I really don't want to preach…And it's hard to offer advice to a bunch of MBA jocks…but here are my 2 cents…
1. The correct answer is “IT DEPENDS”. Yes folks everything can be viewed from a million different perspectives. At the end of the day it's your call: crib/ enjoy the numerous twists and turns that School and life throw your way incessantly.
2. Dont ever slacken off. Meet deadlines on time, whether it's the first mod of year 1 / last mod of year 2. They may be your closest pals, but if you go into slowmo, your team mates are not going to appreciate it.
3. Learn to learn new things. Push yourself out of your comfort zone continuously or BSchool will make you do that. Again, you can choose to rant/ rave about it.
4. We have the Mod system at Owen. It can kill your time, your social life. Well fine, prioritise and multi task. Don't fret if you can't get into the groove, you will learn to live by your Outlook Calendar sooner/later
5. It's all about the people. Take them at face value. A friend said to me today, when I was whining about ahem personal stuff : You are an MBA girl. Manage “the person in question”. Build your support systems both within and outside School. Value your family and friends: they will help remind you that there's much more to life than grades and the job search.
6. Take risks. Think of these two years as your license to charter new territories. I guarantee experiental learning can be a lot of fun! Also it will help you determine how risk averse you want to be: both at work and play.
7. If you fall, dust it off, don't let up. Job search, homework, the stress: it will terrorize you but it will pass. Please rant! It always helps to blow off some steam.
8. Most importantly, make time for yourself. Don't give up everything you enjoy doing. Easier said than done I know but overstretch a bit…won't kill you…that too until you find a method to cope with all the madness
A side note for the ladies: You are special, not just because you constitue 25% of the student body. We add most of the oomph to the place. So dress for success. Recruiters expect it! But be realistic…doll up for special occassions…it might be a good idea to master using a flat iron sometime before the eve of your graduation!
For the international student: Jump into the deep end…don't try to wade in. It will only take longer for you to adjust. Tell yourself you are embarking on an adventure…coz it will certainly feel like one. Use your previous experiences to strike a work-life balance. You may not be able to conjure up a lot of ready made solutions, that's why you need to think out of the box !
Today I am an MBA candidate. Tomorrow I will be officially declared an alum. I am grateful for this experience. I've changed, become a different person from where I started two years ago. And I know now that it's all about the journey…so enjoy the ride!
Read the full article: Almost an Alum…here’s my transition memo