Pre-MBA Trips in Covid-19 time: Irresponsible?
I don't plan to go to one, but I wonder what people are really thinking on Pre-MBA trips in Covid-19. There are a lot students in my school organising pre-MBA trips for July/August (mostly in the U.S.) and at least half of class seems to be interested or already commit to join, with the two largest trips will have 50-100 people joining.
I understand that people are eager to travel and connect after being in self-isolation for months, and I understand many would like to salvage social/networking opportunities that normally provided by MBAs but now have been severely reduced by Covid-19, but I have mixed feelings about such trips, because:
- Public health wise, it does not seem responsible given the cases in the U.S. is rising again and trip participants will be coming from all over the country
- a lot of incoming students from less privileged background have opted to stay longer in their jobs to support their family due to financial hardships brought by Covid-19. These students most probably won't make it to such trips
- These trips exclude all internationals and promotes further segregation between U.S. and internationals. The organisers try to be "inclusive" and say things like "for internationals: we hope you can join us!!!", but let's be real, they probably won't make it on time for the start of the class, let alone pre-MBA trips