Marshall MBA

Student Life in the Marshall MBA Program

What to Expect

During the academic year, Marshall MBA students are often on campus all day, from at least 8:00am until 5:30pm, either in class or meeting with team membersand study groups. After 5:30 p.m. many students need to stay on campus to participate in training sessions, networking and club activities, career management opportunities, and other special events. First year core classes are taught Monday through Friday, while second year electives are offered Monday through Thursday.

The Marshall student community boasts many social events. No one misses our Thursday Night Mixers, weekly from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., our fall weekend MBA Tailgate parties, our International Mixer that features food and drink from all countriesrepresented at Marshall, and many other club activities and program events that are scheduled throughout the year. Marshall has more than 25 clubs and student organizations that represent many professional and social interests. These clubs are open toeveryone and facilitate networking and education for both first and second year students.

For a closer look at the student experience,read the following descriptions of "A Day in the Life" as described by both first and second year student, Mike and Jeff.

A Day in the Life of a First Year Student: Mike

If you were ever wondering what school is like during your first year, here is what a typical day for me was like. As you'll see, YOU'RE GOING TO BE BUSY.

6:40 Alarm goes off. This usually has no effect.

6:45 Alarm goes off again, and now I get up and get ready. (I'll assume I don't have an interview, because I don't want to wear a suit.)

7:20 Leave for school. (My roommates are both in the program, so we take the carpool lane from the South Bay to school.)

7:55 At last I'm in our caseroom, and somewhat ready to start class.

8:00-9:20 Listening to my professor discuss the importance of the balance sheet,income statement and statement of cash flows. (I decide my best alternative is to hire an accountant if I start my own business.)

9:35-10:55 Class, again.

11:00-12:00 Read and send out e-mails, then go to a team meeting in the Courtyard. During the first couple terms, there is plenty of group work. Sometimes it helps to do homework with people in your group, or just study at the library.

12:00-1:00 Brown Bag Lunch (Once a week or so, a company will come and give a presentation, or some organization in the program will be having a meeting. There are plenty of alternatives during the year, and you will always have to try to make time.

1:00-2:20 Class, again.

3:00-4:00 Go for a run. (Don't let school take over your life. You may also call a few companies and let them know why you should work for them over the summer.)

5:30-7:00 Read e-mails, meet with team or attend CRC event. Or just watch Monday Night Football.

7:00 Dinner (Learn how to cook, unless you have taken the full amount of loans.)

8:00-11:00 Study (You'll always have something to study. Unfortunately, this may take several hours, but not today.)

11:00 - ? Talk to my family and friends on the phone, and find out when they can take me to dinner.

12:30/1:00 Go to sleep and get ready to do this again tomorrow. (It's not so bad!)

A Day in the Life of a Second Year Student: Jeff

8:00:00 AM - Alarm goes off.

8:00:07 AM - Snooze.

8:09:07 AM - Alarm goes off.

8:09:14 AM - Snooze.
- This goes on for some time until I finally get in the shower around 8:20, where I try to wake up while listening to Howard Stern interview the most recent "Survivor" outcast.

8:45 AM - Coffee and Lucky Charms (not together).

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM - Check and send emails; read on-line periodicals.
- WSJ, Red Herring, Industry Standard, NYT); look for job postings on the Career Management System; call contacts with respect to job opportunities.

10:30 AM - 11:15 AM - Drive to school.
- I use this time to call my friends in New York. I enjoy telling them that I am driving in my convertible with the top down, knowing that they are in the middle of a blizzard. Sometimes I embellish and tell them that I have just passed Pamela Anderson driving in her bikini.

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM - Go to the Lyon Center and play some pick-up basketball.

1:30 PM - Grab a quick lunch at the Popovich Café.

2:00 PM - 3:20 PM - Class.

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM - Meet with one of my class teams to work on a project.
- Usually, we will compare what we have done and divide up the rest of the project work.

4:30 PM - 5:15 PM - Meet with another student to practice case interviews for a 2nd round interview next week.

5:30 PM - 6:30 PM - Grab some dinner with friends and hangout until class.

6:30 PM - 9:30 PM - Class (and more coffee).

9:45 PM - Drive home.
- I use this time to call my friends in L.A.

10:30 PM - 12:00 AM - Once at home do reading for tomorrow's classes.

12:00 AM - 1:00 AM - Watch "SportsCenter."
- Hey, I have a "Business of Sport" class - so it is necessary!

1:00 AM - Sleep.

| back to top |