<p>Actually, I used to work in M&A; now in commercial real estate.</p>
<p>I worked briefly between AU and graduate school, but I just continued in the job I had while at AU–I just went from part-time to full-time after graduation.</p>
<p>It was that job that got me interested in business–I worked for a group of doctors and realized that, even though they were great doctors, they didn’t have a clue about how to make money. I figured that if I could be the “making money” expert, there would be a career for me in helping people who had good technical skills (e.g., doctors) but not good business skills. That thinking is what led me into finance in the telecom business–lots of smart engineers who know how to make things, but don’t know how to make money.</p>
<p>All that being said, my ability to get the long-term job I wanted was a direct result of my graduate degree. However, my admission to graduate school (and the scholarship that came with it–I couldn’t have afforded school without it) was a direct result of my success at AU, as reflected in grades, GMAT scores, and activities.</p>
<p>Thirteen years out of college, though, no one really cares where I went to college (or grad school) or what my grades were. They just care about my experience and whether they think I can help them. You will reach this point, too.</p>
<p>Sorry, short question, long answer.</p>