Insider Tips From a First-Year MBA Student

If you are one of the really dedicated MBA Podcaster fans, you should have noticed that our team has had some exciting new developments recently. First of all, we brought on the charming Mia Saini who will be hosting our upcoming MBA PodTV shows (very exciting!). Second of all, I just started my own full-time MBA program at Pepperdine University!

After two weeks of orientation and two weeks of classes, I'm already starting to realize how intense this program is going to be - but in a good way! I'm sure many of you are either starting the application process or just now figuring out if an MBA is right for you. So, I wanted to share some tips from my new MBA student perspective.

• Be prepared to be uber-social. You will constantly be networking with fellow classmates, faculty and professionals from day one. I think I've been to 2-3 mixers every week for the last month! But I always meet a handful of new people every time.
  
• Put your best face on and make friends with as many people as possible. You are going to be working very closely with these classmates in group projects and possibly in future careers. My boyfriend and I had a BBQ at my house on labor day where I invited a bunch of people I only sort-of knew from school. It was a great way to get to know these people better and make close friends!
  
• Your first priority in business school is to network and find a job. Don't get me wrong - class work is important, but I've been told that grades don't matter AS MUCH as they did in college. Someone told me that they call it "B"-school for a reason...it's okay to get B's! So there's no need to stress too much about homework.
  
• Get to know your career counselor right away. I already met with mine the first week of school. She informed me about some internships that are already accepting applications for the summer! Plus, employers often ask them for student recommendations. The more often you meet with your counselor, the more likely they are to recommend you for jobs.
• Remember to make time for friends and family. It's very easy to get caught up in school work and job hunting, but that can quickly drive you crazy. You want to prioritize your tasks each week so you can still have fun with friends without constantly worrying about your to-do list.

Throughout the next two years, I'm sure to have many more words of wisdom to share throughout my business school journey. If you are currently in your MBA program or an alumnus, I encourage you to share additional insight with us in the comments section!

How Pepperdine's MBA School Goes Up Against the Big Names

You've likely heard of Pepperdine, but maybe not its business school -- Graziadio. I wasn't sure how to pronounce it, and the Associate Dean of Full-Time MBA Programs tells me it's like Graz-ee-ah-De-o, which translates to thanks to God.
Dr Mark Mallinger says there's more one-on-one opportunity for students than you'll find at the big name schools, like Harvard. He says the faculty is committed to student development. The goal of the school is collaborative, rather than competitive. He says that atmosphere enhances the ability for students to creative a collaborative network.
Mallinger says the students who take initiative to demonstrate their leadership abilities, end up doing as well as students from reputational schools. For example, the two-year MBA students who he's identified as leaders who have recently graduated "and almost in every case, they already have had, they've got their jobs." He says they're working at AT&T, Bank of America, consulting firms and other companies that have worked with the students in internship positions.
Mallinger admits that having a campus in Malibu may slow some students from making contacts and taking those leadership roles. I asked him to compare what students get at Graziadio versus a big name MBA school -- and he says their students get an experience-driven education that develops ethical leaders who can create solutions for business challenges. The small class size, opportunity to develop skills while working in teams, and close faculty focus makes the school unique. You'll be able to hear the finished show in a few weeks on MBA Podcaster.