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Greetings from the miracle of a city-state that is Singapore! Having survived the first two semesters of the program, we MIB-ers are now spreading out all over the world to live our summers to the fullest, the MIB way! I’m based in Singapore while my other fellow classmates are scattered in Tokyo, Taiwan, Munich, Berlin, (and not to forget all over Europe in exhilarating Euro-trips).
And in response to the effortlessly insightful and well-written article by my schoolmate Leo, informing the incoming MOF students about what to expect for the next journey of their lives, here is the counterpart list for the MIB cohort.
Tackling the first semester
The first semester is meant to setting the business foundation for your Master education of the next two years, so be prepared for quite a hectic and challenging semester brushing up on your knowledge of Economics, Finance, Management, Statistics and Accounting (this one especially a steep learning curve for me). Of course as Leo rightly points out, how much of a challenge this semester is going to be for you would depend on your academic background. Since the MIB class is a very diverse group (Full disclosure: we ace the gender and internationality ratio despite being the smallest program), with neither Business nor Finance a prerequisite for program admission, some of us from non-traditional background such as Engineering and Social Sciences might stumble a bit. But no worries, speaking from my own experience, MIB-ers are particularly notorious for going the extra mile to help one another out, and you will have plenty of group study sessions during the finals season. Therefore, go to classes, enjoy your new friendships and you will be fine.
That being said, one tip for going through this semester with a whirl is: (and this is my one true secret sauce;) Be sure to make a lot of friends from the MOF group as well. Besides the fact that all they ever talk about is finance, so you will realize how interesting and diverse we MIB-ers are, your wonderful MOF friends will also always come in handy as your free tutors on the confusing number matters.
Breezing through the second leg of the MIB journey
After going through the first eventful semester, you could now embrace yourself for a fun learning adventure ahead. The 2nd semester would start right away with a packed trip to Geneva, where we visit arguably the most important international institutions in the world. The rest of the semester will drill you on the softer skills, so be prepared for lots of class presentations and group work.
Key tip for this semester: always look out and be open to new opportunities! This is the semester to participate in business games and conferences outside of FS, where you would have the chance to polish on your skills, satisfy your competitive nature and make new friends and connections.
Since Frankfurt is such a banking city, should I worry about finding job opportunities, being non-finance focused?
There is no denial that most of the student jobs posted will be heavy on the finance side. That being said, a lot of the MIB classmates do work in Finance and Consulting and there are plenty of other business offers as well. Learning German is extremely helpful, though there are always some other truly ‘international’ opportunities where English is the only language requirement. Again, keep looking out for opportunities and I think that employers do appreciate the softer side of business that we MIB-ers are geared at, in terms of cultural exposure and nuanced relationship management. Proof being, I even had to regrettably turn down a few offers in Frankfurt in exchange for the faraway option in Singapore for the summer, after initially going through quite a rough period of rejections. We all will have to go through this pain at some point. When it comes to finding an opportunity in such a competitive environment, the key is to persevere and don’t ever despair. Frankfurt and Germany seem to be a big enough pie for everyone.
What to expect about your German fellows
Yes, stereotypes are there for a reason. Beside the usual borers such as the Germans do indeed know their beer and sausage, expect your German pals to also work extremely hard, be very disciplined and professional, yet do play hard as well. They would attend classes for half the week, work the other half, and study-cum-party during weekends. Most of them already started working since their Bachelor’s years, so your German friends would tend to carry a certain air of maturity and professionalism. It could be very intimidating at first; but hey, we are all here to learn! So learn the best from them.
Finally, to all the incoming international folks
This might seem redundant, but don’t forget to stay who you are! Being thrown into new water might be disorienting at first, and there would be some scuffles or low points along the way. You all choose Frankfurt school for a reason, and you will not regret your decision. If you are ever overwhelmed, (or driven to helplessness at the Bürgeramt), talk to your classmates. They would be the best companions and contacts you could ever ask for, accompanying you in each and every step of your MIB journey.
Next step,
We the senior MIB class are already excited to head out soon to our corners of the world for two weeks, according to our regional specialization. Will come back with a lot more tales to get you guys excited about China, Brazil and Kenya! For MIB-ers, the world is our oyster.
Talk to me if you still wanna hear more about how great and awesome an experience MIB would be for you and how to truly *make the best* out of your time here in Frankfurt. I cannot promise an unbiased opinion, since I am already too infatuated with the German way of life, but I do know where the best spots for lunch around Frankfurt school are.
Frankfurt School gGmbH
Adickesallee 32-34
60322 Frankfurt am Main
13 August, 2015