First Year Student Page

Introduction
Welcome to the First Year Student Information Page
The Orientation Program Overview
How do I prepare for the OP?
Travel Information and Logistics
Expenses and Travel Costs
What should I bring with me to the OP?
My Consortium School
The OP Career Forum
A quick reference of DEADLINES
The Student Handbook

Introduction

Congratulations again on being selected as a member of The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management! As a member of this exclusive network, you are not only in the company of other talented students, but you are also connected to recent graduates, successful alumni, and top business leaders (many of whom are Consortium alumni). These relationships serve as the cornerstone of an extensive support network for professional and personal development and foster a strong sense of community. We hope you recognize this opportunity and choose to participate in The Consortium. Attendance at the OP is, without question, one of the greatest benefits of attending a Consortium school.

Welcome to the First Year Student Information Page

On this site, you will find information to facilitate your introduction to The Consortium. Specifically, your attendance at The Consortium Orientation Program (OP) is truly the essential launching pad toward your inclusion in The Consortium and all of the wonderful opportunities that it provides.

The Orientation Program Overview

The OP will take place at the home of our lead sponsor, Eli Lilly and Company, in Indianapolis, IN, June 10-13, 2007. Your expenses to attend the OP are covered by The Consortium.

The OP provides leadership and professional development seminars and industry workshops that will help you prepare for your first year of business school. It also affords you an unrivaled advance opportunity to begin informal acquaintance with many of our corporate partners at a point when they are most anxious to meet you. Additionally, there will be ample chances to get to know your future classmates, Consortium alumni, and those attending other member schools in advance of the start of the school year.

Some of the specific workshops at this year’s OP include:

Diversity interactive theatre
Career search
Networking

Additionally, there will be a range of career panels and information sessions on a variety of paths, including:

Investment Banking
Consulting
Investment Management
Strategic Marketing
Brand Management
Corporate Finance
Leadership Development
Strategic General Management

Throughout the program, you will interact with representatives from some of the top companies in America. Some of the companies attending this year’s event include:

American Express
Citigroup
Colgate-Palmolive
Credit Suisse
Deloitte
Eli Lilly
Emerson
General Mills
Goldman Sachs
Johnson & Johnson
Kraft
McKinsey
Medtronic
PepsiCo
Target
And many more!

In addition, there will be a plethora of social events – so come ready to work hard, play hard, and enjoy yourself!

Please be sure to maximize your time at The Consortium OP by networking and meeting colleagues, classmates, corporate representatives, and Consortium staff.

Attendance at the OP is mandatory. If you cannot attend, you must submit a written request to be excused. Address request to Peter Aranda, Executive Director and CEO, The Consortium, 5585 Pershing Ave., Ste. 240, St Louis, MO 63112 or recruiting@cgsm.org.

How do I prepare for the OP?

All required steps are outlined below; please read carefully.

Step 1: Return your acceptance form and travel form to The Consortium, fax: 314-877-5505 or recruiting@cgsm.org. If you have not submitted your travel form, please include the following information on that page:
1. Do you have any special dietary requirements, food allergies, vegetarian, etc?
2. Do you require any ADA specific accommodations, such as wheelchair access, etc?
3. Provide the name, relationship, and phone number of a person to contact, in case of an emergency (during the OP).

If you submitted your travel form prior to March 26, please call 314-877-5515 or email recruiting@cgsm.org with this information.

Step 2: You will receive your airline confirmation via email from The Consortium. Please review your itinerary upon receipt.

If you have not received your travel itinerary by June 1, call 314-877-5515.
Step 3: Each student is required to submit a current résumé to the Career Services office at his/her respective MBA school. When the school has returned feedback to you and you have made the appropriate corrections, upload your résumé through CGSM Online (see instructions below).

Create an account for yourself in CGSM Online, The Consortium’s online database.

After creating an account, The Consortium staff will verify and approve your use of CGSM Online. You will receive approval notification via email. At that point, upload your résumé to the database but no later than May 7, 2007. Our corporate representatives use CGSM Online to access resumes prior to the OP.
Step 4: Join The Consortium’s Yahoo! Group. This closed forum allows Consortium students to meet each other online, chat with current students, ask questions about the OP, and talk with Consortium staff.

Go to www.groups.yahoo.com/group/CGSMstudents to register.
Step 5: Each student is required to submit a mini-bio and photograph to The Consortium no later than April 15. Your bio and photo are published in a document that will be distributed to all OP participants. Many representatives use it to gather a snapshot of your experience. Do not be left out!

Your photograph should be similar to a passport photo, color or black and white, wearing business attire with few background distractions. Electronic photographs should be mailed to recruiting@cgsm.org; mail hard copies to The Consortium-Recruiting, 5585 Pershing #240, St. Louis, MO 63112.

NOTE: If you submitted an appropriate photograph with your application, it is not necessary to submit another.
Step 6: After finalizing your enrollment and graduate school living arrangements, you are required to update your contact information in CGSM Online but no later than August 25, 2007.

Travel Information and Logistics

Students should plan to arrive in Indianapolis no later than noon on Sunday, June 10, unless special arrangements have been made with The Consortium.
Upon arrival at Indianapolis International Airport, you are responsible for your transportation to the Marriott Indianapolis Downtown. When you arrive at the Marriott, please check in at the OP Registration booth. Return travel will begin Wednesday, June 13, around 4:00 pm.

The OP will be in full swing when you arrive, so be prepared to “hit the ground running”!

Housing arrangements for students are made by The Consortium. We will assign you to a double room with someone from your MBA school of the same gender.

Attendance at the OP is mandatory. If you cannot attend, you must submit a request to be excused. Address your request to Peter Aranda, Executive Director and CEO, The Consortium, 5585 Pershing Ave., Ste. 240, St Louis, MO 63112 or recruiting@cgsm.org.

Expenses and Travel Costs

Students attending the OP will receive round-trip airline/train tickets for travel. Lodging and meals will be provided for the duration of the program. You are responsible for airport transportation, incidentals, and personal needs.

If you attend the OP and later decide to withdraw your enrollment in one of our member schools, you are responsible for The Consortium’s costs for your attendance at the OP.

What should I pack for the OP?

For your convenience, we have provided an outline of the dress code for each day of the OP.

Sunday	*Men:* business casual (trousers and collared shirts), jackets and ties optional *Women:* business casual *EVENING EVENT:* Theme is “Dancing with The Stars”
Monday	*Men and Women:* business casual all day
Tuesday and Wednesday	*Men and Women:* business attire all day
Tuesday Evening Gala Dinner	*Men and Women:* semi-formal attire

My Consortium School

Time has been set aside on Sunday, June 10 from 2:30 to 4:40 pm for you to meet as a group with school representatives, current students, and alumni from your MBA school. Take advantage of this time to ask specific questions about the school and its MBA program.

The OP Career Forum

Tuesday, June 12, from 2:00 to 5:00 pm, a will feature a Career Forum for Consortium students. This will be an excellent opportunity to obtain meaningful information about career and other opportunities in a wide variety of industries.

Bring plenty résumés to distribute during the course of the OP, especially during the Career Forum. Your school’s career center staff will work with you prior to the OP to help you prepare a resume in your school’s format and help you prepare for company interaction. This interaction is one of the highlights of the OP. Take full advantage of the opportunity to meet with companies committed to diversity.

A quick reference of DEADLINES

April 15, 2007	Acceptance forms and travel forms due to The Consortium Special travel needs communicated to The Consortium Mini-bios and photographs submitted
May 7, 2007	Create account with CGSM Online and upload your résumé
June 1, 2007	If you have not received travel itinerary, call 314-877-5515
June 10- 13, 2007	Enjoy the Orientation Program in Indianapolis!
August 25, 2007	Update contact information in CGSM Online

We look forward to meeting you at the Orientation Program, and hope that you make the most of this experience. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please call (314) 877-5515.

The Student Handbook

The Consortium’s Student Handbook is available here. Please read it carefully.