Stress-Free Second Year

Facing her last semester, this Wisconsin B-schooler is getting all she can out of extracurricular activities and good times

by Marjani Coffey

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Marjani Coffey
Wisconsin - Madison
MBA Class of 2008

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Last year at this time I couldn't wait for the semester to end. A year later and I don't want grad school to end. What a difference a year makes.

First of all, it's an exciting time to be a Badger. A group of 13 alumni recently donated $85 million (BusinessWeek.com, 11/8/07) for the school to retain its name as the Wisconsin School of Business. That gift stirred up emotions about Wisconsin I didn't know I had. I'm used to students at other schools throwing around their corporate names as a status symbol. Now we have a name, too—an $85 million name. Plus, we beat Michigan in football this past season. Things just keep getting better and better.

Second, it's true—second year is easier than first year. You're used to studying and are better at managing your time. Also, most of your deliverables aren't due until the end of the semester, unlike first year, when you practically lose your mind during the month of October. However, if you're interviewing and took on leadership roles in organizations, you are still super busy.

Full-time brand management interviews are more intense than internship interviews. The biggest difference is you have to travel to the company for second rounds and interview with more people. For an internship, you may have three interviews at the most; for full time you're going to have a minimum of four. It's tough to get that many people to like you. You can give the exact same answer to the exact same question to two different people, and one person will love it and another will look at you like, "Is that the best you can do?" As one of my classmates put it, "I'd rather have a month of finals than have to interview."

Having the Time of My Life

At this point in the first semester, I have one offer but have not accepted it—yet. I will finish interviewing this week and make a decision before the semester ends. I refuse to deal with job-hunting next semester. I want my last semester to be stress-free and fun.

Extracurriculars have taken up another huge chunk of time. I wanted to make the Graduate Women in Business and the Consortium Club more active this year. I've had people tell me extracurriculars aren't worth the effort, but I think it's great to give back to your school and community. Plus, it's a great way to experiment with different leadership styles and work on some of your shortcomings with little consequence.

Overall, the first semester has been a little crazy, but I just want to savor the moment. In a few months, school will be over and we'll all be back in the real world. For now, I want to enjoy going to parties, buying greasy food in the wee hours of the morning, and getting out of class early and watching TV in the middle of the day. The pseudo-reality of grad school is truly one of the best times in your life.

Coffey is a member of Wisconsin - Madison's MBA class of 2008.