A Cohort

A group of individuals having a statistical factor (as age or class membership) in common. - Merriam Webster Online Dictionary


One of the main factors for me in choosing the full-time MBA program over the part-time program was the opportunity of going through the program with my classmates in a more intensive cohort during most of my first year.  Since all Business Schools require some core business courses before you start heading into your chosen concentration, you often get the opportunity to take the same classes together in the early part of your MBA program. 


The part-time program has this to some degree but because of the nature of their program (they are also balancing full time jobs) they don't get quite the same team experience that you do when your full time job is the MBA program. We also take more classes at a time and more overall credits. From 9:00am to 3pm every Monday through Thursday we are working within our cohort nearly as much as we formerly did in our full time careers. Before you start to think "Hey, I'd love to work from 9am to 3pm four days a week!" just keep in mind that is only class lecture time. There is about 3-5 additional daily hours of reading, homework, and group projects that make for a very long day at times. Oh yeah, and Fridays are often the only time you have to get everyone on your team together for your many group projects so that day gets filled quickly too. Saturday and Sunday used to be my days of rest but now they are spent catching up on readings or on our current house hunt. They say misery loves company and there is some comfort in the fact that many of my classmates are feeling a little overwhelmed as well. This first week feels like a mental equivalent to the physical demands of army boot camp so the other definition I found of a cohort probably applies just as well too.


Cohort: A group of warriors or soldiers.- Merriam Webster Online Dictionary