The Core: You're Gonna Make It
By Thomas "Bucky" Jencks JGSM '10
Issue date: 9/9/09 Section: Features
Nine times out of ten, alums will bring up The Core as the first thing they remember about the Johnson School. The other one out of ten will lead off by reminiscing about Roni Michaely. The Core, as everyone is taught to believe, is about living to see another day. Johnson faculty, staff, and students frequently throw around the overused epithet "surviving the Core" to instill a strong sense of apprehension in new students as a means to perpetuate the long-standing legend that the Core is God's evil and necessary gift to the Johnson School curriculum. I imagine, as I experienced the same sentiment this time last year, that many first years are asking themselves, "Why in Hell did I choose a school that fosters the notion of killing its students immediately upon arrival? Why didn't I go to Darden, Tuck or Kellogg or some other good school that I got into?" Funny enough, a major reason you are at Cornell is because of what the Core provides. It is true that the Core is the most challenging semester at the Johnson School, but it is also true that for many it is the best semester at the Johnson School. In speaking with other second years about our experiences in the Core we collectively arrived at one important personal revelation: we wished we had realized the value of the Core while going through it. Additionally, we decided on three key pieces of advice for the first years that are not revelations by any stretch of the word, but are important to keep in mind as the semester progresses: 1) Stay the course; 2) This is the most fulfilling semester at the Johnson School; 3) The Core boils down to what each individual makes of it.
Stay the Course
There is no doubt that there will be periods of stress and feelings that there is not enough time in the day to get the work done, but in the end the work always gets done. It is important to remember that you need some time away from all that is going on and therefore ensure that you make time to work out, play golf, get drunk, or whatever it is that you enjoy doing. While the corporate briefings and events alike are important to attend, do not get hung up on attending every single happening. Similarly, do not get involved in clubs just for the sake of having them on your resumé. Clubs will take up valuable time, therefore be certain you have an interest or passion in the club before joining. Lastly, if the job search is not going as well as you would have hoped, note that most if not all of the second years received their internships in the second semester with many landing their jobs in the fourth quarter. Things tend to heat up after Winter Break, so once again stay the course.
The Core is Fulfilling
You will constantly hear the word "fit" over the course of the next two years. In most cases it will be in reference to companies and jobs and if you fit with the company. It is Randall's job to ensure that everyone who gets into the Johnson School fits with the Johnson School. There are 270 of you with a diverse array of backgrounds that will have the fortune over the next three months to learn from each other. Ensure that this happens and ensure that you make the effort to meet your classmates as your peers will be your colleagues, coworkers and friends after leaving Ithaca.
It is important to stretch yourself and try new things. Whether it is writing for the Cornell Business Journal (note that this is a plug that you should write for the Cornell Business Journal) or taking a class on public speaking despite your fear of being in front of people, it is important that you step outside of your "comfort zone." In doing so, the Core will better prepare you for your job search and eventually for the real world.
Make the Most of It
It is in everyone's best interest that you succeed at the Johnson School. The school wants you to succeed, the students want you to succeed, and you want you to succeed. For this to happen it is paramount that you determine what is best for you; after all, you are spending your own money on business school. You will add the most value for yourself, the school, and its affiliates by carving out your own niche and differentiating yourself from your peers. Do not get swayed by what other individuals are or are not doing; it is irrelevant in the greater context of what you are trying to achieve. Set lofty goals and leverage all the resources the Johnson School has to offer to attain those goals, and do it in a way that is only authentic to you.
The first semester at the Johnson School is when you take a deep dive into the subject matter that you hoped to gain knowledge in when you made the decision to go to business school. It is when you will make many strong and lasting relationships because there are 270 of you enjoying the same experiences. And most importantly it is when you will learn quite a bit about yourself with regard to how hard you can push yourself and what it means to prioritize your time. Rather than looking back on the Core one year from today and realizing how great it was, I encourage you to embrace it and be grateful for it now. Rather than complain about the four hour group meetings, the case studies, or the presentations, I encourage you to consider that the uncomfortable situations you are experiencing are the exact reasons you are here. You came to Cornell wanting to learn and grow. The Core offers the great opportunity to maximize that growth depending on how much you choose to learn.
Stay the Course
There is no doubt that there will be periods of stress and feelings that there is not enough time in the day to get the work done, but in the end the work always gets done. It is important to remember that you need some time away from all that is going on and therefore ensure that you make time to work out, play golf, get drunk, or whatever it is that you enjoy doing. While the corporate briefings and events alike are important to attend, do not get hung up on attending every single happening. Similarly, do not get involved in clubs just for the sake of having them on your resumé. Clubs will take up valuable time, therefore be certain you have an interest or passion in the club before joining. Lastly, if the job search is not going as well as you would have hoped, note that most if not all of the second years received their internships in the second semester with many landing their jobs in the fourth quarter. Things tend to heat up after Winter Break, so once again stay the course.
The Core is Fulfilling
You will constantly hear the word "fit" over the course of the next two years. In most cases it will be in reference to companies and jobs and if you fit with the company. It is Randall's job to ensure that everyone who gets into the Johnson School fits with the Johnson School. There are 270 of you with a diverse array of backgrounds that will have the fortune over the next three months to learn from each other. Ensure that this happens and ensure that you make the effort to meet your classmates as your peers will be your colleagues, coworkers and friends after leaving Ithaca.
It is important to stretch yourself and try new things. Whether it is writing for the Cornell Business Journal (note that this is a plug that you should write for the Cornell Business Journal) or taking a class on public speaking despite your fear of being in front of people, it is important that you step outside of your "comfort zone." In doing so, the Core will better prepare you for your job search and eventually for the real world.
Make the Most of It
It is in everyone's best interest that you succeed at the Johnson School. The school wants you to succeed, the students want you to succeed, and you want you to succeed. For this to happen it is paramount that you determine what is best for you; after all, you are spending your own money on business school. You will add the most value for yourself, the school, and its affiliates by carving out your own niche and differentiating yourself from your peers. Do not get swayed by what other individuals are or are not doing; it is irrelevant in the greater context of what you are trying to achieve. Set lofty goals and leverage all the resources the Johnson School has to offer to attain those goals, and do it in a way that is only authentic to you.
The first semester at the Johnson School is when you take a deep dive into the subject matter that you hoped to gain knowledge in when you made the decision to go to business school. It is when you will make many strong and lasting relationships because there are 270 of you enjoying the same experiences. And most importantly it is when you will learn quite a bit about yourself with regard to how hard you can push yourself and what it means to prioritize your time. Rather than looking back on the Core one year from today and realizing how great it was, I encourage you to embrace it and be grateful for it now. Rather than complain about the four hour group meetings, the case studies, or the presentations, I encourage you to consider that the uncomfortable situations you are experiencing are the exact reasons you are here. You came to Cornell wanting to learn and grow. The Core offers the great opportunity to maximize that growth depending on how much you choose to learn.
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