Week 11: Do relationships and MBAs mix?

Week 11: July 20,2024

Do relationships and MBAs mix?

Andrea,

As a four year "survivor" of a long-distance MBA relationship (two for my husband's and two for mine), we regularly asked ourselves the question "do relationships and MBAs mix?"

There is certainly no one right answer; it is a deeply personal issue that depends on your partner, circumstances, and many other factors unique for you. However, after asking students and recent MBA graduates who had maintained relationships throughout business school to share tips, we gathered some great advice that will help you find the right balance in many of your own relationships. Our goal this week is to prompt self-exploration and discussions with your partner (or other key relationships you want to prioritize during your MBA) to maximize your happiness during your upcoming school journey.

You will note that sections below relate to both single and non-single people, because everyone has relationships that they need to maintain!

The 100 Week Sprint team

To-do's this week

Got 5 minutes? Set a date in the calendar for a regular time to connect with your partner and/or friends & family.

Got 30 minutes? Figure out how to coordinate your calendar with a partner and/or friends & family. Setting up a joint calendar in Google Calendar or other online resource.

Got an hour? Explore partner clubs and resources at your school, and choose one activity to do with your partner.

First, for all the single ladies (and men)

If you're starting school as a single person, you may feel relieved at not having to worry about anyone else's success or happiness during these two years. However, a lot of the information below will apply to your efforts to keep up relationships with close friends and family members (who will be vital to your mental health in much the same way a spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend would be)!

MBA relationships: expectations vs. reality

We're not going to sugarcoat it: the MBA is sometimes referred to as "the divorce degree." While it's impossible to pin down how many relationships do not survive business school, there are plenty of anecdotes that suggest that an MBA presents real challenges to relationships.

However, there are also stories of how couples have grown tremendously during that same period. We took a survey of past clients who reflected on how they kept their relationships alive in b-school. We hope the following ideas will be helpful to you and your partner as you prepare for the upcoming transition.

The most consistent piece of feedback (for everyone): set expectations! Not going home over the holidays because you are heading to another continent? If you think someone might be expecting you at "home" (wherever that is), let them know early.

Read on for the biggest challenges and surprises from current students in relationships!

Advice from MBA students and partners

Are you starting a long-distance relationship? Are you unsure of how b-school will change your relationship? Want to help your partner, but don't know how?

Click here to learn from the wisdom of MBA relationship veterans.

Click here for specific tips from veterans of long-distance relationships.

Getting your partner off to a great start

Going into the MBA as a couple is an adjustment for both parties. For you, the MBA candidate a lot of the initial orientation processes are formally outlined, but not so much for your partner. A good first step is to research clubs and activities for partners and families. We've listed some school-specific resources below. Making introductions to partners of your classmates is also highly recommended. Check out these tips from a Kellogg spouse and from couples at UC Berkeley.

School-specific resources

Booth: Booth Partners
Columbia: Partner's Club
GSB: GSB Partners Club
Haas: Haas Partners Club
HBS: Partners Club, Crimson Parents' Program
INSEAD: Partners and Families
Kellogg: Joint Ventures, Kellogg Kids
LBS: Partner's Club
Ross: Partners Club at Ross, International Partners at Ross, Partners and Littles
Sloan: Significant Others of Sloan (SOS) Club, MIT Spouses & Partners Connect
Stern: Stern Partners, Students With Children
Tuck: Tuck Partners Club
Wharton: Wharton Partners Club

Read on for school-specific tips from current students and alumni.

Wellness Break (from our friends at HumanlyWell)

Journaling for Mental and Physical Health

Writing is a way to organize our thoughts and make sense of stressful experiences and map out plans, ideas, or goals. Studies show journaling is also a powerful tool we can use to reduce blood pressure, strengthen the immune system, improve mood and emotional regulation, enhance working memory and focus, and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Start with the SMART Goals framework. If you’re wondering what you should write about, here are a few prompts to try to get you started!

1. What are your top three goals this month?

2. What habits will you implement to achieve these goals?

3. What personal values do these goals align to?

4. What are three things that made you feel good today? *They don’t have to be results driven*

5. What are 5 things you take pride in?

Start with only 2-minutes, 3 days per week

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