After nearly 3 full semesters with my classmates, I continue to be amazed with the stories and experiences they bring to Yale.

Today we heard from five fellow SOMers, each of whom served in the armed forces.  A member of an elite special forces unit, a Ranger school graduate and platoon leader, a research scientist, an intelligence specialist, and a logistics specialist each shared their perspectives on life in the service as well as lessons they learned while enlisted.

From capturing high-value targets during special reconnaissance missions to supplying trucks and managing logistics in South Central Baghdad, from battling the Taliban in the mountains of Afghanistan on multiple tours of duty to developing cutting-edge satellite technology, even jumping from planes at 25k feet and tracking the movement of Kim Jong Il, the stories from our classmates were remarkable.  These incredible stories of valor and service were shared with equally memorable humility.  It was inspiring to say the least. (more…)

The admissions office ran a very successful open house today for a large number of prospective students who attended classes, joined us for a tour of SOM, lunch, and an evening cocktail.  At lunch, one of the prospective students asked me what most surprised me about coming to SOM.  For me, it is New Haven.

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Unbelievable as it may sound, exams were upon us mid October, merely a month and a half after we started classes at the Yale School of Management. Accounting, Microeconomics, and Statistics all had to be “negotiated” within the first three days of last week. Studying for these exams made me realize how much material we had covered over 7 weeks.

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It’s interesting timing that this Thursday, October 8, is both the Round 1 deadline for Yale SOM Class of 2012 applications and the last day of “Fall 1” courses for the Class of 2011.  What a difference a year makes!  Around this time last fall many of us were anxiously putting the finishing touches on our application essays; prodding our recommenders to hit “submit” already; and settling in for a long, arduous, wintery wait.  (Sidebar: wasn’t there something more cathartically satisfying about running to the mailbox everyday in high school awaiting college news than hitting “refresh” on your Gmail?)

Now, a year later, it’s all smooth sailing.  We read Econ cases while undergrads fan us with palm leaves.  Accounting is held outside in the courtyard, the class in a “Kumbaya” circle, as waiters proffer Bloody Marys.  Employers chase us from class to the gym to the bars waving offer letters for the summer.  And like characters in the Matrix, we stare a screen of moving Blue Stock simulations and see an alternate reality that makes sense. (more…)

After just a week and a half of classes, one of my classmates was convinced that we were into our third week already. I felt similarly: it’s been an incredibly busy time so far and it got me thinking.

Life tends to pick up speed as you get older. Why? Well, in my humble – based strictly on no theory whatsoever – opinion, it’s to do with a decreasing exposure to new ideas and experiences. As you grow up, you tend to settle into some sort of routine and life picks up speed. I feel like what’s happened here, during our first couple of weeks of core classes, is that we have all been exposed to so much new material at lightning-fast pace that we’re reverting back to that life-in-slow-motion feeling as brains frantically try to adjust and absorb everything.
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Though it was strongly implied last week in our Spreadsheet Modeling class that all that happens at a SOM Faculty Meeting is a rousing session of “Rock Band,” turns out it’s a bit more productive.  In fact, it’s all about integration.  Let me explain.  When I first heard that SOM had developed an “integrated curriculum,” I admit I suspected a marketing infraction of the highest order.  After all, in my former career “integrated” was right up there with “holistic,” “cross-channel,” and “interwoven” as a business cliche that would win any game of Buzzword Bingo. 

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The first song on Spoon’s third album Girls Can Tell is “Everything Hits At Once.” I can’t think of a better theme song for my first two weeks at SOM. Universally, I had heard SOMers describe the core curriculum as intense, frenetic and generally overwhelming. Some even spoke of it with the reverence and awe usually reserved for harrowing accounts of planes crashes and natural disasters. Again and again I’ve been reminded that I would literally have no time come fall. I had remained incredulous though. “How difficult could it really be?” I had thought. It’s only class after all.

Now I only know too well what they meant. Other than a few reprieves here and there for get-togethers with my classmates, during which we tend to commiserate about the tediousness of accounting and fickleness of solver, I literally have no time: no time that hasn’t been allocated (inefficiently, perhaps) to meet the demands of our coursework. My personal life—from unpaid bills to lagging email correspondence with old friends—has taken a decided backseat to my academic obligations. Today, I literally woke up trying to unravel the probabilities that a World Series between two evenly matched teams would end in 4, 5, 6, or 7 games. Colleagues have mentioned nightmares featuring unbalanced balance sheets and market equilibriums gone awry.

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Some of us at the School of Management come here to study Finance. Others Marketing. Yet others General Management. But if there is one discipline with which all of us are fast becoming very well‑versed, it is time management; the SOM is a very busy place. (more…)

As we finished the Orientation, it is incredible how well the entire schedule was organized. Kudos and thanks to entire SOM staff for this.

And what a way to finish this.

The 20th of August simply talked about the powerful Yale brand and how we have to live up to its expectations. We started the day yesterday with a reception at the Yale Club. Christopher S. Granger’99 spoke about his experiences and how SOM had shaped his life. It was wonderful to listen to him while he gave us pointers on how to carve a successful MBA for ourselves. I personally value these kind of experiences by our Alums a lot. These experiences act as a very good feedback loop that keeps checking if we are on the right track at least! More importantly, they keep inspiring us. (more…)

The Class of 2011 recently arrived on campus for the start of orientation.  It’s always exciting to see a class come together at the start of a new school year, and this year is no different.  We have a fantastic group of students joining the program — not only are they impressive in terms of their statistics, but they have accomplished some incredible things in their time prior to Yale — and they really seem to be enjoying getting to know each other and becoming a class.  They also represent our first class as a member of the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, which is especially exciting.

Of course, there’s no rest in admissions: No sooner has the Class of 2011 arrived on campus than we turn our attention to the Class of 2012.  In fact, our online application went live earlier this week, and we’re currently gearing up for our fall recruiting events.  Of particular note are the three virtual receptions we’re holding this year for people who can’t make it to our “in-person” receptions — including an “Application Tips Chat” we’re hosting on September 16 that’s intended to give applicants some insights and strategies for how to navigate the admissions process.  And, of course, it’s always possible to learn more about SOM through our online tools or to get a first-hand view of the school by visiting the campus, which includes a class visit, tour of the campus, and session with an admissions officer.  We look forward to meeting and getting to know a new group of prospective students in the coming months!