From Ryan Baker of Coburg Consultants

 

Well, its that time of year again.

The leaves are changing colours, jackets are being pulled out of storage, and students are starting to worry about midterms. Yes, that undeniable fact that soon you’ll be drinking more coffee than you ever thought possible as you suspiciously ponder how your textbook could psychically be that big.

However, there is solace to be found. Dalhousie’s CRMBA program is an avid supporter of the ‘cohort mentality’ and many of the classes you’ll be taking are loaded with group work.

“Classmates can look to each other for assistance during midterms and other stressful times,” said 2^nd year CRMBA candidate Emma Horner.  “Our diverse backgrounds allow us to teach one another and complements classroom learning.”

Students coming into the program often find that their undergraduate degrees make them the ‘peer content experts’ for classmates’ questions.

Many have relished this role and have conducted tutorials for their fellow classmates before exams. Having just completed her first semester in the CRMBA after arriving from Queens University, Samantha Burnet was happy to study with her newfound friends and colleagues.

“The tutorials put on by our peers were incredibly helpful in preparation for exams,” said the Life Sciences major. “They solidified the trust and respect we have for each other and were instrumental in building an academic support network.”

This behaviour is not only a socially beneficial action, but also a scientific one. In 2010, Uri Hassan, Associate Professor of Psychology at Princeton University, found that in conditions of good communication, a listener’s brain begins to mimic the activity of the speaker.

This brain synchronization represents an opportunity for synergies amongst friends and colleagues studying together. Dr. Lorn Sheehan, Associate Director of the Rowe School of Business, calls this a group’s “collective intelligence.”

Teaching strategy to 2^nd year CRMBA candidates, Dr. Sheehan notes, “groups make better decisions regarding strategy and the way to move forward.”

So when your professor says half those topics will be on the exam, it might be best to confer with your friends. However, don’t stay up too late discussing the merits of different practice tests. It’s imperative that individuals get enough sleep before exams as well.

Moreover, one of the key differentiators of the Dalhousie CRMBA is the Personal and Professional Effectiveness (PPE) course that runs for all 22 months of the program. In this course, one of the key focuses is on managing conflict in a team dynamic. Interestingly, conflict is not always a bad thing – if managed properly, it will breed original thought, the openness to ideas and greater group cohesiveness.

However, it’s not just with your classmates that group dynamics are important, but also on your corporate residency says Vijay Kilambi. Having just completed his 8-month residency with Aon Hewitt as an Investment Consulting Associate, he understands the merit of group decision-making.

“Multi-million dollar investment decisions are never made in isolation. It is important that the group of us whom are most knowledgeable share opinions to truly assess all potential risks.”

So, as you prepare for midterms this semester, remember the value in group studying. The ability to teach and learn from others is integral to success in school and in the workplace and you can begin to hone these skills by helping your peers and friends this Fall.