12 Coolest MBA Clubs and Student Orgs in Chicago

Hindsight is 20/20

Ever since I was a little kid, my mother always encouraged me to get more involved at school (or after-school really) by joining in student clubs and extracurricular activities. Whether it was because I was more interested in playing video games at the time, or if it was the fact that Quilting Club didn’t seem like very much fun, I never really did participate in these types of activities.

Fast forward a decade and I really wish I had gotten involved with some kind of club, especially with all the cool and diverse student organizations running on college campuses across the country today. But cool clubs aren’t limited to the undergrad level…

So there are MBA clubs too?

Aside from going to classes — and in the case of those folks seeking a Part-Time MBA, going to work — many prospective MBAs join clubs or student organizations. They do so for a multitude of reasons: Some clubs provide great networking and professional benefits, such as access to industry leaders, countless professional development opportunities and the ability to make a real impact, while others focus on travel or are strictly just for fun.

These organizations can add value to all the academic and professional experiences a student has over the course of pursuing their MBA. A U.S. News & World Report list describes the following as reasons why it’s a good decision to get involved in a student organization:

• It allows students to become connected to their school

• It helps them build community

• It allows them to discover their passions and strengths

• It’s a résumé builder

• Sometimes, busier people do better

• Utilize your school’s resources

How about us folks working and studying in Chicago?

Ah, yes… the Windy City. The Chicago Metro has the advantage of being a bustling business city and the home to some of the finest business schools and MBA programs in the country. Along with these top notch programs come some of the coolest (and most useful) student clubs and organization you can find anywhere.

Here’s a list of some of my favorite MBA clubs in the Chicago Metro:

Kellogg School MBA Clubs

• Brew ‘n Q: Brew ‘n Q is cool because it has more to do with grillin’ and chillin’ then studying and working. The club is made up of MBAs who share a passion for all things beer and BBQ. The club holds plenty of events throughout the year where they educate the student body on the ancient art of the grill and joys of global beers, including the annual Turkey Bowl, Chili Cook-off, Crawfish Boil and Spring Luau, among others.

• Cork & Screw: Another club that focuses on booze, the Cork + Screw club at Kellogg aims to further the student body’s appreciation of, familiarity with, and accessibility to wine and the industry. The Cork & Screw club has a few more business ties than it’s pork and pilsner counterpart, in that it promotes career related opportunities, and hosts networking events for students to socialize over wine.

• Kellogg Automotive Club: This one is cool for the car lovers in business school, or students looking to break into the automotive field. The Kellogg Automotive Club is focused on supporting a wide range of automotive interests within Kellogg and encompasses both professional and recreational aspects of the automotive industry. The Automotive Club provides and hosts services and activities such as social events that encourage exchange with others interested in automotives, trips to various automotive events, networking opportunities, and exposure to various aspects of the automotive industry through plant visits and speaker forums.

• Digital Shorts Club: Any fans of animation out there? Folks who participate in this club actually help make funny digital shorts throughout the year that celebrate Kellogg. While that does sound daunting to someone with no experience in animation, don’t worry — you don’t have to know how to edit or have had directing experience or be a professional cinematographer. Just want to help make entertaining videos? Join the club. Have a good idea? Join the club. Check out the club’s YouTube channel to view and comment on past videos

regions: Chicago

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