By Elana Goodwin on August 13, 2016
This article is brought to you by Uloop and Kaplan. Search Uloop for student housing, college roommates, sublets, part-time jobs, internships, tutors, and campus news.
It’s hard to know what something will be like until you actually experience it — but it’s helpful to have some idea of what to expect, especially when it comes to something as major as business school.
If you are thinking about going to business school or are planning to start b-school this fall, here’s some insight into what you can expect your days to look like as a business school student.
Classes
Obviously, much of your days will be spent learning and in class. You can expect to probably attend at least three classes a day, though that will depend on your schedule and area of focus.
Unlike in undergrad, where you no doubt skipped class whenever you felt like it — when the weather was less than optimal, or when you didn’t like the professor or subject — you don’t really have that luxury as a business school student, so off to class you go. In business school, you won’t want to miss class because you actually like your classes and what you’re studying, and your classes will give you important knowledge you’ll need to know in the future.
You’ll also probably have smaller class sizes, meaning your absence would definitely be noticed, and you’re expected to fully participate in and come prepared for classes, which may take up the bulk of your day.
Food
As a student anywhere in any school, you gotta eat. As a business school student, you may find that grabbing breakfast, lunch, or dinner with friends or peers is a great way to connect with people and give you a chance to eat while also furthering your network of contacts.
A big part of your everyday will be finding the time to eat and eating whatever you brought with you or bought yourself. It’s important to make sure you’re eating properly as skipping meals or skimping on food will bring down your energy levels and will make you less productive and engaged in classes.
Extracurriculars
Just like in undergrad, there are lots of business and grad student clubs you can and should join to get the most out of your time in b-school. Not only will you meet new people and make friends, but being part of a club and attending club meetings is worthwhile as they can help you network and give you great experiences to put on your resume.
Additionally, there are often presentations and visiting lecturers advertised around school and it may be beneficial to go to some of these events, especially if they’re on topics that are interesting to you or related to what you’re studying or hoping to do after graduation. There will be many days during which you’ll stick around the campus to attend an extra lecture or head to whatever location your group is meeting at to get together with the clubs you’ve joined.
Homework
Think you had a lot of reading and work as an undergrad? Well, your workload as a business school student will almost definitely be bigger. You’ll be expected to produce that muchbetter writing, that much more detailed research, and to go the extra mile — in whatever form that mile may be.
Since you’re attending business school, the range of your reading load will probably be narrower, but that doesn’t mean less substantial or easier to understand. You’ll be up against deadlines, juggling homework with other commitments and things you’d like to do, so setting up a schedule and learning to budget your time will mean your everyday will run that much smoother as you’re not procrastinating.
Downtime
As a b-school student, it’s important to maintain a healthy work-life balance so you don’t burn yourself out. Even if you feel like you don’t have the time to take a few minutes for yourself, you’re likely to be more productive when you return to work after giving yourself a break. Set aside some time to work out — whether you run, do yoga, swim, etc. — as exercising will actually give you more energy, make you feel good, and keep your body in shape.
You should also make time each day, or at least each week, to do something you really enjoy, likepleasure reading, volunteering, watching TV, drawing, playing video games, meditating, or some other hobby.
Sleep
Yes, you could just keep your body fueled on caffeine, but as a business school student especially, you need to practice good time management so you give yourself enough time to get a good night’s sleep. Not getting enough sleep will affect your ability to concentrate, think, and participate in class, so make sure it’s a priority.
All in all, business school may not end up being all that different than undergrad, depending on your experience and involvement on campus. But hopefully, you now have a better idea of what to expect as a business school student so you won’t be completely surprised by what’s in store once you are one.
For more college news, and to search for off-campus housing, tutors near campus, and jobs for college students, go to Uloop.com.
The post A Day in the Life of a Business School Student appeared first on Business School Insider.
