Global Ambassador: Paolo Loli

Paolo Loli, from Peru, is a MBA Business Administration. He works for the Krannert Graduate Programs Office as a Graduate Assistant and his job consists of analyzing admissions data for the masters’ programs and performing research to understand and promote diversity within Krannert’s PhD programs.

Ambassador Q & A (Questions and Answers)

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Why did you choose Purdue?
I learned about Purdue when I was a kid back in South America. Purdue has a great reputation as an engineering school, and I also heard that it had a very good business school. I always wanted to be a part of an institution that was making a difference in the world, and Purdue is doing so in many ways. I was impressed by Purdue’s network of successful alumni. They are all over the world, succeeding in their careers, and always willing to help a fellow Boilermaker. To me, that shows how great the Purdue family is and that they are proud to be a part of it. Moreover, Purdue offers a highly ranked STEM MBA program, which has provided me with the tools to develop and hone analytical, strategic, problem-solving, and other technical skills to succeed in my career. Therefore, it was an easy choice to come to Purdue for graduate school.

How did you decide what to study?
I really liked the curriculum of MS Marketing, as it had a great mix of Marketing and Analytics. Also, I could see that the Boiler alumni network is huge and after talking to some recent alumni from Purdue, I was confident that Purdue would be the right choice for my graduate degree.

What was your process for selecting a graduate school?
I looked at several business schools in the country, particularly those that were highly ranked. I made different lists for the schools with their pros and cons and what stood out from each school. I always had Purdue on my mind, and fortunately, I had a friend who was pursuing his MBA at Purdue during that time. My friend told me about how great his experience at Purdue had been and he helped me connect with a recruiter. After talking to the recruiter, I was convinced that Purdue was my best choice. The recruiter was very helpful and guided me throughout the application process. I applied to other schools as backups, but fortunately, I was accepted to the MBA program at Purdue.

What is your favorite fact about Purdue?
Purdue has one of the best basketball programs in the country. The men’s team has the most Big Ten Conference championships with 24. As a former college basketball player, I really enjoy attending all of Purdue’s home games at Mackey Arena. Mackey has the best atmosphere I have ever witnessed.

Where do you spend most of your time on campus?
At Rawls Hall. That is where I take most of my courses. I like to book the study rooms at Rawls and work of assignments, projects, and my graduate assistantship there. Very often, my classmates and I will spend entire day and/or nights working together on projects and enjoying our time in graduate school.

How did you decide where to live?
I contacted a friend who was pursuing his MBA at Purdue at the time. He told me about the apartment complex that he was moving into and that they still had apartments available. The location was very close to campus and the price for rent was very reasonable. There are many companies to rent from around campus and in West Lafayette.

What does your typical day look like: commute, work/research, study spots, places to eat?
I get up early to go to the CoRec, Purdue’s recreational sports center. I like going there early so I can play basketball by myself doing different drills and to get started with my day early. After that I usually get back to my place, shower, and eat breakfast. Then I head over to Rawls for most of the day to work of my graduate assistantship or to go to class, depending on my schedule. I like to prepare my own food, but sometimes after class, I like grabbing a bite at Harry’s Chocolate shop, which is a bar right next to Rawls Hall. I also love sandwiches at Pot Belly and Mexican food at Fiesta. All those places are right next to campus.

What does your travel from Peru to Purdue look like?
I have lived in the U.S. for almost 10 years now, so I don’t travel directly from Peru to Purdue. But whenever I have gone home to visit my family, traveling back is usually simple, with 2 flights and one connection. The airports, either the one in Chicago or the one in Indianapolis, which are relatively close to West Lafayette, have shuttles that drop you off at Purdue. They are very convenient.

What’s the biggest difference between Peru and Purdue?
Purdue is a college town, which is something I really like. I see people from different ages, but everyone is a student or is connected to the school one way or another. Everyone has a sense of belonging here and gets involved with the school. I like how many people wear clothes with the Purdue logo everyone on and outside campus. Moreover, Purdue has different on and off campus options for the community, restaurants, movie theaters, fitness center, bars, stores, and more, all within walking distance from campus. Another difference is the weather. Back home the weather is relatively warm, and the temperature only goes down to around 55°F. Here at Purdue, the seasons are very defined and extreme at times, with a lot of heat during the summer and very cold during the winter with a couple of snowstorms, which I really like.

What’s one thing prospective students from Peru should know about Purdue?
That Purdue is a very welcoming place where everyone can fit in. There are people from all over the world here and opportunities to get involved and make a difference, not only in the community, but also around the world.

How do you de-stress in your free time?
I play a lot of basketball and workout at the gym. I also go to as many sporting events as I can. I go to basketball, football, volleyball, and baseball games. The atmosphere there is amazing, and I love the tailgates on football gamedays. I also go out on the weekends with my friends to events, bars and clubs around campus.

How do you keep yourself organized?
I update my calendar on my cellphone and computer constantly. I also keep all my notes on Microsoft OneNote, which I update from my computer and cellphone. Because my peers in the MBA usually have the same classes and schedule as I do, I always check with them to make sure I do not miss any assignments or commitments.

What are you hoping to do after you graduate from Purdue?
I am hoping to work as a product manager, helping an organization to solve customer problems and meet their needs while providing innovation. I want to apply my technical, communication, and problem-solving skills to provide growth and take advantage of opportunities. I also want to work in the tech or sports sector, which are two of my passions.

 

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