Why Darden?

This is a very, very common question!
Ironic that it should come up today, as I finish On Being Certain: Believing You Are Right Even When You're Not.
(Sidebar: This book, assigned by my Strategy Seminar professor Jared Harris, is not necessarily geared toward business schools, if you ask its author Robert Burton. However, therein lies the beauty: tell me how business is unrelated to life? The holistic nature of our very existence is staring us in the face, so to beg that this be ommitted from a Strategy seminar because it's not categorized as a "Strategy" book on Amazon is funny in and of itself.)
So, back to the question: why Darden?
I wish I could tell you that I made a huge spreadsheet. I wish I could tell you I spent a weekend in Charlottesville. I wish I could say I talked to alumni. (Okay, I did email one Darden grad who worked for LL Bean. She never wrote back. She's probably quite busy. VP something.)
Instead, I'll tell you that I was struck. Quite simply. I walked into the building. It was early. The foyer was quiet. There were paintings of Thomas Jefferson everywhere. The walls were subtly classic blue and yellow. They were uncluttered. Every atom seemed geared toward the betterment of your aspirations. Darden reeked of integrity. The place just felt right.
I'm not sure that a 24-year old would have the same reaction. I must say, with apologies to those under 27 or so, that as you grow older your intuition sharpens. I was 28 at the time and going through a huge crisis. My sense of "feeling right" was heightened, partly because so much of my life "felt wrong". So I was open and ready for that feeling. And when it came I was filled with confidence and calm. I rocked my interview. I met some First Years. I sailed out of there being certain that I had nailed it.
I did. When Wendy Huber called me on April 18th as I was sitting by the pool at my sister's condo, I jumped out of my skin. I think I said "holy shit!" about 10 times. Wendy was unfazed.
I ended up deferring, however. I had been given the chance of a lifetime: a professional racing contract.
Wendy was very supportive of my decision. I raced my little heart out for two seasons and learned a ton about myself, people, and the world. I even met my soulmate.
I thank my lucky stars I joined the Darden Class of 2009. What a phenomenal group of people. I have found friends and a community for life here. At last, I have located "my people". I spent 30 years wondering what was wrong with me that I didn't have a tight group of friends like my sister did from undergrad. I realize now that there wasn't anything wrong with me; just the situations I put myself in.
I have come closer to who I really am.
So yeah, a feeling. The two other business schools to which I applied never felt right. I am glad I followed my heart.
I have to share some irony: "Mary Petrosko from Dominican University was one of several students honored last night at a reception for winners of the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience (FUN) Travel Awards, held as a part of this year’s Society for Neuroscience annual meeting..." - Brain Science Podcast blog
Yes, FUN.