Why going to the LGO is the easiest decision you'll ever make

First off I'd like to apologize for my very serious hiatus on blogging.  I'm currently on my internship and it has been an EXTREMELY fast process.  The fact that I'm almost half way through is actually quite scary.  I'll discuss my project and its status in a subsequent post (that will not be three months out I promise).

BUT if you are reading this you have likely been accepted into the LGO....now what?  Well first off congratulations are in order and you're probably asking yourself a million questions about whether or not you should accept the offer to attend.  I'm clearly biased but I am telling you right now that you WILL MISS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY IF YOU PASS THIS UP!!

I know it's a lot.  LGO particularly has a very fast turn around from the day you get your acceptance package and your first day of class in June.  Not a lot of time to make find a new place to live, potentially move across the country (or to a new country), leave your current job, if you have kids get them set up in new schools potentially, finding the money to pay for it (this likely means loans for most of us...), etc. etc.  It's not fun, I won't lie....but it's not impossible either.  And in the end ultimately very much worth doing.

Not coming will mean you will lose out on one of the few MBA/MS programs that exist, the opportunity to connect with a very large Sloan and MIT engineering community, gain exposure to partner companies and see their manufacturing facilities first hand, become part of an increasingly diverse and talented alumni base, and meet some of the best people you will ever know.

There's also the obvious benefit of having two degrees from MIT....those kind of speak for themselves

Even last week (I unfortunately could not go on any of these trips due to my commitments with internship....this is an off cycle only problem) students from the LGO and greater Sloan were on plant treks in India and Brazil and many other assorted vacation spots. I shamelessly highjacked one of Sarah Clarke's (LGO '13) photos from their India trip and one from the LGO international plant trek.

While I didn't get to go on International Plant trek the domestic plant trek was by far one of the best educational experiences I've had since coming to school.  Gaining exposure, even briefly, to those different companies and understanding how their individual operations affect their business provided enormous insight my understanding of industries today.  Only a program like that LGO with its unique relationship with partner companies can offer something like that.

I've spoken with some admits already and while many of them have been extremely excited about the program, some concerns I have heard about are financial, logistic relocation, and workload.  I'd like to take a few moments to address this real quick.

First off...workload.  You can do it.  They wouldn't have accepted you if you couldn't.  And while yes there are likely to be one (probably two) semesters that are pretty brutal, I can assure that all of us LGO's still have social lives, still go to C functions, are still involved in clubs, and for the most part have retained our sanity.

Second...financial concerns.  These are legitimate.  Graduate school isn't cheap, the Boston area isn't cheap either.  BUT this program does give a fellowship which does help with costs.  There are scholarships available, TA positions can help offset costs, and if you go work for a partner company after you graduate, your last tuition payment is on them.  Yes you will likely need loans.  Especially in today's economy that gives some people a lot of concern.  But more than anything your earning potential increase will do so much more for you than the tuition bill.  It is a lot money, but LGO alumni everywhere are very successful and I don't know of one that has said that they felt the financial burden has held them back in any way.

Finally logistics.  It is a quick turn around.  Finding a new place, dumping your old, and re-locating is never fun.  Especially on such a tight time frame.  And this won't be the only time you move most likely.  You'll probably move again for internship, then back to Cambridge/Boston to finish up courses, then after you graduate you'll move to wherever you accept a job.  This can be particularly stressful if you have kids or an SO where re-location might not be so easy (I am not particularly knowledgeable on these issues as there weren't a factor for me, but if these are concerns for you I highly suggest speaking to some LGO's who have very much dealt with these problems).  Unfortunately there's no easy answer here either.  BUT there has never been an LGO who has regretted making these moves.  The experiences you have are always worth it.

Open House is coming up and I really hope you have made plans to attend.  It's a great time to meet potential classmates and current students.  Many people use this time to work out some of those re-location logistics while they're in town.  If nothing else the three class party is always a great time, and an excellent reminder that LGO's work hard and play harder.