SOM Students Crisscross the Globe Over Winter Break

After nearly a month away for winter break, SOM students returned to campus with many stories to share about their travels. The first-year students spent time at one of eleven destinations abroad, as part of the school’s distinctive International Experience. Students' itineraries were full as they engaged in intensive study; met with business, government, and nonprofit organization leaders; completed a trip project; and participated in cultural activities.

Roberto Jimenez ’09 said, "As a group representing Yale SOM, we spoke to leaders at the highest levels of government and business in the countries we visited. In Romania, we met with the CEOs of the nation’s stock exchange and one of the largest conglomerates in the country. We also met with a number of government ministers and advisors to the prime minister. In Russia, we met with the senior-most executives at TNK-BP, Deutsche Bank, and Mars Snackfoods. The trip was distinctive because we were able to put into practice many of the lessons from our fall semester classes. Our conversations with leaders were lively, frank, and touched on many of the business topics we learned in the Customer, Competitor, Investor, and Sourcing and Managing Funds courses." (Read more about Roberto's thoughts on the International Experience.) Look for more reports from the International Experience in the next issue of the Admissions Newsletter.

As those on the International Experience commenced their overseas adventures, a number of first- and second-year students were busy hosting a series of “winter break socials” across the globe. Bruce DelMonico, director of admissions, said the socials provide prospective students who otherwise might not be able to come to the SOM campus a chance at direct contact with members of the SOM community. “I think it’s a testament to the school that students are so willing to take time out on their breaks to organize these events,” DelMonico said. “It speaks volumes about the level of support and enthusiasm that exists here for the school.”

Students hosted the winter socials in nations such as Thailand, Switzerland, Vietnam, Mexico, Italy, and Trinidad & Tobago, to name a few. They also hosted socials in cities across the United States, including Seattle, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. Read reports from a few of the student hosts:

Trinidad & Tobago Winter Social
December 23, 2007
"Recruiting for SOM in Trinidad & Tobago brought me into contact with graduates from the University of the West Indies (UWI). Students from UWI are excited about the prospect of studying at Yale and developing leadership skills based on our integrated curriculum. We discussed the intersection between ecology and the oil and gas sector that exists in Trinidad & Tobago framed by the curriculum 'perspectives' that make up the first year coursework." — Jessica Strauss '09

Seoul, Korea, Winter Social
December 22, 2007
"I hosted the Winter Break Social in Seoul for the past two years.  This year, we had more than thirty people register for the event, which is about five times as many as last year. I was surprised at the level of interest prospective students had in Yale SOM and the new curriculum. Many of them said that the informal atmosphere and personal environment set apart SOM from other MBA programs. Applicants also noted that this event helped them understand our school better and helped prepare them for their application." — Shawn Park '08

Philadelphia Winter Social
December 27, 2007
"The Philadelphia Winter Break Social offered a glimpse into the real SOM community, with topics ranging from the new curriculum to New Haven nightlife. As an applicant, I attended a similar event and found the information invaluable as I made my decision regarding SOM. I, too, wanted to offer the same insights. The event was a success." — Franco Ditri '08

Washington, DC, Winter Social
December 20, 2007
"It was so exciting to meet so many SOM grads. The event reinforced my belief that SOM attracts people that are not only the highest caliber students, but also incredibly fun and interesting. I had a great time at this event!" — Abby Goward '08

View the complete list of Winter Break Socials.