Today's guest blog comes from David Wang, Section E social chair and my fellow section-mate. Read on to learn about his transformative experience at Anderson and his tips for how to make the most of the only two years you'll have at business school!
Undergrad Institution: Cornell University
Pre-Business School: Cancer Research
Summer Internship: Product Manager at Renovate America (Clean Energy)
Post-Anderson (industry): Tech
Whenever I’m asked about business school, I always describe it as being more work but also way more fun than I expected. What you will quickly learn about the MBA experience is that it’s absolutely what you make of it. That is true not only for academics and recruiting, but also your social life. One of the biggest regrets I hear from graduates, and even students finishing up their first year is that they wish they invested more time into going out to social events and getting to know the people in their class.
As a natural introvert, I knew this would be a challenge, so I put myself in a position where I would be forced to mingle – I ran for section social chair. This turned out to be the single best decision of my Anderson career. Was it a lot of work? Yes. Was I obligated to turn up on many occasions when I’d rather be in bed watching Netflix? You bet. But looking back, the benefits far outweigh everything else. From happy hours, football tailgates, section dinners, skydiving, bubble soccer, fundraisers, to a mind-blowing Vegas weekend for graduating second years, I got a chance to meet virtually every other student in the program (my future network). This was also a great opportunity to work on my leadership, teamwork, planning, and organizing skills within a diverse and amazing class.
You don’t necessarily have to run for social chair to have an incredible time. Rather, realize that building relationships within the Anderson community is an integral part of the MBA experience. As each of you prepares to embark on this life-changing journey, I hope you make up your minds right now to say yes more often than no, and to prioritize your social life amidst a hectic schedule. It may turn out to be the best decision you make in business school.
