The Best and Worst Things About Business School
Ask five first and second year MBA candidates to describe the best thing about business school and they speak with one voice: the people and the relationships. “Incredible contact with brilliant people — professors and students,” said BF, MIT Class of 2009. “The ability to leverage institutions and names, talk to people, and get meetings,” he elaborated.
JW, Wharton Class of 2010, agrees about the great relationships established in business school. “Number one is definitely my classmates. Without a doubt, the relationships with my classmates have made my business school experience what it is. Everyone wants to be friendly, learn from each other, and have fun. I have unquestionably learned more from my classmates than from my classes and am incredibly appreciative to them for that.” JW also cites school trips as being a major benefit. Having traveled to Japan with 150 classmates, taken a leadership trip to climb Cotopaxi in Ecuador, and going to India and South Africa next year, JW says: “Traveling on school trips provides access to business and political leaders that you could not possibly get on your own so take advantage.” Additionally, JW states that “Another great aspect of business school is choice. We all engage in many of the smorgasbord of business school opportunities, but we have the power to mold our experience into what is important to us individually.”
A HBS student values the people and the resources. “Business school is a wonderful opportunity to meet and network with so many different people with such different backgrounds. You learn a lot from your peers and make amazing friends that will help you on both a personal and professional level.” This student says the number of “resources available are immense. You have access to professors, peers, and speakers” who otherwise would not be available to you and whose “knowledge, expertise, advice, and experience help you become a better person and leader in the business world.”
AB, Darden Class of 2009, echoes the sentiments of his peers. “The best thing about business school is the friends and relationships you develop over your two years. You realize this network will be there for you now and in the future and, in your two years, the most important thing you can get from the school you choose is the network and alumni. I am in a far better position for what I want to do now and in the future because of my Darden network.”
KD, Kellogg Class of 2010, cites the “endless activities from guest lectures, professional and special interest clubs, parties, and traditions such as trips, shows, and more. It is never boring. Among the hundreds of students and events every week, you sometimes wish you could stay a student forever.”
The goodwill is abundant, but each student also experienced stresses. Top concerns included getting back into school mode, forfeiting a salary for two years, and finding a job.
The HBS student indicated that “Business school does get very stressful at times especially when you are trying to balance recruiting, academics and social activities. It takes a while to get back into school mode, i.e., doing homework and taking exams.”
AB cautions that “business school is not reality. While it’s a nice break for two years from the hectic nature of everyday life, at some point, business schools need to expect more from their students in order to fully prepare them to enter the work force. Also, increasing the average age of first year students would help to build the overall experience, especially in a case method focused school.”
JW said that “One of the problems being around so many talented and driven individuals is that there is often significant competition. Many of the premier activities, leadership positions, and classes have far more demand than supply and no one will get every opportunity they want.” Given such odds, JW advises peers to “remember that with every closed door another often better door opens.”
KD says “finding a job” for summer is wearisome. “From resumes and cover letters through networking to interviewing, (this) can get pretty frustrating and it is very challenging to keep sane at times.” Nevertheless, he believes that the “process teaches you a lot.”
BF and AB agree that the worst thing about business school is “not making any money and accruing loans” and “not having a paycheck for two years and shelling out $130,000.”
All five of the students who described the best and worst things about business school spoke resoundingly and unanimously when describing what they value most about the experience. The people. Added value, according to BF is “two years to figure out what you want to do with your life.” In a variation on this theme, JW says “the worst part about business school is that it’s only two years.” Sacrificing a paycheck and going into debt to pursue an MBA rank highest as the worst things about business school.
In future postings, first and second year business school students will address how business school stacks up against preconceived ideas and how career plans have advanced or shifted since each began his or her MBA program.
By Maxx Duffy, Secretary and Co-founder of AIGAC; Director of Maxx Associates.