Why You Should Join A Student Club

With over 85 active student clubs, Harvard Business School is creating new clubs every semester.

Student clubs are often overlooked when it comes to choosing an MBA program, but experts say they hold more value than you might think.

“Clubs are very important and should definitely factor into an applicant’s research and choice, but given that business school is a major investment, clubs should not outweigh academic rigor, the strength (and connectedness) of the alumni network, and the program’s job placement track record for your desired industry,” Rebecca Horan, a brand strategist who received her MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business and later served as a Stern admissions officer, tells US News.

HBS recently published a blog post where MBAs discussed the benefits behind joining a club in b-school.

CAREER ADVANCEMENT

One of the biggest reasons to join a club in b-school is to actively explore new careers or advance certain skillsets.

Ryan Flamerich, a class of 2021 HBS MBA, says one of his goals was to explore a career in commercial aviation. So, he joined the Aerospace and Aviation (A&A) Club at HBS.

“A&A connected me with alumni who lead organizations who directly operate or support aviation: from aircraft financing firms to maintenance services companies,” Flamerich says. “It exposed me to areas of the sector I did not know existed. The guidance I received was invaluable during the internship process; it helped me land a dream internship at a leading airline.”

LEADERSHIP

Leadership is an integral component of the MBA experience. Student leaders in clubs can often practice leadership skills and build important relationships with their peers.

Aaron Hancock, a class of 2021 HBS MBA, was recently elected co-president of the African American Student Union (AASU) at HBS.

“When I started at HBS, I had every intention of putting extracurriculars on the backburner and would have sworn off a club leadership position,” Hancock says. “However, HBS’ RC [first-year student] experience pushed me to think hard about what is important to me in life and how to utilize these two years best. I’m passionate about creating opportunities for diverse talent in business and serving as an AASU leader allows me to pursue that passion on campus, right now.”

TRIPS OR “TREKS”

Often times, b-school student clubs will offer trips or career-focused “treks” that involve traveling to industry hubs. Through these treks, students meet with companies and attend social events to learn new insights and build their network.

“I had the opportunity to travel with my HBS classmates to both career and community-oriented treks this year,” Flamerich says. “Many of the clubs work hard to make the experiences as inclusive as possible. During a career trek to Atlanta, I was able to hear directly from alumni how an HBS MBA impacted their careers up until retirement.”

Sources: Harvard Business School, Poets & Quants