Jack Manning, Dartmouth Tuck MBA Class of 2026
Age: 26
Hometown: Norfolk, MA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Boston College, Business Analytics; Marketing
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Payment Operations, Toast, 3.5 years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
I felt as though I had gained a wide variety of experience during my time at Toast, but I really wanted to pivot to more strategic work and business school was the perfect place for me to gain the skills needed to make that pivot. As to why now, I don’t think there is ever a “perfect” time to leave your job and uproot your life, so once I got excited about the process I wanted to start as soon as possible.
Why did you choose Dartmouth Tuck? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose Tuck because I really wanted to grow, personally and professionally, as much as possible during my two years at school and based on every conversation I had with alumni, as well as my own research about the school, Tuck seemed like the perfect place to fuel that growth. I knew that Tuck, and Hanover, would provide the immersive environment I was looking for, and I wanted to be “all in” on the experience which I didn’t think I would get at a school in a major city. I also am a huge outdoors person, as are many Tuckies, so the ability to golf, hike, and spend a lot of time enjoying the Upper Valley was a big factor in my decision.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2026?
I think my time on the USA Amputee Soccer team allows me to have a unique perspective on working in diverse teams and the resilient mentality that it takes to achieve success in new and difficult environments.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I once threw the first pitch at Fenway Park.
Post-MBA career interests:
Management consulting in Boston
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I was very dedicated to setting aside two or three hours per day over several months to work on the various aspects of my application—whether it was studying for the GRE, essays, or even learning more about what made each school unique, and I think that really set me up for success in the process.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I wish I had spent more time earlier in the process thinking about what was most important to me about the two-year experience. I don’t think I did enough of that self-reflection until later. There are so many great schools, but you need to think about what would actually matter to your personal experience.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I would get bogged down in worrying about the perfection of a test score or resume point or whatever the case may be, but I had mentors who helped me understand that each component of the application is truly just one part of the process, and that schools take a comprehensive look at your application.
What is your initial impression of the Dartmouth Tuck students/culture/community?
I think my initial impression reaffirmed what I had heard from every single person I met that had gone to Tuck—the tight-knit community is real and everyone is so willing to help each other, which definitely makes it a special place.
What is one thing you have learned about Dartmouth Tuck that has surprised you?
I was surprised early on how often there are class-wide events and how often the entire class attends! It felt like for the first two months as though literally everybody was going to the same event on a given Saturday, and this was an awesome way to meet more people and come together as a class.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I’m not sure I would say I’m anxious about this, but I am aware of the fact that we have a million things going on, whether it’s recruiting, school, clubs, etc. and I want to make sure I take advantage of all the exciting things that Tuck has to offer because the two years will go by fast.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Getting back into snowboarding! I haven’t gone in a few years, but I quickly realized that is how I will be spending nearly every weekend this winter, and I’m looking forward to it!
