Spring Break
First Year, First Week
HBS Class of 2010 Arrives on Campus
Andrew Wylie (NI)Associate Editor
Issue date: 9/15/08 Section: News
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A week of sunshine in Cambridge lent itself to the daily inner struggle: formal attire to make that first impression, or sandals and short sleeves to celebrate the weather and radical life change? 908 members of the Class of 2010 began their HBS experience the day after Labor Day. Their first week was full of excitement, a fair amount of introspection - and homework.
Self reflection was encouraged at the Dean's Welcome address, with a keynote speech from Dean Jay Light and a presentation from the Student Council Co-Presidents. "You have few chances in life to redefine yourself" - this theme provided food for thought at the beginning of the week. The rest of the opening day was devoted to learning team group exercises which highlighted a point: Each person can make a difference, but at HBS we work as a team to achieve more than can be accomplished alone.
"Why did you come to HBS?" Dr. Timothy Butler posed this question to the incoming student body during career development sessions this week. The answer is perhaps more complicated than one might think. Dr. Butler challenged each student to use the next two years to learn what fuels their inner fire. He is less concerned with one's prospects of landing the perfect job upon graduation than he is with speaking to graduates thirty years from now and asking: "How did you enjoy your life's work?" Well over half of the members of the Class of 2010 will either change their function, industry or both upon graduation. This fact indicates that there is a quest for something other than mere knowledge that occurs during the MBA curriculum.
The case method of study is the catalyst for this reflection. HBS promises its students an intense period of personal transformation. This is a tall order and new students come eager to learn. This primary method of study at HBS teaches a diverse collection of aspirants to learn from, and teach, each other. Much of orientation week was devoted to introducing the students to this unconventional method of learning. "If you're not surprised five times an hour - you're not listening!" Professor Isenberg offered this advice during the faculty panel on Leadership Challenges of Global Competition. Other "rules of the road" for the classroom were espoused: don't be afraid to be controversial, come prepared to state your opinion, be respectful of others.
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