Handling Deadlines & Assignments

Step 1:

Take a deep breath. This is going to feel overwhelming. There will always be a lot going on and it may take some time to learn how to handle it.

First, it’s important to realize that this is a professional program and will be different than undergrad. Marks serve a much different purpose in the MBA and the variability in the class may be less than what you are used to.

If you want great marks, cool! We were known as one of the more academically focused cohorts in a while. Just make sure that the time and effort you put in, aligns with your goals and is not just for the sake of it.

Step 2:

Making a list of what assignments are due in the first period will take a lot of time upfront but will help so much when you’re in the thick of it.

Some students from our class built a sticky note calendar in the lounge so that everyone would know what is coming up.

This leads to our most important piece of advice: UBC recruits for a certain kind of attitude. We are known as one of the friendliest and cooperative MBA programs for good reason.

Here you don’t succeed by stepping on other people but by lifting each other up. Lean on your friends and classmates for help and advice they’re your best resource.

We are students for 16 months, but you will be friends and colleagues for the rest of our lives.

Step 3:

The last piece is figuring out how you want to spend your time and how much time you will dedicate to each assignment and project.

This program is intentionally designed to feel challenging; it is an intensive experience. You will feel stretched, so make sure you think about your time and relationships so that you can undergo sustained growth. You also won’t have time to make each hand-in perfect… it is all about finding out where your tolerance for diminishing returns is. Leave time to go to the gym, hang out with your new friends, or explore the city. This is crucial to keeping you sane and building those important connections.