The Most Surprising Things About Business School by: Jeff Schmitt on July 13, 2015 | | 16,793 Views July 13, 2015 Copy Link Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email Share on LinkedIn Share on WhatsApp Share on Reddit In business, most people hate surprises. They associate them with missed deadlines and cost overruns, overhauling plans and working weekends. So they do everything in their power to reduce risk. Applicants employ that same mindset in choosing a business school. They scrutinize every internet thread or grill peers and alumni about their experience. While they take notes in the process, most incoming MBAs really donāt understand their programsā pace, pressures, customs, and charms until they live them. CLASSMATES MORE DIVERSE AND HELPFUL THAN EXPECTED Indeed, the biggest surprises among the Class of 2015’s Best-and-Brightest MBAs produced a mix of groans and grins. Kelloggās Bruno Valle lamented how he thought heād have more time. Whartonās Stephanie Landry marveled at the āachievement, drive and intelligence of my classmates.ā And Notre Dameās Elizabeth Owens discovered that much MBA learning takes place outside the classroom. Kenan-Flagler’s Taylor Mallard For many, diversity was a major plus in business school. āFar fewer people come from a traditional business background than what I expected,ā writes Taylor Mallard, who graduated from the University of North Carolinaās Kenan-Flagler Business School. I think it’s pretty natural to think that your own story is insufficient for the way it has prepared you for the challenges of an MBA, but that’s simply not true. The diversity of experiences and perspectives are what makes the program exciting and enriching.ā Even more, adds MITās Liat Kaver, being exposed to such a community fueled her āexponential personal growth.ā Others were stunned by how their fellow students were so unlike the win-at-all-costs climbers whom theyād worked alongside in their previous jobs. āI was most surprised by the collaborative environment and the extent to which people would bend over backwards to help classmates,ā says Peter Nurnberg, who moved into private equity after graduating from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. In fact, many MBA students were seemingly heeding a higher call, adds MITās Elena Mendez Escobar, who noted that the number of people who were ādriven by the desire of building a better societyā and had placed āsocial impact at the forefrontā was more than she had anticipated. GO FOR THE “EXPERIENCE” AS MUCH AS THE ACADEMICS Alas, many graduates, such as the University of Pittsburghās Sourya Datta, quickly learned that business school was no two-year vacation. ā[I was surprised by] the amount of work that I needed to finish my assignments, the deadlines, the busy days, and that there was no time to relax for months on end (not weeks, and not days, but months). I didnāt think that there would be so much pressure.ā The University of Rochester’s Kanika Chopra At the same time, many learned that there was far more to the MBA experience than case studies, modeling, and PowerPoints. āSchool is fun in whatever we do,ā gushed Kanika Chopra, whoāll be joining Citigroup after graduating from the University of Rochesterās Simon Business School. āWhile making presentations, we always incorporate the fun aspects still keeping it professional. Brainstorming in the team meetings is taxing, but the interactions and time spent with people makes it fun. In all my time here, I have participated in four dance shows. I have almost become an event planner after organizing tons of events. And itās all fun!ā And thatās a big part of business schoolās charm ā and success. The learning isnāt all about academics. It is also a place to experiment, practice, challenge, and dream. āI expected business school to be less of a community and more of a work environment,ā Ohio Stateās John Lockwood admits. āI learned that it was actually both.ā Here are some other surprises that many of our top MBAs didnāt expect. University of Oxford’s Daniel Drummer Camaraderie With Peers āThe amount of camaraderie amongst students. Not only did we have good times when celebrating but when it came to exams, people were eager to help each other out ā comparing notes, sharing helpful material and even self-organizing support classes. This helped us manage through a demanding academic curriculum.ā – Daniel Drummer / University of Oxford, SaĆÆd Business School āā¦Over the course of my MBA experience, my peers were always there to help me. There was never an issue or conflict that I couldnāt find someone to confide in. My peers helped me to push my own boundaries and to discover potential that I never knew I was capable of realizing. My peers are my champions and I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude to them for helping me to develop and find comfort in the person I have evolved into over the past two years.ā – Alexander Brown / Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business Vanderbilt’s Gina Bruno āI expected business school to be full of fiercely competitive A-types, so I was surprised by how collaborative my classmates are. Iāve found myself surrounded by intelligent and ambitious individuals who also think beyond themselves and will do whatever they can to help others achieve their goals.ā – Nikita Mitchell / University of California-Berkeley, Haas School of Business āOwen prides itself on being ācompetitive, not cutthroat,ā but that seemed too good to be true. The biggest surprise for me was the truth I found in this adage. My classmates are incredibly supportive. For example, last fall, when a classmate and I realized we were applying for the same internship, we decided to work together rather than compete with each other. We talked and even proofread each otherās cover letter. Then, before our interviews, we shared company research and practiced interview questions together. My friends at other business schools find this hard to believe, but it speaks to the culture at Owen. I want to be my bestāonly if you are at your best, too.ā – Gina Bruno / Vanderbilt University, Owen Graduate School of ManagementĀ Continue ReadingPage 1 of 3 1 2 3 Questions about this article? Email us or leave a comment below. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.