So you’re ready to take on business school? You’ve made that all important decision to go back to education, now with a useful smidgen of working world experience in your pocket, and you’ve braved the dreaded GMAT or GRE. Congratulations!
The road ahead is now paved with great intentions. And plenty of interesting new people, inflated egos, networking events, accountancy classes, case studies and business plans. Want to make and take the most out of the experience? Read on for our top 5 tips from the scholarly members of the Banc De Binary team who survived and enjoyed their MBA.
1) Be as nice to the admin and support staff as to the professors. Get to know them and get to know your department’s structure and decision makers. You’ll be grateful when you need someone’s contact details, want to apply for a travel grant, or just want the insider info on upcoming department events.
2) Get involved socially. It is an important part of the business school experience to attend happy hours, group outings, and networking events. The more you contribute, the more you’ll gain, and the more people you will meet who may become invaluable contacts later on. This is especially true for careers’ events – don’t miss them.
3) But don’t feel guilty about needing space. This isn’t your first time studying and you already have relationships, responsibilities, and interests outside of your degree. Plus you need some time to yourself and to relax. Just make sure that you figure out which events are mandatory and which, on occasion, you can politely decline.
4) Join the university gym. Exercise has been proven to focus the mind and boost your memory skills - and your body will thank you when exams come around and you crave piles of junk food. Besides, it’s never going to be this cheap again. Enjoy the student prices while they last.
5) Voice your own ideas and then listen. Be confident enough to speak out, listen, and debate with your peers as much as you can. Remember that you’re learning to become a leader or entrepreneur, not someone who is always right first time. The best business people know how to bounce off others and they understand that feedback can help them improve their own ideas.
