. I tried to think about how my experiences connected to each other and the skills I gained from a diverse background. Putting this information together helped me write a strong application essay and helped me better articulate my story during the interview process.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would have asked more questions to the Admissions team or current students to ensure I understood all of the exciting opportunities in the program. Applying as a dual-degree student, I didn’t have as much time to research some parts of the program that I think could have helped me develop a view of why I wanted to attend Carey faster.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I would have skipped taking the GMAT exam if I could. I struggled with the exam, especially the quantitative portion, despite having studied a lot before the test. However, knowing that pursuing an MBA is what I wanted gave me the motivation to keep learning and trying my best to overcome the more complicated parts of the exam.
What is your initial impression of the Carey students/culture/community?
I am so impressed with the number of opportunities to network with my class, professionals, and alums. One of the critical parts of an MBA program is substantial networking opportunities, and Carey definitely meets that bar!
What is one thing you have learned about Carey that has surprised you?
I was surprised to learn that almost every assignment has a practical element to it. So often, school assignments seem like they have no real-world application, but almost all my projects at Carey are designed to help me gain professional experience.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I am nervous about balancing life, school, and work as I take on a busy first two semesters. However, the network at Carey has been so supportive that I know that if I begin to struggle, there are so many people I can reach out to for help.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I am very excited about the opportunity to apply to the Community Consulting Lab this Spring!
Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your personal application or admissions process in any way? If so, how?
I began working full-time only about nine months before the pandemic hit. During the first year of COVID-19, I spent a lot of time thinking about what I might want to do next. The pandemic gave me the time to find out what I was passionate about and think critically about where I might want to work one day. If not for that reflective time, I don’t think I would have gained so much valuable experience at Carey and SAIS.
