|
Social Life Survey |
| Full-time MBA program |
The B-school has a large, elevated private patio that serves as the hub
of social activities. Most happy hour outings start as a mixer on the
patio with all the MBA students, their wives, and children as
applicable. The festivities then usually move on to a local bar, or to
the French Quarter which is about 45 minutes away via Streetcar. New
Orleans also has some of the best restaurants in the world.
Given the small size of the b-school classes (around 100 per intake),
you will get to know virtually every student in your particular class.
You will develop a very tight bond during your two years in the
program. There are few overachievers looking to one-up their fellow
students, so the competition factor does not detract from the
experience. My class was a very close, supportive group. We all had
widely divergent career aspirations, but with a genuine interest on
where our fellow classmates were trying to go.
New Orleans itself is unique in the U.S. in that open containers of
alcohol are permitted outside. It is the most European of all U.S.
cities. For the native U.S. students, this means more self discipline
and restraint is required initially as the drinks flow freely around the
clock. It takes time to adjust to the more open culture of drinking in
the city. It takes even more time to re-adjust when you leave New
Orleans and find yourself stuck in a bar elsewhere in the States having
to finish your beer BEFORE leaving the establishment!
At all but the most exclusive restaurants, reservations are not
accepted. You will become accustomed to getting a cocktail (preferably
a Daiquiri) and striking up a conversation with locals and tourists
alike while waiting in line for a table. Initially this drill is
annoying, but you come to appreciate it as one of the nuances of New
Orleans life.
Mardi Gras is worth a look and is a lot of fun the first time around.
However the crowds and the chaos will likely drive you out of the city
in your 2nd Year to find a quieter way to spend the two holidays you get
for Fat Tuesday. Jazz Fest is quite the opposite. You can never get
enough of New Orleans' outdoor jazz festival. Lots of good music of all
varieties in a civil, family-friendly atmosphere. Make time for these
events as they add to the overall academic experience. They also make
good conversation starters when pumping recruiters and making networking
calls during the job search. You will be surprised at how interested an
otherwise disconnected interviewer will become when you mention you have
been to Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
All in all, New Orleans is unique unto itself. Together, the city and
Tulane provide a total package that is hard to beat for an MBA
experience.
|
|
Tulane University (Freeman) Admission & Application Surveys
