As promised, I'll give you a recap. I just got back to the hotel after the last of many activities. For those who couldn't make it, I'm sorry. You missed out on a very good time. For those of you here who did attend, I'm sure we probably met and didn't know it.
My big takeaway of the weekend is not something you'd see on a webcast. It's these three things:
1) Faculty, staff and students all care about you as a person. This is the friendliest network of people you'll ever meet. It's social, it's fun, everyone has a great time, although they work hard too. It's definitely a very personal place, you're not a number, and you will be known.
2) They stressed how great and strong the alumni network is. The idea is that since they're a smaller program, their alums care more. It's a family that you look out for. People are responsive when you send them an email as a student and they do what they can to help out. Obviously, you're expected to do likewise when you're an alum.
3) You develop as a leader. Expect to be placed in situations that you're not used to, and stretched to become comfortable in roles that you otherwise wouldn't be comfortable in right now. You develop strong interpersonal skills and become a better people person.
So those were my big takeaways. As a whole, I was very impressed with the program.
Don't ask me for a decision where I'm going.... I don't know yet.