Wednesday, April 27, 2005
On Notice
Last day at work: July 7th. Yup it's real. I turned in my notice this week and I am taking off 6 weeks before school starts. It sounds like a lot right now, but it's probably not. The last time I had 6 weeks off with 'nothing' to do was when I was 15. I started working when I was 16 and haven't taken off much time since then.
On July 8th I'm going camping to Yosemite. I'm not wasting ANY time!!! The party starts right away. The following week, we're packing our stuff into a trailer and moving to New York. Yup, we decided on a self move because it's going to cost much less (I think), leaving me money (hopefully) for a trip to Europe.
We have some tentative stops for a road trip once we head out: parent's house, Grand Canyon, Denver (probably see a Rockies game), Chicago (probably see a Cubs game), and then TBD after that. Since we have to haul this trailer around with all our belongings, the road trip has shrunk from one month to two weeks. Bummer.
On July 8th I'm going camping to Yosemite. I'm not wasting ANY time!!! The party starts right away. The following week, we're packing our stuff into a trailer and moving to New York. Yup, we decided on a self move because it's going to cost much less (I think), leaving me money (hopefully) for a trip to Europe.
We have some tentative stops for a road trip once we head out: parent's house, Grand Canyon, Denver (probably see a Rockies game), Chicago (probably see a Cubs game), and then TBD after that. Since we have to haul this trailer around with all our belongings, the road trip has shrunk from one month to two weeks. Bummer.
Thursday, April 21, 2005
CBS Application Verification Process
Taken from their website, Columbia's take on the Background Checks by Kroll is below:
Application Verification Update
As you know, as an admitted student, the information provided in your application is subject to verification. Columbia Business School has chosen Kroll Background America to be the third party provider of these services for our program.
The background verification that we have implemented with Kroll is merely to confirm the information that is in your application: your employment, education and recommendations. This verification process is simple and requires a few minutes of your time. Kroll requires a fee of $83 to complete the verification process, which you may pay via credit card on their secure website. We will be sending out detailed instructions about how to proceed within the next few weeks. Please feel free to contact our office with any questions you may have about this process.
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On a side note, they finally cashed my check.
Application Verification Update
As you know, as an admitted student, the information provided in your application is subject to verification. Columbia Business School has chosen Kroll Background America to be the third party provider of these services for our program.
The background verification that we have implemented with Kroll is merely to confirm the information that is in your application: your employment, education and recommendations. This verification process is simple and requires a few minutes of your time. Kroll requires a fee of $83 to complete the verification process, which you may pay via credit card on their secure website. We will be sending out detailed instructions about how to proceed within the next few weeks. Please feel free to contact our office with any questions you may have about this process.
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On a side note, they finally cashed my check.
Monday, April 18, 2005
Lost Wages
Went to Las Vegas this weekend. The trip was not in my savings plan, but there was this wedding to go to...
I think I'm over Las Vegas. When I was in my early 20's it was really fun to go and gamble, but not so much anymore. It's expensive. I drank too much. I handed over the blackjack dealer all my money. I never win. I always leave feeling like crap. Ya, I don't think there are too many more Vegas trips in my future.
I think I'm over Las Vegas. When I was in my early 20's it was really fun to go and gamble, but not so much anymore. It's expensive. I drank too much. I handed over the blackjack dealer all my money. I never win. I always leave feeling like crap. Ya, I don't think there are too many more Vegas trips in my future.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Restless Matriculate
I am so bored now that I don't have essays to write, recommendations to chase down, people to interview with, etc. I am over Outlaw Golf for XBox, I've watched all the Different Strokes Episodes already, I finished my DVD's. OK, so now what? Well, I picked up a crochet kit yesterday. I seem to lack talent in this area, which is funny because I was always pretty crafty. I guess we lose some of these abilities as we age.
Crochet. I mentioned this new hobby to a coworker and she asked if I was pregnant. Hehehe. NO. My first project is a crocheted bookmark. Why? Because it came as a project with my starter kit. It's ugly and I'll never use it, but I have to start somewhere. I can't get past the first row of stitches though. Unfortunately, I am incapable of learning to crochet via the included hand-drawn illustrations. There's just too much string involved.
My goal project is a scarf. I want to make a scarf in a bad way. If I can do that, I might try a blanket, but I'm not sure if I have enough patience for a blanket.
I'll try to post some pictures of my first project. The unevenness of the stitching so far is kind of funny.
Crochet. I mentioned this new hobby to a coworker and she asked if I was pregnant. Hehehe. NO. My first project is a crocheted bookmark. Why? Because it came as a project with my starter kit. It's ugly and I'll never use it, but I have to start somewhere. I can't get past the first row of stitches though. Unfortunately, I am incapable of learning to crochet via the included hand-drawn illustrations. There's just too much string involved.
My goal project is a scarf. I want to make a scarf in a bad way. If I can do that, I might try a blanket, but I'm not sure if I have enough patience for a blanket.
I'll try to post some pictures of my first project. The unevenness of the stitching so far is kind of funny.
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
CBS Excel Skills
Columbia offers some excel workshops (imagine this --->for free!) to make sure your skills are up to par when you start your MBA journey... so, I thought I would mention a few from their list:
- Saving files
- Searching for Help topics
- Using toolbars
- Alignment
- Undo and Redo
- Printing
- Previewing
Considering I live Excel, I think I am going to skip this class. Ok, Ok, there are some other legit skills on the list that a lot of people either don't know about or don't use, but I'm still fine on those. I'm also probably one of a small contingency of Excel Lovers out there (you know who you are).
Monday, April 11, 2005
The Exploding "To Do" List
One thing I really like about the Columbia Business School website is that it has an online to-do list for applicants. The list contains completion dates, task durations, and it also updates as you check off completed tasks.
What I didn't realize was that the to-do list exploded when my status updated to 'commit.' Last week I thought I was kicking butt because I was ahead of schedule, but apparently I was wrong. I thought I should revisit my to-do list and now there's all sorts of other tasks on there. Many of these items require spending m-o-n-e-y, like buying calculators and laptops. Others require me to show proof of vaccinations?? Uh, this is where my mom comes in to help, right?
There is a light at the end of the tunnel though. I get to go activate my Columbia ID and receive my email account. Exciting!!!
What I didn't realize was that the to-do list exploded when my status updated to 'commit.' Last week I thought I was kicking butt because I was ahead of schedule, but apparently I was wrong. I thought I should revisit my to-do list and now there's all sorts of other tasks on there. Many of these items require spending m-o-n-e-y, like buying calculators and laptops. Others require me to show proof of vaccinations?? Uh, this is where my mom comes in to help, right?
There is a light at the end of the tunnel though. I get to go activate my Columbia ID and receive my email account. Exciting!!!
Besides Blogger, This Also Sucks
S got the ding from Columbia, so he's going to Duke. What is really messed is that he emailed me about the ding, and when I read his news my stomach dropped into my shoes. Why is this? Why do I feel ten times worse about his CBS ding than my HBS ding? Maybe because his heart was with Columbia and mine was not with Harvard (<-- bastards). S really deserves a spot at Columbia, and I feel terrible for him. However, at least he has an admit and is getting the opportunity to attend an MBA program (and Duke rocks, so I can't feel too badly about his situation). I remember starting this process and hoping and praying I got in to a school. I probably would be a depressed mess if I had not received at least one admit. Worse than not being accepted to a school was the prospect that I would have to stay in my job for another year. No thanks!
Saturday, April 09, 2005
Blogger Sucks
This baby is just hit or miss. I tried to post a few days ago, but nooooo I kept getting an error message over and over again. So, let's try this posting thing again:
I think I found a solution to some of my near-term financial woes... paid overtime. Yup, I've just been given the go-ahead for paid overtime until I leave my company (thanks to the latest project slip). That should help out a bit, especially for those unforeseen moving expenses. I mean, I've always known about the move, just not that it is going to cost $3K. Too bad Uncle Sam is going to enjoy 42% of my hard-earned OT wages. What kind of uncle steals from his poor niece? He probably needs the money more than me, thanks to G.W.'s deficit, but still.
What else... Columbia is going to use Kroll to perform background checks on its applicants. Kroll is the same company that Wharton uses for the checks. I wonder if it will be exciting? Apparently, Columbia only decided to go this route a few days before they notified admits they are required to fork up $83 to help pay for it. What's another $83 when this is going to cost me $130,000 at the end of the day? Or, maybe I'm just used to Admissions bull-crap already.
I think I found a solution to some of my near-term financial woes... paid overtime. Yup, I've just been given the go-ahead for paid overtime until I leave my company (thanks to the latest project slip). That should help out a bit, especially for those unforeseen moving expenses. I mean, I've always known about the move, just not that it is going to cost $3K. Too bad Uncle Sam is going to enjoy 42% of my hard-earned OT wages. What kind of uncle steals from his poor niece? He probably needs the money more than me, thanks to G.W.'s deficit, but still.
What else... Columbia is going to use Kroll to perform background checks on its applicants. Kroll is the same company that Wharton uses for the checks. I wonder if it will be exciting? Apparently, Columbia only decided to go this route a few days before they notified admits they are required to fork up $83 to help pay for it. What's another $83 when this is going to cost me $130,000 at the end of the day? Or, maybe I'm just used to Admissions bull-crap already.
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Motivation - Still on the Decline
So I'm at work, "working," and thinking to myself, "I need to get OUT of this job... kinda like some people. I need to just toodle around and soak up the freedom until O-Day (AKA orientation)."
O-Day. I don't know if I can come back to my workaholic lifestyle once school begins. Hahahaha, funny I should mention that crazy work-a-holic lifestyle of mine, because I don't have one. Many people see b-school as a vacation, I see it as finally getting my opportunity to get some sh!t done. I've been coasting since I started working on MBA applications, meaning I was checked out in 2004!
Yup, I am quite useless at work. I probably mentioned this about 5 times already, but it's just getting worse and worse... and worse. I hope Columbia's housing folks call me up and tell me I have a place for June 1st. Take it or leave it. Then I'd HAVE to quit, right? Damn, any excuse to quit working at this point is so welcomed, especially on days like today.
O-Day. I don't know if I can come back to my workaholic lifestyle once school begins. Hahahaha, funny I should mention that crazy work-a-holic lifestyle of mine, because I don't have one. Many people see b-school as a vacation, I see it as finally getting my opportunity to get some sh!t done. I've been coasting since I started working on MBA applications, meaning I was checked out in 2004!
Yup, I am quite useless at work. I probably mentioned this about 5 times already, but it's just getting worse and worse... and worse. I hope Columbia's housing folks call me up and tell me I have a place for June 1st. Take it or leave it. Then I'd HAVE to quit, right? Damn, any excuse to quit working at this point is so welcomed, especially on days like today.
Monday, April 04, 2005
A Sense of Direction, Finally
Last night, I made my decision to attend Columbia Business School. As impressed by Duke as I was, after speaking with several students who were involved in areas that I am interested in, Columbia's program is definitely the closest fit for what I am looking to get out of business school. I feel like I've done everything I can to make sure my decision is the right one and now I can really celebrate!!! (<--- I see some margaritas in my future)
The deposit check will be sent off today and that's one more thing I can scratch off my to-do list. I completed a student housing application and hopefully I won't have to partake in the dreaded NYC apartment search. Next is to pray every day for a phenomenal financial aid package from CBS. I also have to get the move in order and help my man find a job. He's already getting calls, which is definitely a good sign.
The deposit check will be sent off today and that's one more thing I can scratch off my to-do list. I completed a student housing application and hopefully I won't have to partake in the dreaded NYC apartment search. Next is to pray every day for a phenomenal financial aid package from CBS. I also have to get the move in order and help my man find a job. He's already getting calls, which is definitely a good sign.
Sunday, April 03, 2005
Welcome to North Carolina
These were the words spoken to me by a drunken UNC student on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill after the UNC basketball win this evening. I skipped Duke's DJ Soul Korea to live an experience which I will likely not see again in this lifetime.
So I can only say this was like nothing I've ever experienced before.... I liken it to 'Lord of the Flies' mixed with young, Southern drunkenness. Amongst 20,000 of my closest friends born in the mid 80's were students throwing their shirts into bonfires, fires which were lit in the middle of the street, they then proceeded to jump through them. Ya, drunk college guys jumping through fire... wierd. Aside from the fire hoppers was the mass of humanity I was being towed through, kind of like wading through a current. Then, I've also never seen this large of a crowd getting so excited over the weakest fireworks known to man. A young female started humping my friends leg out of nowhere. I saw a guy get launched off a crowd surfing stint right onto the asphalt of the street. I saw people climbing into trees and street lights. I saw someone's bike being sacrificed to the fire gods, but let me tell you, burning rubber does not smell nice.
This whole experience was just plain bizarre. I think I would have enjoyed something like this about 6 years ago maybe, but the people watching made the evening completely worth it.
So I can only say this was like nothing I've ever experienced before.... I liken it to 'Lord of the Flies' mixed with young, Southern drunkenness. Amongst 20,000 of my closest friends born in the mid 80's were students throwing their shirts into bonfires, fires which were lit in the middle of the street, they then proceeded to jump through them. Ya, drunk college guys jumping through fire... wierd. Aside from the fire hoppers was the mass of humanity I was being towed through, kind of like wading through a current. Then, I've also never seen this large of a crowd getting so excited over the weakest fireworks known to man. A young female started humping my friends leg out of nowhere. I saw a guy get launched off a crowd surfing stint right onto the asphalt of the street. I saw people climbing into trees and street lights. I saw someone's bike being sacrificed to the fire gods, but let me tell you, burning rubber does not smell nice.
This whole experience was just plain bizarre. I think I would have enjoyed something like this about 6 years ago maybe, but the people watching made the evening completely worth it.
Saturday, April 02, 2005
Need Sleep
I'm at BDW, in my hotel room... I should be napping, but instead I am working and blogging, yet still anticipating another long evening out tonight; however, I do very poorly with time changes. Couple a 3 hour difference with only 8 hours of sleep in 2 days, and what you get from me is a mess. My eyes are red and I'm kind of walking around in a trance. I'm not the only one in this state, so at least I've got that going for me. What really blows is that I get home at midnight tomorrow and have to work on Monday. Ouch.
As far as Blue Devil Weekend goes, this event has been a pretty well run program so far. Like I've said over and over again, the enthusiasm for the Duke program from the students, staff, and faculty is amazing. And, I've met some of the nicest people ever. The Dean also referred to this attribute in his welcome speech: Duke does not want "weenies or jerks." Awesome.
The one portion I've enjoyed the most has been the mock classes. We experienced 3 mini-courses which were fun, but I LOVE school so this is definitely a skewed opinion. I want to write more... but not as much as I want to sleep. Bye!
As far as Blue Devil Weekend goes, this event has been a pretty well run program so far. Like I've said over and over again, the enthusiasm for the Duke program from the students, staff, and faculty is amazing. And, I've met some of the nicest people ever. The Dean also referred to this attribute in his welcome speech: Duke does not want "weenies or jerks." Awesome.
The one portion I've enjoyed the most has been the mock classes. We experienced 3 mini-courses which were fun, but I LOVE school so this is definitely a skewed opinion. I want to write more... but not as much as I want to sleep. Bye!
