As a master's student at SMU, how should I think about networking differently from an undergraduate?

The mentor said the key difference is timeline. An undergraduate degree at SMU runs for three to four years, giving students a gradual runway to build networks and explore professionally. A master's is compressed, typically one year, which means the professional networking window is much tighter. The approach needs to be more deliberate from the very first week.

• Join networking events actively and consistently, not occasionally, this is especially important for a student coming in with prior work experience like legal practice.
• Connections made through networking events in Singapore tend to be more professionally reciprocal than connections made through casual campus social life.
• Do not spend the first month settling in before networking, start from day one.
• The cross-cultural network she built over four years, including Singaporean contacts, has opened doors that would not have been accessible through an Indian-only social circle.