Bienvenido a MIT! Congratulations on your admission to the SCMr program – or if you are still thinking about applying, get it done!
I guess you might have some concerns about flying 8000+ km from Santiago to Boston.
Sure, if you like the sun and beaches you might be in for a rough time once fall sets in, unless you are coming in from Punta Arenas – then you might even like it.
Seriously, it is a long distance from home. But you will find a welcoming environment here. Most of the cohort will be in the exact same position as you.
Chileans at MIT
Though it might be unlikely to find a fellow countryman in the cohort, there is a large Chilean community at MIT and in the Greater Boston area.
Today you can find about 90 of us in a Chilean-MIT WhatsApp group. Most are MBA students and their Significant Others (SOs), but there are some undergraduates and PhD students as well, from different fields and doing very interesting research. With them, you can feel right at home.
The first big holiday you will miss is “18 de septiembre”, but the Chilean community will have you covered, including some good empanadas. Above you can see the picture of the MIT crew at the Fonda (Chilean-themed BBQ), organized right here in campus. This community will also organize welcoming parties, Christmas dinner, and other events through the year. Make sure you join!
Another organization you should get to know is ChileMass. Not only will they organize interesting presentations and such events; they act as a matching agent, promoting collaboration between Chile and Massachusetts. The key areas of focus are Energy, Technology, Education and Venture Capital. I encourage you to contact them now if any of those areas are of your interest.
Becas Chile
If you are concerned about the Becas Chile scholarship. Unlike an MBA, the SCMr program is eligible for the International Masters Scholarship.
I submitted my application categorizing the program as Subarea OECD Economics & Business, and WOS: Management Sciences and Op. Research, this will ensure you get 5/5 for the most important evaluation criteria.
Now if you do get the scholarship, I would recommend you don’t wait until the final signature (from Contraloria). Go ahead and present the documentation for sponsored billing – because if you are not aware, know that bureaucracy can sometimes be “rather slow” and the outstanding billing emails can be stressful.
If you have any other doubts about the program, the city, Becas Chile, or anything else, just find me online and ask me about it. Welcome to MIT. Exito!
I left the four-walled classroom few years back, graduating from the then Technology department of the University of Ilorin, in Nigeria. As at the time of my university education, we took most lectures in theatre-style halls for general classes. Some of those seated between 200 and 400 students. The specialized classrooms and laboratories were more suited for smaller groups of fewer than 20 students per session. Aside from the distinguishing feature of number of students per class, the classrooms, the lecture halls and the laboratories have one thing in common: traditional blackboards and white chalks. The boards were perfect for our set-up. Except for a few occasions when there was need to explain a formula, or work out an example, the boards were not very active during class sessions. Most materials were transmitted as printed notes and handouts (YES: Only afew privileged students had smartphones, not even laptops, at that time). It was a daunting task to get those black surfaces restored for good contrast. In my few years of working experience, the white boards dominated the corporate learning environments. I quickly learned about the maintenance free white surfaces and ease of use. Popular in some of my meetings and seminars were flip charts, dry erase white boards, and projector units. However, some critics argue that disappearing blackboards are best for learning because students can see and follow the logic. This sentiment is being challenged by the digital age and deployment of technology in knowledge transfer
Behind the Computers
Since graduation from college, I have participated in learning events such as seminars, conferences and short courses. My on-the-job learning and professional courses were delivered in the virtual learning environment, VLE. Access to VLE contents is through an internet-enabled device. The VLE contains course contents as a series of slideshows looped together with a pre-recorded voice over. The course modules might include animations and cartoons to make learning fun. In between my work experience, I enrolled in the MIT Micromasters Supply Chain Management (SCM) Certificate program. The Micromasters contents were delivered as a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). Although both MOOC and VLE are computer-based learning, MOOC is targeted at a limitless number of students. As many as can be reached. VLE is a closed learning format, with a limited number of participants and a common community of practice (CoP). Also, the MIT Micromasters course contents were delivered as sets of learning videos to simulate the classroom environment. Each lesson in the series was opened by MIT faculty members and Supply Chain practitioners, including Chris Caplice, Jim Rice, Yossi Sheffi and others. Every week I looked forward to the release of new videos as well as the writing on the invisible boards. These boards are referred to as lightboards, also known as glassboards. The presentation is quite different from the traditional writing boards, as the instructor appears facing the camera. To create good contrast, a black backdrop is used in addition to other enhancing tools. The presentation boards were one of the topical general discussions in the student forum. This presentation mode made students, including myself, wonder whether the professors were writing backwards.
. Chris Caplice explaining the Micromasters Credential framework using the ‘invisible board’
Back to School
I joined the SCMr Co2019 in fall 2018. One of the first things I did was to locate the Micromasters video production team. I wondered how the giant MIT invisible boards differ from the ones I found online in an attempt to demystify the glassboards. I saw the recording studio, the AgeLab, and other labs in my first tour around the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics (MIT CTL) offices. As I walked past one of the offices, I caught a glimpse of a faculty member writing on the office wall while discussing with a colleague. There goes a white ‘wallboard’. I realized most of the departmental walls are made from writable materials. I also saw quite a few writings on the office glass panels which reminded me of the of the famous ‘handwriting on the wall’. The writings were a mix of letterings, formulae, and drawings, in some instances. They are beautiful sights and makes learning even more fun. I love the writing freedom infused into the learning process; it helps keep the thought process on track.
Do you feel taking a Master’s degree at MIT and expecting baby don’t combine? I’ll prove you wrong!
Plan #1: expand your knowledge
It was late December when I got Justin Snow’s “MIT SCMr Program – Decision” e-mail. I believe it is not possible to describe what I felt: the many hours invested in the application were definitely worth it. My wife was the first person to know I was admitted; she was by far my biggest support and encouraged me to pursue this endeavor. Many of our plans for the following year were subject to this e-mail. We were now ready to complete the hundred million forms in order to get a visa, housing, health care, and many others. But there was one other bigger plan going on in parallel.
Plan #2: expand your family
It was late January when, after three pregnancy tests, we were completely sure that our family was growing; that’s another crazy feeling that I won’t be able to explain. The first thing we did was to take our calculators out, and effectively, there was a tight schedule with some (big) concerns:
‘January 30th + 40 weeks – 2 weeks = October 20th. OK, if the program starts on August 16th, then I would be 7 months pregnant! What about the doctors? Will health insurance cover the birth if I’m already pregnant? Will the airline allow me to fly from Chile to Boston? Will I be allowed to enter the US?’
The good news (spoiler alert) is that everything worked out. I will use the rest of this blog to share my experience, hoping to ease concerns of others in a similar situation.
First: ASK FOR HELP!
Our first concern was quite simple: we needed to understand how delivering in the US would be different than on our home town in Chile. We contacted a friend of a friend whose wife got pregnant and delivered her first child in 2018 while he was taking an MBA at MIT. I really can’t tell you how much they helped us by sharing their experience: it meant a lot to feel that we were taking the right decision.
We learnt that there are several clinics where you can choose to deliver, and that healthcare in Boston is known for its excellent quality. We also learned that the pre-natal and delivery processes were different than in Argentina, where you don’t actually have your own doctor that will deliver your baby, but you get to choose almost every detail of your delivery (do you want to deliver in a pool? With anesthesia or without? Would you like a midwife or doctor to lead your delivery? And many others).
Second: trust in MIT
Our other big concerns were related to MIT: health insurance and housing. As for health insurance, MIT Medical has many programs for the pregnant women and spouses — it is really awesome. Graduate students are automatically enrolled in the Extended Plan; I enrolled my wife in the same plan. My recommendation is to evaluate carefully the different options and rates to choose what fits you best. As information is not always completely clear, I encourage you to reach the Health Plans Office: they are really friendly and reply quickly.
As for housing, MIT offers a wide variety of options placed all around MIT campus, but only some of them are reserved for families. Of those, I would strongly recommend to choose Eastgate. Although the building is old and surrounded by constructions, Eastgate is literally 150 feet away from Sloan and CTL buildings, where you would take most subjects. This turns into a great advantage when you realize that you need to be near to your pregnant partner and, then, your newborn. You will also find a friendly and relaxed community of families that will help you with anything you might need, such as information, some sugar, or even just meet with neighbors to spend some time.
Living at Eastgate and choosing MIT Medical health insurance is also convenient. Most pre-natal and pediatric visits are done at MIT Medical facilities, which are 1,000 feet away from Eastgate. For more complex visits(ultrasounds, pediatric cardiology, labor, etc) you can choose from the in-network providers your plan supports with reduced cost.
Third (and last): other stuff
Flights: you should talk to your doctor to agree on a travel plan. If the pregnancy goes along with no complications, there shouldn’t be any problem with flying, even at 8 months! Babies can fly soon after birth if the pediatrician approves. I also recommend checking with the airline, though some of them have stricter restrictions regarding infant and pregnant travel.
Entering the US: the F2 visa is a good enough explanation of why are you attempting to enter the US. My 7-month pregnant wife came alone to Boston and didn’t have any issues at the border. MIT’s International Students Office (ISO) recommended that she have the same papers that we presented to obtain the visa and proof of healthcare insurance in case the immigration officer requested it. Contact the ISO office in case you are in a similar situation to get the most accurate recommendation.
Life at MIT: you won’t probably be taking as many subjects as the rest of the class, nor going out for a beer every week with your partners. But you get to be at your house, with your child, far more than if you were working 45 hours a week. It’s definitely a good deal! Just for your reference, I got all A’s in fall semester… it’s simply a matter of organizing your agenda.
If you are reading this paragraph, I guess you are thinking about expanding your family. I invite you to follow your professional and personal plans in parallel; you should definitely apply to this master’s regardless of your personal plans!
I would be glad to help provide additional information; don’t hesitate to write me to my e-mail below.
I have always liked to study. I studied Chemical Engineering as an undergraduate, and while I was working I studied in two postgraduate programs: one in operations engineering and the other in finance. After finishing my second postgraduate degree, I wanted to do a master’s degree. The most common one in my country was the MBA; however, it did not attract my attention since its focuses were in marketing and finance, and I wanted to specialize in the field in which I was working and about which I was passionate: supply chain. In Colombia there were no master’s degrees in this area, so I started looking for online master’s abroad, but no program matched what I was looking for in academic terms; nor did they offer professional projections for the future.
At the end of 2016, when I was working as a plan and source coordinator in the Americas region of a multinational company in the gas and oil sector, I read an article in the news that the most prestigious universities in the world such as MIT were offering free online courses in different fields of science through the Edx platform. It was thereI found the Micromaster in Supply Chain Management. I began to do each one of the courses, and I was amazed with their excellent contents, the quality of the teachers, the applicability of the things that I learned at work, and the novelty of the topics they dealt with, such as the use of revolutionary supply chain technologies. Every day I spent about two hours studying the courses, I felt that I was investing my time in something that was worthwhile and that would serve me in the future.
My grades in the Micromaster courses and the capstone exam were excellent; this gave me the option of applying to the SCM Blended Master program at MIT. My profile fit perfectly what they were looking for, in terms of my experience, my age and my results. However, I decided to apply to the SCM Residential Program for one reason: the OPT STEM, the residential program, gives the option to work legally for three years in companies in the United States under the international student visa. The blended program does not give this option. I am deeply convinced that the MIT degree and work experience in the United States will boost my career to a new level.
When I was accepted into the program, I cried from happiness. My wife and I made the decision to leave our country, family and friends for a dream. It was the best decision we made: from the beginning we felt like family. Having come to study at MIT changed our lives; it has given me the opportunity to learn new things, to receive classes from the best professors in the world, to do my capstone project with the company of the dreams of a chemical engineer, to know and engage in deep friendships with my classmates (I am sure they will be relationships that will last a lifetime), be an ambassador for the program, participate in the MIT graduate leaders’ program and participate in the selection processes of the best companies in the country until the final rounds. My wife has been given the opportunity to meet new friends, improve her English, take painting classes, meet an ex-president and several former ministers of Colombia, and open up to new possibilities for entrepreneurship.
So far the desired offer has not arrived, but I know that it will come soon. The possibilities and opportunities are many. I thank God and my wife for the opportunity to live what until now has been the best experience of my life.
In June 2017, while working with Jindal Steel & Power Ltd., I was transferred to the remote eastern-Indian town of Barbil for raw material procurement assignments. The nearest airport was 6 hours away, and I was one of only four women among over 500 employees at the location.
My lifestyle of living in a metropolitan city had gone for a toss. There wasn’t anything to do recreationally. The gym at the community centre barely had any equipment. I needed to change my food habits because the kind of food I normally ate wasn’t available in the cafeteria and I didn’t have the option to cook. My health suffered.
Long story short: I wasn’t very happy with where I was, or the work that I was doing. I wanted to learn more about supply chain management. I wanted to learn and work with advanced technologies in my day-to-day work. I wanted a change.
I started considering options – pursue a second master’s, get into management consulting, or work in a start-up in the logistics industry. I already had a post-grad diploma in Management and didn’t want to move to another company in the same industry. Pursuing a master’s would be the most challenging one, and required a huge investment of money and time, yet promised to be the most rewarding. Precisely why I decided to risk it. Soon enough, I got myself a GMAT exam appointment due in 2 months and began preparing with the little time I had after work.
My First GMAT
I borrowed some GMAT study material from friends, without signing up for any mock exams. I thought the two complementary GMAT prep tests would suffice.
Verbal Ability was challenging for me: I had to improve a lot across all its three sections – Sentence Correction, Critical Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension. I enthusiastically practiced the Sentence Correction and Critical Reasoning sections, ignoring Reading Comprehension, and took two GMAT prep tests a week before the exam, scoring 720 and 730. Although my accuracy didn’t improve over these past two months, my scores assured me that I was ready for the exam.
On the actual exam, however, I ended up with a score of 700 (the score appears almost immediately after the end of the exam), with 50 in Quantitative Ability and 34 in Verbal Ability, making me realize that GMAT required a lot more preparation than I had anticipated.
Learning Curve
I decided to give it another try and this time vowed to prepare more systematically. I needed at least 720 to increase my chances of getting into top schools in the US. I bought a GMAT prep course from a popular Indian educational start-up Byju’s, which had video lectures on various concepts and exclusive sectional tests, along with a series of full GMAT practice tests. Beginning in August, with 45 days to the exam, I spent four hours every day after work at the lectures and the practice questions.
In three weeks, I saw my accuracy improving and took my first full practice test from Byju’s. The level of difficulty was much more compared to the previous GMAT prep tests I took, and I only scored a 690. My confidence levels fell, and I now decided to get the popular Manhattan Prep test series for extensive practice. I continued to take sectional tests on weekdays and full practice tests on weekends. My scores still ranged between 680 and 730, yet I could feel that there was considerable improvement in my accuracy and speed. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole process and loved having a goal to achieve outside of my work.
What A Good GMAT Score Meant For Me
Although I had prepared well this time, I felt nervous on the day of the exam. I was relieved when I finally saw my score of 750. With complete confidence to aim for the best, I decided to go all in and put out the best college applications that I possibly could. And I did. A good GMAT score counts for a lot in your grad school applications, and also makes a good impression on your resume when you interview with companies for full-time positions.
To me, the seemingly small success of scoring 750 on GMAT opened up the doors to bigger possibilities in my life. Back in Barbil, if somebody had told me that I would be going to MIT a year later, I wouldn’t have believed them. I am glad that I made that effort to do well on the exam and it made all the difference.
To those who wants to see “Congratulations!” in the MIT admission letter.
“Congratulations!…”
This is the word you want to read first when you are waiting for your admission results.
Paulina Gisbrecht – MEng in SCM – class 2018
This is a truly special, once in the life-time moment. One year ago, 1st of August 2017, I was sitting with my friend Alyona and waiting for my results. We had a nice dinner and prepared a bottle of wine to celebrate …or to just have a drink in case I wasn’t admitted. Well, after a few hours the bottle was empty but still no news from MIT. My MM SCM friend Bona and I had an email countdown of the days before the decision announcement. Waiting for so long, being nervous and no message on the 1st of August! It can’t be good. At 2 a.m. on the 2nd of August I took my bicycle and went home …I was very sad.
Well, next morning I woke up for work, automatically stretched my hand to grab my phone, opened my mails and suddenly saw this word “Congratulations!”. A few seconds I was staring at it without understanding what does this mean. However, eventually I got the message, jumped out of my bed and started to run around laughing and dancing. Six months later, my classmates and I shared this experience of reading “Congratulations!”. This was the first second of being a part of this wonderful SCM family. And for everyone this second was very special.
But let’s come back to the 2nd of August. With the message of admission, we received the guidelines how to proceed next. The next step was to confirm the admission and you have one month to do it. One month is not long! There is a number of requirements to meet for the confirmation.
$2,500 deposit transfer (which is a part of your later tuition payment)
Official Transcript of Records
Proof of funding for the tuition, medical insurance and living expenses
The $2,500 deposit is non-refundable. If you pay and then decide to drop the program, you won’t get this amount back. However, if you have a very good reason to postpone the program for one year and the admission committee grants the postponement, this deposit will serve as the “reservation” of the seat in the program. Once you join the program, this deposit will be set off against your tuition.
The official Transcript of Records can be easily managed from your former university. However, I had a few difficulties with mine. It was a while ago that I graduated with my first master’s degree. By that time, it was not common to issue an electronic Transcript of Records. As I asked, the International Office from my former university – University of Mannheim – requested from me a list with all my subjects, teaching persons, number of credits and grades. Help! I had over 50 subjects and I couldn’t possibly remember all these details! It took me a week of research until I completed this list. Subsequently, this list was supposed to be checked and used as the source for the official Transcript of Records from the university. This should take another week. Having only one month for confirmation and spending two weeks to get the Transcript of Records requires time management. Plus, you should keep in mind, that MIT needs the original document. You need to send it whether in paper by post mail (which is not the most secure way from the remote countries) or as a direct electronic mail from the student offices of your former university – add a few more days.
The most interesting and challenging requirement is to provide the proof of funding . To get the proof you need the funding in the first place. Well, my classmates and I don’t have a clear answer to this problem, but we do have our experience. Please keep in mind that all the recommendations are unofficial, without any guaranty and without any feedback from MIT and CTL in particular.
And that’s what we did….
Starting with the easiest: some of my classmates were able to save enough money and just needed an official letter from their home bank with the statement of the current amount in the checking/draft, savings, or certificate of deposits accounts. This letter is an official document stating the exact required amount in USD and must be signed by the bank authorities. For more details see proof of funding.
MIT Scholarship: try this option. We could not meet the deadlines due to our late admission (1st of August) and confirmation (1st of September) dates. But since you have similar dates as the residential SCM applicants, you should definitely try this. Here are some other scholarship options listed on the MIT site
Fellowships: When applying/ registering for the program, you were asked (or will be asked) if you are interested in fellowship. I somehow thought I wouldn’t get any support, so I didn’t even try. But some of my classmates did and got the student fee partially covered. It doesn’t hurt to put the mark into this option and see what might happen. The criteria for the fellowship are your grades (GPA and/or MM SCM) and personal factors, which can be everything. For instance, you are the first student in this program from your country. This is a little bit like a lottery. Try it! SCMb fellowship application has no clear criteria and no written rules, but SCMr criteria could help you as guidelines. Check the general MIT fellowship options here as well.
Company sponsorship: you have applied for the SCMb program which means you must have submitted a research project proposal. This is mostly based on some ideas from your work environment and your company might be interested in the results of a comprehensive study in cooperation with MIT (this is a very good selling proposition!). In some cases, large companies are aware of the MM SCM program, sponsor this and would be probably interested in full or partial coverage of the SCMb program tuition. Push it internally! One of my classmates went this way and got the 80% sponsorship for the student fee and living expenses from his company.
Informal applications for funds – companies, research institutions, philanthropic organizations: send emails or even better letters to the companies which a. could be interested in the project you propose; b. could be interested in you as their future employee. One of my classmates had sent letter, which is genius! An email would most probably never pass the mail box of the assistant of the executive manager you are trying to reach. But a letter, printed or written on paper, packed into an envelope, will eventually land on the table of the target person. This person will open it and see how impressive is your proposition and how clever you were to use this way of communication;) And that’s what one of my classmates would like to recommend you:
“As soon as I received the acceptance letter from MIT, I thought that financial help could be found. Hence, I designed my strategy: searching persons or institutions eager to help students of good universities with valuable stories or backgrounds, I was able to make a list of about 30 individuals, namely banks, philanthropic foundations, lobbies, etc. The way to approach them was the most important element of the plan: written letters. Nowadays everyone receives thousands of e-mails. Everyone has a spam folder in their inbox. Very important people may have assistants who help them managing their inbox so certain e-mails would never reach these persons. But, what about hand written letter? It is not common anymore. If you receive one, would you read it? My understanding was that I could have more chances to have those persons reading my message by written letter rather than e-mail. The result was that one philanthropic foundation of my country found my story very interesting and granted me funds to pay all my tuition fee.
Now, I would kindly ask you to think about your personal story as a blended student. I do not know a word about it, but, given the characteristics and requirements of the program, I know your story is unique, peculiar, interesting and worthwhile to know more about it, Try to explain other your story! You are going to do a great program on one of the best universities in the world. Try to get some funds! Be creative, expand your mental boundaries about your funding!”
Crowdfunding: one of my MM SCM classmates who became our SCMb fellow from Zaragoza ZLG, Dima – Dmytro Rizdvanetskyi – compiled a detailed story of his journey through the triple AAA – Application, Admission and Arrival in two super interesting blogs. Google translator will give you an approximate description of his application, admission and arrival experience since Dima comes from Ukraine and posted in Russian. Except of the funding endeavors, I had a similar experience and the way of thinking. I guess many of us did. In his blog, Dima says:
“By the time [I considered to pursue my further education at MIT], the tuition was around $100,000. I had approximately $150 in my pocket.”
Once admitted, Dima started to apply for fellowships and sponsoring programs in his country. In parallel, he established his own crowdfunding campaign, which is in my opinion a brilliant idea! Dima decided to go for the program in Zaragoza, which requires funds of around $25,000. By the time he posted his blog (26th of September, 2017, 26 days after the final confirmation), he got 15% of the tuition funded, 10% of which were bitcoins:) He has successfully finished the program at ZLC by now, which confirms that he was able to get the necessary amount for the tuition on time. He thanked some of the sponsors officially in his second blog from the 27th of March. So don’t forget to thank the persons who have helped you to fulfill your dreams! By the way, Dima will post his graduation and post-graduation experience. I am sure, this will be extremely exciting! I recommend to follow him online.
Bank loan:
Local student loans: some countries support education programs by granting student loans with small interest rates and postponed pay-back. Usually, the state steps in as the guarantor for student’s credit standing towards the bank. In Germany, we have a few interesting options to receive a student loan. The interest rate is between 1.5-4% (if any of you are Germans, these are the information pages: Studienkredit, myStipendium, Deutsche Bildung. Unfortunately, I was not able to meet the requirement to receive such a loan. I was over 35 and had a good job, which disqualified me for any options. Or maybe I should search further!
U.S. student bank loan:
Usual: There is a number of banks offering student loans. The requirement are in general everywhere the same: provide information about your credit scores, GPA from previous university program (or results from your MM SCM), information about your current job and salary etc. Additional challenge: for an U.S student loan you need an American co-signer. The average interest rate is around 7-8%. Just check online.
Special: Prodigy Finance with almost the same conditions but without the need for an U.S. co-signer. This is really an interesting option, if you have difficulties in your own country!
Check the International Student page for other individual options to get student loan in U.S.
Just a bank loan: since I could not meet the criteria for the student loan in Germany, I took a usual private loan. If you live in EU, this might be an option. Currently, the European interest rate is kept quite low. Furthermore, in Germany you can take a private loan online up to 50,000 €. I used Smava, which was rated in Germany as the best platform to get an online loan without a special reason, e.g. for new furniture. I just recommend you to keep your education plans out of the information flow between you and the bank. I was rejected by one of the banks even after providing a statement from my company that they grant me a six-month educational leave to MIT. The next bank gave me a loan as I said that I need the money for a private matter. All I had to provide were my salary statements from the last three months, the declaration of my monthly expenses (rent, car, other loans etc.) and the proof of my identity. You can have more than 50,000 €, but in this case the banks are looking a little closer at how you are going to pay the loan back.
That’s it for the time being. I am sure you will find new interesting ways how to fulfill your academic dream. Please, share them with the next generations! Let’s stick together and make the SCM programs great and famous! If you are interested in the 3rd A – the Arrival at MIT – blog. Please, let me know and leave a comment. I would share with you the experience between the first kick-off meeting of the program and until the arrival on campus in Cambridge: research deliverables, housing, visa application, etc.
P.S. All of us “failed” to meet the last of the requirements in the admission letter – to attend the first orientation program day on the 4th of January, 2018:) We had no chance, because the wild Boston winter had other plans. MIT was closed due to a huge snow storm…This was magic, white and frosty outside – the Dome was empty, but open, lit with light and promising me some of the hardest and the best months of my life….
Special thanks to Rafaela Nunes, who helped me to collect the information!
Being in the pioneering SCM Blended class is very exciting! Maybe as exciting as being the very first MM SCM Alumni (Supply Chain Management Review, MIT News, Supply Chain @ MIT). On the other hand, we had to make each of our steps into the darkness – unknown future for us without precedent.
Let me share with you some of my experiences. If you will follow the same path, it might be useful. This blog is about the part one of the MIT SCMb AAA logistics problem – Application.
Besides the MM SCM completion, CTL.MIT requires:
Resume
Proof of an undergraduate/graduate education (all you have)
Two reference letters
For international students – IELTS or TOEFL test
Research project proposal
Introduction video addressing four (pre-defined) questions
It doesn’t take long to create a proper resume and provide a proof of education. However, you really should start working on the other requirements early.
I started to reach out to my former university professor and to key persons in my company 1 year before I applied. Luckily, my professor remembered me and I needed just 2-3 more reminders during the application period to get her reference letter. The professional reference letters shouldn’t be a problem. Currently, you don’t need academic reference, as far as I know. But still, talk to senior managers in advance and explain to them your idea. At the right point in time, you can reach out to them for a reference letter.
As preparation for my IELTS, I remember taking Edx courses in the summer 2016. This course was offered by the University of Queensland. It certainly helped me to get an idea of the style of the exam. Even if you speak well, you might be unprepared for the method of language testing by IELTS. For academic writing test, it is expected, that you know how to structure an essay, how to understand statistical results from charts and tables. The listening test is recorded in various regional dialects such as Irish or Australian way to speak. You shall be able to understand it and to get all information needed to complete the exercises in real time. For reading test, you shall be able to read several papers in a short period of time (60 minutes), understand the essentials and answer a number of specific questions. The speaking test is a recorded fast pace interview e.g. about further education you plan to pursue. In November 2016, I was ready and after 3 hours of paper-based tests and a 15-minute interview, I successfully passed my exam with minimum requirement of 7 points.
The elaboration of the research project proposal was much more challenging. For four months, I reached out to various persons in my company before finally catching the attention of the VP Supply Chain Europe. I had to “sell“ my idea and promised to promote the company’s success at MIT. In the following 6 months, I informed her monthly about my progress and provided some research ideas. Don’t expect anybody to give you an idea for research. You have to find your own one and convince the key person to support you. Try to find something feasible with data access because otherwise you will really suffer later in the program (no time!). The research proposal itself must have exactly two pages. I compiled it like a mini-academic research project, with an introduction, research question, relevance, relation to the sponsoring company, and solution proposal. If you want to have a few more insights and experiences from my classmates, please read the Blended research project insights. Our residential classmates had a different experience with capstone or thesis research projects. This part was not one of their application requirements. But the decision making process and the selection of topics might be a similar one. If you are interested, then you definitely should read Lauren’s blog. Hier are some of the thesis or capstone project examples. As the last word of advice in regard to your project proposal in cooperation with a sponsoring company, keep in mind that a standard Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) between the sponsoring company and MIT must be signed once the project will start. Many companies propose their own NDAs so the negotiation can take a substantial period of time. Try to clarify these aspects as early as possible.
My video statement was the last of the requirements I worked on. Originally, I planned to spend not more than a few hours on it. I realized later this was the case for some of my peers. Since I wanted to be the best and didn’t know the “competition,“ I tried to differentiate myself. Four different areas should be the stages for the four questions to be addressed. I chose my former university, the place I worked, a park nearby, and a local port. My best friend sacrificed his leisure time for me as cameraman and helped to cut the video. On the end, we spent three days for this requirement instead of one.
I hope I have given you an idea of how to organize your application. Everyone has her/his own way. All I want to stress is: don’t wait too long on the preparations for the application. You can be surprised by the amount of time you will invest in it.
If you want to know more about the other A and A – Admission and Arrival at MIT – please comment this blog and let us know!
P.S. we will give you some interesting information about the funding options for the MIT SCM master’s program in our next blog!
I earned my first master’s degree in Master of Business Management at the University of Mannheim focusing on marketing but was lucky to start my carrier in logistics. I have worked in heavy industry for Alstom and GE as supply chain manager and I am passionate about solving customized strategic problems. After completion of my second master of Engineering in SCM at MIT, I plan to dive into more analytical field of supply chain management. Outside of the classroom and office, I enjoy to go scuba diving, running half-marathons and drawing portraits.
The short answer: YES (if you’re ready to work). Originally from Los Angeles, CA, I am currently a student in the inaugural class of the SCMb (Supply Chain Management Blended) Program. While I have only been in school for three months, I can say that the experience has been invaluable. You have to come ready to work (sometimes from 9am-9pm), but in return you will learn how to operate under a deadline, juggle multiple team projects, work on diverse teams (some great, some not so good), listen to some incredible lecturers and guest speakers, and make some lifelong friendships. Just as important, doors open for job opportunities and additional graduate studies when you join this program.
Here’s my advice to a prospective student:
Did you enjoy the SCx classes? If so, then the on-campus program adds another dimension to your education. The first month (January) you participate in a series of mini-courses with students visiting from MIT-affiliated supply chain programs around the world. Starting in February, you begin the regular full semester classes. I can say that the classes on-campus continue the technical learning (optimization, linear programming, data analytics), but add in equally important management classes and team building activities.
Look at the curriculum on the SCM website (SCMb curriculum). Click on each class to see a description of the course. Are you interested in learning the material? Here’s an insider tip: SCM students can also sign up for classes at MIT’s Sloan School of Business. While some classes fill up quickly, you still have access to the majority of the classes MBA students take at a fraction of the cost.
Find recent alum. Google search “scm resume book mit” and you will find a link to the resumes of last year’s class.
Select an email in the resume and send that person a message to ask about the program or just email me (see email address below)
You already have this piece of advice covered: read theMIT SCM program student blog (blog) to hear first-hand experiences of previous students.
Can you handle the cold weather? It can get chilly in Cambridge during the winter months.
So, what are you waiting for? Get researching and see if this program is for you. At least for me, it was one of the best career decisions I have ever made.
Contact me at andrewjfu@gmail.com.
More about the MicroMasters here. More about the blended SCM program here.
This year, for the first time, the SCM program added a degree and provided the option to students to pursue one of two degrees: Master of Applied Science (MASc.), or Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) in Supply Chain Management. M.Eng. students write a thesis, while MASc. students complete capstone projects.
This article provides an overview of both options, their pros and cons, and some key decision factors from a student’s perspective that may help you decide!
Completing a Capstone Project
Working on a capstone project allows students to solve a real-world problem and make a tangible difference in a company. Projects are sponsored by a wide-range of companies. Some are large and well-established, looking for ways to transform long-standing systems and workflows. Some are mid-sized companies facing a new challenge. Yet others are startups, looking for students to research new concepts. The topics students are tackling this year include blockchain and 3D printing, and many others.
Students work with company-provided data and apply methods learned in class to develop an optimization model or a new forecasting procedure that addresses a specific problem. Students engage in regular meetings with company contacts and often have the opportunity for site visits to manufacturing plants and / or distribution centers.
Companies and SCM faculty present capstone topics to students during orientation. Then students bid on their favorite projects. Each project is assigned to a pair of students who will work as a team. It is not always guaranteed that students will receive their first choice although most receive one of their top two projects.
The pictures below feature students on company-sponsored site visits. Mary Kate Gorman and Bernadette Orende are working on a project with a Fortune 500 company in the consumer packaged goods industry. Hilary Taylor and Russ Miller are working on a project with a start-up company in lot traceability of food products.
Tony, Mary Kate, and Bernadette visited a manufacturing plant in Ohio
Working on a Thesis Project
Thesis projects are longer, have more extensive academic requirements, and are done individually. It is the responsibility of the student to propose a topic that is relevant and original to the field of supply chain management.
The thesis can involve one sponsoring company like the capstone or address a supply chain challenge common across an entire industry. In either case, it is entirely up to the student to research the topic independently and to reach out to potential partner companies or industry groups.
The thesis write-up must include a literature review, a component not required for the capstone project. This section, which will appear at the beginning of the thesis, is typically 10 – 30 pages long. It defines the context of the research question, identifies the gap in current knowledge that the thesis will address, and presents the methodologies that will be used to solve the problem.
Hilary and Russ took a trip to the beach after their capstone visit in California
Key Decision Factors in Choosing a Degree
Academic & Career Goals If you wish to continue in the SCM program beyond the one-year masters, performing research or working towards a PhD, writing a thesis will help you to prepare for that. If you plan to work in industry or consulting after graduation, a capstone project can provide you with a taste of what to expect after joining the workforce. There are certain benefits to both project options.
Personal Interests Is there a specific problem you want to solve? What better place to research a technical topic than at MIT? While a thesis requires a little extra initiative, it allows a student to be fully creative, drawing upon past education, and work experience to work on the problem that most interests him or her. Writing a thesis is a great way to tailor the SCM program to your individual interests, deepen your knowledge of a particular subject, and learn from experts in other departments across the university. At the same time, you might run into a capstone project that is a great match for you. There are students who got to work on a capstone project that was an interest of their industry and problem.
Competing Time Requirements Grad school at MIT has so much to offer: clubs, athletics, entrepreneurial events, recruiting sessions, cross-registering for classes at nearby universities, free food hunting, and much more.
The SCM program is only 10-months long so you have to prioritize!
There are also other ways to personalize your degree should you choose to forgo a thesis. Students in the SCM Masters are allowed to pursue certificates through the Sloan School of Management. These certificates, in healthcare and sustainability require extra coursework beyond the SCM classes in a concentrated series of electives. Pursuing a certificate and writing a thesis is definitely an ambitious workload to take on!
Branding If you are wondering what employers might think of the two degrees, don’t worry. So far, degree choices have had no impact on hiring decisions. But, it’s ultimately your choice as to which degree will appear on your resume.
My Choice I arrived on campus with a very specific background and set of interests. I had spent almost five years working as a chemical engineer, mostly in the natural gas industry. My career interests are very focused in energy and sustainability.
I wanted to hear all of the company presentations before I made my choice, just in case one might be a great fit. There were some exciting projects for sure, and I waivered when Bruce, Executive Director of the Supply Chain Management Program, asked me whether or not I would participate in capstone bidding at the end of August.
In the end I chose to stay true to my long-time passions. I am writing a thesis on natural gas transportation, drawing upon both my first-hand experience in the field as an engineer, and my freshly-learned skills in supply chain management.
My experience does not apply to everyone in the program. Some students were lucky enough to be assigned to projects in their exact area of interest, yet others chose to expand upon a company-sponsored project and turn it into a thesis, gaining the advantages of both degrees.
The choice is yours and the options are endless. Which will you choose?
In today’s post, Stephanie Chen will give advice to prospective students. Stephanie Chen is an international student who is also a recipient of the “Women in Supply Chain” scholarship and a graduate of Wellesley and Harvard. We hope her advice will be helpful to future applicants.
Note: Given the November 15 deadline, these tips may come a bit late for Round I applicants. To Round I applicants, good luck!
. Chris Caplice explaining the Micromasters Credential framework using the ‘invisible board’
always liked to study. I studied Chemical Engineering as an undergraduate, and while I was working I studied in two postgraduate programs: one in operations engineering and the other in finance. After finishing my second postgraduate degree, I wanted to do a master’s degree. The most common one in my country was the MBA; however, it did not attract my attention since its focuses were in marketing and finance, and I wanted to specialize in the field in which I was working and about which I was passionate: supply chain. In Colombia there were no master’s degrees in this area, so I started looking for online master’s abroad, but no program matched what I was looking for in academic terms; nor did they offer professional projections for the future.
Written By: Andrew Fu, SCMb Class of 2018
Student Voices 