A Day in the Life of an MBA Student

After getting dressed and having a quick breakfast, I gather my books, laptop, and daily organizer and head over to Alston Hall. I review the morning headlines from The Wall Street Journal and greet class-mates as they arrive.

In my first class of the day, Survey of Marketing, we apply real-life scenarios from The Wall Street Journaland marketing cases to our lessons. At the end of class, an M.B.A. Association officer makes an announcement asking for volunteers to help with the upcoming M.B.A.A. Golf Tournament.

9:15 a.m.

I visit the M.B.A. Lounge in Bidgood Hall and use my laptop, which is conveniently connected to the C&BA wireless Internet server, to check my e-mail. I learn about internship opportunities in an e-mail from the Career Services Office and find information for several new class assignments.

10:00 a.m. Taking advantage of the pleasant Tuscaloosa weather, I walk the short distance to the Ferguson Center to pick up a few things at the University Supply Store. I enjoy seeing the beauty of the Quad and the Gorgas House as I walk back to Alston Hall.

In Organizational Theory, Dr. Scott covers Chapters 9 and 10 that we read this weekend. After class, my team and I plan a meeting to work on our Statistics homework that is due later this week. We are meeting at Bruno Library tomorrow night to tackle the assignment.

My friends and I meet at the Crimson Café for lunch. This coffee shop and restaurant on “the Strip” is a popular place for students to eat. We get a great table on the sidewalk and enjoy watching the activity on University Boulevard.

I return to Bidgood Hall to begin work on my graduate assistantship. I am busy planning an upcoming recruiting event on campus to inform potential students about the M.B.A. program. Today, I am also meeting with prospective students and giving tours of the facilities that are available to Alabama M.B.A.’s.

For the rest of the afternoon, I am busy with Crimsonette practice. Being a majorette for the Million Dollar Band is very demanding, but it is so much fun on game days. This week, we are preparing a new halftime show for this weekend’s big match-up between the Crimson Tide and the University of Tennessee.

Tonight, my Professional Development class meets in Alston Hall to discuss fine dining and etiquette. A well-known restaurateur discusses the appropriate behavior I would display when taking a client or group of associates to dinner. He covers topics such as when it is appropriate to direct the evening, how to hold your wine glass, and a variety of “what if . . .” scenarios.

After a few phone calls to friends and family, I begin to look over materials to be covered in tomorrow’s classes. I am sure to carefully study the case for Dr. Albright’s accounting class so that I will be able to participate fully in tomorrow’s class discussion.

After watching a little television, I get ready for bed and rest up for another full day as an M.B.A. student at The University of Alabama.