Meet Dartmouth Tuck’s MBA Class Of 2019

Gillian Apps

Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Washed up Canadian hockey player, amateur triathlete, cheese lover, always looking for a new challenge.

Hometown: Unionville, Ontario, Canada

Fun Fact About Yourself: I started waterskiing when I was 3 years old.

Undergraduate School and Major: Dartmouth College, Psychology and Brain Science

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: Canadian Olympic Committee/Hockey Canada—Olympic Athlete

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:  My three Olympic gold medals in women’s ice hockey. Each Olympic Games was a very different and unique experience, with different challenges along the way. A lot of what I learned about myself as an athlete and a person comes from those experiences.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants?  Be yourself! Coming from a non-traditional background, I worried that my skill set may not be what business schools were looking for. After speaking with current students and alumni, I quickly realized that being yourself, especially if you are coming from somewhere outside of the traditional sectors, may just be what sets you apart. While applying to schools and taking tests is a long and busy process, it makes it much easier if you aren’t trying to be something you’re not.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you?  Community. The sense of community that Tuck offers is very unique compared to other top business schools. Having gone to Dartmouth as an undergraduate, I’ve experienced what it’s like to live in Hanover and be a part of the Dartmouth community. I truly believe that it’s one of the best places on earth and surely one of the best alumni networks to be a part of. Having the opportunity to come back to Hanover, join the members of the Tuck community, and receive a top education was an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? Surviving? Kidding. Success to me would look a little like peaks and valleys. Challenges met, some with more work and attempts than others. These are the times where I feel like I learn the most about myself. Challenges are also more enjoyable when experienced with good friends. To me that’s what success looks like: taking on the big things head-on with a great group of people by your side.