A member of the class of 2000, Karl Schade came to HBS from the private equity field. I never saw my wife. I was destroying myself physically and emotionally from work. For him, school has presented a unique opportunity to diversify his talents, make friends, and rediscover the balance between working and living. I was very surprised by the diversity of the HBS student body.
Every person presents an opportunity to network later down the road.
Let's say I'm doing a deal in the telecommunications industry. I can call Martha, who knows about the industry, because I sat next to her in my HBS class. If I'm looking for a CEO for a company I'm going to buy, I could ask her if she knows of any good people. Trust Yourself You really need to arrive with confidence in your own abilities. You've gotten to that point for a reason, and you'll likely get beyond that point for the same reasons.