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kryzak
Major Poster
Joined: 04 Jun 2007
Last visit: 10 Aug 2013
Posts: 5,452
Given Kudos: 14
Status:Um... what do you want to know?
Location: SF, CA, USA
Concentration: Technology, Entrepreneurship, Digital Media & Entertainment
Schools:UC Berkeley Haas School of Business MBA 2010
GPA: 3.9 - undergrad 3.6 - grad-EE
WE 1: Social Gaming
24 Jul 2007, 09:52
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Bookmarks
Hey everyone,
Yeah, I now this topic is a bit off-the-wall, but I've just been thinking: If there are a lot of social/networking situations in B-school, and people go out drinking a lot (Friday bar nights, after tests, etc...), can anyone give me a perspective of a person who doesn't drink, and whether these people will be able to mingle and form bonds with their classmates at all?
Just a bit worried since I don't drink at all...
Yeah, I now this topic is a bit off-the-wall, but I've just been thinking: If there are a lot of social/networking situations in B-school, and people go out drinking a lot (Friday bar nights, after tests, etc...), can anyone give me a perspective of a person who doesn't drink, and whether these people will be able to mingle and form bonds with their classmates at all?
Just a bit worried since I don't drink at all...
24 Jul 2007, 10:40
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you can still go and hang out but just order virgin cocktails or O'Dools.
Afterall it is the 21st century and people will respect your choice. But no matter how you look at it, you will definitely be missing out on some of the bonding.
Can you drink even a little bit? maybe just nurse like 1 drink the whole nite?
Afterall it is the 21st century and people will respect your choice. But no matter how you look at it, you will definitely be missing out on some of the bonding.
Can you drink even a little bit? maybe just nurse like 1 drink the whole nite?
24 Jul 2007, 12:04
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Bookmarks
Well I can give you an interesting perspective on this from my undergrad. I went to a military school that was 90% male and we also happened to go to foreign countries for a few months each winter on a ship. So let’s just say 500 male, mostly underage sailors, in ports with no drinking age...pretty much all anyone did was drink heavily. And still I have never had a drink in my life, not out of religious or cultural reasons, it was simply a personal decision I made and have kept with since I was in my teens.
At first it was a little odd and people thought I was afraid to drink but as time went on people totally didn't even consider it. It was simply I didn't drink, I didn't tell them to not drink and they didn't try to get me to drink once they realized I wouldn't. Honestly my friends who were the heaviest drinkers were the ones who defended me most about it. You would be amazed how many times I had a drunken friend slur how awesome it was that I don't drink...being the sober one has always had its advantages and I think they realized that and appreciated it. I was the one to recognize when trouble was starting, kept them from embarrassing themselves too much, and wouldn't let them do anything too stupid.
Personally I still don't drink, and at 27 I don't think that’s going to change. I made it this far in life, have no ambition to try it, and my wife doesn't drink either so I have my instant support system. As long as you are sure of yourself and don't let your decision not to drink affect you then people will respect it. It will only be a problem if you let it be. If you show up at school and you are in your mid 20s to early 30s and dont drink...people aren't going to expect you suddenly to start taking part in their drinking games. Also think about whats going to happen when someone does give you a hard time (and that probably will happen), that the person who harasses you about it, is the one who is going to look like the idiot and people will most likely talk poorly about them and not you. People talk about the drunks making fools of themselves not their sober friends...just be personable and don't be a stick in the mud and almost everyone will accept you.
At first it was a little odd and people thought I was afraid to drink but as time went on people totally didn't even consider it. It was simply I didn't drink, I didn't tell them to not drink and they didn't try to get me to drink once they realized I wouldn't. Honestly my friends who were the heaviest drinkers were the ones who defended me most about it. You would be amazed how many times I had a drunken friend slur how awesome it was that I don't drink...being the sober one has always had its advantages and I think they realized that and appreciated it. I was the one to recognize when trouble was starting, kept them from embarrassing themselves too much, and wouldn't let them do anything too stupid.
Personally I still don't drink, and at 27 I don't think that’s going to change. I made it this far in life, have no ambition to try it, and my wife doesn't drink either so I have my instant support system. As long as you are sure of yourself and don't let your decision not to drink affect you then people will respect it. It will only be a problem if you let it be. If you show up at school and you are in your mid 20s to early 30s and dont drink...people aren't going to expect you suddenly to start taking part in their drinking games. Also think about whats going to happen when someone does give you a hard time (and that probably will happen), that the person who harasses you about it, is the one who is going to look like the idiot and people will most likely talk poorly about them and not you. People talk about the drunks making fools of themselves not their sober friends...just be personable and don't be a stick in the mud and almost everyone will accept you.
24 Jul 2007, 13:52
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Bookmarks
I think peer pressure to drink should be low - much lower than in college. I do believe that drinking is a way of life in certain industries and that you will look out of place if you order a virgin drink or a non-alcoholic beer. Sales & Trading would be a prime example of this; but all sectors of banking should probably be included. I have quite a few friends in consulting and drinking is the norm there as well (as it is lawyers at big firms) I haven't been through business school recruiting, so I can't really say, but as I understand it, you need to schmooze a lot for many of the most popular jobs, and for most functions schmoozing means drinking.
I directed rush at my fraternity for several years, and served as director of recruitment for the interfraternity council, so I've definitely done my share of drinking. If you want to make it through recruiting without drinking you can. Don't stand around empty-handed. Pour some water over ice in a glass and throw a lime on top - that will look like a drink. Grab a glass of wine if you can and sip slowly, I think that's very acceptable these days. If you go with non-alcoholic beer (yuck!) then pour it into a glass. Do Not stand around holding a bottle of O'Doul's. Do Not stand around holding anything that looks fruity (if you're a guy). Do Not order any drinks that are garnished with umbrellas.
I believe that firms host cocktail hours to see if you will fit in with them, and for trading, banking, consulting and I'd imagine most other MBA level jobs, drinking will be the norm. For any funciton that is client facing, you'll need to be able to get along during cocktail hour. These days, knowing something about wine is probably useful. So, I don't think anyone will try to make you drink, but I do think that you will look out of place at certain functions if you're the only one not drinking. You'll want to look comfortable in a cocktail hour setting because you'll probably be spending lots of time attending them.
I can also say that from the other side of the table (I did recruiting as a lawyer), you always wonder about people that shun drinking entirely. Certainly, some people like to drink more than others, and too much drinking can be a problem, but people that abstain 100% make you wonder if they are religious fanatics, or that they aren't social (let's face it, virtually all people have a few drinks during college). It also raises the question of what someone will be like when they have their first drink if they never drank before. I think that firms are most comfortable with people who have had some fun in college and as professionals, and are still at the top of their game in business school. There's less risk.
I directed rush at my fraternity for several years, and served as director of recruitment for the interfraternity council, so I've definitely done my share of drinking. If you want to make it through recruiting without drinking you can. Don't stand around empty-handed. Pour some water over ice in a glass and throw a lime on top - that will look like a drink. Grab a glass of wine if you can and sip slowly, I think that's very acceptable these days. If you go with non-alcoholic beer (yuck!) then pour it into a glass. Do Not stand around holding a bottle of O'Doul's. Do Not stand around holding anything that looks fruity (if you're a guy). Do Not order any drinks that are garnished with umbrellas.
I believe that firms host cocktail hours to see if you will fit in with them, and for trading, banking, consulting and I'd imagine most other MBA level jobs, drinking will be the norm. For any funciton that is client facing, you'll need to be able to get along during cocktail hour. These days, knowing something about wine is probably useful. So, I don't think anyone will try to make you drink, but I do think that you will look out of place at certain functions if you're the only one not drinking. You'll want to look comfortable in a cocktail hour setting because you'll probably be spending lots of time attending them.
I can also say that from the other side of the table (I did recruiting as a lawyer), you always wonder about people that shun drinking entirely. Certainly, some people like to drink more than others, and too much drinking can be a problem, but people that abstain 100% make you wonder if they are religious fanatics, or that they aren't social (let's face it, virtually all people have a few drinks during college). It also raises the question of what someone will be like when they have their first drink if they never drank before. I think that firms are most comfortable with people who have had some fun in college and as professionals, and are still at the top of their game in business school. There's less risk.
