Welcome from the Rice Business Student Association for Executives
Hello EMBA Class of 2025,
Congratulations and welcome to the Executive MBA Program at Rice University Jones School of Business!
These first steps are some of the most impactful moments that will remain with you for the rest of your life. Starting with the Residency Forum, you will have a perfect opportunity to connect with your cohort, as well as the class of ’24. The faculty and administration have exemplified the community aspect of Rice University and give students every opportunity to succeed. Reflecting upon our first year, we want to share this advice with you about what lies ahead:
Your schedule will be demanding, especially during your first semester. While you should work to complete your onboarding checklist and pre-course work ahead of the program, you should also enjoy the rest of your summer. During this time, you should also revaluate activities outside of family and work, since your time and energy will be spread thin. Time management is one of the skills that you will become a master at! At first, it will seem like drinking from a fire hose at first, but you’ll be surprised at how quickly you’ll adjust. Remember to go at your own pace and enjoy the journey.
Your support network will be critical during this time. Make sure they feel part of the program from the beginning and be intentional about spending quality time with them.
Do not think of the program as 18 months but rather as 32 weekend sessions. Tackle the coursework two weeks at a time. Focus on keeping up individually and staying on track as a team. The workload for each class weekend will vary, so take advantage of comparatively “light” off-weeks to recharge. Also be sure to devote extra attention to your life outside of campus.
It will be very tempting to focus solely on grades. However, we strongly encourage you to learn the material, rather than getting the grade. Boardrooms don’t care about your “A” in Economics, if you can’t explain how fiscal policy impacts your business. Also, don’t miss out on opportunities to network and build relationships with your cohort. Our cohort became very close over the past year, which is by far the most rewarding aspect of this experience. Take time to build relationships that will serve you long after exam grades are given. Learn the concepts, do your work to the best of your ability, and enjoy the ride with class. You’re all in this together!
Make the most of your time at Rice and engage with each person in your cohort. You’ll be surprised how quickly the first-year passes, and getting close to your classmates will be one of the most rewarding aspects of your first year at Rice. It may sound cliché, but your cohort will become your lifeline for the rest of your lives. Make time before and after classes, especially for the inevitable happy hours. In five years, you may not remember your GPA, but someone in this class will change your life. Find them!
Lastly, engage with as many of your fellow EMBA students from the Class of 2024. We just experienced what you will be going through, and we are happy to help you in your journey! Sit down with us for breakfast and lunch and join us for activities outside of class.
Please reach out to us any time! The entire EMBA Class of 2024 and the Jones Student Association for Executives look forward to seeing you soon!
Best Wishes,
Ana Santos and Ken Malik
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