Congratulations and welcome to the MBA program! You’ve got through the horrors of the GMAT and have been accepted into the hallowed halls of UNCW’s Cameron School of Business. Now what? Is the workload unbearable? Will there be any free time? Is it really worth it? These are all questions that your fellow classmates, and MBA-at-arms in class 2010, have asked. I am going to attempt to answer them for you and at least provide a modicum of comfort as you begin this journey.

First and foremost, you must want this! The MBA is hard work and there’s lots of it. Some of the people you met at orientation will drop out, some will not even make it past orientation, and let’s face it, the Ropes Course would give any self-respecting student second thoughts. However, from my meager observations, those in the class of 2010 who dropped out were those students who were really not sure if this was what they wanted to do, they were just studying something, anything. You will ask yourself, many times, why am I here? But if an MBA is what you really want, you will persevere and grapple through all the homework, reading, and class projects.

Now, let’s get down to the nitty gritty. How much work is there? One of my fellow classmates described the experience as being "fire hosed" with information. This basically encapsulates the sheer amount of information, facts, figures, articles, chapters, readings, and homework that you will have to do. It’s a lot of stuff. I often wondered in the first summer session how I was physically going to do all the assignments and homework and still get some sleep.

One of the key pieces of advice I can give is to be organized. Set a schedule for yourself. When are your most productive work hours? I work better in the morning, so I would get up an hour earlier for work when the house was quiet and do some reading. If you are more productive in the evening, set aside the time when your family is in bed for an extra hour or so of work. If you have a lenient boss, or can sneak in some time to do homework at your job, do it. Maximize your time. As for the weekends, I would try and squeeze in as much homework as possible before anyone else was up and about, (who is up at 8am on a Sunday anyway unless you have small children), that way I could still have some leisure time later in the afternoon and wasn’t that complete freak who didn’t have any friends.

Another major aspect of the course is your work in teams. Some of you will have great luck with your teammates; others will hate their assigned group. Nevertheless, find out strengths and weaknesses quickly and utilize your group’s talents. For example, one of your team may be an expert on the computer, while another may be a competent writer, still another may be adept at collecting information and data. Share the work, delegate responsibility and don’t waste time. One of the major problems you will face is finding a time when everybody in your group is able to meet. We all have work commitments and friends and family and trying to find a time when everyone is available can be a nightmare. Set up a group share website, for example Google groups, which will cut down on some meeting time and allow everyone to communicate quickly without actually having to meet physically.

So, how much free time will you have? I’m going to be honest. At first, there is not much free time, especially for those with children. But it will get easier. Once you get used to the schedule and the amount of work, you will settle into a routine and life will become bearable again. Stick with it. The worst time for me was January; it’s winter, it’s cold and you’re in accounting class. This was brutal, as are Saturday classes when it’s gorgeous weather outside and all of your friends are at the beach or out on a boat. There is no advice I can give for dealing with the bitterness and regret you will experience during these times. Moving on...

The MBA program is tough and you will often wonder how your poor, overloaded brain can handle all of the information you are trying to cram into it. But getting through the first year has been a major achievement for all of us and although in January it seems that spring semester will never end, keep going, it will.  Good luck and remember that there are forty or so exhausted souls who have ploughed through the first year ahead of you. We are readily available to offer any advice and provide support. So, use our website and do not hesitate to contact any one of us if you need help.

Sarah Prevedel

Vice President, MBAA