B-School Partners Ask: “What’s in It for Us?”

KEY TO SURVIVAL FOR A PARTNER: CREATE A LIFE OF YOUR OWN.

“The key to survival for an MBA partner is to create a life of your own. Make sure you’re as busy as your student,” advises Acker-Lyons. “It’s definitely a different lifestyle, but it can be fun and easy.” Tyler Head, a second year MBA student at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, agrees, but acknowledges that the juggle between school and family can be tricky. “It’s a hard work-life balance that prospective students need to be prepared for,” he says. Head’s wife, Hannah Head, has been the primary caregiver for the couple’s two young children, ages 4 and 1, while Tyler pursues his degree. “Coming from a non-business background, I spent my first term studying incredibly long hours. I probably could have done a better job balancing school and home life.”

Knowing from the start that business school would require more of a sacrifice for her than it would for her husband, Mrs. Head—a stay-at-home mom—took it upon herself to get involved. “Tuck puts forth a great deal of effort to integrate partners into the life of the student and into the life of the school. Family life was a huge reason we came here so I’ve taken advantage of that.” Mrs. Head and her children are active members of the school’s Tiny Tuckies Club, a social organization for partners and children of Tuck students. The club meets weekly for a children’s play group and organizes monthly trips for parents and children to enjoy. Inspite of living off campus, Mrs. Head’s involvement in Tiny Tuckies allows her to tap other moms for babysitting duty so she can carve out a rare hour or two for herself from time to time. Together, the Head family regularly attends Tuck Tales, a weekly gathering for students, spouses, children, and pets to spend time and take a break from the balancing act between school and home life.

“It’s challenging, but doable as long as you’re a team,” Mr. Head says. “For Hannah, it took a larger commitment from the family side, but thankfully she was willing.”

“I know Tyler would rather be with his family than spend hours upon hours in the library,” she says. “You know from the beginning it will be a sacrifice so my advice to others is to plan ahead and get involved in everything the school has to offer.”