What does a typical Graduate Circle event look like?
Six to ten MBA, TEMBA, Option II or PhD students gather at a private residence to engage in leisurely conversation and
enjoy a meal cooked by fellow students. The menu is determined by the chef and
will be announced prior to an event. Occasionally an event may feature local
McCombs alumni or faculty.
The food can't be free! What is the membership fee to participate in Graduate Circle< dinners?
There is a charge of $15 per event. As a member you would receive
preference to dinner events when you RSVP. Please write your check for “Graduate
Circle” and drop it in Ankita Agarwal's mailbox in the Carpenter Mail Box room. The dinner event fee covers the cost for
ingredients for the meal and non-alcoholic drinks.
How do I sign up for an event?
To sign up for an event, please RSVP through the McCombs Community Calendar. If
you have any questions about an event or are interested in cooking please e-mail
Tatiana.Jitkoff@mba08.mccombs.utexas.edu
As we have limited spots, we will either choose on a first-come first-serve
basis or have a lucky draw based on the number of responses. You will receive a
confirmation e-mail if your reservation is confirmed.
Please be careful in committing to events since failure to pay or show up will
have consequences. Also, note that members with Graduate Circle, will get
first preference.
How and when do I pay for an event?
We ask everyone to pay by personal check one week before the scheduled
event. Please deposit the check in Ankita Agarwals's mailbox by the payment
deadline indicated through e-mail and the Upcoming
Event announcement page. Failure to pay by the payment deadline will result
in your slot being opened up to the rest of the membership. Please be
considerate and only bid for events you can commit to. Any cancellations or
payment failures may impact other guests at the same event since we may not be
able to secure a replacement at such short notice.
When can I expect directions and other logistical information about the event I signed up for?
You may find some high-level information about each scheduled event on the
Upcoming Event Page. In addition, we will send
out more detailed information a few days before the event to each registered
guest.
I have special dietary needs; will I be accommodated?
Since we would like to give chefs as much creative freedom as possible, we
usually cannot accommodate special dietary needs. However, we ask chefs to
prepare a two-course meal, with one course being vegetarian, or to provide a
vegetarian side dish.
How many events will there be per semester?
Currently we are planning on having monthly events. Depending on the type of
response we get from the membership and the number of chef and host volunteers,
we may increase or decrease that frequency.
Why do I have to pay $15 per event? I probably only eat $10 worth?
The actual cost per person for ingredients may be cheaper, but we ask every
guest to pay $15 per event since we may need to sponsor featured guests. We also
try to encourage members to volunteer to cook and host by reducing the amount
they have to pay. Since chefs and hosts make the event possible we consider it
unfair to ask them to pay as much as guests.
Is alcohol included?
No, it is not. However, please feel free to bring your own.
Why should I be a chef or host? What are the benefits?
In addition to showing off (maybe!!) your cooking skills or residence, you are
actively contributing to a club that seeks to enable a different part of the
McCombs experience - getting to know your fellow students beyond superficial
pleasantries. And you may just have some fun doing it! If you are intimidated by
cooking alone you may want to look into getting together with other members that
have also expressed interest in being a chef and share the work.
If I want to be a chef, do I also have to host?
Any combination is possible! You could be a chef and a host. You could be a
chef, but not a host. You could be a host, but not a chef. And you could get
together with other people to share the work.
Are there any special instructions for chefs and hosts?
We put together a checklist and some guidelines for
chefs and hosts, not to inhibit you, but to help you organize and ensure the
event goes off as smoothly as possible. However, nothing is etched in stone! We
are always open to suggestions for improvement.
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Upcoming Events