By Karan Chadda, MS Audit and Advisory Services student and KGSB ambassador
Graduate school is about much more than attending classes. It’s a journey of building skills, leadership, and career momentum every day. As an MS student balancing academics, student organizations, and career preparation, I’ve learned that structure and intentionality are key to making the most of this experience.
Staying organized and taking advantage of resources
My day starts early, 5:30 AM to be exact. I use the quiet morning hours to plan my schedule, set daily goals, and prioritize tasks. One personal rule I follow religiously is to complete assignments at least one day before they are due. This approach reduces last-minute stress and gives me time to refine my work whenever needed.
Graduate school is about much more than attending classes. It’s a journey of building skills, leadership, and career momentum every day.
Before starting my day, I check my university Outlook inbox, DeHub notifications, and Handshake alerts to stay up to date on upcoming events, deadlines, and career opportunities. I rely heavily on platforms like 12Twenty, Handshake where I track internship applications, and D2L for managing all course communications and materials. Since most of my classes are in the evenings, I utilize my mornings and afternoons for everything else like studying at the library, working on group projects, attending student organization meetings, participating in events across both Loop Campus and Lincoln Park Campus, and preparing for upcoming opportunities. This structure allows me to fully engage in both academic and professional development activities.
Life outside the classroom
Chadda and teammates at a PwC case competition
I’m actively involved in two student organizations, where I help plan events, collaborate with students from diverse nationalities and academic programs, and participate in initiatives that build leadership and teamwork skills. These experiences have broadened my perspective and strengthened my ability to work across different backgrounds and ideas. In addition to student organization work, I make a conscious effort to utilize university resources. I visit the Career Management Center (CMC) about once a month for career advising, resume reviews, and long-term planning. I also use resume and interview preparation resources as needed, making sure my professional materials are polished and ready whenever opportunities arise.
A highlight from today was attending a Global Conversation on Clean Energy Solutions for Cars, which brought together students from India, Ghana, Cameroon, Rwanda, and Chicago. Listening to perspectives on clean energy innovation, infrastructure challenges, and future transportation trends broadened my understanding of how interconnected and regionally diverse global solutions must be. Engaging with peers from different parts of the world added a new dimension to my learning outside the classroom.
Finding balance
Every class, event, and conversation are helping shape the professional I aim to become, one step at a time, one day at a time.
In the evenings, I attend my in-person, online synchronous, or asynchronous classes. I always prefer attending sessions in person, as it creates stronger engagement with the subject, professors, and classmates. Evening classes allow me to concentrate fully, building on the work and preparation I’ve done throughout the day.
Having a balance between structured evening classes, morning and afternoon leadership activities, and continuous career development has made my MS journey both dynamic and rewarding. Every class, event, and conversation are helping shape the professional I aim to become, one step at a time, one day at a time.
About the author
Karan (Kay) Chadda, an international student originally from Chandigarh, India, graduated in Spring 2025 with a Master’s in Audit and Advisory Services from DePaul University in Chicago. He is a licensed CPA in the state of Illinois with a strong passion for corporate governance, internal controls, and advisory services. Post-graduation, Kay plans to work in the corporate audit or advisory field, helping organizations improve financial integrity and risk management. Outside of work, he enjoys running by Lake Michigan, exploring Chicago’s architecture, discovering new food spots, and keeping up with global business trends.
By Dhanush “DJ” Jaiswal
I’m a full-time grad student juggling academics, HR work, consulting, and campus life. Come along with me for a day in my life!
Let’s take this week. The day kicked off at 7 a.m. with some Bollywood music playing in the background… not to convince myself to get going, but because I love what I do and I show up ready. By 8:30, I was on the CTA heading into the Loop. Classic Chicago vibes: half-asleep riders, someone watching reels without headphones, and that unmistakable aroma of Dunkin’ and Starbucks swirling through the air in the train.
I reached the Loop Campus by 9:30 and settled into the HR office by 10. First up? Making a to-do list, a few internal updates, then a team check-in to prep for a nonprofit consulting call later that day. Around noon, I was finalizing event details with the SHRM DePaul team. We’ve been planning DePaul’s first-ever in-person HR networking event, and it’s coming up fast. After work, I made a quick stop at the library to finish some readings and polish our BOSCH project deliverables.
It was somewhere between group messages and the quiet buzz of the library that I thought, “This is exactly why I’m here.”
Hi, I’m Dhanush Jaiswal…but most people just call me DJ.
I’m a full-time international student in my fourth quarter of the MS in Human Resources program at DePaul. Before grad school, I spent six years working in the corporate industry, four of those at Deloitte in HR Global Mobility Strategy, Reporting & Analytics, and earlier at Amazon. I didn’t come to DePaul to start over; I came here to level up.
This quarter, I’m enrolled in Consulting Skills, one of the most practical classes I’ve taken. As part of it, I’m working with a nonprofit client on a real HR issue. While I can’t share the details (consultant code!), the experience has been energizing. It’s not a simulation — it’s the real deal with comes with lot of learnings and guidance from the instructor and that’s the best part about being a DePaul student.
Another standout experience is the BOSCH Project, offered through the DePaul HR program. All MSHR students are working alongside BOSCH professionals, learning how different teams and roles function, and applying what we’ve learned to support strategic alignment efforts. It’s the kind of work that makes you forget you’re in school because it feels like the job already.
Evening class kicked off at 6. We discussed stakeholder relationships, and I couldn’t help but smile, I’d just applied that very concept in our client call hours earlier. After class, I caught up briefly with my team, then headed home, cooked dinner, and called my family in India (shoutout to time zones for keeping me on my toes).
And honestly, there’s still so much more I could talk about.
If you’re curious about the program, the projects, or just want to chat, feel free to reach out, drop me an email, or stop me on campus. I’m always happy to share.
So yeah, that’s just one day. Every day looks a little different at my end, but the energy, the learning, and my love for all things HR — that’s constant.
And that’s exactly what I signed up for.
By Dhanshri Ankur Bhagwat
1. Coping with Culture Shock: Culture shock is real, but it’s also an opportunity for growth. Be patient with yourself, and embrace the chance to learn a new culture. A few tips:
- Be gracious and open-minded.
- Small talk goes a long way—don’t be afraid to engage.
- Ask questions if you’re uncertain about something.
2. Understanding Academics
- Academic Integrity: Plagiarism is taken very seriously in the U.S. Always use proper citations, and avoid copying others’ work.
- AI & Academics: While it might be tempting, avoid using AI for your assignments unless explicitly allowed by your professor.
- Class Participation: Engage actively in class. Unlike in some countries, U.S. professors encourage participation and discussion with peers.
- Stay on Track: Keep an eye on your GPA and assignments. Many professors assign pre-class tasks that help you prepare for exams. Meeting deadlines is key to success.
3. Building Connections & Beating Homesickness: It’s normal to feel homesick and miss your family, friends, and familiar comforts. While staying connected through calls is important, invest time in building new relationships here.
- Tip: Join student organizations to make friends, share experiences, and build meaningful connections with others who are in the same boat.
4. Stay Updated on Immigration & Visa Rules Regularly: Consult with your ISS (International Student and Scholar Services) advisor and academic advisor to stay informed about your visa status. They will guide you on F-1 or J-1 visa requirements, work restrictions, and travel regulations.
5. Follow Legal & Safety Guidelines: Stay aware of basic traffic and pedestrian rules—always follow signals and public regulations, including legal drinking and smoking ages. In case of an emergency, dial 911 for medical, fire, police, or any life-threatening situations.
When Weam Abdalla moved to Chicago to start her MBA at Kellstadt, she already had experience in building a robust professional network from the ground up. Born in Saudi Arabia and educated in Sudan, where her family has roots, Abdalla launched her career in the United Arab Emirates. Abdalla’s experience is in human capital; she worked in recruitment consultancies for multinational firms, including a boutique consultancy that specializes in executive searches, leadership assessments and board appointments.
For Abdalla, earning an MBA was a natural next step. Kellstadt’s program stood out because it would allow her to focus on business strategy and decision-making. Abdalla started the program in fall 2023.
She arrived excited to take her career to the next level – and unsure about what building a professional network in a new cultural context would look like.
Now that she’s in her second quarter of the MBA, here are five of Abdalla’s key takeaways about networking:
1. Understand the Chicago Market
I kicked off with diving into market research, identifying the key industries and sectors in Chicago. I looked at the startup scene, hedge funds, consulting firms: at their employees and their backgrounds and the exciting job opportunities advertised. Thanks to “LinkedIn stalking,” as they call it, I gained a comprehensive view of professionals in these sectors. This gave me a solid idea of where I’d like to target after the MBA.
2. Utilize Alumni Networks
One of the networking events Abdalla attended.
Alumni! We already have one thing in common; a shared educational experience! Engaging with fellow graduates helped me gain valuable insights into Chicago’s vibrant business scene. I also reached out to DePaul alumni currently based in the UAE, and they responded positively to my inquires.
Additionally, I leveraged the incredible alumni network at DePaul University. There are so many opportunities here. We have Kellstadt Career Management Center events; Kellstadt Women in Business; graduate business students mixers; and more. As full-time MBA students, we really have a demanding schedule with case studies and assignments. But attending these events — even for a short period — is still time spent wisely.
3. Conduct Informational Interviews
Luckily, this activity was emphasized by two of my MBA professors at DePaul. I proactively reached out to professionals in my industry with careers I’d like to emulate. I used these conversations to delve deeper into the local market, gain advice, and expand my network organically. One way I implemented this was by reaching out to Chicago-based individuals at Michael Page, one of the companies I’d worked for in the UAE that also has a global presence.
4. Be Inquisitive
It can be easy to feel anxious or worry about how you come across. It can also be easy to overly focus on cultural differences and fail to notice underlying similarities. But as Dr. Rubin highlighted in Management 500, “we are more the same than we are different.” Finding common ground is easier than you think it will be! Approach conversations with curiosity, and, more often than not, people will be happy to share important aspects of themselves and their careers.
5. Be Patient
Abdalla with one of her classmates in the MBA program.
Building a new network is a gradual process, so don’t rush it – be patient and persistent. Give yourself the time needed to make meaningful connections, and don’t be discouraged by temporary setbacks, such as not getting responses on LinkedIn. Keep your focus on the long-term benefits of having an established network.
As Master in Business Analytics student Suprito Biswas sees it, business analytics brings together two distinct skillsets.
“You have to be well-versed in data,” he said, “and you have to have business acumen.”
This duality drew Biswas to study at DePaul’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. It also encapsulates the approach Biswas and classmate Shafeeqa Syeda took to competing in – and winning – the 2023 Data 4 Good case competition.
“Suprito’s from a technical background; I’m from a managing background,” said Syeda, an interior designer who runs a nonprofit focused on empowering women in business. “I think that was the perfect blend and that made us an amazing team. We knew what our roles were; there was no clash of interests.”
Hosted by Purdue University, the Data 4 Good competition is a two-month-long national challenge with more than $45,000 in prize money at stake. The charge: Use a large language model — the form of artificial intelligence at play in tools like Chat GPT – to extract relevant information from health care records without sacrificing accuracy.
Biswas and Syeda christened their team K3. They were drawn in, they said, by the chance to apply their skills as business analysts to a real-world context. Guidance from Kellstadt faculty was key to their success.
“Professor [Sina] Ansari played a major role in guiding us through the project,” said Syeda. An associate professor in the management and entrepreneurship department, Ansari has experience in the health care sector. “He was able to help us understand things we wouldn’t have thought of otherwise.”
The team put considerable effort into ensuring their solution kept sensitive data secure.
“Understanding the importance of data security — as a business analyst, that’s the most important thing you need to know,” said Syeda. “Someone’s trusting you with information that’s dear to them. You have to be really careful.”
Project management skills were just as important — another area where Syeda credits support from Kellstadt faculty, this time Assistant Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship Khadija Ali Vakeel.
Thanks to this support and their skills, team K3 emerged as regional champions in the Midwest: a region that comprised nearly 40% of the competition as a whole.
“Once we won the region,” Biswas said, “we knew we could potentially win the entire thing.”
Win they did.
For both students, the national win — an honor that comes with $6,500 in prize money — affirmed their passion for their chosen field of study.
“No matter what field you’re in, you eventually come around to business analytics,” said Syeda. “This competition has given us massive experience when it comes to understanding a different industry altogether.”
Syeda plans to continue integrating AI into her course of study; Biswas is considering enrolling in health care-related electives.
Both students hope that their success will blaze a trail for other Kellstadt students.
“We want students to know there’s a lot of opportunities out there,” said Syeda. Sharing their story, Syeda said, “feels like our way of giving back to other students so they don’t have to reinvent the wheel.”
“We want students to understand that they can do this too,” said Syeda. “We did this alongside being full-time students and being board members of student organizations, the Kellstadt Marketing Group and the Kellstadt Business Analytics Organization. There was a lot of stage-managing; there was a lot of balancing multiple roles. But this is not something to get scared of. You do get a little overwhelmed. This shows that other students can do this too.”
As much as data analysis, business acumen and project management skills all played a role in the team’s win, the biggest takeaway for both students was the same.
“Friendship is what drove us to this competition,” said Syeda, “and what kept us going.
“The fact that Shafeeqa and I had a lot of trust in each other is extremely important,” echoed Biswas. “We each trusted that, whatever we were struggling with, the other person could solve it. We became much closer friends because of this experience.”
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