William Wallace (MBA ’27)
The first year of the BC full-time MBA is a whirlwind of new experiences, rigorous coursework, and personal growth. To help you navigate this chapter, second-year MBA student William Wallace shares key insights on acing academics, building a strong network, and achieving balance.
Key Takeaways:
- Start Early: Pre-MBA outreach builds your network before Day 1.
- Own Your Fridays: Use class-free Fridays exclusively for internship applications, networking, and alumni calls.
- Say Yes: Keep an open mind as events outside your primary interest often yield the best connections.
Pre-MBA Preparation & Networking
Q: Looking back at the summer before your first semester, what was the most valuable step you took to prepare?
Coming into my first semester, the most valuable form of preparation for me was early outreach and networking. As I have always heard from my parents, who are both Boston College alums, the network here at BC is second to none.
Prior to stepping foot on campus, I leveraged this as much as possible by reaching out to current MBA students, undergraduate students, and individuals working in roles that aligned with my interests. This allowed me to learn more about the experience in front of me and connect with amazing people, helping me get familiar with the community before I even began the program.
Q: Is there anything you wish you had done differently?
I wish I’d continued outreach to individuals outside of my career interests. While I was focused on finding alumni in relevant roles, broadening my outreach to people across a wider variety of careers would have allowed me to grow my network even further, while preparing me more for calls and coffee chats going forward.
Time Management
Q: Between fast-paced coursework, internship recruiting, and social events, the first year moves fast. What specific routine or strategy kept you grounded and on top of your schedule?
With the way the class schedule is set up, you are given ample time both before and after classes to stay on top of your work and attend networking events throughout the week. One of the additional benefits to this layout is having no scheduled courses on Fridays.
I set aside Fridays strictly for networking, internship applications, and outreach. While I had free time during the week to apply to roles or connect over the phone with alumni, putting aside Fridays to fully focus on my internship search is what I found to be the most productive. With long weekends it was very tempting to fall into a pattern of pushing items back until Sunday, but my Friday routine is what kept me grounded and focused throughout the year.
Leveraging the MBA Community
Q: How did leaning on second-year students and career advisors influence your summer internship search or overall career path?
The career advisors at the Carroll School of Management are extremely helpful and such a great resource to leverage. When I was navigating the internship search, I consistently met with my career advisor as she helped me prepare for upcoming interviews and connect with individuals in relevant industries and roles. The career advisors go out of their way to connect you with the right alumni in the workforce.
Second-year students were also a major help in shaping my career path. Through coffee chats and conversations, they introduced me to professors with relevant industry experience, many of whom I wouldn’t have known to approach on my own. Having taken more classes, second-years know the
faculty far better than first-years. Those conversations with professors gave me a clearer picture of my options and what each path actually involves.
Q: MBA cohorts bring together people from completely different backgrounds and industries. How did collaborating with your peers shift your perspective?
The MBA cohorts are almost like a melting pot of industry expertise. As a first-year student, you are given the opportunity to meet and work with fellow classmates who have a wide range of career experiences.
Whether working together on case studies or simply hearing people ask questions in class, each student worked through debates or issues in their own unique ways. This allowed me to hear varying perspectives and look at issues differently and think more critically.
Words of Advice for Prospective Students
Q: Now that you have a full year under your belt, what is one piece of advice you would give to someone sitting where you were a year ago?
It would be to say yes to as many opportunities as you can. I was hesitant at first to attend events that didn’t fit my interests or target field, but I realized over time that every yes widened my network. The people I met, often at events I almost skipped, became sources of advice, introductions, and perspectives I wouldn’t have found otherwise. Saying yes doesn’t mean attending everything, but it does mean going in with an open mind.
That mindset matters even more at Boston College. BC’s community is tight-knit and invested in your success. Other students, alumni, and faculty make time for you, often without being asked twice, reflecting a culture rooted in the school’s Jesuit tradition of service to others. Alumni across industries answer the phone when a fellow Eagle calls. You can’t predict which conversation will matter, but people are far more willing to help than you’d expect. So, show up, be curious, and say yes. Becoming an Eagle doesn’t end at graduation; it’s a network that opens doors for the rest of your career.
William Wallace is a second-year MBA student at Boston College. William received a B.S. in Finance from John Carroll University, where he was also on the men's varsity basketball team. Prior to his MBA, he worked as an investment banking analyst at Citizens Bank. In the summer of 2026, he was an investment intern at the private equity firm Gemspring Capital, where he will return to post-MBA.