It’s 11pm and I just returned home from a delightful nice tapas dinner with three other Bay Area admits. I wanted to organize a meeting with locals before I left the area, and today we went for dinner at Iberia Restaurant (Yes, I chose the place, a small privilege of being the organizer).
We were a very multicultural group, very representative of the international mix of the school. Of the attendance:
- 25% US-American
- 25% Indian
- 25% Chinese
- 25% European
Curiously enough, not that different from the mix at School!
I’ve had a great time exchanging details about our backgrounds, sharing summer plans, when to install in London, logistic details, moving and how to make the most of the MBA… Very interesting conversation.
Some data points I want to share with you:
- Out of the four, I have been the one to leave my company the earliest. Some are planning to work until mid August.
- Two of us attended the same LBS presentation. We agreed that the presentation per se was OK, but we were highly impressed by
- the number of alumni present. And all voluntarily, they love their school!
- the interaction with the alumni. Talking with them you get the real feeling for the school, and there was a very so many of them at the San Francisco event that we had plenty of people to talk to! It was great.
- how candid and to the point were the admissions officers: No flowers about the school was about nor how B-school was about making a revolution, making everyone happy, being angelical or other enlightening stuff. They were clear on how school is about career advancement and successful business. I think here the US-Europe cultural difference plays a huge role. More on that when I get philosophical.
- Two of us had very intense interviews with lots of challenging and demanding questions which we secretly enjoyed (Thanks M!) (I personally felt very respected and taken care of when Mr.M. had thoroughly studied my application and proved so by questioning me on the weakest spots). The two others had more relaxed enjoyable conversations.
- All of us work in high-tech related jobs (well… we all live and work in Silicon Valley)
- Two single, one married and one married with a child.
Very smart and interesting people, very engaging conversation,… I can not wait to meet the rest of my future classmates!
June 11th, 2006 at 4:02 am
Sounds great, I’m glad you enjoyed it! I need to set up something in Munich now, I’ve been a bit lazy about it. When are you coming to London?
June 11th, 2006 at 3:42 pm
Hey, thanks for the comment. I loved your blog! Great stuff! Can’t wait to meet you at LBS (but only in January 2007).
September 8th, 2006 at 4:39 pm
[…] On the reapplicant front, having grabbed one of the few remaining Fuqua feedback sessions after calling a mere hour after scheduling opened, B-school Diva attests to the high demand for this service, while Forrest Gump is in the unfortunate position of telling readers what it’s like to miss this opportunity at Wharton. While these folks are gearing up for the year of applications ahead, admitted students are turning their attention toward getting ready for school. Angel Angie is wrapping things up at work and focusing on her pre-LBS travel plans and Curious George is looking forward to living the simple life at Haas. Paxti got together with some of his future LBS classmates located in the Bay Area, and Karlitos and I_Will_Make_It share their summer itineraries as they prepare to begin school in London and Chicago, respectively. […]