Real Humans of the Syracuse Whitman Class of 2019
Jason Adelstone, Whitman MBA Class of 2019
Age: 35
Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Syracuse University, JD/MBA
Pre-MBA Work Experience: After earning my undergraduate degree in business management, I managed restaurants and bars in Arizona. After seven years in the restaurant business I switched my focus and began supervising logistical operations for the retail and beverage side of the United States Antarctic Program (USAP) in McMurdo Station, Antarctica. After three contract seasons working “On Ice” I decided to go back to school, focused on attaining a JD/MBA degree.
Why Business School? Why now? One day, while working at the South Pole, I realized that there was no long-term future for me with the USAP and realized I needed to figure out what my next step would be. I spent three days looking at what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be in 10 years. I come from an entrepreneurial family, and living in Colorado, the most entrepreneurial venture right now is cannabis. I decided to go back to business school because most of my business knowledge is focused in the restaurant industry. I want to eventually be a legal consultant for small businesses in the hospitality and cannabis industry and need a more broad understanding of business to do that.
Jason Adelstone, Whitman MBA Class of 2019
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2019? I think my age and experience make me unique to the class of 2019. My class has some brilliant people, who have varied experiences in their respective fields, but most come from either a couple years in the business world or straight from an undergraduate program. I think I bring a realistic perspective to school and an understanding that there is more to education than the grades. The journey is just as important and sometimes even more so. Going from cleaning toilets as a janitor to managing millions of dollars in inventory for the USAP, I learned that it’s not always the outcome, but the journey that matters.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? I was the lead singer of a band that played (among many others) in Antarctica before Metallica who claims to be the first band to play “On Ice.”
Post-MBA career interests? I plan to work for a law firm specializing in the cannabis industry with a focus on business operations and regulations.
Advice to Prospective MBA Applicants
One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? I would absolutely visit the schools I was really interested in again. There is so much to do and worry about in graduate school that being uncomfortable in your surroundings should not be one of them. Visit and see which schools feel right, then look at the pros and cons of each and go from there.
One thing you would change and do differently? Honestly, nothing. I started planning my JD/MBA a year and a half before my first day of class and outlined everything I wanted to get out of the school searches and application process.
Part you would have skipped if you could – and what helped you get through it? The GMAT was the last thing I wanted to take, after having taken the LSAT. However, I treated studying like a second job. I went to Starbucks every day before or after my actual job and studied for hours. After a week or two, it just became a habit and one that has stayed with me through graduate school. Treat school like a job and success will follow.
About the Author
Matthew Korman
Matthew Korman is a writer on MetroMBA. Since graduating from Rowan University with a degree in journalism and political science, Matthew has worked as a music industry writer and promoter, a data analyst, and with numerous academic institutions. His works have appeared in publications such as NPR and Sports Illustrated.
