The 15 Biggest Surprises Awaiting MBA Students

7) You get a lot of freedom in business school: “I was surprised by the autonomy you’re given to try new things and stretch yourself. Laura Georgianna, executive director of leadership programs, always says that the Johnson MBA is a leadership laboratory where you can fail in a low-stakes environment. When I had ideas, I could always find the people who I needed to talk to and receive true feedback on how to make that idea a reality. My classmates, professors and faculty were very supportive in an approachable way, and I know that this culture will continue post-MBA.”
Monica Mercado, Cornell University (Johnson)

8) It is a time to reflect and grow: “The amount of personal transformation I have experienced, in addition to the professional growth which I expected. I have been able to immerse myself in experiences that have allowed me to get outside of my comfort zone, to discover different strengths and interests, and to understand what my values are and how to be a more empathetic leader, teammate, and friend. I would never have guessed I would be challenging myself hiking at 17,000-foot elevation in Peru (the famous Rainbow Mountain) with my classmates, which I wouldn’t have done without their encouragement. While I am a very independent, self-driven person, I have discovered how much I can trust my classmates, lean on them for support, and achieve success both individually and as a team—all lessons I’ll carry forward.”
Carly Wolberg, Dartmouth College (Tuck)

“What surprised me the most about business school is how much personal growth happens during these two years. We all came to Merage to crush our professional goals and transform our careers. While we interviewed at amazing companies, attended networking events, crammed for exams, and worked until midnight on group projects, an amazing thing happened: we all grew in unexpected ways. I have seen shy classmates become fantastic leaders, nervous public speakers give presentations that are worthy of a TedTalk and numerous people open up to new ideas and experiences. I personally experienced my first – and not last.”
Mike Steigerwald, UC-Irvine (Merage)

“The opportunity to pause, reflect, and think introspectively about what I was looking for out of a career and in life. Over the last ten years, it was always about climbing to the top of the next mountain—getting into the next school, the next job, the next promotion. Business school is obviously a career accelerator for everyone who goes, in some way. But it’s also such a unique opportunity in your early career to take a step back and really think about where your journey is going, and what you want to prioritize coming out of it. It is also a very special chance to be part of a team, also known as your class, where you are accountable to each other not for deliverables or sales targets, but for the energy, respect, and kindness you bring into the space and show one another. I am coming out of Tuck with a clearer view than ever of not only what I want to be and how to make a bigger professional impact, but also how I want to balance my work life against other priorities.”
Sam Haws, Dartmouth College (Tuck)

9) Networking requires a lot of time and energy: “One of the biggest surprises about business school has been how much networking you actually need to do. I knew going into school that the purpose of business school was to build a strong network. What I didn’t realize is how you are constantly networking whether it be at school during events, classes, summer internship, club events, and many more. Networking requires having to leave your comfort zone regardless of how awkward it can be. Over time, I have learned that networking does not always have to be transactional. Building relationships should be authentic, which has allowed me to shift my mindset into wanting to learn more about the other person.”
Aashka Shah, Boston College (Carroll)

10) Don’t underestimate the value of prioritization: “My sister coined the phrase as ‘ruthless prioritization.’ Coming into business school, I knew that time was my most valuable asset and it would need careful management. However, I was still surprised at how many things were vying for my time and quickly realized that it was impossible to try and do everything or be everywhere at once.”
Tomilola Olotu, University of Rochester (Simon)

11) You’ll make a lot of friends: “It would be the depth of relationships you will get to build in a relatively short period of time with your peers. It is truly such a unique gift that is hard to replicate in other places in your life – where you get to learn, fail, and grow with so many amazing people, both personally and professionally. “
Martha Buckley, Babson College (Olin)

12) Business school builds confidence: “I was most surprised by the pace. Everything went by and moved so fast that there was always something to do or something due. The pace showed me the power of my capacity and allowed me to tap into skills I didn’t even know I had. I was also pleasantly surprised at how I got used to the feeling, especially by fall break. Moving at such a frantic pace and juggling classmates’ schedules during the regular semester made my summer internship a breeze. I only had to worry about one thing and worry about one person.”
George Okpamen, University of Michigan (Ross)

“Candidly, I went to business school because I was tired of my current situation. I felt unmotivated at my job, was battling some depression in my personal life and generally felt unsatisfied (at 26, I know!). What I found in coming to business school was, of course, what you’d expect. I met new friends, challenged my mind, and secured a job. However, I gained something unexpected: I returned to a belief in myself.

Being in business school reminded me that I don’t have to simply accept the next promotion or do the next thing because it’s what everyone else is doing. I can commit to continual learning and take two years off to do so. My GMAT score does not define me, and I can get a job at a top consulting firm. I can commit time and energy to people and causes that inspire and challenge me. At some subconscious level, I knew these things to be true. In the monotony of 2020 and working from home at a job that didn’t fulfill me, I had forgotten them. I suppose what I’m trying to say is that business school reminded me to bet on myself, to challenge the status quo and always keep learning. I thought I’d be leaving after two years with a new job, great friends and an additional degree, but I’m also leaving with a renewed sense of self confidence, and I’m sure that’s worth the hefty price of b-school admission”.
Madeline Davis, Emory University (Goizueta)

13) You have a lot to learn: “[My biggest surprise was] how much I still don’t know. The MBA is a fantastic generalist business degree, but I feel far more aware of my own deficiencies and how much more remains to be learned than I originally expected. It’s exciting to know that my education will never stop, but I had this unspoken sense that I would be an “expert” by graduation.
Andrew Kazlow, Texas A&M (Mays)

14) There are many ways to succeed: “It was the ability and freedom you have to shape your journey into what you want out of it. At Kenan-Flagler, I have seen people approach business school in various ways and shape their experiences to fit their needs. There is not one right way to do business school or a template you have to follow. Within the confines of the school, you have a chance to truly make your experience what you want and be successful. I have seen people from various backgrounds, personality types, and career aspirations customize this experience to their needs. Business school is a truly unique environment in that way given that you are not defined by any one thing or ambition. Seeing how many ways people found success taught me to be more open-minded about what success means to me and the ways I go about achieving that in business school and beyond in my career.”
Taylor Jackson, University of North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)

15) Business school welcome all backgrounds: “Coming from an engineering undergrad, I had been used to classmates who are rather close in their abilities and interests. The diversity of backgrounds, knowledge, and experience I found in my classmates was truly shocking to me. You can think of it as your own mini-Google! Any professional question you have, there’s probably a classmate who has experience in and can help you.”
Shahriar (Sha) Asadi, McGill University (Desautels)

“The most surprising to me was the Cox School’s openness to all professional backgrounds and how these diverse points of view enhance the overall learning. Some of the greatest business innovations stem from applying methods and technologies into new industries. Cox made a point of pairing diverse backgrounds and cultures into our study groups. Mine included students with backgrounds in engineering, music, and human rights. Each perspective drove our business solutions in whole new directions, which was useful when we were able to consult for a real business upon entering an emerging market in Berlin.”
Brent Schlagel, Southern Methodist University (Cox)

 

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