How B-School is Like Marriage
Posted by Brian Cantwell on Tue, Jul 21, 2009 @ 02:51 PM
With my wedding coming up this weekend, I've got marriage on the brain. I'm designing ceremony programs in my sleep. My feet start spontaneously waltzing on my walk to work. I see seating charts in my Excel spreadsheets. Salesforce.com is looking suspiciously like my Crate & Barrel registry. Basically, I'm finding parallels with marriage in everything I'm doing, so it seems only natural to draw some connections between my upcoming nuptials and another huge committment in my life, b-school.
(sidenote: I hope my wedding cake looks as delicious as these cupcakes, courtesy of CleverCupcakes)
Parallels between B-School and Marriage
- The application process is long and hard: The seven years I dated my fiancee were far more enjoyable than the seven months I spent preparing my b-school apps, but required about seventy times more work.
- Leaving halfway through is frowned upon: There's really no such thing as a transfer or leave-of-absence in b-school. Like marriage, you're stuck with what you've picked so make sure you love it!
- It's really expensive: B-school costs a lot. I'm told that it is a good investment. Weddings cost a lot. I'm told they aren't such a great investment. My wife will cost a lot. I'm told that she is a fabulous investment.
- You marry the whole family: There's a saying that when you get married, you marry the whole family. When you pick a b-school, you also get the whole family. You get the broader university and its resources, the alumni network, the employer relationships, the geographic location, and the stereotypes. Make sure you like the "extended family" of your MBA program. It will have a major impact on your level of happiness.
- The benefits last forever: While my MIT Sloan MBA may not be as attractive, caring, or talkative as my fiancee, it will also make a terrific life partner. For the rest of my life I'll be able to enjoy the career and network benefits that come with being a Sloanie, just like I'll be able to enjoy the companionship that comes with marrying the most incredible woman I've ever met.