Philip Allan, WG’17, had worked as a financial analyst at a technology company in Austin, TX, before choosing Wharton. Having previously lived in California and Arizona, his biggest concern was the cold weather, but the school and city won him over. He recruited for jobs in the area and accepted a full-time position with Boston Consulting Group in Philadelphia when everything clicked.
“Finding the right role is all about reflecting on what you want to do long-term with your career and life, then picking the variety of roles that are offered through career services to get there,” he said. “There is not one silver bullet for any one person, and all students will go about finding their path differently. The beauty of Wharton is that there are a tremendous number of resources to help everyone find a role that moves them down their path.”
Here’s what he had to say.
Never lived in the Northeast…
Never had a real winter…
Never been to Philadelphia…
No problem — the City of Brotherly Love is a wonderful place to call home!
As an applicant to Wharton, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from Philadelphia. Born and raised in Carlsbad, CA, attending University at Arizona State in Tempe, AZ, and working for four years in Austin, TX, I never grew accustomed to having seasons, or the frigid temperatures that most people around the world call winter.
While I was excited to start my time at Wharton, I didn’t know what it would be like living in the Northeast. Were the people going to be fast-paced and closed? Was I going to be able to survive winter? Was there good culture and food in Philadelphia?
Resoundingly, the answer is “yes” to all of the above. I have truly fallen for the City of Brotherly Love, enough so that I will be calling it home after graduation. Philadelphia is a vibrant city with everything at your fingertips — from friendly neighbors, to great restaurants (and many BYOB to help with the student budget), to history and museums that date back to the beginning of the United States of America. Philadelphia is also well connected to the Northeast corridor, so we’re just a train ride away from Boston, New York, and Washington D.C.
Most of my extracurricular activities at Wharton have centered on building community. This is very important to me, because it is one of the key reasons I chose to come to Wharton. The community that we have here is truly special, and I want to ensure it stays that way for years to come.
It truly has been a great experience spending the past two years in Philadelphia, and I am excited for everyone considering an MBA at the Wharton School to get to know and appreciate my new hometown!
Posted: February 1, 2017
