Archive for the ‘Academic Survival’ Category
Need a pep talk? Find a friend!
Posted by: jocelynw in Academic Survival, MBA Experience, Student Life on December 15th, 2010
It’s 10 weeks into the school year, and we have five weeks remaining before the much deserved and long-awaited Christmas break. How are the SFU MBA students doing?
Some have excelled in their assignments, some have squeaked by and some… well… some are beginning to realize that a Masters degree in Business Administration is going to take a lot more hard work than expected. Maintaining a B+ average isn’t asking for a miracle, but no one said it was going to be easy. What should students do to survive the 20 deadlines in front of them, the long study hours and dreaded finals? In my opinion, students need to rely on each other to build their self-esteem, point out each other’s strengths and realize the best support that students have is from — no surprise, perhaps — the students around them. Read the rest of this entry »
Vancouver Canary Derby – SFU MBA Community Engagement
Posted by: ryan-schmidt in Academic Survival on May 21st, 2010
Once the case studies, organizational analysis papers, and mock financial audits are completed, the primary goal for most MBA grads is the job hunt. Of course there are some students who choose to continue on with their education. SFU offers a highly reputed Business PhD Program, and many grads go to other institutions to complete high finance, accounting, economics, or law degrees. For those looking for an immediate career, Vancouver can be a fantastic place to be if the student knows the right people. The SFU MBA Program’s Career Centre rightly points out that the majority of job candidates graduating from an MBA program are hired, or at least interviewed, based on a recommendation to the hiring manager. These recommendations can be gained through simple networking and business community involvement. One extremely valuable networking opportunity, and a worthy charitable cause is the Vancouver Canary Derby. The Canary Derby brings together both large and small Vancouver-based technology companies to raise money for the early detection of cancer (thus the Canary). The companies form teams which fund-raise for the charity along with the construction of a soap-box car which they race against other teams. Anyone can get involved as a volunteer, which allows exposure to executives and hiring managers alike from these technology companies. Read the rest of this entry »
MBA Stress? Canadian Business has a Lot to Offer
Posted by: ryan-schmidt in Academic Survival on May 17th, 2010
In my opinion, Canadian MBA students and students in Vancouver are studying in one of the least stress conductive environments that exist in North America. I’d like to speak for global business and MBA students, however since I haven’t visited any schools outside of the US or Canada, I probably shouldn’t. The reason I speak so boldly about Vancouver has primarily to do with the breadth of healthy, outdoor, nature-based activities and programs. The city is a mecca of study-induced stress relief activities that allow for greater focus and dedication when the student goes back to reading that 50-page case study on the feasibility of a large enterprise takeover. For students at Simon Fraser University’s Graduate Business School, the ocean, hundreds of lakes, the world’s best ski resort, and the beautiful Pacific Northwest is at their doorstep. Read on to learn about some of the favorite activities that current SFU MBA students and Alumni like to enjoy. Read the rest of this entry »
Money Well Spent: 3 Cheap Essentials Online for MBAs
Posted by: MBAStudent in Academic Survival, Student Life on February 24th, 2010
Let’s face it – an MBA is an expensive thing to do. Once you’re into an MBA program, one of the first lessons you’ll learn is that small cost-cutting activities can go a long way. From an accounting perspective, as a student, cutting $100 from your costs is just the same as adding $100 to your profit. Here are some ways to get great value on some of the essentials you’ll appreciate as an MBA student. Read the rest of this entry »
A Quick Guide to MBA-Friendly Web Links
Posted by: MBAStudent in Academic Survival on January 28th, 2010
Every MBA student can use a helping hand once in a while. Here are a few tried, tested and true links that can give you a leg up in SFU’s MBA program, whether you’re applying to join us, or your a current student at SFU in Vancouver. As a matter of fact, these links links are so universal, that even if you’re planing to study at LSB or Insead you’ll still want to keep them handy. Read the rest of this entry »
Two Great Tools for MBA Job Seekers
Posted by: MBAStudent in Academic Survival on January 18th, 2010
Have you ever wondered how some folks manage to keep on top of so much current news and so many blogs? Google Reader is a handy tool that’s a real time saver, and probably the way they do it. As a full-time MBA student in the one-year program, with nearly 30 hours of class time each week, it’s a welcome time saver. Read the rest of this entry »