Okay, here’s a breakdown of this Yale SOM applicant’s profile, geared towards understanding their strengths and how they present themselves. I’ll categorize it into sections: Overall Impression, Academic/Intellectual Strengths, leadership/Extracurriculars, Career Aspirations & impact, and Potential Weaknesses (minor). I’ll also include a section on Key Themes that emerge.
Overall impression:
This applicant is exceptionally strong. They are clearly intellectually curious, driven by a genuine passion for art and a desire to improve the institutions within that world. They’ve proactively sought out skills to bridge the gap between academic research and practical application, demonstrating foresight and a commitment to impact. they come across as thoughtful, articulate, and well-rounded. This is a candidate who Yale SOM would be very lucky to have.
Academic/Intellectual Strengths:
* Strong Academic Background: Harvard AB in Art History is a prestigious foundation.
* PhD Research Focus: their research on artistic engagement with institutions is sophisticated and relevant. It’s not just about art; it’s about the systems surrounding it.
* Interdisciplinary Thinking: the core reason for pursuing the joint degree is a recognition of the need to combine artistic/humanistic understanding with business/organizational knowledge. This is a hallmark of a strong SOM applicant.
* Analytical Skills: The description of Professor Duguay’s class demonstrates an ability to apply quantitative methods (impact measurement) to a traditionally qualitative field. Designing an impact study for VisualAIDS is a concrete example.
* Intellectual Curiosity: The Wine Society participation, even framed as a “class,” shows a broad range of interests and a willingness to learn outside of core academic pursuits.
* Application of Learning: They directly apply SOM concepts (consulting frameworks, management literature) to their dissertation research on Andrea Fraser.
Leadership/Extracurriculars:
* Wine Society “Teaching Fellow”: While seemingly lighthearted,this demonstrates leadership,communication skills,and the ability to share knowledge. It also shows they are a contributing member of the community.
* CCS Fundraising Internship: A relevant and valuable internship. They weren’t just at CCS; they took on responsibility (peer benchmarking survey, campaign launch).
* Mellon-marron Fellowship at MoMA: This is a huge accomplishment. It’s a prestigious fellowship that provides hands-on experience in all aspects of museum work. This is a clear demonstration of their commitment to the art world and their ability to contribute at a high level.
* Impact Evaluation for Arts Nonprofit: Leveraging the SOM network to secure this opportunity is a positive sign.
Career Aspirations & Impact:
* Clear Art World Focus: they aren’t using the MBA as an escape from art; they are using it to enhance their work within the art world.
* Strategic Thinking: They want to address accessibility issues in museums and improve the functioning of arts organizations.
* Dual Path Exploration: They are open to both curatorial and strategic roles, demonstrating flexibility and a broad understanding of the possibilities.
* Commitment to Nonprofits: their experiences at CCS and with the impact evaluation show a dedication to the nonprofit sector.
* Understanding of Ecosystems: Their statement about the ”interdependent ecosystem” of the art world demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the field.
Potential Weaknesses (Minor):
* Could be more specific about long-term goals: While they articulate a desire to improve the art world, they don’t explicitly state a specific career path (e.g., museum director, arts consultant, foundation leader). This isn’t a major flaw, but clarifying this could strengthen their application.
* Wine Society might be seen as frivolous: While it shows personality, some admissions committees might not see it as a considerable activity. However, the way they frame it as a “class” and highlight their role as a “teaching fellow” mitigates this.
Key Themes:
* Bridging the Gap: The central theme is the applicant’s desire to bridge the gap between the academic study of art and the practical realities of running arts organizations.
* Impact & Accessibility: A strong focus on making the art world more accessible and maximizing the impact of arts organizations.
* Systems Thinking: They consistently demonstrate an ability to see the bigger picture and understand how different parts of the art world ecosystem interact.
* Proactive & resourceful: They actively seek out opportunities to learn and apply their skills, leveraging the SOM network and their own initiative.
To sum up: This is a very compelling profile. the applicant has a clear vision, a strong academic foundation, relevant experience, and a genuine passion for their field. They are exactly the type of student Yale SOM seeks – someone who will use their business education to make a positive impact on the world.
