By Kristina Rapp, MFA2026
What Finally Made Sense After the First Months
At the beginning of the term in September, a wide range of events were organised, including the Banking Alumni Breakfasts. While we new MFA students were eager to gain insights into alumni careers, one recurring question was whether the alumni had any advice for our first term. At the time, their answers sounded quite generic. Looking back on the past few months, however, I now start to understand what they really meant.
“Be prepared for the first term to be the most intense one.”
The alumni were definitely not exaggerating. The first weeks of the programme are fast-paced from the very beginning. Even before having properly settled into London, classes start, deadlines appear, and most importantly, the recruitment cycle begins to run in parallel. Experiencing such a recruitment cycle for the first time, I found it particularly intense. Understanding how these application processes work and what companies – especially banks – expect required a steep learning curve. Fortunately, the Career Centre turned out to be a very valuable asset for me. While the number of workshops, coaching sessions, and resources can initially feel overwhelming, they proved extremely helpful, and I believe I would not have landed a summer internship without them.
“You need to learn to prioritise your time.”
Very quickly, this became one of the most tangible lessons of Term 1. Between lectures, recruiting preparations, networking events, group work and everything else happening on campus, there is always more that could be done. Unfortunately, a day only has 24 hours, and as our professor Alex Edmans taught us, time management is one essential skill for success. I realised that I had to trust myself when deciding which optional workshops to attend, which additional exercises to complete, and which networking or company events to prioritise. Despite the intense pace, being constantly engaged and challenged felt energising in a completely different way.
“Never skip Sundowners on Thursday.”
Sundowners, where students across programmes come together for food and drinks every second Thursday, are only one example of how LBS goes beyond academics. Spending so much time together – whether in lectures, study group meetings, or other LBS events – naturally fosters a strong sense of community. What truly surprised me was how collaborative my peers actually are. This became most apparent in everyday interactions – studying for exams together, exchanging insights from recruiting processes, or helping each other navigate overlapping academic and recruiting demands. Over time, these moments became part of the routine and shaped much of my daily life at LBS.
It is hard to believe that just over four months ago, I was only at the beginning of the MFA journey. I could almost feel sentimental about the first term, but I am even more excited about what lies ahead: new courses, electives, and my Global Experience to Hong Kong. With Term 2 on the horizon, I am looking forward to building on what I have learned and continuing this journey within such an inspiring community.