3 Tips to Thrive in Your First Week as a Full-Time MBA Student
What should I expect on day one of the Full-Time MBA program? Will I fit in with my classmates? Do I really belong here? These questions and concerns filled my mind coming into the first day of the weeklong pre-term session.
I’m happy to share that, through the pre-term experience, I met many wonderful, talented, and kind classmates, learned an enormous amount about business, teamwork, and personal growth, and created a concrete, actionable plan to thrive here at Ohio State academically, professionally, and socially. With the advantage of retrospect, I am now sharing three pointers that would have been helpful to me walking into my first day of the Full-Time MBA journey.
Take a Deep Breath
This was David Whatley's advice for the cohort as we transitioned rapidly from one activity to the next in an enlightening two-day team building experience hosted by Humanergy. Through the experience, our class gained invaluable tools in effectively collaborating, debating, critiquing, resolving conflicts, and ultimately succeeding as a team.
By taking a deep breath, we were able to shift our focus entirely towards the task at hand. This same strategy helped me to embrace my own transition from a working professional in urban design to this new and exciting chapter in my life as a Full-Time MBA student.
Say Hello
Striking up a conversation in the early days of the program can be intimidating, but I quickly learned that it only takes a few minutes and a few questions to see classmates light up about their knowledge, passions, and experiences. The university is intentional about creating an MBA cohort rich in diversity – professionally, culturally, and geographically – and exploring that diversity has been a gift. I also found that I had much more in common with my classmates than I might have expected – a week into the program I was playing tennis and soccer with classmates from Pakistan, Nigeria, Canada, Latin America and, rounding out the global mix, Cleveland, Ohio.
Be Present
The weeklong pre-term was an intense and immersive experience filled with excellent sessions on career journey, teamwork and collaboration, measuring and monitoring personal accountability, defining and strengthening personal brand, and navigating cultural differences effectively. We connected with 2nd year MBA students on their experience in the first year of the program, spent time socializing as a cohort, and even had an opportunity to go duckpin bowling. The key to success in this fast-paced, information-loaded week is to be fully present, to be a sponge for information, and to appreciate each moment.
Pre-term was certainly demanding and pushed me out of my comfort zone, but in all the best ways. I came out of the first week with new friendships, new skills, and a genuine excitement for the road ahead!
