Orientation

Day 1

I’ll be honest; my calm, cool attitude toward grad school has flown out the window and those first-day jitters are having a go at my nerves. 

I moved to Boston from southern California less than a week ago.  Boxes commandeer my 220-square foot studio (yes, that’s 220 square feet) and I’m still finishing up pre-work (I know, slap on the wrist).

I am excited, terrified and extremely anxious.

Thankfully, my first order of business as an MBA student is something I can definitely manage: a continental breakfast in Dodge Hall, the business school headquarters and my home for the next two years.  After some mingling over muffins and a program introduction we head into our first exercise: ice-breakers.

I know, I know, you’re thinking "I really don’t need to see 17 pictures of my classmate's cat or hear about how they spent the summer relaxing in Cape Cod", but it is through these ice-breakers that I learn my first important lesson of graduate school:  an MBA program is definitely not for wallflowers.

After two hours of getting-to-know-you exercises I begin to get more comfortable with the 71 people that will be my partners in education for the next 24 months.  I also learn that we have 10 countries represented in our class, that nearly half of the students are women and that I have quite a few Californians to face that first Massachusetts winter with.

But what surprised me most in this process was how friendly and open everyone was.  I had overlooked the fact that most people pursuing an MBA are social, outgoing and good communicators; they probably wouldn’t want to be managers if they weren’t.

After lunch and a photo session for our profile book we cross campus to Forsyth where we learn what the school expects from us both academically and professionally and meet the student services staff, including Maude, who has already helped me find my lost portfolio (left at the Alumni Center after a dinner).

Next we meet with the Career Center.  This is what I came here for.  These are the people that will be helping me fine-tune my resume, lead me along my residency search and, if I’m lucky, help get me that job after graduation.

By now it’s five o’clock and time for the best part of the day: the Duck tour!  I know some of you will roll your eyes and think that large amphibious vehicles with images of ducks plastered on them are cheesy, but as a student not from the area, I adored it.  I was able to see what a beautiful city Boston is and behold an even more breathtaking spectacle: my classmates relaxing for the first time.

Day 2

Today is all about group work; the foundation of this program.  The day was exhausting, enlightening and fun.

We head out early to the Warren Center in Ashland for a full day of team-building exercises and a delicious catered lunch.

We separate into our sections and begin a series of games that involve everything from throwing tennis balls into a bin (it’s more analytical and difficult than it sounds) to getting close and personal with a round of “don’t break the ice”.  This is also the first time we work with our five-person learning teams, formulating a charter for the year.

It was hot, humid and sweaty, but the opportunity to see my classmates let their guard down and develop some section rivalry was invaluable.

P.S. - No matter what the other group says, Section 24 totally won the tennis ball game.

Day 3

I’m nervous because today we receive our case study presentation assignments (don’t worry, I had never seen a case study before school either).

I feel more comfortable after our earlier information session and having run through the pre-work practice assignment, but the suspense is still nerve-racking.

I’m already forming a bond with my learning team so we grab lunch together at the International Village and speculate on what our big assignment will be over sushi and salads.

After a course on public speaking the cases are distributed.  We have less than 24 hours to prepare them for presentation to a panel of judges!

Day 4

Today is the big day.  We come armed in formal business attire and case studies to work on.

We are given a few hours to prepare a 12-minute presentation on our findings and everyone is putting their best effort forward.

The case study presentation, while the most challenging element of orientation, was also the most valuable.  It reinforced Northeastern’s focus on learning by doing and, trust me, nothing will make you learn faster than developing an in-depth marketing analysis with people you just met.

But what amazed me most in this whole process was the focus and skill of my classmates.  I am quickly reminded that this is not undergraduate school.  Everyone really wants to be here and, even though the case is not graded, we all put every bit of energy we have into it.  I must say, the results were quite impressive.

After the presentations we have an hour before our formal dinner at the Alumni Center so what do we do?  Grab a drink at a bar across the street.  I will never forget the image of 71 students in business suits cramming into a tiny bar, but that image serves as a testament to how close we’ve grown in just a couple of days.  I’m beginning to see what orientation is all about.  It’s not just assessment tests and administration; it’s getting us to the point where, in less than a week, we can be comfortable with our classmates.

At dinner tonight prizes are awarded to case study winners, we revel in a gourmet dinner and students mingle with faculty and staff.  One of our classmates, a professional singer and songwriter, even performed for the group.

Day 5

Yes, it is a Saturday and yes, we have an accounting assessment.  I don’t think there’s much more that needs to be said about that.

There’s also the club fair.  I’ve signed up for three clubs so far (Marketing, Northeastern University Women MBA and the Graduate and Professional Entrepreneurship Club).  I will keep you posted as those commitments develop.

What I found fascinating is that student organizations, currently run by 2^nd years, are completely turned over to 1^st year students during the initial club meeting.  I am consistently amazed at the amount of responsibility and trust this program gives us.  The Marketing Club, as an example, completes actual projects for local companies, one of last year’s being a revamp of a retirement community’s marketing strategy.

I can already tell that these are not the type of clubs you join and rarely, if ever, attend.  These are an extension of that networking and resume-building the school has stressed since day one and I can’t wait to be involved.

*The views expressed in this blog are not necessarily those of Northeastern University, its faculty, staff or affiliates and are solely the opinion of Katrina Graves.