MBA Class of 2004 Gets Oriented

Hailing from more than 25 countries, they traveled across oceans and time zones, from as far away as India and as close as Bethesda. Leaving behind loved ones, jobs, and friends, they came together in late summer to prepare for the challenges, rigors, and rewards of the Robert H. Smith School of Business MBA program.

For the 199 new full-time Smith MBAs, the academic year began August 19 with a weeklong orientation.

Kate Gallagher, Maryland and New York I am really impressed with the dean. It seems like everyone here is working really hard to make Maryland an excellent program.

The orientation is designed to get the first-year students psyched about the program, said Sabrina White, director of admissions for masters programs. We want to help them get to know each other right away and to make the transition from their former lives to the rigors of a demanding MBA program.

This years orientation was the brainchild of a committee led by Greg Deviny, Laura Grandy, and Cara Mattison, second-year Smith MBA students who responded to the challenge of developing an orientation from the students point of view.

Mattison said they designed the orientation program to model all parts of a successful MBA experiencebuilding professional skills, achieving academic excellence, managing the internship and job searches, and getting involved in the Smith community.

Chris Kerns, Bethesda Two thumbs up. Fine holiday fun.

New activities this year included a team-building day, a community service project, Ace the Case (a session on case analysis), and Putting Your Best Foot Forward, a session on representing Smith that included a fashion show.

On Tuesday, David Goldfarb (Smith 79), chief financial officer of Lehman Brothers, presented the keynote address on the importance of professional skills. Forgoing a tie and looking relaxed, Goldfarb got a laugh from the students in business dress by saying it was a pleasure to be the least dressed person in the room for a change.

Wadiya Penn, Philadelphia I am really enjoying myself. The team-building exercises are a good way to meet other students on a more personal level.

On a more serious note, Goldfarb drew from personal experience related to the September 11 terrorist attacks. Lehman Brothers Wall Street headquarters was evacuated and shut down for several days. He said it was the companys respect for cross-cultural perspectives, teamwork, communication, adaptability, project management, and other business skills that helped pull the company through this period.

Among the most exciting events were the Wednesday team-building exercises, complete with towering climbing platforms and other outdoor adventure structures.

Its a great way to get to know people, your classmates, said Claudia del Toro Reyes of the Dominican Republic. You can have fun before getting serious.

Jen-Yu Chang, Taiwan I am impressed with the orientation team leaders. They have done an outstanding job organizing this.

On Thursday, Smith faculty presented the core curriculum and also discussed the importance of ethical behavior. Faculty members and second-year students also joined to make the case for careful, scholarly preparation of case histories in classroom discussion. And on Friday, the new class got tips on marketing oneself and the Smith School in daily interactions. A trip to Camden Yards to see the Baltimore Orioles capped the day.

The orientation ended Saturday as the first-year students sorted and assembled food packages for the needy at the Capital Area Food Bank as a sign of their community commitment. In addition, spouses and significant others learned tips on how to survive and support their loved ones during the rigors of the two-year program.

I am just incredibly taken by how friendly and down-to-earth everyone is, said Tracy Gerstle of Washington, D.C.