Category Archives: Student Life

[Guest Blog] 5 ways being an MBA spouse has changed my life for the better

Posted on by
2

For me, writing is therapeutic, so I’ve shared a lot about my experience as the wife of an MBA student through blogs like MBA Chic. Most of the time, I write about how it’s changed my life — and not always for the better.

There are a lot of unique challenges that come with joining your significant other on a path from student to working professional to student again, and it has always been my intention to offer an honest, realistic viewpoint of what others can expect when they embark on a similar journey.

It’s important to note, however, that with this great sacrifice comes great rewards, and there are notable ways in which my life has changed for the better since my husband started hitting the books again. Here are a few of them:

Meeting people from around the globe. The network you’re exposed to as a business school student and a significant other is quite phenomenal. You get to meet and learn about people who come from every type of background imaginable, and it gives you a healthy appreciation for the challenges — and triumphs — students experienced to get where they are today.

As someone who hasn’t had the opportunity to travel a lot, I love hearing stories about an over-the-top wedding ceremony in Japan, the incredible number of people that live and work in India, or the unimaginable bravery and resilience that a former Army Ranger exhibited in the midst of a life-and-death situation. They share their highest highs and their lowest lows, and their openness and candor really inspires you.

Getting the chance to live in an exciting city. Depending on where your significant other chooses to go to school, it can be a great opportunity to live in a brand new city with destination spots to explore and delicious food to sample. I was fortunate in that we ended up in New York City, which is, arguably, one of the most exciting cities in the world. We’re a short Subway ride away from the center of the universe — aka Times Square — and from other landmarks like the Guggenheim and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

While two years may seem like a long time, it really does fly by, so I encourage everyone to make the most of their time in a new city. Try all of the locals’ favorite cuisine, and discover some hole-in-the-wall places on your own. Walk when you can, because you never know when you might stumble upon a tiny gem — like an entire store devoted to the movie “The Big Lebowski,” for example. I try to remind myself that this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and it’s important to take advantage of what it has to offer.

Fringe benefits because you’re a packaged deal. This one’s simple: If you’re an MBA spouse, most schools want to try to make the transition as easy as possible for you, so that you can help maintain a happy home. Perks like access to the university gym, library and career services might not sound like much, but if you’re new to the city and simply looking to put yourself out there, these types of things present the perfect opportunity. Want to take some classes? Go right ahead — many schools offer discounted or free course offerings for MBA better halves. It’s up to you to make the most of it.

Opportunities to travel to unexpected places. “Wait. B-school students travel? Aren’t they supposed to be studying?” While excellence in the classroom is a top priority for most students, so is fraternizing with their peers in the real world as well. My husband just completed his first semester, and already we’ve been to the U.S. military academy, West Point, where we toured its beautiful campus, tailgated with fellow visitors and attended an Army-Navy football game. Would I have taken it upon myself to make the trek up there? Probably not. Was it a worthwhile experience? Absolutely.

There are frequent weekend trips that significant others are encouraged to attend with their students, so if it’s feasible to do so, I say go for it.

Sharing a life-changing experience. (Insert cliché, uplifting power ballad here.) In all seriousness, for as much as the b-school experience is about your significant other taking his or her career to the next level, at the end of the day, it’s one milestone in the life that you’re building together. Yes, I’ve been stressed out. Yes, there have been days where I’ve wondered why I signed up for this. But I did sign up for better or worse, so even when I don’t want to, I try to see the glass half-full. I think if you do, you’ll be open to the possibility that you just might glean some value out of this journey, too.

Fellow better halves: What have you enjoyed most about the business school experience?

_______________________________________________________________________

Erica Moss is the social media outreach coordinator for the online Masters in Nursing program at Georgetown University, which has one of the nation’s leading family nurse practitioner programs. She is passionate about photography, community building, and University of Michigan football. Follow her on Twitter @ericajmoss.

[Guest Blog] Priorities change when you combine an MBA, marriage

Posted on by
4

My husband is not someone who makes a decision lightly.

We used to joke that we had a common-law marriage because we were together more than 8 years before he proposed. He’ll go back to a shoe store three times before committing to one pair of slip-ons, and I refuse to play Scrabble with him because he takes an outlandish amount of time to commit to his next word.

Choosing a business school was no different. He studied tirelessly for the GMAT to secure a score that would make him a great candidate in an extremely competitive landscape. He chatted with friends pursuing the same career path, spent hours on admissions forums, checked the U.S. News and World Report rankings, and visited campuses with top MBA programs like the University of Chicago (Booth) and Columbia University. Poets & Quants became his homepage.

When he began classes this fall at one of his dream schools, reality started to set in. As a newly married couple, we would not be charting the same course that so many of our peers were at this stage in their lives. It became increasingly clear that our priorities were shifting, and it would be at least two years before we started tackling the “normal” next steps.

The following are a few areas in which we’ve hit the pause button in favor of my husband advancing his career:

Starting a family. When you’re together as long as we were before getting married, you start to get the “so when are you guys going to tie the knot?” question. A lot. Then, just when you think you’ve quieted the peanut gallery, you’re faced with the inevitable baby question. While many of our friends are taking this next step, business school has put the brakes on it for us. While it is an exciting time in our lives, it is also a stressful one, and I think adding the extra pressure of a newborn would simply be too much. Not to mention the lack of space in our tiny, one-bedroom apartment on the Upper West Side, and the fact that we’re currently depending on one income.

It is important to note, however, that I do know of at least a handful of people who are making the MBA/parents thing work, so it can be done — it just isn’t something we’re willing to commit to at this time.

Buying a house. When you’re living in a place like New York City, buying real estate is not for the faint of heart. Not only is it extremely competitive with high turnover rates, but also you’re paying for a piece of one of the most desirable cities in the world — and it’ll cost you. While friends around the country are securing beautiful starter homes, house hunting is not even on our radar at this point in time. Again, with so many unknowns, it doesn’t make sense to be tied down with a mortgage. What if he doesn’t land a job after graduation? What if we decide to move again in a few years? Renting works just fine for us.

Furthering my education. While it’s tough for me to imagine being back in the classroom after a handful of years as a working professional, I’ve pondered it from time to time and would strongly consider pursuing a master’s degree in a field like marketing. However, the thought of both of us taking on more debt and being full-time students simultaneously doesn’t sound all that appealing. That’s not to say it will never happen, but it’s simply not a viable option right now. Perhaps at the end of his two-year journey, I can revisit this idea, or simply take a few classes in the meantime.

I’d love to hear from some fellow “better halves.” What are some sacrifices you’ve had to make that, perhaps, your other married friends haven’t? How have you been able to cope?

_________________________________________________________________________

Erica Moss is the social media outreach coordinator for the online masters in nursing program at Georgetown University, which has one of the nation’s leading nurse midwife programs. She is passionate about photography, community building, and University of Michigan football. Follow her on Twitter @ericajmoss.

[Guest Blog] How to Juggle Work and School

Posted on by
Reply

Two years ago, I made the decision to get my MBA while continuing to work a full time job. Although the past two years have been a whirlwind, I am very happy I made the choice to continue my education. I have found that although I currently have a job I love, I am now performing even better and also finding new opportunities that better match my interests and skills. I have also been fortunate enough to be able to keep my income and not have to worry about finding a job when I graduate.

Before starting grad school I tried to mentally prepare myself for this juggling act. But, the truth is I really had no idea what to expect. Here is what I wish someone would have told me before I made the leap:

1. Learn to Say No. You do not have to attend every networking event. Just go to as many as possible.

2. You will have to work extra hard to maintain your social life and previous friendships. But, the important friendships are worth it to maintain even if you only have an hour of free time every week.

3. Your management will take notice of how hard you are working and the knowledge that you are bringing to your job. I was promoted in my current company after only a year in school.

4. Technology makes the juggling act easier. Having access to my school email on my phone while I work allows me to stay connected with my group and make changes to projects at the last minute. With all of my classmates juggling so many responsibilities, it is almost impossible to get us all together in one location. Fortunately, Skype allows us to hold group meetings virtually. Also, don’t worry if you have to travel frequently for your job. Professors are very understanding of work travel and my school even videotapes classes for us so we can watch them online when we return.

5. Schedule time out for a break because the to-do list will never end. Don’t be afraid to take a day off from work or skip a class if you have to. It is impossible to get an A+ at both work and school, just do the best you can. Schedule a vacation, a day with no work or even a night to just enjoy a movie with your family.

6. Grad school consists of way too many group projects. I have learned that other people juggle their responsibilities differently than I do. I try to get work done as early as possible but others in my group wait until an hour before a paper is due to finish. I have learned to respect others juggling habits which has allowed me to be a better manager.

Continue reading →

MBA Checkpoint: Are you on track?

Posted on by
3

We’re about halfway through the semester, and that means midterms, projects and typical MBA fun. As if business school was not busy enough? Between all the company information sessions, networking mixers, club meetings, parties and career panels, I have to find time to study? Clearly, I am kidding, but the fall seems to be a jam-packed, super busy season for everyone.

Like many of you, I’ve been busy — and I realized how easy it is to get caught up in the rush and let time pass you by. Keep rocking this semester (as per usual), but make sure you take a minute to reflect on what’s going on: call it a checkpoint.

This is a great time to take inventory because it has only been half a semester; you have a chance to make some changes. I needed to manage my time better and thought about why I am in b-school in the first place. I thought about the goals I set for myself and realized that I had to do some re-prioritizing. I had to make a pretty tough decision to leave a student organization on campus because I realized it was no longer tied to my goals. I was very involved with this group but when I looked at everything I had going on, it was overwhelming and I knew it was time to bow out (I literally wrote out a list of everything on a sheet of paper: the list was ridiculous). Continue reading →

“Join Our Club! It Will Change Your Life…”

Posted on by
2

We’ve all been there, trying to hold our bags, papers and other freebies as we are shuffled along a never-ending line to visit the booths of all the exciting, fantastic, and world-famous student organizations at your school. “Join Our Club! It Will Change Your Life, and All of Your Wildest Dreams Will Come True. Today!”

An MBA is all about networking, right? A good way to meet and interact with your fellow MBAs is to get involved on campus through organizations. But how do you choose your organization? Where will you pour those hard, countless hours of event planning, wine tasting, and schmoozing with professionals…?

Okay – MBA clubs are more than just a party (but also, a lot of fun). Choosing to get involved now actually can help you out in the long run. You might want to learn as much as you can about all the groups available before deciding, or you can always default and sign up for whatever your orientation group is joining (in order to get a free pen or t-shirt). Regardless of your method (or lack thereof), here are some quick tips to help you decide what organization to join in your MBA program:

What are your short-term goals?

This is an important question to ask yourself; this is not asking you to cut and paste your application essay responses. Clearly, you are in the MBA program because you are trying to advance your studies and career. What are you studying? Are you “majoring” in anything? Are you focusing on one business sector? Do you want to venture into non-profit organizations? Do this now: figure out your goals. Give yourself a chance to diversify your MBA experience, but also recognize that you want to make the most of your time – do not spend all your time with the accounting club if you want a career in marketing.

(*Note: Some of the best learning (and job training) experiences in undergrad were those that came with my membership in organizations that had absolutely nothing to do with my major or career path. Do not exclude yourself from what could be a great opportunity, but if you are short on time and want to network effectively [and efficiently], focus on the reasons you came to business school. Just a little disclaimer – carry on!)

Be realistic with your time.

Continue reading →