Student Clubs

The Rotman clubs fair held earlier this month showcased all of the student run clubs offered at the school. Though most clubs had names like "The Risk Management Club" or "The Management Consulting Club" my initial thoughts were that they would be a great excuse to go drinking with other people in the program. It was, however, when I saw that everybody at the fair was dressed in suits, that my mind quickly changed. I can tell you that most of these clubs serve the purpose of preparing students to find jobs in a particular sector of the business world.

Each club brings prominent leaders from the business community to provide presentations and networking opportunities to students. Many clubs offer activities such as case competitions, start-up challenges and interview training. Though it sounds like a little more work than drinking beer, these skills are invaluable. As somebody with immense experience with question-based interviews, preparing for role-specific and case-based interviews will improve my marketability.

Each club has a kick-off meeting which provides new members with a chance to meet executives and learn about events. Most clubs spend a good amount of time scaring members by telling them that it's almost impossible to find internships in the particular industry that the club represents. That shouldn't be news to anyone in an MBA program.

The sports teams are also competitive. As Rotman has to compete for limited spots in the larger UofT league, the faculty has to hold tryouts. I personally can't compete due to injury, but I will drop into a few tryouts to scope out the competition and provide some updates.

Long gone are the days when you can play with blocks until noon and then take a nap. How I miss those blocks.