{"id":889,"date":"2009-08-17T16:47:33","date_gmt":"2009-08-17T22:47:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mbamission.com\/blog\/2009\/08\/17\/manhattan-gmats-5-tips-for-1st-year-mba-students\/"},"modified":"2010-10-07T08:08:55","modified_gmt":"2010-10-07T14:08:55","slug":"manhattan-gmats-5-tips-for-1st-year-mba-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mbamission.com\/blog\/manhattan-gmats-5-tips-for-1st-year-mba-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Manhattan GMAT’s 5 Tips for 1st year MBA Students"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our friends at Manhattan GMAT<\/a>\u00a0have prepared a helpful set of tips for those who have made the successful leap to b-school. It isn’t too early for you to start planning for that enviable day…\u00a0<\/p>\n

We get a lot of good news here at Manhattan GMAT from students who have been accepted into the MBA program they had their sights set on.\u00a0 Now, as many of them are packing their bags to get settled into their new environment, here are some words of wisdom compiled from some of our Instructors who have been through it themselves.\u00a0<\/p>\n

So you\u2019re about to start business school \u2013 congratulations! As you hit your first orientation events and get to know your companions for the next couple of years, here are a few things to keep in mind to make the most of the experience:<\/p>\n

1. Networking: Depth as well as Breadth.\u00a0 The message about networking is ubiquitous in business school, and for good reason.\u00a0 Chances are you\u2019ve already witnessed how important it is to build relationships and make connections in the world of business.\u00a0 A good portion of your classmates will be movers and shakers in their respective industries, so it\u2019s a wise investment to network with them at every opportunity.\u00a0 But one thing to keep in mind is that effective networking is not about collecting a stack of business cards during orientation weekend and accruing hundreds of connections on LinkedIn.\u00a0 It\u2019s okay to have a fair number of \u201cweak ties\u201d in your network, but also strive to cultivate strong, meaningful relationships along the way.\u00a0 Ask yourself, \u201cCould I really call this person a couple of years from now and have them lend me a hand?\u201d These types of relationships take time to develop, so start early and make it a priority.<\/p>\n

2. Make use of Clubs and Groups. Maybe you weren\u2019t a big club person in college, and you made friends in other ways. Well, business school groups ought to be a different story. This is especially true if you\u2019re interested in switching careers and\/or industries. Clubs can often be a crossroads for cutting-edge ideas, speaker events with industry leaders, and job opportunities. Listing significant involvement in one or two clubs on your resume can make all the difference in your job search.\u00a0 And participating in groups is a great way to build networks outside of your graduating class.<\/p>\n

3. Stay Current.\u00a0 The case method employed by most b-schools is about looking into the past to discuss key dilemmas and decisions that managers have faced.\u00a0 But that does not allow you to lose sight of the present business landscape.\u00a0 Consider your daily business newspaper\/periodical\/website reading a critical part of your coursework.\u00a0 Not only will it contextualize and enhance your coursework, but it\u2019ll help you understand the environment when you\u2019re looking for a job.<\/p>\n

4. Mix It Up.\u00a0 You probably crafted an articulate and convincing argument about your short- and long-term career goals in your application essays.\u00a0 But rest assured that no one will hold you accountable to anything you wrote or said during the admissions process.\u00a0 Don\u2019t be afraid to deviate from the path you envisioned for yourself. Take some electives outside your comfort zone and try new things, even consider registering for a course in one of the non-business schools of the university (e.g. law, public policy, etc.).\u00a0 And while you\u2019re mixing up your course plan, also avoid grouping up with the same three or four people project after project.\u00a0 It would be a shame to miss out on the different talents and backgrounds of your classmates, and you could make a new friend or two.<\/p>\n

5. Explore your idea.\u00a0 There are not that many times when you\u2019ll be free of the demands of a full-time job and surrounded by smart people with a natural interest in helping you flesh out that business idea you\u2019ve had rattling around your head. Business school is a fantastic opportunity to give an idea a try in a supportive, relatively risk-free environment. Enlist support from classmates. Ask a professor what he or she thinks. Build or join a team. Think of it as yet another part of your education. At a minimum, it\u2019ll make a great story for your job interviews down the road.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Our friends at Manhattan GMAT\u00a0have prepared a helpful set of tips for those who have made the successful leap to b-school. It isn’t too early for you to start planning for that enviable day…\u00a0 We get a lot of good news here at Manhattan GMAT from students who have been accepted into the MBA program … Read More  <\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-889","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nManhattan GMAT's 5 Tips for 1st year MBA Students | mbaMission - MBA Admissions Consulting<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mbamission.com\/blog\/manhattan-gmats-5-tips-for-1st-year-mba-students\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Manhattan GMAT's 5 Tips for 1st year MBA Students | mbaMission - MBA Admissions Consulting\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Our friends at Manhattan GMAT\u00a0have prepared a helpful set of tips for those who have made the successful leap to b-school. 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