Top 10 things to do in your first year as a Rotman MBA

10. Get involved, meet people and get sucked into the world of Rotman
9. Study, study, study.
8. Hang out with people - more relationships (genuine friendships) you have, the more the whole experience is worth all the study, study, study.
7. Perfect your resume/cover letter writing skills. Remember your resume is never "finished."
6. Sacrifice study time to meet industry people - they may be your boss one day!
5. Read the business press. If you are taking an MBA hopefully it interests you to start with.
4. Practice time management skills (you simply cannot do it all, so pick and choose!)
3. Prepare enough for everything that is IMPORTANT so that whatever happens, you don't regret not giving it your all.
2. Avoid studying in the fishbowl. Otherwise it will become your mailing address, mix it up.

And the number one thing to do.....

1. Go somewhere fun for spring break. A little R&R and a sun tan go a long way to making the final haul of Q4 not look so scary. The break is well-deserved and much needed, so take advantage of the time off.

As you can probably guess, just back from Mayan Riviera in Mexico, after a restful week of R&R. Have a lovely sun tan, and slept more in the past week, than the previous 2 (if not 3) weeks combined. Managed the best of both worlds with a little family time and traveling with some friends. Personally - I didn't want a party week, and took the time to rest, contemplate the difficult decision of which pool to camp out at for the day and caught up on some non-academic reading.

Some of our class hit the slopes, others headed to Vegas or home to wherever they hail from, a couple of Caribbean trips and a scattering of Mexico sun searchers too. Some ventured to NYC, Chicago or Montreal for a different city scene. Whatever you can swing, be it sunny Mexico, Niagara Falls or a home-cooked meal with the folks. Take a break!

That is my two cents for the day! More to come later, have prep for the Latin America Study Tour that is capturing my interest daily! Brazil & Argentina here I come!