Eight years ago, Dan Barcan, a teacher at a local charter school built on the tenets of systems thinking and systems dynamics, audited a class at MIT Sloan. “I knew it was the right place for me,” said Barcan, “but I didn’t apply for admission for almost seven years because I was building my career in education management, figuring out the best next steps.” During the application process, Barcan spoke to staff and current students about how he would fit into the cohort at MIT Sloan. A principal by day and a husband and father at night, Barcan was not a traditional applicant. However, upon receipt of the Class of 2004 Professional Diversity Fellowship, Barcan says, “Every business school talks about building a diverse community, but MIT Sloan actually does it. Through this fellowship, I realized that the School is committed to that diversity and that it seeks to build a class that brings multiple perspectives, professional backgrounds, and interests together. Now that I am here, I realize that this diversity is helping me think about business challenges in a new light.”

Every master’s degree student at MIT Sloan has in common intellectual curiosity and the desire to learn; however, each is unique in what they bring to the community and in how they enhance its diversity. MIT Sloan places great value on the rich demographic diversity of its community. The School hopes to find those candidates for whom MIT Sloan is the best fit; and for many of those candidates, financial aid is a necessity. However, the School lags behind its competitors in its ability to offer fellowships to MBA students, particularly those who come from outside the United States—and this must change. Both our domestic and international students struggle to cover costs. But for our international students, who do not have access to federally funded student loan programs, finding this funding can determine their ability to attend MIT Sloan. The vast diversity of graduate students at the Institute and the School strengthens the community by bringing new ideas, opinions, and experiences to each class and each project. This diversity of thought and experience is at the core of MIT Sloan’s ability to impact the global business world. When our students return to their organizations—either in the States or abroad—what they learned at MIT Sloan influences how they do business, transforming their organizations into vehicles for integrating new ideas into global business practice.

Each year, a significant percentage of our master’s degree students seek financial assistance to fund their MIT Sloan education. Through loans, personal savings, and fellowships, each student finds a way to pay for tuition costs and fees, including housing, medical insurance, books, and other supplies, which can total up to $75,000 per year. Even with costs this high, each of our students believes that a graduate degree from the MIT Sloan School of Management is well worth the student loans and subsequent debt necessary to pay tuition and fees in the short-term. Just as Dan Barcan did, they see an MBA from MIT Sloan as a catalyst for both professional and personal growth—an opportunity to gain experience and exposure to a diverse community, and to build relationships by joining an expansive global network.

During these challenging economic times, even more of our students struggle to find the funding for their educations. Loan funding is decreasing and competition for the best students continues to intensify. MIT Sloan is committed to ensuring that our MBA students have the support they need to attend the School. If an admitted applicant believes that MIT Sloan provides the right fit, the School wants and needs to support that applicant’s choice regardless of financial need. MIT Sloan can do this by expanding the number of fellowships we offer each year to master’s degree candidates.

By choosing to support fellowships for international and domestic MBA students at MIT Sloan, you have a direct impact on the individuals who benefit from your generosity. Fellowships are one of the Institute’s core fundraising priorities as they foster a dynamic student body, which brings myriad experiences and perspectives to the MIT community. You will help ensure that all who study and teach here at MIT Sloan benefit from being part of this diverse community. Fellowships at MIT Sloan bring together associates from consulting firms, Peace Corps volunteers, teachers from Teach for America, and budding entrepreneurs to tackle current management challenges being discussed every day in our courses. Perspective from such a diverse range of experiences creates the robust and lively discussions that you likely remember from your time in the classroom at MIT Sloan. During these tough economic times, consider how your gift can have a true impact by opening the doors of the MIT Sloan School of Management to students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to be a part of this dynamic community.

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"Now, more than ever before, it is imperative that MIT Sloan have the resources to educate the very best young minds. Fellowships, in support of master’s level graduate students, ensure that the next generation of leaders joins our community."

David Schmittlein
John C Head III Dean of the MIT Sloan School of Management