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!