Cornell Supplemental Essay: What kind of a business student are you? | Jessica

Cornell SC Johnson College of Business: What kind of a business student are you? The Cornell SC Johnson College of Business offers two distinct business programs, the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management and the School of Hotel Administration. Please describe how your interests and ambitions can be met through one or both of the Schools within the College.

Food has always been central to my life. Given my long-standing interest in culinary arts and nutrition, I spent many years during my youth developing and perfecting a range of my own healthy recipes. It wasn’t until I started working at the Rogers Cup, however, that I came to appreciate the business and hospitality aspect of the food and beverage industry.

It was my first day on the job. Positioned behind the cash register at the buffet entrance, I was in the middle of the lunch rush when I reached into the till to grab change–and realized I had run out. Furiously messaging for backup, I quickly decided to proceed with my regular smile, chatting with customers and accepting cash, while promising to return their change as soon as possible. An hour later, I left my shift having successfully identified and reimbursed each customer I owed. I had genuinely enjoyed their satisfied smiles which—for the first time—opened my eyes to the challenges and rewards of the hospitality industry. I returned to work at Rogers Cup for three more summers thereafter, where unexpected challenges and many more customer interactions furthered my customer service skills and my understanding of its importance to business success.

Wanting to learn more, I strove to gain more experience in the hospitality industry. In high school, I focused my DECA studies on food marketing, became the VP of Marketing at my youth startup, and most recently, interned as Marketing Assistant at Tennis Canada. Combining my inner foodie with my passion for business, I now aspire to become a restaurateur and launch a chain of healthy cafes, with home-baked pastries, locally-sourced salad bars, and freshly ground coffee. My marketing experience will help me attract my first customers; my pastry recipes and excellent customer service will turn them into repeat visitors.

At Cornell Summer College this year, I became convinced that there is no better place for me to pursue hospitality and realize my entrepreneurial dream than at SHA. Academically, I thrive by learning while doing and am particularly excited for the Restaurant Management course and Establishment, where I can develop a menu for a true sit-down restaurant. I hope to benefit from its on-the-job-training, especially personnel training and management, which will add significant depth and clarity to my understanding of how to successfully run a restaurant. Additionally, I’m interested in building a career with an international focus, which makes SHA a perfect fit. I look forward to participating in the school’s diverse study abroad opportunities, particularly in France, where I can use my conversational French and culinary interests to gain insight into French culture and the global food and beverage industry–and learn to bake authentic éclairs. Finally, I value the importance of learning from others and believe that a tight-knit community with shared interests will best facilitate my learning. SHA represents for me an unparalleled opportunity to join the ranks of inspiring, supportive, and outgoing hotel students, and I look forward to contributing to the inclusive and dynamic community. I can envision myself innovating with Hotelie Entrepreneurs Club, experimenting with the Chocolate and Confections Technology Club, and flying with the Quidditch Club.

This summer, I met my best friend from Ukraine for delectable omelets at the RPCC, walked through the mist of Ithaca falls for TA discussions, and attended Professor David Taylor’s engaging lectures. It quickly became a routine I wished to never bid goodbye. Gazing at the SHA building on the last day of Summer College, I imagined life as a Hotelie, about to attend her favorite professor’s lecture on consumer psychology or start another day of work at the Statler Hotel. My life’s next journey feels just around the corner, and I know it will be Cornell that lights my path to the revolutionary healthy cafe chain of my dreams.

Published in Successful Cornell Essays

Jessica

Cornell University 2023
Top Rated
About the Author 🎓
Major: Business Administration
Accepted Universities:
Cornell University Carnegie Mellon University UC Berkeley UCLA UCSD
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
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Jessica

Cornell University 2023
Top Rated
Jessica is a verified Squired mentor from Cornell University. Sign up to connect with Jessica and other mentors from top schools including Stanford, MIT and the Ivy League. Whether you’re looking for advice on your essay, program selection or application planning, Squired’s mentors are here for you.

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