Colin Johnson

Colin Johnson was drawn to Manhattan and Columbia University's Business School after working as a project and assistance engineer at Delphi Automotive in Lockport, New York for four years. Now concentrating on "learning from good professors," the Stanford University graduate says he hopes to either launch his own high-tech company or begin a career in finance. In the meantime, here are his words of wisdom for B-school novices...

Know Why You're There
If you're clear about your career goals, you can determine whether earning the highest grade in class is worth the stress. Balance is key. Business school is not only about academics, it is also about the people and education outside the classroom -- speakers, projects, etc. Your classmates constitute one of the most dynamic, accomplished groups of people you may ever meet. Getting to know them over the two years will likely contribute as much, if not more, to your long-term success than memorizing random factoids. Everything works out in the wash. Don't forget to enjoy yourself while learning.

Pack It In
An acquaintance once calculated that he spent about 55 hours a week outside of class on academics. If you think about the break down, a typical schedule might include 55 on studying, 15 on attending classes, 15 on the job search, 10 on club activities, 18 on socializing, and another 55 for all that is left over like sleeping and personal hygiene. In a week of 168 hours, 55 hours for "other" means eating, drinking, and sleeping squeezes into fewer than 8 hours a day.

Forget the Curve
Grading in the core courses is curved around a range of A to C [referred to as H (Honors), HP (High Pass) and P (Pass)]. Because performance is measured relative to one's cluster mates, one would think that there would be cutthroat competition. Instead, the amount of collaboration, teamwork, and willingness to help classmates succeed is extraordinary.

Only the career changers trying to get into banking or those interested in working at McKinsey worry about grades more than the rest because they fear it will come up in their interviews. The rest realize that when the curve is relative, it is not necessarily a measure of absolute achievement. When you're in a group of super stars, even the last in the pack is doing pretty well. I think this accounts for the strong esprit de corps.

Protect Your Reputation
Your reputation follows you through school and into the workforce. Unethical behavior or taking advantage of others will ruin your reputation. A person with lousy personal skills or who has no scruples will find him/herself alone when it is time to do team projects. As in business, being alone when the work requires a team can be very unpleasant.

Know Thyself
The pace in business school is too crazy to "find yourself" as some people could do in undergraduate. Instead, take the time to consider, based on your past experience, what you want from your next career. You may not be able to identify a specific job, career, or company that will offer this, but it will allow you to better filter through all the different temptations on campus. There is no way to go to all the presentations of all companies in all industries and still maintain your academic standing. Fight the temptation to join the herd.

Location, Location, Location
Because we are in Manhattan, we have a chance to regularly visit the firms located here in which we are most interested. To be able to jump on a subway, travel 25 minutes, have an informational interview with a contact or an alumni member, turn around and still make your afternoon class is a huge advantage.

Look Beyond Standard Recruiters
While the list of respected companies coming to campus to recruit grows daily, there are many that do not have formal recruiting programs. The Career Services Office has substantial information resources about non-traditional companies that hire MBAs. Fight the temptation to be spoon-fed only the typical companies who show up to interview. There is great support for those who don't find a perfect fit with the employers who come to our door step and who wish to conduct an individualized job search. The staff is at your service. Use them.

Escape It
New York City is not just the mecca of business, it is the city of stimulation. If burned out by accounting or finance, Riverside Park and Central Park are common decompression areas. St. John's Cathedral on 112th and Amsterdam (3 blocks down from the New Business/Law Building) is one of the most awe-inspiring man-made spaces in world. One step inside and worries tend to evaporate. New York City is great that way. A different world is only several blocks or a train-ride away.