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Pro
OP, you should definitely express to your classmates your dissatisfaction with the choices they are making, shame them for acting in irresponsible way, and use yourself as an example to model appropriate behavior during the pandemic.
I am sure your networking opportunities will sky-rocket after this.
Ha! I’m sure 😂
Drop out? Honestly, you shouldn’t care what your classmates do just because you are uncomfortable. When the pandemic first started, I stayed home for 60 days, didn’t even go out for a walk. But, that was just my preference. My friends kept meeting up during this time. I finally ventured out after I was ready-90 days from March. I understand FOMO, but let your classmates live.
OP, makes sense. In that case, I would focus on socialising with your teams and then expand beyond that. Go to zoom happy hours, set on 1-on-1s. I mentioned dropping out only because if it’s not worth paying for this experience, you shouldn’t have to.
Pro
Don’t worry about it. If you just began, you have plenty of opportunities to network later. You wouldn’t feel good leaving and socializing if you were uncomfortable, either. Take care of yourself and prioritize yourself.
Most B schools have a slack group. I would suggest if you want to meet people, you have to put yourself out there and make an effort while also doing things within your own comfort zone. Put a message in your slack, stating your preferred comfort levels and try to meet people of the same level. My bf just started and in the beginning they did small happy hours (tables of 6) at an outdoor patio, or meetings in a local park where people could social distance and wear a mask.. B school this year is going to rely a lot more on people self organizing activities, as the large group things are not going to be in place. If you want to have an activity that meets your comfort level, take the initiative and organize it yourself
I keep telling myself that this is the right thing to do (I’ve been sheltering in place since March), but I can’t help but feel like I’m losing out on a ton and due to become a social pariah if I don’t move to the city and start hanging out (even if in moderation - I definitely don’t plan to travel or visit others’ homes). I’m also trying not to judge my classmates but that’s getting increasingly tough.
I already have a job lined up post-graduation, so fortunately, there’s at least not any direct job pressure. Just developing a network and making friends, which are tougher via Zoom. I knew the trade-offs when I made the choice to stay home but I’m just starting to question the decision.
Thanks for all the helpful advice, ladies! Some great food for thought here. Appreciate the empathy and feedback.