Entering college, there is no shortage of advice. Family teachers, friends, experts: they’re happy to share their wisdom. Don’t fall behind. Ask for help. Eat right. Try new things.
Of course, there is always the old standby: Nothing good happens after midnight.
Come Christmas, freshmen understand such advice is surface level, quaint even. In the end, the biggest lessons stem from their own mistakes: the squandered time, missed opportunities, and head-scratching decisions forever etched in their minds. Along with hard-earned experience, the best advice comes from peers who endured the same challenges and came out better.
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND GET MOVING
Hali Jama, University of Wisconsin
Hali Jama is certainly qualified to dish out advice to future students. A 2025 graduate of the Wisconsin Business School, Jama is a first-generation student who majored in Marketing and International Business. During her four years in Madison, she co-founded a club for Somali students and another focused on business fashion. At the same time, she interned for IBM and Orion, completed a fellowship with L’Oréal, and participated in summits hosted by Google, Kohl’s, and ADM. She even began sharing career advice online, attracting 110,000 followers and launching a coaching venture where sessions are booked months in advance.
Like many coaches, Jama trades in time-worn wisdom like “What you put in is what you get out.” Looking back on her own experience, Jama would counsel students to “take a leap” and face fear head-on.
“Chase that seemingly wild business idea. Go to networking events and actually talk to people. Build genuine relationships. Use your university’s resources, even the ones you think you don’t need. Apply for the internship you think you’re unqualified for. Put yourself in rooms where you feel a little intimidated; those are the spaces where you’ll grow the most.”
Now ticketed to work at Nielsen as a research analyst, Jama adds that students have no time to waste in making the most of their time in business school.
“Your future self depends on the work you put in now. So bet on yourself, invest in yourself, and show up for yourself. You won’t regret it.”
Jama isn’t alone in telling college students how to do more and be more. This spring, Poets&Quants asked 100 Best & Brightest Business Majors to share the advice they wished they’d received before starting business school. From pursuing versatility to following their own path, here are 18 practices that top seniors adopted to make the most of their business school experience.
1) Start Early: “Talk to everyone. People are willing to help, and it’s all about building up a network and finding out what it is that interests you. Business is an extremely varied field of study. There will be things you do, and things you don’t like. In that way it’s like life. So, try things! Get comfortable with failure, because there’s no better way to learn.”
Sam Beal, College of William & Mary (Mason)
2) Slow Down and Be Present: “In a business program, it’s easy to get caught up in the next big opportunity. While it’s important to be ambitious and forward-thinking, sometimes business students can be too focused on what’s next that we forget to step back and appreciate where we are.
Some of the most valuable lessons in business school come not just from classes or recruiting, but from relationships you build and unexpected experiences you have. Take time to explore different areas of business beyond what you think you “should” do. The people you meet during these years will be part of your network long after graduation, so make sure to invest in those relationships just as much as you do in your resume. College flies by, and while the career part matters, so do the friendships and spontaneous memories that only come from being present and saying yes.”
Arushi Ranasaria, Washington University (Olin)
Carson Breus, University of Virginia (McIntire)
3) Get Involved in Entrepreneurship Early: “Even if you’re not interested in starting your own company, engaging with innovation hubs in college will help you develop a strong business acumen. I started interning with CAV Angels my first year, and the early exposure to investing in UVA’s entrepreneurial ecosystem solidified my desire to pursue a career in business. In addition, I served as the inaugural Student Ambassador for The Jefferson Trust, an organization that allocates $1.5 million dollars annually to fund initiatives that will enhance the student experience. In that role, I offered the student perspective on grant requests ranging from $30,000-$300,000 and witnessed firsthand the substantial impact the Trust had on our community. These experiences not only deepened my understanding of business, but also made me feel more connected to UVA.”
Carson Breus, University of Virginia (McIntire)
4) Apply What You Learn: “Use your time in school to build something that lasts. College feels busy, but it’s one of the best times to take risks and create something meaningful. Whether it’s launching a business, mastering a skill, or building relationships that open doors, use the resources around you to create long-term value.”
Coursework provides the foundation, but true success comes from applying what you learn in ways that align with your interests and goals. Some students start businesses that they continue building after graduation; others develop expertise or side projects that support their careers. Whatever you choose, take advantage of this unique time to explore, create, and position yourself for the future.”
Michael Acquaah-Harrison, Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper)
5) Build Your Network: “You’ll hear this often in business school, but it’s true: your network is your net worth. Making meaningful connections with peers, professors, and co-workers is the best investment you can make in your early career. Do not take anyone for granted; you will always have something to learn from the people you meet, and you never know when your connections can lead to exciting opportunities.”
Wednesday Satterlee, USC (Marshall)
“During an alumni panel in my practicum class, one of the guests, Max Muskat, said, “Your network is your net worth,” and that has stuck with me ever since. When asked what he meant by that, he shared that building relationships and connecting with people is a superpower and that not many people understand the importance of networking. My biggest piece of advice would be to spend time connecting with other people in your classes, your professors, and industry professionals, because you never know who these people may become one day, and building a genuine relationship goes a long way.
“It’s not just about building the relationship but, more importantly, maintaining it. Following up with individuals after connecting, setting aside scheduled meetings to catch up, and sending personalized, handwritten thank-you cards are all small yet intentional efforts that go a long way in strengthening relationships and building trust. Beyond that, networking is more than just your career, it’s about creating meaningful connections that can open doors you never even knew existed. The people you meet today could become your mentors, business partners, or biggest advocates in the future. And sometimes, the most unexpected connections lead to the most life-changing opportunities. Your network isn’t just your net worth, it’s the foundation of the career and life you build.”
Kassidy Allen, Texas Christian University (Neeley)
Daniel Babalola, Wharton School
6) Diversify Your Skillset: “Approaching your degree with any form of rigidity won’t serve you well. In my experience as a TA in business communication, one of the overarching themes is, “Business communication is about getting things done.” I believe that sentiment should shape how students approach a business major. For all your specialization, your goal is ultimately to become a Swiss army knife who can adapt to any problem, because “business” is cross-functional in nature. Doing this effectively requires a high level of intellectual curiosity. Follow your sparks of inspiration as often as you do your four-year roadmap.”
Daniel Babalola, Wharton School
“Just as it is important to diversify your portfolio in finance, I think it is equally important to diversify your own personal skill portfolio. Business is an integration of many existing and upcoming dynamic fields. The more you can learn about various paths within business, the more you can equip yourself to seek out exciting career opportunities. Joining a variety of business organizations, taking high-impact classes, and seeking out mentors in professors will allow you to discover aspects of business that you may not otherwise have known about. Don’t focus on taking the “traditional” route in college. Rather, be open to creating a path that is unique to you even if it can feel daunting at times. Mays Business School specifically provides so many of these opportunities and it is important to challenge yourself in them, even if it might not be exactly what you were planning on pursuing in the future.”
Pravalika Manchi, Texas A&M (Mays)
“There are so many different career paths that one can take related to business. I would advise students to be open to trying different things and avoid stressing too much about not knowing what they want to do. In my opinion, it is better to have done many things and know what you don’t want to do than to silo yourself because you’re afraid to be late to the game. However, once you find something that you love, dive deep into it. Being passionate about something is a wonderful gift!”
Alexander Talamonti, New York University (Stern)
7) Explore Everything: “Don’t take a single option off the table until you find something that you’re genuinely passionate about. While I always knew I wanted to enter the supply chain field, I have gone through at least three double majors. It’s natural to have an idea of what you want to do, but it’s equally important to remain open to other options that might be out of your frame of reference. One of the most common things I’ve heard from experienced professionals is that your career is rarely linear. Often times, people end up in professions that they never would’ve imagined. Sometimes, the more valuable lesson comes from discovering what you don’t like rather than what you do.”
Brianna Norwood, University of Illinois (Gies)
“I don’t think anyone truly knows what they want to do professionally until years into their career. Because of that, my biggest piece of advice would be to find the one field within business that interests you the most as early as possible in your college career and jump all in. If you go in one direction for a few semesters or a summer and then realize that path isn’t for you, switching your focus is not a big deal and is often times beneficial in the long run. The great thing about business is that it is all-encompassing, and there are so many transferrable skills from one facet to the other. For lack of a better analogy, the more tools you can add to your tool kit, the better. As long as you are learning, you are growing and learning what you don’t want to do is just as important as learning what you do want to do.”
Haley Hanks, University of North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)
