Welcome from the JSA President - Casey Sherrod!
Class of 2022,
On behalf of the Class of 2021, administration, faculty, and staff, welcome to Rice Business! Although things are not how you probably imagined them when you applied at Rice, please have faith that it is still going to be an extraordinary experience. We are excited for you to join us this fall and look forward to getting to know each of you as your embark on this journey. The next couple months are going to fly by and I wanted to give you a few recommendations that will help you prepare and begin your MBA career.
- Start networking now
The larger your network, the better off you will be, not just in business school, but also professionally. One thing that makes our school so unique is our small, tight-knit community of students and alumni. Before you know it, you’ll know each of your classmates by name. You guys can start networking now through your class’ Whatsapp group, Facebook, and through LinkedIn. Once you arrive, you will quickly be separated into cohorts, teams, clubs, groups, etc. but don’t be afraid to go outside of those groups to meet new people. If we are permitted to return to campus, make it a goal to sit next to someone new each day. Look out for one another. You were accepted to Rice Business because you are exceptional, so share it and do not be too proud to learn from one another. I know it will be tempting to just “do you” or worry about yourself, but that type of thinking will get you nowhere. Find ways to use your talents, abilities, and experience to lift and build others around you. Your classmates will remember you for it.
- Follow the Jones Student Association Instagram (@ricebizjsa) and the Rice_Business Instagram pages
Throughout the summer we will be highlighting 2nd years and their internships. This will be a great way to get to know second years and an opportunity to see what type of internships are out there. This will also be a line of communication that we use to let you know about different events, activities, and opportunities.
- Research career options now
Recruiting will begin the moment you begin the program. Take time to really understand what your options are for summer internships and post-MBA. Our Career Development Office (CDO) will send out resources to help you navigate timelines and expectations. Also, visit Owl Careers frequently. Job postings will be updated regularly as well as important deadline reminders. Industries such as consulting, investment banking, and energy will begin recruiting early first semester while some will not begin until the spring. Do not be afraid to ask questions and reach out to 2nd Years or alumni who have experience in career-fields you are interested in. Do not sell yourself short. There’s a reason you’re here and employers want you. You just have to put in the work!
- Prepare for Accounting and Finance Now
These classes will be the two most challenging ones you take first semester. Take some time this summer to familiarize with the basics. The Student Programing Office provides the MBA Quantitative Skills Tool kit and many students find watching instructional videos online helpful. The syllabi and pre-work will be posted to Canvas prior to start of class so take time to prepare and get your books early because you will hit the ground running on Day 1 of both of these classes.
- Prioritize, Prioritize, Prioritize!
First semester if the most challenging semester of business school. Recruiting will be heavy and classes will be challenging. There will be times when you feel that you have too much to do and not enough time, welcome to the Rice Business! The way to overcome burnout is planning and learning how to prioritize your work. I kept a calendar of due dates for all the readings, assignments, quizzes, and exams and this helped me manage and prioritize my work. As a mom and wife, I also made sure to set aside regular “study” times during the evenings, early mornings, or in between classes to catch up prior to going home.
- Get Involved
Campus Groups has a list of all the great clubs we offer at Rice Business. I recommend joining at least one “professional” club and one “fun” club. This helped me get more prepared for recruiting and build relationships between our classmates and Second Year’s. The JSA will also hold elections in October for first-year students interested in representing your entire class in making changes at our school.
- Sign up for tutors
Rice offers free tutors! Best part is they are second years who took the exact same classes you are currently taking, with the same professors. Do not wait until you are too far behind before you begin reaching out. My recommendation is if you feel completely lost in a class, set up a weekly meeting with a tutor to review course material and ask questions to someone who did well in the course last year.
- Attend JSA events
The Jones Student Association has so many activities that we put together to build cohesion between our Rice Business community. Examples include Lunch Colloquium (free lunch every Monday), Study Break (open tab at Willies or Valhalla), and Partios (open bar and catering every Thursday night on the patio). These are great opportunities for you to take a study break, relax, and get to know your classmates and faculty.
These next two years will be what you make of them! Take the time to make lifelong friends/potential business partners and get involved! Although COVID-19 has put a wrench in some of our plans, please know the administration, faculty and staff are doing everything possible to make this a great experience for us, while keeping safety in mind.
Welcome to Rice Business and I look forward to getting to know each of you as you begin this next chapter in your professional journey.
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