My original undergraduate major was Pre-Forensic Science (I'll blame it on watching too much CSI). One item I remember from those courses was the idea of Locard's Exchange Principle. It is usually applied to forensics and basically states that whenever there is contact between two items, there will be an exchange. For example, if I take the T to Central Square, I will leave something there (hopefully not my blackberry) and I will take something with me. Could be a fingerprint, dirt, or a yet undiscovered virus.
How does this at all relate to Sloan? Well obviously you come here to take something with you when you leave. An education, a job, a network....it's endless. However, you also leave something. I think that is something that is sometimes missed. We, present company included, concentrate a lot on what we want to take from these two years. I think often the only thing we think we are leaving is $100,000 in tuition.
As a first year student you get a pass because, at least for the first semester, it is 99% take. You are taking classes, taking resume reviews, taking interviews for internships, taking help from club leaders and that is to be expected. But after that, often without realizing it, you start to leave your "fingerprints." It could be tutoring another student in economics, leading a club, organizing a trek, being a TA....it all leaves a trace of you at Sloan. It's probably not going to get you a statue in front of E62 but it does have an impact.
For me this year I am looking forward to the leaving, although I still have some taking to do. I hope that through the finance track and finance and sales and trading clubs I am able to have an impact. I am also hoping to do something in the global health delivery lab to leave a trace far from Cambridge.
So for prospective students considering Sloan, realize two things: You will not be the same after your time at Sloan, nor will Sloan be exactly as it would have been had you not attended. According to Locard it is impossible for two entities to have contact and not leave their trace on each other and the same principle applies to one's time at Sloan.
I believe this principle would also apply to MIT pranksters so may I suggest wearing gloves. :)
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