Maybe my expectations have changed in light of grades from last semester… at the same time, I think a lot of people in class have really been offering great insights.  I commented on it before, but it definitely seems like we’ve shifted from a fairly normal bell curve to a strong upward skew.  Some people (the solid 2s, possibly) have dropped off the map entirely.  Others (those with 1s or 3s) are ramping up their comments and trying to either become Baker Scholars or dig themselves out of a pit.  It’s an interesting phenomenon, but I’m not sure if it explains why I suddenly feel so dumb. 

Aside from getting me to class on-time, I never thought my learning team was all that helpful… I’m reconsidering that now.  Maybe those extra minutes of formulating high-level opinions on cases was more helpful than I imagined.  Or maybe the cases are just longer and more complex, and I haven’t adjusted my reading time accordingly.  I’m a fairly fast reader, and usually spend < 30 min case… now that cases are twice as long (13-16pgs of solid text with another 13-16pgs of exhibits), maybe I need to devote more time to ferreting out the underlying concepts. 

Ahhh well, grades don’t matter anyway, right?!?  At least we have today off… headed to NYC this weekend, will post some photos when I get back.

From what I’ve heard, the dark and grey look is a bit more representative of the average in Boston than the beautiful clear skies we’ve had on some of the summer days lately.  It’s a shame… this really can be a beautiful place.  I guess the dreariness provides a good environment for intense study in this “city of ivory towers” by the coast:

Rain: Walking to Spangler

Rain: Walking Past Hawes

Rain: Looking Out Window @ Spangler

Wandering around campus today, it’s kind of interesting to see the various alumni who have come back to campus.  HBS does a “5 year” reunion where all those who graduated 5, 10, 15, 40 years etc… show up for the same weekend.  Many look old.  Some look weary.  Others look fat.  Maybe it’s the overcast and rain, but it kind of gives me a sense of melancholy.  Shouldn’t they all be too busy running major corporations and cruising around on their yachts to come back to Boston?  Aren’t they all still fit and dapper?  Where are all the brilliant, energetic, ambitious people I see in class every day?

It’s an interesting puzzle…

So, how do I feel about HBS?  At the moment, exhausted.  This is not a place to be if you prefer to take things slow.  The school calendar system, myHBS, shows that there are 10-15 events going on every day this week!  Then there are the section-related events.  Then there’s meeting with your learning team every day.  Then there’s the need to attend class 8-3 MWF and 8-12 on TTh.  Oh, and I almost forgot — you also need to find some time to read, study, and prepare 13 case studies each week… kind of important when your grade revolves around contributing insightful comments during class discussion.

Let’s add it up and see what we end up with:

• Classes for around 30hr/wk
• LT for another 5hr/wk
• Cases at 20hr/wk
• Section events at 10hr/wk
• School events at 15hr/wk

That gives us 80hr/wk! And we’re skipping 75% of the school events and avoiding networking like a weird social hermit.  (Not to mention the neglect on all outside relationships and activities).  It’s easy to see how this place can wear on you if you’re not careful.

So, how do I feel about HBS?  Well, fatigued, yes… but also excited!  This truly is a “Disney World for business people”.  There’s no other place on the planet where you actually consider turning down the chance to listen to a Fortune 50 CEO take Q&A because there are five other events going on – at the same time – that all sound fascinating and intriguing.  If you took all the events going on in one day and spread them out over an entire month at my undergrad, I would’ve gone to every one of them and talked about how fantastically lucky I was.  Here, it’s simply commonplace.  Not even worth mentioning.  I’ve heard that CEOs routinely find themselves with half-empty audiences as the year goes on…

This place is awash in possibilities.  It will definitely be a challenge to take advantage of every bit without burning out on all of it.