International students at CEIBS: tell us the most unexpected thing!

I'd say I'm surprised at how efficient my classmates are. At CEIBS or rather as MBA students I think we usually have a lot more offered to us that we can really juggle, which means we have to pick and prioritize. From the intensive core courses (classes + assignments) to the company sharings (every week there is at least one company that comes to campus) to peer sharings on different industries to club activities and company visits - it always amazes me how I see certain classmates everywhere. Then top that up with drinking session and parties, and they're always so full of energy and excitement.

Another unexpected thing is how supportive and helpful the whole CEIBS community is! I remember one funny comment I heard at the beginning of school. Someone commented, "Omg everyone in this school is so nice! Even the security guards!" Yes - the security guards on campus help you move your belongings when you check in, and shelter you with umbrellas to your taxi when it is raining. They're always super smiley and are always ready to help. People here nod heads at one another even though we don't know each other. On a deeper level, the alumni network is strong and people in the CEIBS community are always willing to support one another. One example to illustrate - we have a mentor program where we are paired with an alum from the MBA or EMBA programs. In this program, the alums that we are paired with offer guidance and mentorship for us in terms of life, leadership, career, and basically anything you wish to share with your mentor about. It's a mutual selection process so you basically "confess" to your mentor and tell them why you want to be their mentee, and then if they select you, you'll be matched. If I didn't remember wrongly, the number of mentor slots available for our batch is over 1.5 times of our cohort size, and that means a lot of mentors wouldn't have mentees even though they signed up for the program. (These mentors are executives in their companies and are very enthusiastic about sharing their experiences and help fellow juniors.) I think this is simply reflective of how the CEIBS community is very close knit and supportive.

As a Singaporean, I think culture-wise it's not that hard to adapt so I'll leave that part to the other international classmates. That's all from me for now