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What will my experience be like?
You will arrive in class as a person who seldom, if ever, has failed. You can outthink most people; those who are smarter, you can outwork. Winning is very important to you, though you may be reluctant to admit it.

In our program, you will find people who can outthink you, no matter how smart you are, and people who will outwork you, no matter how many hours you put in. You will find out what it feels like to give your all, and perhaps for the first time in your life, not finish first. But, surrounded by the very best, you will discover the value of listening to the views of classmates you respect, whose backgrounds are completely different from your own.

Individual Preparation
The case-method requires hours of individual preparation. You will analyze each case in depth and will be required to devote between five and eight hours of study per case.

Study Groups
Study Groups are a dress rehearsal for class. You arrive at Study Group each morning fully prepared to stand in the shoes of an entrepreneur and make decisions. Someone is chosen to open the case and for over an hour you describe and defend your decisions with your Study Group members.

Classes
Class begins with a "cold call," a challenging question the professor poses to one student to open the case. The class then jumps into a exhilarating eighty minutes of analysis, argument and fervent persuasion. Since 50 percent of each student's grade depends on class participation, everyone is inspired to contribute.

Your Typical Weekly Workload
Each week at Acton is intense and action-packed-delivering more than a traditional MBA program in half the time.

A week in the life of an Acton student

Acton Course Schedule Fall
Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
6:00 AM Study
Group
Study
Group
Study
Group
Study
Group
Study Family
Time
6:30 AM
7:00 AM
7:30 AM
8:00 AM Life of Meaning Customers Life of Meaning Customers E Lab
8:30 AM
9:00 AM
9:30 AM E Journey Op and Costs E Journey Ops and Costs
10:00 AM Study Study
10:30 AM
11:00 AM Cash
and Val
Study Cash
and Val
Guest Speakers
11:30 AM
12:00 PM Family
Time
Exericise
12:30 PM Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch
1:00 PM
1:30 PM Study Study Study Study
2:00 PM Study Study Study
2:30 PM
3:00 PM
3:30 PM
4:00 PM
4:30 PM
5:00 PM
5:30 PM Family
Time
Family
Time
Family
Time
6:00 PM Family
Time
Family
Time
Family
Time
6:30 PM
7:00 PM
7:30 PM
8:00 PM Study Study Study Study Study
8:30 PM
9:00 PM
9:30 PM
10:00 PM
10:30 PM
11:00 PM
12:00 AM Study Study
Activity Hrs. required
Class time
(10-12 case discussions x 90 min. each)
15-18
Individual preparation
(10-12 case preps. x 5 hrs. ea.)
50-60
Study
Group
6-8
Thursday sessions 1-2
Help sessions 0-2
Friday sessions
(not including Entrepreneur's)
0-2
Total 80-90+