MBA programs typically have an orientation day. Some have an entire week dedicated to orientation. This program is meant to help students get to know each other before the official start of the program. In addition, that crucial week will give you time to set up your apartment, learn the transportation system, open a bank account, get a phone number, and complete all the other elements that come with attending a new school. If you are a local student, then you won’t need to do most of these tasks. However, if you are an international student, then the orientation week will be crucial for getting everything ready.
There are 6 tips I wish someone had told me before I attended orientation week at the start of my MBA program.
1. Set up a WhatsApp Group
Take the initiative to set up a WhatsApp group for the cohort. In this way, you can find out who your classmates will be before the program starts. You can contact the admissions team to ask for the emails of students enrolled or ask them to directly share a link to the WhatsApp group. This will establish you as someone who takes initiative and is looking forward to getting to know everyone.
2. Names are Important – Memorize Them
Use the WhatsApp group or LinkedIn to memorise at least 10 people’s names before orientation day. There will be names you will hear for the first time in your life during orientation week. It can be difficult to remember regular names, let alone international ones you’ve never heard before.
Remembering people’s names is a great way to build rapport. There’s not a sweeter sound someone can hear than the sound of their own name. If you are unsure of someone’s name, ask them to repeat it rather than pronounce it the wrong way.
3. Be Prepared for Small Talk
Questions such as “What attracted you to this school?”, “Where are you living?”, and “Where are you from?” will repeat themselves countless times with different students over the first few weeks of your MBA program. Be prepared to answer them again and again without loss of enthusiasm.
Avoid asking Yes/No questions such as “Do you like this city?”. Instead, ask open-ended questions that leave room for more elaborate answers. For example, “Did you get a chance to explore the city yet?”.
4. Don’t Attend the Orientation Program on an Empty Stomach
Always eat breakfast and bring some snacks, such as fruit or nuts. You do not want to be known as the student who stuffed their plate to the point that food was falling out of it. If there is a lunch break, take a sensible portion of food. It is better to go for a second plate than to overfill your plate the first time around. Also, stay away from alcohol even if it is available at the closing of the orientation program.
5. Try to Talk to Everyone
If you find someone whose company you enjoy, it can be tempting to spend the rest of the orientation program solely with that person. However, staying in your conform zone is not why you joined the MBA program. You want to speak to different people. Take the initiative and approach someone new, or even a group of people.
6. Speak Confidently
Even if English is not your native language, be confident when you speak. Often your tone of voice is more important than the actual words that come out of your mouth. You want to be known as a confident and charismatic student. Even if you do not have an answer when they ask you “What type of consulting are you interested in?”, there is a crucial difference between saying “I don’t know” and saying “I haven’t explored all the options yet. What are some options you are looking into?”.
The bottom line
As the saying goes, “you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression”.
Take full advantage of orientation week. If a group chat hasn’t been set up yet, take the initiative. Memorize your classmates’ names, get ready for small talk, stay clear of alcohol, and be mindful of your eating habits. Also, try to talk to everyone and speak confidently when you do.
Tringa Krasniqi holds an MBA degree from The George Washington University. She is the founder and consultant at Ivy Journey, an educational consulting firm for gaining admission to universities and winning scholarships.
Image: Pexels