By Katelyn Baldwin T'17
Katelyn is an incoming T’17 from Wasilla, Alaska. She graduated from Stanford in 2009 with a BA in international relations and minors in African and Middle Eastern languages and Jewish studies. Before Tuck, she spent nearly five years in international development working for Chemonics International, an implementing partner of the U.S. Agency for International Development. Outside of the office and classroom, she enjoys flying planes, hiking up mountains, playing basketball, and swimming.
From the moment I set foot inside Tuck’s Raether Hall, I knew where I wanted to spend the next two years. It was a clear, crisp, December afternoon, and I had flown up to New Hampshire from Washington, D.C. for an interview. Raether, with its floor to ceiling windows and stunning view of towering pine trees, is one of countless spots on Tuck’s campus and the greater Upper Valley region where the natural setting inspires. This school—with its small size, collaborative nature, community focus, and idyllic setting in rural New Hampshire, was where I wanted to earn my MBA.
If you are considering Tuck, I highly recommend taking advantage of the opportunity offered to all prospective students to visit campus and interview. It is difficult to get a sense for the school and its culture until you fly into Boston or Manchester, drive to Hanover, and spend the day on campus.
I was impressed by the effort put forth by the Admissions Office to ensure my visit was worthwhile. Outside of my interview, which was conducted by a second-year student, I participated in a Q&A with an admissions officer, toured campus, shared lunch with the other interviewees on campus that day, and attended Decision Science (aka “Dec Sci”), a first year core course.
My experience during Admitted Students Weekend (ASW) last April allowed me to meet more of the incredible and diverse group that comprises the Tuck community. During our first night, a second-year student hosted a small group for dinner at her house across the Connecticut River in Norwich, Vermont. I appreciated the perspective and advice she provided on our forthcoming experience. She told us that two years will fly by, and don’t start school without knowing your priorities for time, because it’s impossible to do everything you will want to do (even if you forego sleep!). Small group dinners, often hosted by or including faculty, are social events that occur frequently at Tuck. I can’t wait to experience more.
My fear of living in a dorm at age 27 was also assuaged during ASW. Dorms at Tuck are large singles with self-contained bathrooms and luxurious extra-long double beds. Over half of the class lives in dorms during the first year. Connected to classrooms through underground tunnels, dorms are often the center of the first year social experience. There is actually more demand than availability.
In the months since ASW, I’ve gotten to know the group of T’17s in the D.C. area. From pre-MBA recruiting events to classic D.C. happy hours, we have already begun to support each other and share information as we explore different career industries of interest. Seeing the collaborative nature of Tuck manifest itself before school even starts has solidified my feeling that I made the right decision. In part, I think Tuck’s supportive nature derives from the fact that, among top MBA programs, Tuck is one of the smallest and has one of the highest documented ROIs. There are more than enough exciting, fulfilling, and rewarding career opportunities to go around, so the focus becomes helping each individual grow into their best self, and building bonds that will last a lifetime.
I will be arriving on campus August 22 to attend Tuck’s pre-enrollment program (PEP). PEP is aimed at preparing students with less quantitative work experience for success in the rigorous core curriculum. I look forward to this week to ensure that I am ready for my quantitative courses when Fall A kicks off on September 7.
Until then, I’m working hard to finish up my private pilot’s license. Having the skills to fly recreationally has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl. I am close to the end of a long and intense training process, and hope to finish before I arrive on campus. One of the extra draws to Tuck is its proximity to the Lebanon airport. Once certified, I can’t wait to maintain my skills by flying around New England!
Want to know what Katelyn's first week at Tuck was like? Follow #IAmTuck on Instagram or visit http://on.fb.me/1gmWaNm.