Unwinding on Thirsty Thursdays: A Notre Dame MBA tradition

By: Dara Chesnutt

(Editor’s Note: The Round 2 admissions deadline is coming up! In honor of the occasion, enjoy this bonus post from MBA IRISH ECHOES, and be sure to check back over the next few days for more content.)

Fun fact: Of the top 25 MBA programs in the U.S., Notre Dame has the highest percentage of students from the Mushroom Kingdom. (Photo courtesy Dara Chesnutt)
Fun fact: Of the top 25 MBA programs in the U.S., Notre Dame has the highest percentage of students from the Mushroom Kingdom. (Photo courtesy Dara Chesnutt)

Once a week, the Notre Dame MBA program coordinates “Thirsty Thursday” – when we meet at different bars! It’s a great opportunity for students to take a break from classes, clubs, and career recruitment. Most classes are held Monday-Thursday, so Thursday evenings are generally a good time to unwind. Sometimes we meet at 5 p.m. for a quick beer after class, and sometimes we meet later to explore the South Bend nightlife. 

As one of the social chairs in the program, I have the privilege of coordinating these events. It’s a great excuse to see friends with whom I don’t have class, and to catch up on the week. Things happen quickly here, so Thirsty Thursday is often the time to celebrate recent internship offers, intramural wins, and surviving another accounting exam! 

Some of our usual spots include Brother’s Bar & Grill, O’Rourke’s, and Corby’s. We sometimes try to incorporate different themes into Thirsty Thursday. At the beginning of this year, we coordinated an Olympics-themed bar crawl. Students were organized into different country teams, and each bar had a designated “Olympic event”! We had varying prizes, including best costume. We also recently had a Halloween-themed Thirsty Thursday; some of the best costumes included a group of “zoo animals”, our favorite professors, and Mario Kart characters.

Life in the Notre Dame MBA program is amazing but intense! Thirsty Thursday provides a much needed break and opportunity to pause and enjoy spending time with our fellow classmates.

About Dara

screenshot-2016-12-13-15-17-25Dara lived in Atlanta prior to business school. She is concentrating in business analytics and business leadership, and attended Rhodes College for her undergraduate studies. Her favorite memory at Notre Dame is the two-week immersion trip to China. You can find Dara on LinkedIn.