By Naveen Raj, MBA Class of 2016

I can’t believe that I am preparing for final exams just two months after joining the MBA program. The first two months have passed in a flash and the first module will be over in a week.

We have two modules per semester, five courses in the first module, and eight classes of two hours each in a week during the first module. Two hours may sound very long for a few of us, but the classes are so full of energy that I did not realize how time flew. Smeal College of Business has faculty who set very high standards in terms of achievement and commitment. One of the defining characteristics of the faculty members in this Mod has been to invoke thoughts in the students by giving them real life examples. Most professors here have decades of industry experience. My colleagues in the classroom also possess loads of experience in diverse industries. Both my professors and classmates share their experiences relevant to the topic being discussed and this is what makes the learning experience so good. I get to understand different perspectives for a topic that we discuss in class. This has really helped me to think differently.

The learning in classrooms happens not only by sharing experiences but also by participating in many individual and team based activities. The professors closely monitor our performance and behavior during these activities and help us learn from our mistakes. We have many quizzes and tests that are conducted on a regular basis to help us assess ourselves on where we stand. The professors also involve our seniors, the second year MBA students, in some of our activities to give us an idea of where students usually make mistakes and how to correct them early on.

Yes! I will not be seeing, as often, some of the faculty members, towards whom I have developed a liking, but I am looking forward to meeting more professors in the next module. So much has happened in these two months, so many new things learned, new friends made, new possibilities explored. I see this as a great start to an awesome journey ahead of me.

I have learned many things in this period. Most important of all, I have enjoyed learning here.