What is your Business School Social Scene?

You’ve heard a lot about taking the GMAT, applying to MBA programs, and structuring your business school education, but maybe you haven’t heard—or even thought—so much about the business school social scene.

This depends, of course, on the kind of social animal you are, as well as the kind of social scenes out there in the business school culture. Do you work hard and play hard, living every day to its fullest and every night to its dawn, attending (or throwing!) outrageous theme parties?

Or do you enjoy a subtler existence, your idea of a good time going out to dinner with a handful of close friends who can simultaneously challenge and support one another? Maybe you’re the networking type, or maybe you just want to bunker down, focus hard on earning your MBA, and possibly find time for a sweetheart?

Whatever your social lifestyle preference, there’s a business school scene out there to fit it, and here are a handful of common ones:

The Party Scene

If your idea of a good time involves being surrounded by hot, sweaty strangers at a club to all hours of the night, you might be pleased to know that many MBA students aren’t the type to let the good times pass them by. Business school culture, in fact, has been called out for its notorious party culture. While too much of a good thing is probably … well, too much, there are things to be said for enjoying a lively business school experience replete with a thriving social life:

Pros: Large b-school parties, such as the hugely popular annual white party, expose you to a bunch of fellow students and potential connections, plus they typically involve free-flowing alcohol, which got its reputation as a social facilitator through no coincidence.

Party scenes like this can give you a chance to let your hair down and shake off the stress of school while still managing to network. While living life to the fullest, however, you might want to consider a modicum of moderation—especially when it comes to social media. Networking or no, you probably don’t want recruiters to find you dancing around an Olympic-sized swimming pool with a tequila shot in each hand and wearing a parrot costume. 

Cons: The critics of the MBA party scene have also been pretty vocal, and here’s why. First, the party culture can be a challenge for students who take academics seriously and wish to focus on their studies, as one Harvard MBA recently lamented, calling HBS a “two-year vacation.” Those who just aren’t into partying or drinking may feel left out when contemplating the never-ending “networking events” at b-school.

There is also one Stanford business school professor’s critique that the nightlife social scene is so strong at business school that more status gets bestowed for who can throw the best party than for academic or professional accomplishments. It complicates the matter when you consider that it is usually the wealthiest students (such as those belonging to Harvard’s mysterious Section X) who can afford to partake in big parties and extravagant trips, effectively disadvantaging poorer students.

Finally, crawling into bed at 4 AM when you have to be at class just a few hours later isn’t exactly a recipe for academic success.

The Friend Scene 

Perhaps you prefer a social scene that involves sitting around a friend’s dining room table enjoying board games like Pictionary or Scrabble. Sure, it’s no wild foam party or impromptu ski trip to Park City, but take heart, my less thrill-seeking friends: lasting, valuable connections can be made at low-key events (and often outside of official networking “events” altogether), too, and they probably won’t require excessive alcohol consumption, if you’re not into hangovers. 

Pros: Exercising your interpersonal social skills is worthwhile effort for any MBA student and future businessperson, and that kind of acquaintanceship is not likely to be found at the white party. One-on-one or small-group interactions are more likely to lead to higher-value, lasting connections, and those connections are more likely to morph into a valuable network in the future. If you focus on making real friends at business school, rather than slamming back hurricanes or indiscriminately handing out business cards, you may just end up with real connections long after you’ve earned your MBA—not to mention preserved brain cells and business cards. 

Cons: Learning to really talk and connect to people can be a lot tougher than making vast numbers of shallow connections at large networking events, aided by copious amounts of alcohol. It can also be difficult or impossible to know which connections are likely to lead to future professional benefits. Don’t make the mistake of thinking of your business school social scene as your ticket to networking in the future. The key is to genuinely value the relationships you form—not solely focus on what you might get out of them. You’re surrounded by fellow MBAs, so you’re in the company of people who are highly motivated to succeed—like you. The odds are good that at least one friend you make at business school will end up being professionally valuable to you in the future, so relax about the whole thing and enjoy your dinners out with your friends. As fellow business school students, you all have at least one thing in common. Maybe there’s more!

The Couples Scene 

Perhaps you’re the social type to keep an eye out for your perfect match—and possibly even secure your romantic future—while at business school. It’s not uncommon for MBA students to find “the one” and be engaged or married by the end of their two years at business school. 

Pros: You’ll find motivated individuals just like you at b-school, and if you end up dating another MBA, your schedules and academic demands will also be similar. Business school generally isn’t as rigorous as law or medical school, leaving a little more time on the calendar for awesome dates and general wooing. There’s also the added bonus of MBA students being older on average, so your chances of finding someone ready to settle down, if that’s what you’re after, are higher. 

Cons: As previously mentioned, business school IS about networking and making friends, so it can be problematic to effectively limit your connections to a network of one. Occasional romantic nights on the couch watching zombie movies is perfectly fine; just make sure you are still staying active socially outside of your significant other. You may also prefer to date someone who complements your life as an MBA student, rather than mirrors it. Opposites attract, after all, and you might find your fellow MBAs a bit too similar to one another—and to yourself—for long-term partnership.

Ultimately, no matter what social circle you gravitate toward, it’s important to be yourself while you’re in business school. You may need to push a little outside of your comfort zone to practice those networking skills and make valuable connections, but choosing the right social scene and developing a rich social life will only enhance the experience.

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