A Day in the Life of a Chicago Booth MBA Student

There's really nothing special about today, other than the fact that I don't have classes on Mondays. For those of you who are curious, here's what a normal day in the life of an MBA student looks like. Its quite thrilling!

7:30-8:30, Logistics. Email, calendar and task list coordination.

8:45, Metra. Chatted with a 2nd year student about his most and least favorite classes. Then he showed me the best bakery by campus, as well as the best baked good - a spinach feta breakfast croissant. Delicious!

10-11, Updated resume.

11-11:45, Resume review by 2nd yr student, courtesy of Corporate Management & Strategy Group.

11:45, Quickly tried to incorporate feedback into new resume draft for 12:00 resume review.

12:00, Resume my review by 2nd yr student, courtesy of Management Consulting Group.

12:20-1:15, Recruiting event by PG&E. Learned a bit about the energy industry, clean tech trends. Very interesting. So disappointed to learn that CA is trying to reverse its inspiring greenhouse gas laws. Free lunch, pen and reusable bag.

1:15-1:30, Break! Checked email; am officially registered with my group to participate in the A.T. Kearney case competition. Exciting! I haven't worked with anyone in my group before, so this will be a great learning experience on multiple levels. Sat in the Winter Garden and chattd with a friend; scarfed down lunch from PG&E event.

1:30-2:30, Studied for footnote accounting midterm (coming up this Sat). Deferred tax accounting, revenue recognition and securitization.

2:30-3:15, Switched to micro. Did my portion of the micro homework & emailed draft to my study group for review.

3:30, Bookstore. Bought "Head First Statistics" to hopefully fill in a few knowledge gaps. (No text required for the class.) Bought assorted folders for other classes; trying to circumvent 3-ring binders, which take up too much space.

3:30-4:00, Read new statistics book.

4:30-6:00, BSG team meeting. Mapped out deliverables for the next few weeks. Brainstormed about best approaches for three simultaneous delivery channels.

6:00-6:15, Email check.

6:30-8:00, Pepsico recruiting event. Presentation by CFO; amazing. Dinner and goody bag provided. It's crazy how much stuff these people are giving us! Seriously impressive presentation. Too tired to stay and network after.

8:30, Metra home. Platform and two cars full of Chicago Booth students in dress ranging from business casual (Pepsico) to business formal (banking recruiting). Met two first years I hadn't met before. While sitting on the Metra chatting about post-graduation salaries per industry, I noticed the people within hearing distance who weren't from Booth. Wondered how our conversation sounded to them. Looked down at my shiny new NorthFace bookbag, stylish boots, warm winter coat, goody bag full of free stuff from Pepsico, and reflected on things like privilege, opportunity, equality. Gratitude. Responsibility.

9:15, shower. Aaaaahhhhhhh.

9:30-10:45, Career work. Seven thank-you notes to various industry contacts, created spreadsheet to track contacts, company, correspondence, etc. The folders don't work; I'll have to go back for a 3-ring binder. Sometime.

10:45, too tired to do more. A few thank-you notes to go, a few items on the to-do list that will have to wait until tomorrow morning. Had really hoped to find time today for laundry or grocery shopping. Oh well. And now, off to bed.