Overwhelming is the word that comes to mind. Yes, overwhelming.

What started as a shot at one of the top business schools in the World more than two years ago finally culminated into reality. Welcome Weekend at the Yale School of Management (SOM) late April 2009 was everything I thought it would be, and much more. Super friendly people, smiling faces that seemed thrilled to have 200 prospective students (Bruce says it was the largest turnout in recent years) on campus for a two day event! This included the admissions committee, current students, alums and even some faculty members, and the Dean herself!

I couldn’t help notice how every SOMer’s passion for their MBA experience and life itself radiated from their individual personas. While the Dean spoke truthfully, passionately, objectively and fondly about her 30 year association with Yale, the students were only too happy to bring us in tune with what SOM, not just as a business school, but as a community itself, had to offer.  Yeah, I was already sold on coming to New Haven, but it was great listening in.

I sat in on two classes that helped open my mind to think about issues in ways I’d never anticipated. It was deeply engaging and fantastic to witness. At the New Haven Lawn Club that evening, I inadvertently dove into an hour long discussion with an alum about India, war and religion and how we thought these influenced economic growth! Wow, I didn’t see that coming!

Add to that, the excitement from meeting many of my future classmates. The word “diversity” took on an entirely different meaning by the time Welcome Weekend was over. I can almost clearly visualize how this very diversity in backgrounds, cultures and careers – past and future, can play a vital role in my learning. Everyone was excited to be there. I never saw someone standing around by himself/herself. There was much chatter going on, people were eager to find out, to explore, to learn, to engage.

One second year student I had spoken to over the phone during my application was so thrilled to see me that he took me around and introduced me to a bunch of other people at various clubs!

Yale SOM had this indescribable “genuine” feel to it. If all this is any indication of what the next two years are going to bring, then yeah, SOM is the place to be! I remember wishing August 12 was around the corner. My two month break from professional life has zipped by in a flurry of vacations, catching up on reading, time with family and mandatory assignments for school. And now, all of a sudden, August 12 is a week away. I cannot wait to start!