MBA Experience

I'd like to be a matriculator already, if I could just decide on a school.

Got the ding from Harvard today, as expected. I was wondering how it would feel to get the news. Funny, but I'm not sad at all. Not even a bit, probably because I already expected this and I went through that dark moment a few weeks ago. If I feel anything, it's probably relief.

I don't know if I've mentioned this yet, but I am leaning toward attending Columbia these days. Ya, I'm about 90% sure I will be going to NYC for at least a few years. I hope they show me some love in the form of a fat scholarship. I have submitted the requested documents and now must wait 2 months to find out if I will be awarded anything.

Tomorrow I leave for Blue Devil Weekend and I will make my final decision about which school I will attend after the event. I almost backed out from going, but I think I should give Duke one more chance. It has come down to the fact that I think the program at Columbia is a better fit for what I want to do with my life, but I'm open to speaking with some more students and organizations at Duke to help me confirm my decision.

I don't know about any of ya'll who are about my age and going for an MBA, but I still consider myself a kid. Legally, I've been an adult for almost 10 years now, but I'm still a kid at heart. I love candy and kids movies. Sometimes I watch Saturday morning TV (damn, did I just admit that?). I found an article on CNN money last night about 5 things that tell you if you are financially grown up. I think I am pretty much there:

1. The right time to save is always now - according to the recommended savings range, I am ok by CNN , though I still consider myself broke. whatever.
2. The only one you can coun't on is you - not that I ever had a choice.
3. You are your own best financial advisor - yup
4. You'll screw up sometimes - and that's ok - haven't messed up too badly yet.
5. Less really is more - mostly true for me... I probably spend too much on food and travel, but not that much on material items.

Now that I've got my butt in gear, I have started selling my junk on craigslist, which happens to be such an awesome site. If you haven't used it before, check it out because it really kicks butt. I am getting rid of 3 TV's, 2 of which were sitting in a closet obviously not being used. Then, there's a scanner we are chucking, a butcher block, some bikes that won't be going with us, and a juicer that was only used about 3 times. Eventually, we will get rid of an extra bed and a futon.

The one thing I did part with already was a piano, which I sold because I really can't take it with me. I had it for 14 years. My eyes watered as it was being taken away by some movers, but I am at least comforted in that it's going to someone who really wants it and who's going to play it.

Ok, I need to get serious about my move. Not sure where I'm going yet, but it's still somewhere on the East Coast. Wakechick opened my eyes to the cost of moving and I figured out I should probably start working on that too. Here are some options I've looked into and quotes I've received to move my crap:

1) We pack, we move: $2800 + road trip$$ (Doesn't look like labor for packing is included... hmmm, I see a potential fleecing over here. however, one month's storage is free, giving me time for my road trip)
2) You pack, we move: $2020 + $1000 drive (not including supplies. I see another potential fleecing in this quote, and no time for a road trip. Add another $1,000 for the cross country drive)
3) Uhaul move: $1800 (Trailer: $420, gas: $500, 5 nights hotel: $450, 5 days real food for 2: $350, road food: $80, not being jipped by sketchy movers: priceless)

^--- I see an excel spreadsheet just dying to come out of this. I also have about 5 other quotes that are supposed to come in on this move. Unfortunately, my longest move prior to this has only been about 30 miles, so this is all new for me. It is so tempting to just sell my stuff, but there are a few things I refuse to part with:

1) My couch & chair: Got a sweet deal and I love them
2) 4'x'5' umbrellas picture: I love this piccy. I cannot leave it behind.
3) Coffee Table: This was the first piece of 'nice' furniture I've bought in my adult life.
4) Maroon Shag Rug: Ok, I got it at Target for $80 but it rocks and I had a hard time finding it in the first place.
5) Electronics: Brand new receiver & 5 disc DVD player. Ya, I am not letting go of these
6) CD's & DVD's: They don't take up too much space but we still have about 200 movies

I received the Duke tee shirt in the mail. Hmmmmm, if it was 3 sizes smaller, I'd be psyched; however, I think Duke just sent my boyfriend a workout shirt instead. Or, it could be a night shirt, maybe a tent. The shirt is so long, it's almost to my knees.

I don't mean to be ungrateful, but I don't get it either. Does Duke think all it's students come in XL?

I have not been on a Business Week message board for 6 days. 6 beautiful days. Parting with these forums is like getting over a crack habit: it feels so good to get your life back*. The sad part is that I'm not joking (ok, well maybe just a little).

I wish I could remember exactly whose blog had a link to the BW forum... from the day I clicked that link and signed in to the madness, I was instantly in awe of the amount of info (though dubious) contained in these messages. After a while, I learned how to maneuver around various threads related to the schools I was applying to. Then, I upgraded to reading new messages on all types of threads. Finally, I would just leave the site open all day, refreshing my browser every few minutes to see if any gems came up.

That is so sad; however, it's not as sad as the few individuals who post the majority of the messages because I know those people are tuned into BW more than I was, and I wish I could get them some professional help. I was close to needing it, but the mega-posters have definitely crossed over that line. There are several mega-posters who are admitted to the same schools I am, and I am so curious as to who they are. I hope I get to meet them at the admit weekends because they just fascinate me.

If any mega-posters read my blog, I advise you to relax a bit and take a vacation from the boards. Get your life back. Focus on the things you need to do to get ready for school. Apply for scholarships. Just imagine what you could do with the time you will have after swearing off the message boards.

* If you have never been to the BW forums, do not enter. Ok, you have been warned.

Today's Horoscope: "Here we go again. One more day of trying to find a way around all kinds of obstacles that seem to come out of nowhere. Well, here's a news flash: Sometimes we all just need to sit still -- even when we really don't want to. "

Dude, I need to sit still, that's for sure. And I want to, yes, please, I need some rest. I've been gone for 3 of 4 weekends in a row. I have a trip to NC and NYC coming up for admit preview weekends in April. I am going to the east coast this morning, only to return tomorrow night.

My boss is pissed because I'm taking off about 2 days a week for the next 3 weeks for MBA stuff when our project is the busiest it's ever been. I should feel bad about leaving them, but I don't at all. Unfortunately, work seems more of an inconvenience than a responsibility at this point. I wish I could be a bit more motivated at my job, but my job blows these days. Hence, I'm thinking about leaving earlier than I had planned...

I was going to leave my job in mid July, but I really need to move that date up to sometime in June. Oh, that would be awesome. I'm thinking about taking a month to drive cross-country, and maybe top that off with a trip to the UK, since the dollar is oh-so-strong these days. By the way, could the dollar just tank anymore than it has??? Thanks a LOT G.W. Yikes!

p.s. - blogger is sucking right now.... if this shows up 5 times on my blog, I apologize.

I have now officially received the same fellowship application from one particular bank, from the same person, in three different emails, for all three schools I've been admitted to.

Does this make me three times as likely to get an offer? ;)
Uh, probably not, but that would be cool.

Thought I would share some insight on how I am preparing for business school...

I bought 5 DVD's yesterday (ohhhh yeah):

1. Napolean Dynamite
2. Garden State
3. Before Sunset
4. The Village
5. The Office - Season 2

I also spent Friday night watching 15 episodes of Different Strokes (season 1 ) through On Demand. This is the greatest feature cable has ever had. I completely forgot how funny this show was and I laughed my bum off.

I really need to start brushing up on a language too. I WILL start on Monday, I WILL start on Monday. There. Now I have to do it.

Unfortunately, I don't think I will pick up an accounting or a stats book prior to sometime in mid-August when school starts. The pain of studying for the GMAT is still so fresh that starting something as dry as accounting might send me to the grave.

Saw this on Clear Admit yesterday:

"As of April 1st, MBA graduates from the top 50 global business schools will automatically be awarded the minimum number of points to qualify for the UK's Highly Skilled Migrants Program. In this case, the top 50 is an internal ranking that the UK government has developed, including many of the usual suspects in the United States, UK, Canada and Europe."

I love the Brits. Here I come!!!

DM is my hero ;-)

I can only say that if the two of us end up at Columbia together, NewYork is in trouble... big trouble.

But wouldn't you know, fate tried to intervene with our meeting? The battery in my car completely died one hour before we were to meet and I was stranded in a grocery store parking lot. My awesome hero boyfriend showed up shortly after, but the battery was so dead that it would never start again. I left the car in his capable hands and he dropped me off at our meeting spot.

DM and I sat down for cocktails, and within 2 minutes the table of ladies next to us were giving us the evil eye to shut up. No MBA love from that crowd. They must not know yet that MBA blogger chicks rule.

WTF?!?! I kid you not, this was posted on Craig's list:

"Interested in cuddling? A few months ago I was introduced to one of the creators of Cuddle Party by a mutual friend in New York, and after going to one and having a really nice experience, I decided to get them started in Los Angeles. They can be a really great way to get more affectionate touch in your life, meet new people, have fun, and expand your horizons ... all in a very safe, friendly, and non-sexual setting.

If this sounds interesting to you, check out www.cuddleparty.com for more information about the concept. Then, if you're still interested and think you might like to participate in Los Angeles area cuddle parties, send me an email ... We'll be holding our first events in mid-April with many more to follow!"

Has anyone else heard of this? I don't know whether it's funny or frightening. Per cuddleparty.com, here are some of The Rules I snagged off their website:

- No SEX. (Yep, you read that right)
- NO DRY HUMPING
- Be hygienically savvy
- Always say thank you and practice good Cuddle Manners

... and I thought I had problems...

I get it already.... half (if not all) of going for your MBA is really about looking for a job. This reality is sad, but true. I also, foolishly, believed that I would be able to spend my last few months of freedom in unproductive, vegetative bliss. Alas, this is not to be. I have 3 fellowship applications in my email, dying to be filled out. I truly didn't know that recruiting started before I've officially selected a school. Man, undergrad was nothing like this! Each fellowship covers my 1st year tuition plus a paid internship. If I accept a job with company XYZ (<---fill in your own acronym here), then they will also pay for Year 2's tuition.

This feels very much like selling my soul to Corporate America. If nothing else, I feel I'm prostituting my quantitative abilities out to friends of The Man. I suppose I owe these companies at least some investigation. I've heard of all 3, yet have never envisioned myself as being their wage slave. Geesh, an entrepreneurship program looks mighty fine right now.

Lessons learned from the 'real world' this week:
1) Never have any sort of 'relationship' in a public company. The Board will sell you out to save their own asses, even if you already saved theirs. In fact, if you work anywhere, it's just safer not to talk to anyone, probably not a good idea to look at anyone either. Eye contact could land you in prison these days.
2) Don't underestimate the power of The Man. He has hypnotized the world into believing His shit don't stink.
3) Businessmen and women have been scared into inaction. It's particularly sad that you can't find too many people out there with a sac anymore.

Meeting up with one Dirty Martini this week. AHHHHH!!! You know what they say about mixing alcohols... dangerous!

Today's Horoscope:
"Think about it: Exactly how long have you been wishing, hoping and actually dreaming about taking off for parts unknown to everyone but you and one lucky companion? If you can't remember a date -- or a month -- it's time to stop dreaming and start making plans." I second that. A vacation sounds like such a good idea right now, too bad I just had one last month. I saw The Man on TV today, in the news, when I'm not supposed to be thinking about him for a few days (per previous horoscope). He seems unable to do any wrong and it's just amazing.

Well, what I really mean is that he has started thinking rationally (so unlike him) and sounding like a parent (i.e. "nagging")... even though I am older than him. Here's what he had to say (mind the spelling; he was never very good in English):

"Ok, this is the way I look at it chick. Columbia might be a better school, with a better business program, but Duke is still a very prestegious school, ranked highly on the tiers of business grad schools. Hell, I was reading about Fuquay business school in a Delta magazine while I was flying w/ Delta going home on leave."

OHHHH, my brother is awesome!!! Fuquay? That's great. Unfortunately, I've spent a little too much time researching schools to hedge my deciding factor on Delta's in-flight entertainment. If only life was that easy.

"You could go to Columbia, but just think of the cost, not only for the school, but the cost of living. Why would you want to spend 10 years after grad school trying to pay off your student loans, when Duke offered you half the grad program for free? But seriuosly, I look at the cost of living, Duke just happens to be an awesome school, in an extrememly affordable area. Plus, i've actually grown quite fond of the Durham, Raleigh, Chapel hill area. It's actually a great district and I know you'd love it."

Ok, MOM. Mentioning the cost of b-school is like rubbing salt into a wound over, and over, and over, and... ok you get it. This could be my Achilles Heel.

"Ok, so now for the selfish reasons why I'd prefer you to go to Duke. When you got accepted, I threw away my college drop paper work, so instead of getting out, going back home, and attending summer class in June, I threw out the paperwork so now I have to stay in the army till August, and atttend Durham techs fall class's on Aug 15th. So if I don't go to Durham tech this year, I'll have to wait till next year to go to Cali. Plus, I think we'd have a great time living together and I need your mathmatical goddess of a brain to help me! and there is no way id be able to afford not only living in new york, but paying the out of state tuition fee's for college.............ok, so thats what I think :) But seriously, congrats on getting in, you rock!"

SHIT. This is my brother, who is already in NC, wants to stay in NC with me, is risking remaining in the Army another year because of me, is only looking at college because of me. This has turned into a family matter now, and to think I was going to do something completely selfish for once in my life. But my brother truly kicks ass and has turned his life around for the good. I've hardly seen him in 4 years, but I don't know how much time we'll have to catch up during my MBA stint.

On the other hand, he didn't spend three months writing essays at night and on weekends for hours on end. He didn't travel to two states to attend classes, meet potential classmates, and investigate neighborhoods. He isn't going to recognize the $200,000+ opportunity cost of going back to school thanks to $0 salary and incurring tuition+living expenses.

I am being a complete, whiny brat. People would kill to be in my shoes, yet I still complain. I know it, but this is probably the hardest decision I've had to make in my life, and this is my blog and I'll bitch when I want to bitch ; ) On a brighter note, I'm definitely freeing up a spot at UCLA for someone dying to get in.

I have officially been admitted to Columbia and the agonizing wait is now finally over. Going 3 for 3 in one month, I'm on fire!

Today's Horoscope: "As outrageously optimistic as you ordinarily are, there's one particular person out there who can bring you down, make you doubt yourself and others, and set you to wondering if it's really at all worth the effort you've invested. Your mission, right now, is to avoid that person for at least the next 48 hours. It's not that you'll never see them again. But right now, you need all the positive energy you can muster." Could this person be The Man? Hmmm, I wonder. It's true that I am putting The Man out of my brain for now.

Another Duke admit from SoCal, S, also applied to CBS. Since we both desire to attend the same schools, we have formed a friendship. In fact, S and I are alot alike. He's kind of a punk, kind of fiesty. We mesh well due to our similar dispositions and viewpoints on this MBA thing. We are both going to North Carolina for Blue Devil Weekend, we booked the same flight, we have vowed to get our other future classmates liquored up. Life is good... or is it?

S wants to go to Columbia (it's his first choice) and is waiting for the decision as well. If S gets into CBS and I don't, S goes to New York and I go to North Carolina bummed not to have S as a future classmate because now we're friends. And even if I get into CBS, if I don't get some $$ from them, I may take Duke instead. S still goes to New York and I still go to North Carolina.

^--- This is half the reason I didn't go to the UCLA Happy Hour. Why get my self attached to people I may never be around for the next 2 years? Grrrrrr. CalGrad's already mentioned it and now it's hitting home for me too.

Now, that I've been outed by The Man as a genuinely bad person (damn!), figure I should take some precautionary steps toward maintaining some anonymity and, mostly, my friggin' Duke financial aid. So, all you folks who know what was deleted or altered, please keep that to yourself. If you truly must know more about me, I wil suggest just this one resource.

Today's horoscope: "Anything you had penciled in, planned or even half-expected to happen, you should probably just forget about for now. This is one of those days that won't turn out the way you'd expected. The good news is that you're always game for surprises and unexpected opportunities."

Actually, I hate surprises. I'm starting to think the astrologers do not know me very well. Who knew?

BOSTON - Edit 1: here goes me breaking the law again... originally, I posted the article about the HBS application debacle, but Aregon (thanks) pointed out it is not to be republished... so you can now follow the link instead.

Looks like HBS is gonna ding the 'hackers,' folks. Guess this is how they decided to save face for making such a huge drama. Damn me for being on the west coast when most people were sleeping through this drama. That's 200 bucks down the drain.

So I'm sitting at home playing online poker on a Tuesday night, innocently perusing the BW message boards between hands when lo and behold, I see the HBS Admissions post on looking at the decisions page.

First thought: "No friggin' way. This is a joke, right?" So, of course I have to go see for myself. Yes, it worked. Second thought:, "Dumbass ApplyYourself, anyone could figure out the logic behind this web address! Just replace a few ID numbers from another ApplyYourself application decision site and you're there. You suck." That's it... or so I thought.

Wednesday morning... I get the HBS email saying that people are hacking into their site. HA! HBS, now you suck. That wasn't hacking! A 10-year old could have figured that system out. Their hoity-toity email continues, claiming that applicants who accessed their system are unethical. Really? I'm guilty of being curious, yes. Unethical? Really? I think that's a little harsh.

HBS, get off your pedestal. You've made this a much bigger drama than it really is... your emails, the HBS message board threads being instantaneously deleted, and your accusations of low moral character of said applicants. If PowerYogi suddenly disappears, you will have a blogger mob all over your ass. Get over it.

Forget about prestige, job placement stats, and your average GMAT scores. What really matters in choosing a university is its team! Do you want to be a "Tar Heel" for the rest of your life? NO! Do you want to tell folks that your mascot was the "Engineer?" Hell NO!!!! Rearranging BW's Top 15 MBA programs, let's see where the schools really fall, ya'll:

1. Blue Devils (Duke)
2. Wolverines (Michigan)
3. Wildcats (Northwestern)
4. Lions (Columbia)
5. Corsairs (Dartmouth)
6. Bruins (UCLA)
7. Cavaliers (Virginia)
8. Quakers (Penn)
9. Maroons (Chicago)
10. Tartans (Carnegie Mellon)
11. Crimson (Harvard)
12. Cardinal (Stanford)
13. Violets (NYU)
14. Big Red (Cornell)
15. Engineers (MIT)

As you can see, many of the top schools for MBA-ers have the lamest, and I repeat, the lamest team names I have ever seen. In fact, a color, nor a fabric, should even count. Ok, I may be a little biased in that I did get into Duke, which happens to be in first place, but can anyone really compete with having Satan as your mascot? I should think not.

Edit 1: I mistakenly thought that Stanford's Cardinal was a bird. But now I've been told by MBA Boy (Thank you) that it's a color... so Stanford is being dropped from 7 to 12 due to the logic that a color is lame team name.

Today's horoscope reads, "March is off to an interesting start, thanks to a mixed bag of heavenly influences." FINALLY! The astrologers got one right this time. The lovely, lovely people at the Financial Aid Office at Duke sent me a note today with some scholarship money: $xx,xxx. Hop skippity Dayum!

The side effect of seeing such a large number... in an email... at work... is that you uncontrollably yell "Holy Fuck I got a scholarship!!!!!!!" in your cube and then begin to breathe heavily, and finally start to gasp as if you are going to have a heart attack. If this happens to you at work, expect a crowd to swarm rather quickly. Everyone who did not know that I was going for an MBA now does, but I could really care less at this moment.

Then I called my mom, who asked me to forward the scholarship email to her so she could print it and save it. I love my mom. She is the cutest lady ever!