5 Things To Do During Your First Week Back In Business School

By Sarah Christine Davis on January 6, 2016

This article is brought to you by Kaplan, the leader in test prep for over 90 standardized tests, including the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT.

Each new January that rolls around brings with it tons of resolutions, goals, and plans that will ideally lead to a successful new year. While they may not always play out as desired, it is still important to always have some kind of plan for reaching your goals.

Thus, as you begin a new semester in business school, it is imperative that you start off on the right foot. Here are five things that you can do during your first week back in classes at business school after the new year to help yourself achieve success.

1. Research your upcoming professors and read through the syllabi.

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Knowing what to expect right off the bat will help you ward off surprises. When you have security about what’s going to happen, you can act accordingly and make intelligent decisions. Rate My Professor is always an option for researching your professors. A more reliable option may be a professor rating website offered by your university. You can also find out more about your professors by asking your friends who are also in the business school or by posting on a Facebook group associated with your school. These days, this kind of information should be easy to obtain!

It’s also a good idea to look through the syllabus for each class before attending, even though the professor will probably go over it the first day. Most professors post information about their class online a few days before the first day of class. You will go in on the first day knowing exactly what to expect, and you won’t be shocked when the professor announces that there will be three major projects throughout the course of the semester.

2. Start speaking to job recruiters (or at least getting more information about them).

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It’s never too early to start your job search. According to Business Insider, “job recruitment begins shortly after you step onto campus and will consume a significant portion of your time.”

Starting early on will help to ensure that you’re not scrambling near the end. Your professors and administrators can be valuable resources to you when it comes to finding a job or finding other people to talk to about one. Working hard now on this will majorly pay off later.

3. Get yourself organized.

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This is a good thing to do before beginning the semester in general. Do a deep-clean of your room and work area, organize your desk, and buy any school supplies that you may possibly need throughout the semester. When you start off feeling put-together and like your life is organized, you’re less likely to slip up. You’ll also feel more confident in yourself and your ability to get the things done that you need to get done.

Some helpful ways to get organized include using a smartphone, calendar, and planner, keeping as many things off of your desk as possible, and making to-do lists every day. You should also record everything in your syllabus into your smartphone, calendar, and planner as soon as you know about it so that you’re sure to never forget about an assignment or meeting.

4. Have conversations with your classmates.

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There’s no better study buddy than a fellow classmate. They can also be less intimidating than the professor to speak to when you have a question about an assignment or something in the reading. It’s also just great to have someone to look forward to seeing every time you go to class. The first week of classes is the best time to foster valuable connections with your classmates. Speak to the friendly face next to you, and it’s sure to pay off. Who knows? Maybe you’ll make yourself a new friend!

5. Set aside some time to yourself.

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Business school is stressful, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. You won’t be able to be a productive business school student without your mental health. Set aside some time to do things that make you feel happy or help you relax. Write in a journal once a day, go on a jog, drink some tea while reading through the news; whatever works for you. By taking care of yourself, you’re ensuring that you have a strong starting base so that your hard work pays off.

Learn more about Kaplan’s test prep options and start building the confidence you need for Test Day.

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