Parties in the fall
January 10, 2010 – 2:40 amThe third semester was extremely busy. In 2008, when the program started, I heard some people say that it gets less busy in the second year, and the further you, go the less there is to do. None of this is true.
What happens is you get more efficient at managing time, handling multiple tasks at hand, and you have a broader tool set to tackle the problems. Since you get so much better at managing all the work, there is suddenly more time for other things, and so eventually these ‘other things’ creep into your schedule and you end up very busy. However, since the second year at Wharton is all electives, the academic experience is more enjoyable than the first year.
Enough about academics. The fall semester at Wharton is the time for several traditional parties. Everything starts with the Canada Club’s Red party. Then there is the Foam Party (dancing at the Shampoo club), the White Party (everyone dresses in white), the Walnut Walk (ridiculously funny: the whole school puts on underwear and a formal top, and hits the bars on Walnut street in this shape and form). In November, Wharton Follies traditionally organize the Toga Party (participants are supposed to wear togas), but this year it was somewhat of a disaster. One event that seems to always be immensely popular with Wharton MBA’s is the Winter Ball – it is expensive ($80 per person), but very fun, and unlike the Toga Party, the event sold out this year. And of course, there is Pub every Thursday, and Second Year Drinks every Wednesday.
On top of that, there are Cohort events: my cohort went out for Karaoke, and we also got together for a huge Christmas party. Plus, there are dinners with friends and lunches with professors (Wharton has this awesome program where the school subsidizes lunches with professors if they agree to meet for lunch with students).
Clubs have their own traditional events, e.g. Greater China Club organizes a dinner for the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the RuMBA (Russian-speaking MBA’s) division of the Europa Club throws a traditional potluck mid-November. The Wine club meets regularly for a lot of wine and cheese… the list is endless.
Lauder has two traditional events in the fall: Day On the Beach (we spend a weekend in the beginning of the semester on Jersey shore not far from Atlantic City) and the Secret Santa celebration in December.
This school is a fun place that provides tons of opportunities for socializing. We work very hard, and we party just as hard after the work is done.