7 Things to do when in your first year at business school

Hi everyone. I am writing this post from the Winter Garden (see the picture above - how cool is that!?)at the new Ross building. Ann Arbor is getting colder every day and I am dreading my lack of experience of harsh winters. The happy hours on Thursdays help and so does the ecosystem of having people feeling similar emotions around me. I asked two of my MBA2 friends about what they recommend that I do in the first year of school and decided that it would probably help everyone around here.

7. Build relationships with second year students

The amount of knowledge and resources that second year students have is invaluable for incoming students. Whether it's knowing which courses to take or how to prepare for specific interviews during recruiting, second year students have already experience it all. Some MBA programs offer more formal processes to meet Y2 students, while other programs are a bit more informal. Regardless, make sure you make the effort to meet them, as it will pay dividends in the long run.

6. Leverage your professors

Getting to know your professors often gets lost during the hustle and bustle of your first year. However, Professors can be an invaluable resource outside of the classroom. They have several connections to the professional world and are an incredible free resource for student entrepreneurs to tap in to. The little effort it requires to set up a coffee chat can go a long way with your professors.

5. Flexibility is key

Let's face it - you're going to be busy during your first year. Between classes, recruiting, and social life, you must prioritize and make a lot of sacrifices. However, the key is being flexible. Things change in an instance and that corporate presentation you were planning on going to may no longer seem all that important. Just make sure you aren't glued to your schedule and are open to breaking it sometimes, even if it's for a spur of the moment drink with classmates.

4. Travel

Some of the best advice I got when entering my MBA was to travel. There will likely be no other time in your life when you have the time and friends to travel with than during your MBA. The money may be concerning in the short-term, but trust me you'll be okay after getting that signing bonus! Not to mention, travel usually helps you see new perspectives as a business leader.

3. Off campus recruiting is real

Many students get caught up in the sexiness of on-campus recruiting and how to strategically place their bid points. But what students forget is that there are an endless number of companies that don't recruit on campus but are still looking for MBAs. And to be quite honest, I found several of these positions more interesting than the cookie-cutter roles through on-campus recruiting. Don't be afraid to do a little exploring and tap into your own network during you recruiting cycle.

2. Meet people outside your cohort

One of the biggest value-adds of an MBA is the network you gain. And while it's easy to become comfortable with your friends and classmates within your cohort or section, you'll end up limiting your network. Make sure to try to meet people outside of your section. Also, make sure to make friends with those that you normally wouldn't. More times than not they will help you see new perspectives, making you a better future business leader.

1. Have Fun

Most importantly, make sure you have fun! Too many times I've seen students isolate themselves because of their recruiting or academic concerns. Everyone should remember how unique of an opportunity this really is and should take advantage of it. Don't be afraid to balance your hard work with some good drinks with good company!

Feel free to ask questions. Dale from BschoolTravel will stick around the thread to answer questions and share more about his first year at Ross and maybe his experience with entrepreneurship even!


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Interesting article! From what I heard, a lot of students try to do everything for FOMO. There's value in slowing down and thinking what you want out of your MBA and going after the experiences you want