20 Biggest Surprises For First-Year MBAs

8) Everyone Is Still Trying to Figure It Out: “We are all just students who were lucky to be admitted to an exceptionally amazing school, but that is where it ends. We are no different from each other or from other individuals who are not in business school. I think that coming into business school, I had imposter syndrome. Now that I am here, I firmly believe anyone can “win” in business school. You just need to begin that application and never give up until you get admitted to your desired school.”
Cherise Brookes, Washington University (Olin)

9) The First Months Are Naturally Difficult: “Business school is an absolutely chaotic time of your life. Three core tensions exist: exploring versus focusing; stepping up versus creating space for others; and learning versus doing versus being. These tensions can leave many students, myself included, with the need to overcome a lot of decision fatigue while incorporating new mental models around prioritization. Business school starts off as a series of short improvisation workshops, where you are rapidly “trying on” different characters, styles, plotlines, settings, and more. At some point, the medium switches to a documentary style, where you are both the narrator and the main character.”
Alex Berry, UC Berkeley (Haas)

10) Case Studies Can Be Fun – Really: “What surprised me the most about business school was my profound enjoyment of the group case studies, especially those involving strategic redesigns for companies like Procter & Gamble. I found immense satisfaction in collaborating closely with my peers, engaging in brainstorming sessions, and navigating through vigorous debates. These moments of collective problem-solving and creative strategizing felt like a glimpse into the ideal work environment I had always envisioned. The dynamic of working in a team, sharing diverse perspectives, and learning from each other was incredibly enriching. These experiences didn’t just enhance my understanding of business strategy—they also highlighted the importance of teamwork and the value of different viewpoints in achieving a common goal. It was in these sessions, amidst the lively discussions and shared efforts, that I truly appreciated the essence of what work could and should be like.”
Silvia Andres, Boston College (Carroll)

11) Everyone Works as a Team: “I was surprised by how many assignments are group-based. In reflecting, it makes a lot of sense since many of our future business projects and engagements will be cross-functional in nature and require multi-stakeholder collaboration. People join the MBA from all different industries, nations, and functions and that ensures that our deliverables and outputs include valuable, diverse perspectives. It’s important to acknowledge that each person in the MBA has different backgrounds, goals, ambitions, and that all these factors are what make each class profile unique.”
Richard Balagtas, UCLA (Anderson)

12) The “Student Card” Is A Powerful Tool: “I am pleasantly surprised to see how many people are ready to give their time to talk to me or help me just because I am in a B-school. Being a Haas MBA student has given me immense opportunities to invite leaders I admire to campus, get part-time internships in an area I have zero experience in, or attend events usually reserved for working professionals—all of this by simply saying, “I am an MBA student.” In hindsight, I understand why people are ready to help, but I couldn’t internalize it until I spent time on campus.”
Shubham Singhal, UC Berkeley (Haas)

13) You Won’t Come Out the Same Person: “I wasn’t expecting the deep inner transformation that would come with business school. While I learned pivot tables and how to build a deck, I was also continually tested as a person, as a woman, as a team lead, and as a teammate. It’s been two years exactly since I got the call from the Cox School welcoming me to their program, and I’m not the same person who answered that call. I was given the chance to develop grit, compassion, resilience, and confidence beyond what I thought I would ever need, and these will make all the difference in the next stage of my career.
Melissa Cunningham, Southern Methodist University (Cox)

14) ‘Diversity’ Includes Diversity of Thought: “While I understood the inherent diversity within MBA classes at Carlson, I continue to be impressed by the range of viewpoints present. Originating from an analytical background and coming from India, my past interactions predominantly revolved around individuals in STEM fields. However, the environment at Carlson introduced me to peers from diverse cultural backgrounds, age brackets, and life experiences. Engaging in case discussions, I found myself awe-struck by the insights shared by classmates. Points raised by veterans or K-12 educators or health care providers in our strategy sessions often spark novel perspectives that I hadn’t previously considered. While I anticipated a significant learning experience in business school, I’m pleasantly surprised by the extent to which my peers contribute to this growth.”
Mano Wunnava, University of Minnesota (Carlson)

15) You’re Capable of Doing More Than You Think: “When I was interviewing, I remember being asked about my weaknesses. As a devout introvert, I was apprehensive about the social demands of business school — cold-calling made me nauseous; networking felt insurmountable; and constant group work ran counter to the quiet, solitary thinking I did best. Through a combination of systematic preparation, leadership, and the support of my peers, I have grown in ways I could not have imagined when sitting across from my interviewer. As I write this, I am returning to Atlanta from this year’s ClimateCAP conference, where I spent two days meeting hundreds of strangers who share my passion and hope for sustainable business.”
Cadence Martin, Georgia Tech (Scheller)

16) Soft Skills Are a Big Part of the Programming: “Prior to business school, my expectations were to see growth in my ability to navigate the areas of business that I had gaps. These included finance, accounting, and operations. To my surprise, and pleasantly so, my greatest growth areas in addition to closing the gaps identified have been in essential skills of time management, prioritizing, effective communication, leadership, poise, and confidence. The soft skills I have acquired have been truly priceless and have been a great driver of my successes within the program. I believe they will also serve me well in the world of work.”
Rita Korkor Agyei, Indiana University (Kelley)

17) There Are More Opportunities Than You Can Imagine: “What surprised me the most about business school was the incredible opportunities afforded to graduate business students. As an MBA candidate, doors open that allow you to expand your connections and explore new career paths in ways that I had never imagined possible. I’m amazed at how willing alumni and industry professionals are to provide their time, expertise, and insight when contacted by a current student. The school’s vast network and support system has enabled me to meet new mentors, learn about various roles and companies, and chart my long-term career aspirations. Remembering how much this community has enhanced my experience, I feel a responsibility to do the same for future students once I graduate, and I am genuinely excited to pay it forward.”
Izzi Gonzalez, University of Texas (McCombs)

18) The Classroom Is Just The Start: “What caught me off guard about business school was how much you learn beyond the regular classes. Events where you get to meet people from the business world are fantastic for picking up real-world tips and advice. Working on big final projects and contests helps us get a real feel for solving actual business issues, making the things we learn in the classroom come alive. Also, the school has all these clubs that organize events and casual hangouts every Thursday, providing tons of chances to mix, and have fun, whether it’s about work, culture, or just making friends.”
Sirun Wang, University of Toronto (Rotman)

19) The Experience Is What You Make It: “It doesn’t really matter where you come from – the MBA levels the playing field and offers amazing opportunities for everyone. In the beginning, I think most of us thought that people with more traditional backgrounds like finance, consulting and business would be top of the class and dominate the extracurriculars. However, we’ve witnessed people from diverse backgrounds – including journalism, engineering, military, and technology – thriving and enhancing the MBA. The key is how you shape your experience, build connections, and maintain a positive attitude to new challenges.”
Camila Sabogal, McGill University (Desautels)

20) Time Passes Quickly: “What totally took me by surprise in business school was just how fast everything zooms past. It feels like I blinked and went from Owen’s orientation and making my first friends to ticking off a whole list of firsts – my first snow hike, shooting at a range, getting into the grind of internship recruiting, and then actually doing the internship. On top of that, I’ve been trying to give back to the school in different ways. There’s always something major happening each week here, keeping you constantly on your feet. For anyone thinking about heading into business school, my biggest piece of advice would be to get super sharp with planning your time. The experience is amazing, but man, does it fly by fast, so managing your time well is crucial.”
Rushikesh Jere, Vanderbilt University (Owen)

 

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