As a business school student, you will learn to take academic theories and apply them to real-world problems. Business schools craft students into astute decision makers and professionals who can readily navigate uncertainty, risk, and change.
The b-school curriculum is challenging, and students must work hard to keep up. But the bottom line is that the goal of every business student is to get a challenging, high-paying job after graduation. So for most, earning perfect grades is not as important as making contacts with peers, professors, and executives who will be helpful down the road.
Whatever the structure, the first term of b-school can be daunting. MBA programs usually pack a hefty chunk of learning into the first term. The pace and volume is intense. The good news is that schools generally recognize how tough this part of your b-school education can be. During the early part of the program, many schools place students in small sections. You take many or all of your classes with your section mates, which can help make a large program feel much smaller.
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Once you have your MBA, you can expect to hit the ground running. You'll start off your post b-school life with a load of contacts that you will periodically leverage over your career. An active alumni relations department can give you continued support. Post-MBA executive education series, networking events, and the career services office are all resources you can draw on for years to come.
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