2: Selection of Courses and Activities

Determining where and how you will spend your time is also a key to an enjoyable year. Though some schools have core curricula or limited course options at the beginning, when selecting professors and out of classroom activities it helps to develop some knowledge before classes begin as to what is likely to be an engaging path for you. In addition, you will most likely want to form a study group to work on homework and prepare for tests. 

Recommendations

 o      Try to find a second year student who will help you navigate the academic, social and professional challenges of the first year of business school. This method has proven a successful one for many first years. They attain good advice and register for classes with great professors, know which clubs or activities are best to be a part of, and have the valuable guidance along the way of a peer who has gone through it all before.

o      Be prepared to network. This is something to consider in the classroom, in forming your study group, and in selecting activities. Business school is in part a way to meet people who in the future will be in positions of power in the business world. So you will want to get to know your classmates, but as with getting to know people in most contexts, you will be most successful if your interactions are honest ones, if others do not get from you the sense that you are talking with them just to in the future contact them for a job. Also avoid being too dominant in the classroom. Though your professor may be impressed, your classmates may find such dominance less appealing. If networking doesn’t come easy, allow yourself to learn and accustom yourself to your new surroundings slowly and develop friendships naturally through the parties, lunches, and classes you will participate as business school begins.

Direct

Negative

Obvious

Over-bearing

Here are some quick examples:

Inclusive
Meaning: With an objective view; without prejudice or bias.
Example: We should use inclusive language in our report so that it addresses to the needs of all parties.

Anomaly
Meaning: Something wrong; An unsatisfactory and unexpected inconsistency.
Example: He is usually very accurate. His last research article must be an anomaly!

Finesse
Meaning: To achieve an objective through less than honest means.
Example: Even though he is not very capable, he somehow finessed his way to top management.

Stretch The Truth

Meaning: To be dishonest
Example: When he bragged to his friends about his salary, he was stretching the truth. His actual income was much less than he said it was.

Take Something Under Advisement
Meaning: To consider something. (Often connotes that it will be ignored; used for more formal occasions.)
Example: I came up with some great ideas for the new ad campaign. My boss said she’d take my ideas under advisement. I guess she didn’t like them as much as I did.

Adjustment
Meaning: A reduction.
Example: The unexpected adjustment in my salary was announced by my boss this afternoon. I have to cut down on my expenses to make my ends meet each month.

Selective
Meaning: Dishonest
Example: He was quite selective in telling his boss the reasons the tasks didn’t get completed.

Bend the Rules
Meaning: Compromising set standards; To be flexible.
Example: The company’s vacation policy may seem strict, but our department has been known to bend the rules every now and then.

I Hear You
Meaning: I heard what you said but have a different opinion.
Example: I hear you, but I think that if we were to buy that stock we’d be taking a huge risk for little gain.

Strong Language
Meaning: Curses; swear words.
Example: We know our boss is serious when he starts to use strong language.

Careful With One’s Money
Meaning: Financial caution. Withholding financially.
Example: Our boss is very careful with his money. Sarah realized that she needed to be much more careful with her money.

Close With One’s Money
Meaning: Stingy; not generous with money.
Example: Don’t ask Chuck for a contribution to the bonus pool for all the assistants! He is so close with his money that it is not possible for him to chip in just a paltry $20.