Day in the Life

It seems somewhat paradoxical to describe a “typical” day in the life of a Summer Venture in Management Program participant, because, if anything, the experience is quintessentially atypical—from the unparalleled hybrid of brilliant minds to the renowned case study method of learning—everything about Harvard Business School is unprecedented. Upon arrival on campus it is apparent that, for one week, you will be immersed into an elite subculture that prides itself on being the best.

The day begins early with optional breakfast around 7 am in the morning followed by mandatory, daily meetings with your assigned study groups. These group sessions are paramount to gaining clarity, particularly on cases that aren't your forte, by providing a platform for people to screen their arguments and get feedback. To me, the beauty of the group is in knowing that at least one person specializes in the field of study that is your weakness. Surprisingly, the one thing you can expect is the ubiquitous presence of food in every facet of the program; all we did was eat and study, study and eat, mingle and eat, and eat some more—what a way to learn!

Essentially, the crux of the program revolves around the class sessions (3 per day) because that is when each student transforms into an advocate seeking to convince a class of 62 independent thinkers and a professor that his/her stance is most logical. So, throughout the class period each expressed viewpoint is amalgamated into a building block or conglomeration and by the end you base your final decision, not so much on the facts, but more on the conviction and evidence presented by fellow classmates. Sometimes I can recall listening and being utterly amazed at the depth of insights and variance in responses regarding the same topic.

Finally, I must state that the real reason that I can not stop broadcasting this program to every person I meet is: the people. With all things, people give life meaning and the caliber of individuals selected to attend SVMP were second to none. At one point many of us converged at the gym to play a heavily touted East Coast vs. West Coast coed basketball game. So, there is plenty of leisure time but the issue is time management because one must be prepared for class, especially since professors believe in cold calls, but there are a myriad of other events scheduled, including: Boston duck tour, ice cream socials, BBQ's, book reviews, panelist discussions, and several forums. It was surreal to be in an environment with other motivated young people in which the question is not “will we succeed” but “how?”

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