During your second year, you may be able to devote a little more time to academics, especially if you’re not recruiting; what’s more, you might want to put some attention towards classes that might fall out of the norm for the industry you’ll be going into!
1. Consider your long-term goals: are you ever going to be an entrepreneur (50% of MBAs are at some point)? – learning something now about managing HR dynamics might be helpful; do you hope to rise to CEO level? – a deep dive into marketing strategy may really help you when you’re overseeing a company’s overall performance. Think past your short-term plans and consider what coursework you might return to five, ten, or twenty years out of school.
2. Consider your short-term goals: you have an offer in hand, but there’s always more you can do to completely WOW your future employer when the time comes. Talk to your internship manager or mentor to identify areas where you might have been a little weaker, or areas where the company might really need a rock star – and consider taking a couple of courses to strengthen your skills in those areas.
3. Consider supplementing your classes: perhaps the skills you are looking to build would be easier to get through other areas – student leadership, an additional internship, or an independent study. If that’s the case, don’t be shy about dedicating some time to those endeavors.
4. Consider something completely different: check out the courses at your university’s law school, social services program, or even undergrad level – you may want to leverage this time to take a course just for the sheer joy of learning something you’re interested in.
5. Consider asking someone else: don’t just take our advice! – talk to one of your favorite professors about what he or she recommends you look into this year. That unique perspective will almost certainly give you some food for thought!