Francesco Baldisserri, MBA ’11

Back to Italy!

If it doesn't start snowing I'll be on a flight to Italy in a few of hours. Having passed the core classes and this first semester at Sloan I feel it's time for few considerations about my experience here: 

As much study as you want - Literally, you can be a masochist (like me) doing every homework and studying everything in detail or you can lower your effort to the minimum level to pass exams. In any case the core is dense and provides a well-rounded preparation. 

Tons of extracurricular activities - This is the real trap! If you're not disciplined you may end up as member of several clubs, organizer of conferences and team member of an international development project (like me again). Everything is great and interesting... Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize!

Lot of social life - Sloanies are very active in this respect, it can be an official C-function at the Walker Memorial or a party in a house in Cambridge, there is always something to do! Too bad Boston clubs close at 2am... 

Inclusive community - People are definitely the key strength of this place. You expect them to be smart but definitely not so friendly, open and fun. I am very happy with the people I've met and the friend I've made so far. 

Not enough time - This is the real source of pressure; I realize one of the four semester of the MBA has passed and maybe I will not have the time to try/learn everything I wanted to. Knowing what you want is key to make the most out of this experience. 

Boston is evilly cold - Don't listen to anyone telling you anything different; after a warm fall, Boston has revealed its true nature. Temperature is freezing and constant wind is a great reminder of that. How can possibly freeze a river?!?!

Related articles by Zemanta

• Executives Through Experimentation: The B-School Internship Experience (xconomy.com)
• "Smartest" cities in the United States (medicineandtechnology.com)
• Trip of a Lifetime (timesunion.com)

Meds Charity Auction

The yearly charity auction organized by every "ocean" (aka section) at Sloan is a nice distraction from incoming finals. Everyone from the class can auction and bid on the most various items. In our 70-people ocean we raised 9'300$, donated to Community Water Solution. I have to say I wasn't very original in my auctioned item: 3 hours of consulting case preparation (there's a good market though!) and an italian dinner (promptly outsourced to my girflriend). On the other side I got:

• A complete, 3-course plus dessert Latin lunch for 2 people
• A date with the MIT Homecoming Queen (not for me, all the class collected the money for a classmate of ours)
• A deluxe hug (for the entire ocean) donated by a classmate (?!)

Here's some pics!

Related articles by Zemanta

• MIT Display Lets You Control Objects With a Wave of Your Hand [Gestural Computing] (gizmodo.com)
• The Unhappy 30-Year Treasury Auction (paul.kedrosky.com)
• MIT Axes the 500-Word Application Essay (news.slashdot.org)