Argyros Student Offers Advice for Classmates

Chapman University’s Argyros School of Business student Jonathan David Chandler offers advice to fellow students after completing his first year of business school. Chandler offers this advice as an MBA student who does not have a business background. Chandler writes:

“With a bachelors degree in communications, I have limited experience with business. My first semester at Chapman, I enrolled in accounting and economics, both being firsts for me. I was nervous on my first day in each of those classes. I thought to myself, how will I do? Will these classes be hard? Can I pass while working full time?”

Chapman explains that these questions are only a few of many he had before starting his first day of classes. Learning how to balance his professional life with his student life was a challenge but Chapman was able to succeed.

“I made a lot of mistakes that I have learned from after completing my first semester. I would of done the following different:

1. Get more involved with your classmates. You are not the only one who is struggling with content and even those who are not struggling, will be more than happy to help you.
2. Accounting is a fickle beast and there is a lot of vocabulary you should try to familiarize yourself with before the class. This will make things a lot easier for yourself.
3. Make sure you have time for yourself. This is very important because the brain can only work so hard. It needs time to process information.
4. Communicate with your teacher from the start. Introduce yourself and ask questions when needed.
5. Have a balance of work and school. If you are overwhelmed with the amount of classes, then take less.
6. Find a tutor to help with subjects that are new to you, or with concepts you are having a difficult time grasping. Chapman has tutors available at the learning center.”

Chapman explains that although it was a hard first semester, he was able to learn important tools for future success. He offers one last bit of advice to fellow students, “if you do not have a background in business, it will be tough, but it is more than manageable with all the help that is provided to you.”

regions: Los Angeles

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