Social Struggles of an MBA
Folks who are going back to business school for their MBA degree have more than just complex coursework ahead of them — many prospective MBAs face plenty of social struggles as well, in addition to the challenges of earning their degree.
Whether your particular program is full-time or part-time, in-person or online, you will soon be facing new challenges, some expected, others not. One thing is for sure, though — despite feeling a bit overwhelming at times, seeking your degree will be an exciting process.
We’re going to outline some of the common social struggles an MBA may face while earning their degree.
Social Struggles of an MBA Student
Adjusting to a new place
The first, and probably most obvious, challenge students encounter is getting used to a new place. Unless you’re enrolling in an MBA program close to where you currently reside, you’ll be moving to an entirely new metro. Look at this as a fun thing — moving means new people, new culture, new opportunities. Be sure to visit your new hometown and research what goes on in that city so you have a good feel for the area once you move in and start working toward your degree.
While visiting your new metro is a huge plus, it’s also imperative to take a campus tour of whatever business school you decide to attend. Campus tours are a great way to familiarize yourself with the resources available to you at your new business school. They provide the opportunity to get a firsthand look at how classes operate and ask questions to students, faculty and advisors.
Campus visits grant you some very important face-time with the school’s Admissions Department and give you a chance to see if the institution and its campus are a good fit for you and your lifestyle.
You can read our article on how to get the most out of your campus visit. Here are a few additional tips to consider when it comes to campus visits.
- Stop by the institutes, centers and open lectures that constitute the program’s resources within your focus area.
- Look closely at the career placement resources available and the students’ use of those resources.
- Tap into your personal network to see if you know any current students in the business college or another college within the university you’ll be visiting.
- Be sure that you have your travel plans and hotel reservations set in advance and that you’ve taken off of work.
- Create an itinerary that allows you to explore the MBA program as well as the metro that your university calls home.
Even if you chose a program that is in your current metropolitan area, there will be other social struggles you’ll need face as you adjust to graduate school. You’ll be meeting new friends, some through your cohort, others through student organizations or jobs.
One way that business schools help break the ice between new students is through orientation programs. For example, a committee of returning MBAs at the Robert H. Smith School of Business planned a two-week incoming MBA orientation that ended with a Washington Nationals baseball outing.
During the orientation new students were able to ask questions to a panel of second-year MBAs, such as: “How do you balance your studies with the job search?”; “How do you prepare for career fairs?”; “What is the value of case competitions?”; “Is it important to buy every textbook?”; “What would you do differently if you were starting over?”
The new students also had time to network with second-year MBAs who serve as mentors and help incoming students find summer internships that match their career goals. The incoming MBAs also got to meet each other at the baseball game, and through other activities such as kickball, a ropes course and icebreaker games.
About the Author
Max Pulcini
Max Pulcini is a Philadelphia-based writer and reporter. He has an affinity for Philly sports teams, Super Smash Bros. and cured meats and cheeses. Max has written for Philadelphia-based publications such as Spirit News, Philadelphia City Paper, and Billy Penn, as well as national news outlets like The Daily Beast.
