A number of my blog readers (all two of them, both of which happen to be related to me) ready my last blog, ‘The Best Part of My Day’, and asked if I could write a ‘day in the life of a Tuckie’ blog. So, below is a breakdown of my day on Wednesday October 28, 2009.
7:30AM – Alarm goes off, I snooze for a few minutes. After only 4.5 hours of sleep, each additional minute makes a big difference. I eventually get out of bed and check my email, specifically looking for the final version of a presentation that LP, my study group mate, finalized late last night. Our study group trades a rapid flurry of emails for the next 15 minutes deciding whether to make any last minute changes. I get ready, scarf down a bowl of cereal and some OJ, and head to class.
8:30AM – Decision Science class. Our professor uses a random number generator to decide which study groups have to present their models. I breathe a sigh of relief when our number isn’t called. Though, not presenting doesn’t mean not participating. We’re asked to constructively criticize the presenters with tough questions, so I fire off three stingers.
10:00AM – ‘Morning Mixer’ = Best Part of My Day. I go get coffee with J. Lau (who is as funny as J-Lo is sexy). On the way to get coffee I see a ton of friends and engage in the now routine, yet still exciting, high five and fist pound medley.
10:20AM – Leading Organizations class. Today we’re redesigning a radar systems company organizational chart so that the firm becomes more project management oriented. Each study group had to turn in an org chart and the professor randomly picked three to project onto the big screen for us to analyze. Our group’s chart is picked, but the scrutiny is minimal so we’re all good.
12:00PM – Lunch time. Byrne Dining Hall is crowded and crazy during rush hour. I grab a table with a few friends who I don’t see often and we catch up. I learn that Real Deal Neil is taking a walk to Main Street after lunch to, among other things, pick up some medicine for his boy Vas who is under the weather. Any one of us would do the same for each other, that’s how we roll.
12:30PM – Walk to Main Street in the rain with the Real Deal; the company more than makes up for the weather. Neil goes off to CVS while I hit up 5 different restaurants in town to plan meals for our upcoming Diversity Conference. Food, diversity, and negotiating are three things that I’m passionate about so this is actually entertaining.
2:00PM – On my way home to change into a suit, I run into Tom from McKinsey, one of the consulting firms I’m interested in joining. I met Tom during a Consulting Trek last weekend, and now he’s on campus for a few days to have coffee chats with students interested in joining McKinsey. I don’t have a coffee chat scheduled with him, but I take advantage of our impromptu meeting to remind him of my interest in McKinsey’s Latin American offices. We plan to talk in more depth later on.
2:45PM – Suit and tie on, I sit down for a round table discussion with Anne Mulcahy, Chairman of Xerox. It’s an intimate gathering with only 15 other Tuckies, and we’re treated to some great insights from a woman who has led a $17 billion company for almost a decade.
4:00PM – Back to my room to catch up on emails and such.
4:30PM – A phone call with Bernie from BCG, another consulting firm I’m interested in. Bernie and I also met during a Consulting Trek, when we began discussing internship opportunities in Latin America. This time we talk specifically about BCG’s Latin American offices and how to go about recruiting for them since the process is slightly different than that of domestic offices.
5:00PM – Consulting club meeting. We go over practice case interview questions, which are somewhat unique to consulting interviews. I use the term MECE (pronounced me-see, an acronym for Mutually Exclusive/Collectively Exhaustive) during a comment to the entire club and my friend makes fun of me for using buzzwords.
6:00PM – I leave the consulting club meeting an hour early for my study group meeting. Today’s study group is relatively light since we’re all spent from our lengthy Decision Science focused session the night before. Nothing is due tomorrow, so we use the opportunity to get ahead on Accounting homework which is due Friday.
7:00PM – Section 2 pizza party. Our section had a perfect participation rate for professor reviews during Fall A so the administration has rewarded us with pizza. Aside from the free food, its a great chance to chat casually with my section mates.
8:00PM – Back to my room, I should be doing more Accounting homework, but I’m in a procrastinating mood so I return some phone calls and catch up on more emails.
9:00PM – Weekly poker game. The boys and I discuss a potential trip to Las Vegas for the annual MBA poker tournament in January 2010. Watch out Vegas, here we come.
11:30PM – Accounting homework, finally. I write some more emails, chat with a few friends on instant messenger, and then write this wonderful blog.
1:30AM – Lights out, early night. I might get 6 hours of sleep which would be a luxury.
Final thoughts – this is not a typical day in the sense that no other Tuckie had the same day I did, and I will never have a day exactly like this ever again. However, this is a very typical day in the sense that it demonstrates two key points about a day in the life of a Tuckie. 1) Time management skills are absolutely essential because days are incredibly busy. 2) The three main areas where Tuckies spend their time are academics, recruiting, and socializing. In my opinion, the key to a successful experience at Tuck is maintaining a healthy balance amongst the three. I’m happy to say that I think my day did just that!
EBSO – This week’s EBSO goes out to Sally, Dean of Tuck’s MBA Program Office, a position similar to that of Dean of Students at most undergraduate institutions. Sally has a unique ability to make every singe Tuck student feel at home. Sally, on behalf of all Tuckies, thanks for taking care of us and making life at Tuck that much better.
Read the full article: A Day in the Life of a Tuckie