First Year MBAs Connecting with Second Years
One of the aspects of coming to the Fisher MBA program most of us were worried about to some degree was connecting with our fellow first year MBA classmates. Through almost two weeks of orientation, Summit Vision (I assume), getting together after class and even Facebook of all things, that turned out to be one of the easier parts even for us who aren't the most naturally social people in the world. But one of the more important aspects you don't hear about is connecting with the second years. They have experience, knowledge and, most importantly for getting a job and not ending up sleeping on the streets in gargantuan debt after graduation, connections! And it turns out, connecting with them was just as easy.
Events with second years started even before pre-term at Fisher started in August. There were Fisher Social Chair events hosted by second years during the summer including a World Cup Final watch party. I was studying for the presumably Satan inspired bar exam at the time in New Jersey, so I couldn't attend, but heard only great things. The night before pre-term started, there was another social event to get to know second years who had participated in Pelotonia in Columbus.
Through Facebook, they also invited anybody interested in participating in pickup sports to come play basketball and soccer with them when we hadn't even really had an opportunity to meet us. A few first years went to the ARC and played basketball, even some of us (me!) who have the athletic ability of a fence post. I may have gotten destroyed by a girl in basketball, but that's beside the point. She was an NCAA athlete shut up. I played soccer with different second years as well and, if anything, that was an even more inclusive atmosphere. Everybody makes an effort to get to know you and remembers you later. It's the #FisherFamily coming together, obviously.
And of course, there are the tailgates for the OSU football games even if the team completely forgets to block and loses to middling Virginia Tech teams. Yes, I'm bitter. But we tailgated all afternoon at Fisher Commons before the 8:00 game at Ohio Stadium. There were games, hamburgers, hot dogs, brats and, of course, there was walking through cornfields. That last part was just implied but I wanted to make sure you guys out there knew. Point is, the second years hosted it and made us feel like we were really part of the class.
There is also the sterling 2nd year buddy program, as Danielle Black went in depth on. My buddy couldn't attend as he was getting married during that mixer so I guess he has his priorities straight.
The biggest event was the 6 hour, North High Street bar crawl at the end of pre-term. The Social Chair led us on a true bonding experience with second years as well as our fellow classmates that was truly memorable and ended, expectedly, in a Taco Bell. Fun times had by all. There were also smaller happy hours held by clubs and associations at Fisher. We also later went out and sang karaoke. Thankfully, me singing Ignition (Remix) by R. Kelly does not have video evidence I'm aware of.
You may get destroyed by a girl in basketball in front of the second years, may not remember all their names and may not feel comfortable asking them questions about Fisher any time one pops into your head, but I promise they're all there to help you out and are happy to. It's really one of the most welcoming atmospheres I've ever been in. Just put yourself out there and you'll have one of the best times of your life. It's only September, and I already am. Some of them are even playing on the first year intramural soccer teams!