Tuck Campus Visit Report with Pictures

Tuck Campus Visit - July 28th.

Personal Background - There are multiple ways to get to Tuck but i chose the longest route possible. :-D . Tuck has been my top choice for quite a while now. I had to drop out of undergrad and pursue it part time and missed out on friendships and college shenanigans that normal folks get to enjoy. I am looking for a school that will be more collaborative than competitive and Tuck fits the bill. I ended up messaging 10 students on Linkedin and all of them responded (8 on very same day, 1 person day after, 1 person week and half after). I emailed two professors and they responded same day as well. It just shows the genuine willingness to help, i have had difficulty getting my own professors to respond. It was my friends wedding on same day as Tuck visit, so all my friends and I flew in to JFK airport. Drove an hour and half from there to Connecticut. Took a rental car and drove to Hanover, New Hampshire (260 miles). The view is surreal, highways are lush green with mountains and trees on both sides. For people living in Pacific north west, its a familiar sight.

Hotel - I stayed at Sunset Motor Inn in West Lebanon (2 mins drive from the campus). It was the cheapest option , even cheaper than airbnb. It's your average 2 star Inn so wasn't expecting a lot. I got there around 4.45 Pm on Thursday (Day before the visit).

View from the hotel.

Dinner - Most of the students were out of town but two of them were working locally and were more than happy to see me and answer my questions. So we decided to meet up at Murphy's Pub. A pub where all the MBA students hang out. I am not too fond of pub food, its mostly greasy and doesn't taste good (atleast where i am from) but boy i was so wrong. Murphy's was exceptional, it's a vibrant environment. According to Angel (one of the students i met) Murphy's has every new MBA admit's picture so they are not asked for ID which sounds like a urban myth but who am i to question it


School talk - Angel and i talked for an hour and half about school, social life, curriculum, why Tuck and how it changed his life. Another student Josh joined us bit later (he went on a coffee date and still decided to come meet up after).
Key takeaways -

Tuck only takes 4% equity if you use it's R&D resources, where as other schools take 50%
VP of Barclays bank took sabbatical to pursue his MBA from Tuck.
Stats matter and Tuck looks at your profile as whole but it's the story that matters the most.
Dartmouth is working really hard to bring all its schools to collaborate and its paying off. Lot of new startups have emerged thanks to Engineering and business schools interacting more openly.
Tuck is more open to unconventional students than any other school, there were quite a few 3rd round admits that were just your ordinary MBA applicants (according to Josh, he got in 3rd round as well).
Governor Lynch one of the longest running Governor in history of US teaches at CEO Experience course at Tuck.

Neighbourhood and Stores - There's a CVS, Walmart, Starbucks and few other restaurants. Hanover doesn't have big malls or stores but it has everything you need. Most students go to Boston for shopping which is an hour and half away.

Tuck Event - I drove to Tuck from my hotel and parked by a cemetery (yes a cemetery inside the campus).

I was told other parking lots will be full so i did not want to take a chance. Entire campus is beautiful, i have been to Canadian universities and their architecture is modern but Dartmouth reminds me of Victorian era buildings. It's subtle and relaxing with its lush green trees.

I walked towards the Tuck Stell Hall and its gorgeous outside and Inside.




Stell hall is full of pictures of people i have no clue about hahha.




Lecture halls are your typical lecture halls with every modern gadgetry available.


Event started off with a session with admissions panel. I had asked the adcom people if i could take pictures and they were more than happy to assist but i didn't want to be the guy taking pictures of other students and staff.

Event breakdown -

Admissions Panel
Stephanie butler
Patricia
Amy mitson
Tuck Go Panel
Emily Nichols
James ermarth
Lecture
(Prof kleinbaum
Course - Innovation and organizational change
Case Study - Gunfire at sea)
Lunch
Tuck Centers
Daniella reichstetter - Center for private equity and entrepreneurship
Patrick wheeler - Center for Digital strategies
April salas - revers energy Center . (for people looking into Energy sector , look up her profile.)
Merritt patridge - Center for business government and society
Tuck Career Development Office
Jonathan masland
Mathias machado
Student Panel
Optional Campus Tour

I can go into detail into what was discussed but i recorded all the sessions on my phone (audio recording) and i can share it if you guys want. I didn't go to Student Panel as i had spent a lot of time one on one with students night before. And missed out on campus tour as well due to personal commitments but i'll doing that when i go for interview later this fall. Outside of Tuck there is Thayers Engineering School.


And last but not the least the Baker Library. It is Harry potter esque style building from inside.


Best part - When Dean Slaughter showed up for lunch and answered questions from Prospective applicants. He is a genuinely humble person and it shows the way he carries himself. His motto and Tuck's mission statement under his guidance is personal, connected, and transformative. Personal for people to find who they are, connected to find like minded individuals and transformative to change things that have ripple effect on our society. Dean Slaughter said we need wise leaders now more than ever. On being asked why would somebody choose Tuck and what kind of Student are good fit for it - He said," Tuck is secluded enough that students are forced to interact and create bonds and when recruiters/guest speakers come, they are solely here for one thing. Unlike other schools where they have meetings and other commitments outside of B-school. In his opinion Tuck's remote location is blessing in disguise in this way. He said Tuck isn't right fit for cut throat, money and me first people. Not that there's anything wrong with that but Tuck will not be a good experience for such students."

Audio Recordings -

Tuck Admissions Panel - https://soundcloud.com/manvir-singh-27/tuck-admissions-panel
Tuck Lecture - https://soundcloud.com/manvir-singh-27/prof-adam-kleinbaum-lecture
https://soundcloud.com/manvir-singh-27/prof-adam-kleinbaum-lecture-part-2
Tuck Go -https://soundcloud.com/manvir-singh-27/tuck-go-session