A summer of community, growth and momentum

Many people equate a One-Year MBA Program with a nonstop academic sprint, but at Kellogg, the experience is far more nuanced. While the pace is undoubtedly fast, the summer quarter offers opportunities to build meaningful friendships while growing both inside and outside the classroom.

Hailing from Austin, Texas, Matthew Funk ’27 One-Year MBA reflects on how the program fosters connection, community and a sense of fulfillment. 

How would you describe a typical day during the summer quarter? 

A typical day is mostly spent at the Kellogg Global Hub from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. attending classes, eating lunch with other Kellogg students and working on group assignments. We then do an activity away from Kellogg in the evening such as beach volleyball, group run, mahjong, Cubs or White Sox baseball game or trivia. 

What has been your favorite course, classroom moment or project this summer?

My favorite course this semester was Accelerated Corporate Finance, which is a combination of Finance 1 and Finance 2. This course was my favorite because I perceived finance as one of my weaker subject areas and one of the core reasons I wanted to continue my education. While it definitely challenged me, it also taught me a lot and provided a safe space to fail, ask questions and lean on my professor and classmates to improve. 

What three words would you use to describe your summer quarter experience?

My summer quarter has been active, fulfilling and healthy. I’ve participated in various activities including attending Cubs games, playing mahjong and beach volleyball and going on a weekend trip to Indianapolis for a NASCAR race. I also found a running group and have been cooking a lot more, which are keeping me healthy. 

To top it off, I got engaged this summer and have met many new people who motivated me to become the One-Year Kellogg Student Association (KSA) president. 

Some people might assume an accelerated MBA program means missing out on certain experiences. What does “accelerated” actually look and feel like now as a student? 

No matter who I talk to across the different programs at Kellogg, the unanimous response is that there is simply too much going on to do everything. One-Year MBA students are no different in that regard. We have to prioritize in many of the same ways: balancing career, social life and academics. Kellogg does its best to make those trade-offs easier where it can, whether allowing students to waive certain core courses based on prior experience or coursework, or by jumpstarting recruiting preparation over the summer so we can be successful in the fall. 

Kellogg is known for its tight-knit community and collaborative culture. How did spending the summer in Chicago and Evanston shape your experience outside of the classroom? 

The tight-knit community and collaborative culture of Kellogg extended outside of the classroom into my daily experience. The things I had previously done alone or with maybe one other person, such as running, watching House of the Dragons, practicing cases for recruiting, etc. have become small-to-large group activities.  

Evanston has provided an amazing opportunity to be nestled in a quaint city while still a quick train ride to Chicago with the benefit of building a sense of community with my program classmates while the majority of other Kellogg and Northwestern students are away for the summer. 

What advice would you give to someone considering or enrolling in the One-Year Program at Kellogg? 

Think critically about what you want from your MBA experience. Kellogg has a variety of programs that cater to different interests, backgrounds and career aspirations. Connect with a few current or former One-Year MBA students to learn about their experiences to better understand whether the program is the right fit for where you are in your career and what your aspirations are for an MBA. 

Read next: A one-year bet that paid off