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An MBA is an incredible opportunity to grow personally and professionally, to be lectured by some of the smartest people you’ll ever know, to rub elbows with future business leaders, to make friends and, in some cases, to live and study in a new city. It’s hard work yet, trusting what alumni have answered in surveys, again and again, it’s an amazing and truly exciting experience.

This blogpost will leave you with some important advice on how to make the most of your MBA.

1 – Make sure you know your surroundings before the beginning of the course

This is particularly important if you’ve moved to a new city to take your MBA: you really don’t want to be that guy who’s still looking for a place to stay and trying to open a bank account while your classmates are already working on assignment #1! Even if you’re attending a school at home, make sure you tour your school and introduce yourself to the entire MBA team (student services, career services, staff members in charge of international exchanges and internships, etc.) before lectures begin. In case a problem or a chance of a good thing arises, having taken the time to guarantee everyone knows your face and name beforehand will be very helpful.

2 – Start making friends ASAP

An MBA is an intense course, with lots of deadlines, new or updated subject matters, presentations, and networking events. Many students struggle with finding the pace that’s right for them and end up missing out on something or not performing as well as they’d anticipated. So overcome your hesitations and start making friends as soon as possible, so you’ve got people to reach out to if you need a hand. After all, you’re all in it together, and lifelong friendships are one of the most celebrated outcomes of MBAs (again, according to alumni).

3 – Define a work schedule

With so much going on around you, it’s easy to lose track of time. You’ll be asked to form groups with people you barely know within days of the beginning of lectures; to process huge amounts of theoretical information; to develop practical, soft skills; and to manage your personal life in the meantime. Define a work schedule by the end of the first week of lectures and use time management apps or whatever method works for you to ensure you enjoy every occasion and are always at the top of your game.

4 – Ask for feedback – and listen to it

Group work is a major element of a good MBA, mirroring what happens in the real business world. Everyone knows working in a group isn’t always a smooth experience, but with some patience and humility most obstacles can be overcome, and the results end up revealing themselves better than expected. Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback from your fellow students and incorporate what they tell you in the way you behave inside and outside the classroom. Do the same with Faculty members; you’ll be surprised by how much people are willing to give you a bit of constructive criticism when you’re truly asking for it, as well as by how much it’ll prove useful later on.

5 – Network

Networking is crucial during an MBA, and in fact throughout your professional life. Personal contacts are the #1 platform to change jobs in nowadays market. That’s why a top MBA will always include networking opportunities in its program. Networking is an easy and enjoyable task as long as you accept your personality and go about it on your own terms.

Finally: be yourself and have some fun!

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