What's your background?

I graduated EDHEC, a top French business school, with a BBA in '99 so I've been working for five years, in services and new tech jobs. I worked first at Accenture and then at a small web architect/agency during the bubble. For the last three years, I've worked in spend management for service providers_a software publisher for fortune 100 companies; tech and services for procurement organizations.

What made you decide to get an MBA?

My goal is to become an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship is in the family: my father and grandfather were entrepreneurs.

What do you know about the Wharton program?

It's a brand name I wouldn't be honest if I didn't mention that. You can customize the curriculum core plus electives. There was a lot of transparency in the application process. A lot of communication. The S2S board for example, which is modeled on a chat room. Basically you can chat with admissions. You have your answer within an hour. I liked the alumni at a presentation in Paris and the international exposure.

What were your test scores?

I had a 720 on the GMAT and a 287 on the TOEFL. I've heard of so many people with higher scores…I don't think it makes the difference.

What has been the most difficult challenge for you in the application process?

Doing two things at the same time_a full-time job plus the applications is time consuming. You've got research, introspection, application essays and test prep.

You spent a year on the process?

I did the test prep myself off and on for six months I would work intensively, take a break, then start again. And I spent four months on the application essays.

What was the weakest part of your application?

That's hard to say. In France, after the BAC, you normally attend prep school for two years followed by business school for three years. I did one year of prep school because I'm a math whiz plus four years of business school. I failed my second year of Bschool and had to repeat it. I basically didn't go.

How did you handle that in the application?

In the essays I was frank and said I worked instead of studying the second year. It was my choice. I pointed out that instead of 2 + 3, I did 1 + 4, but I finished at the same time and then had a successful career afterwards.

What country would you like to live in after your MBA?

I'm hoping that the MBA itself will be an eye-opener. I'll decide later. Now I feel my future is in Europe and France, but everything is open.