Fall recruiting is beginning to ebb, a second round of midterm exams is coming to a close, and Thanksgiving is less than three weeks away. After two and a half months of frantic rushing around and playing a seemingly sisyphean game of catch-up, I am seem to be getting the fall semester under control. With a summer and more than half a semester gone, here are a few big-view observations about my first academic semester in the MPA program.

The fall semester is front-loaded:  In terms of time commitment and importance, the first month is the most significant of the semester, probably the most significant of the program.  Most of the key foundation-laying material in the accounting classes is taught in the first month.  Accordingly, there is a huge chunk of homework doled out in the first few weeks of class.  Students who are enrolled in 2-credit Finance classes will have their first graded quiz within ten days.  The first round of exams, including the first  intermediate exam–it’s a monster–come four weeks into semester.   

At the same time, recruiting is already in full swing by the end of August.  First are the meet-and-greets, where firms hold information sessions about their available positions and offices.  Then there are the actual job application deadlines and first round interviews, which generally fall between September and the first week of October. 

But, by the end of October, all of a sudden life seems a lot more manageable.  Almost all of the first round interviews have drawn to a close.  The lion’s share of the course material in each class has been covered, the amount and frequency of graded assignments drops off and the first quarter’s 2-credit finance classes are finished.   This is a good time to finally catch-up on coursework that has fallen to the side.                 

Prioritizing = sacrificing:  The first exams of the semester and first round of interviews are almost always smushed into the same two weeks at the end of September and the beginning of October.  Preparing for interviews is a huge time commitment, requiring a fair amount of company research and interview prep, and since one or more exams will unfailingly land on interview day, ugly choices begin to emerge.  “What’s more important, giving a good interview or getting an passing grade on the Finance exam?” 

Tales of woe flow freely in the MPA Lounge where people try to one-up each other as to who has the most sympathy-inducing schedule:

Student one: I have interviews Monday and Wednesday, two exams on Wednesday, and two on Thursday.        

Student two:  Oh yeah?  I have two interviews Monday and three exams on Wednesday!

Student three:  Well, I have three exams and two interviews, all on Tuesday!

Students one and two: [awed silence]

Light at the end of the tunnel:  Luckily, learning how to do five hours of work in two hours of time pays off at the end of the semester when all of the efficiencies that have been built into the daily routine (who needs 30 minutes for lunch?) combine with a reduced recruiting schedule and a lighter course load to yield more free time, less stress, and better engagement with class.   I hope this trend carries through to the holidays and into the next year!