Thursday, December 29, 2005
Winter Break
Now I know why the ladies worship Oprah... it's either watch Oprah or watch Judge Judy, Family Feud, The People's Court, or Montel. Yeah, it all makes sense now.
It's quite a shock to the system when you go from studying for finals for 18 hours a day to not having anything to do. It took about 3 hours for me to get bored. No joke. Catching up on some sleep has been quite nice and I've been watching just a little TV. But now I know why Columbia gives students a month off for winter: We might not come back otherwise. A little time to rejuvenate is key.
So, my plans for the rest of the winter are to 1) read some books that I had picked out over the last few months and 2) get back into exercising and 3) go to Central Park (can you believe I live two blocks away and have not been to the park??!?) I also get to visit my family for a few days in mid-January. Should be fun!
It's quite a shock to the system when you go from studying for finals for 18 hours a day to not having anything to do. It took about 3 hours for me to get bored. No joke. Catching up on some sleep has been quite nice and I've been watching just a little TV. But now I know why Columbia gives students a month off for winter: We might not come back otherwise. A little time to rejuvenate is key.
So, my plans for the rest of the winter are to 1) read some books that I had picked out over the last few months and 2) get back into exercising and 3) go to Central Park (can you believe I live two blocks away and have not been to the park??!?) I also get to visit my family for a few days in mid-January. Should be fun!
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Strike!!!
There is big news in New York today. The MTA strike. That means no buses and no subways. I'm very curious to see how this all turns out and how long it lasts (by the way, it's damn cold outside).
Even better than the strike itself: the local TV news coverage. Jerry Springer would be so proud. I thought the news was bad in L.A., well it's totally pathetic in New York. Is there really a need to interview people in their cars who are waiting to get into the city? I think not. Is there a need to interview the guy striking with the strikers because he's just a relative of an MTA worker and not an MTA worker himself? Nope. Is there a need to interview the 5 year-olds who are walking to school today instead of taking the train? No, no and no.
However, this must be important stuff because TV has been cancelled except for this news coverage. I'm glad to be leaving this city in 2 days.
Even better than the strike itself: the local TV news coverage. Jerry Springer would be so proud. I thought the news was bad in L.A., well it's totally pathetic in New York. Is there really a need to interview people in their cars who are waiting to get into the city? I think not. Is there a need to interview the guy striking with the strikers because he's just a relative of an MTA worker and not an MTA worker himself? Nope. Is there a need to interview the 5 year-olds who are walking to school today instead of taking the train? No, no and no.
However, this must be important stuff because TV has been cancelled except for this news coverage. I'm glad to be leaving this city in 2 days.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Big Slob
So, I'm leaving for my last final in, oh, 10 minutes, which means I have about 5 minutes to blog since I haven't yet prepared to leave for school yet. Gotta brush my teeth and change into some warm, comfy clothes.
Finals has been the best excuse to go to school like a total slob. I love it. Being sick also gives me a pretty good excuse too. So, I look like hell and sounds like hell, but no one cares because everyone's going to be in an Excel haze for the next 5 hours.
Ahhh man, do I have to go now?!?!?
Finals has been the best excuse to go to school like a total slob. I love it. Being sick also gives me a pretty good excuse too. So, I look like hell and sounds like hell, but no one cares because everyone's going to be in an Excel haze for the next 5 hours.
Ahhh man, do I have to go now?!?!?
Sunday, December 18, 2005
T Minus 12 hours
12 hours 'til my Corporate Finance final, you know, the class where people are tearing each other's throats out for the A++++. Ya, thaaaaaat's the one.
The way it works is that we do a valuation on a company from an HBS case. In Excel. On our laptops. Then, we upload our file to some business school server... which is all swell and fine until my Excel broke. Of course, right? All's well now but for about 3 hours there, I was sweating bullets. Yikes.
But, really, I am soooooo over the 1st semester. Thank God this is my last final. And there's definitely no coincidence that the bankers' school leaves the Corporate Finance final until last. I don't know how it works at other schools, but at CBS, all the first years take the same final at the same time for the same class.... So all 500 of us had an Accounting final at the same time, a Marketing final at the same time, etc. etc.
Corporate Finance was actually my favorite class, so I'm just a little sad that it's over.
The way it works is that we do a valuation on a company from an HBS case. In Excel. On our laptops. Then, we upload our file to some business school server... which is all swell and fine until my Excel broke. Of course, right? All's well now but for about 3 hours there, I was sweating bullets. Yikes.
But, really, I am soooooo over the 1st semester. Thank God this is my last final. And there's definitely no coincidence that the bankers' school leaves the Corporate Finance final until last. I don't know how it works at other schools, but at CBS, all the first years take the same final at the same time for the same class.... So all 500 of us had an Accounting final at the same time, a Marketing final at the same time, etc. etc.
Corporate Finance was actually my favorite class, so I'm just a little sad that it's over.
Friday, December 16, 2005
Ya, I really shouldn't be up..
... but I am!
So, I guess this is part 2 from my previous post.
It's almost 2 AM and I 'm awake. This almost never happens. But, after my 5-hour Econ final this afternoon, I took a nap and now I'm wide awake. And downloading music again at dangerous rates. If I told you how much I've spent on iTunes in just one year, ummmmm, you'd think I was a crazy woman. (hey now, I know what you're thinking and I'm not that crazy!) Honestly, there are days where I forego food so that I can spend my food money on music. Is that sad? That IS sad. yes, yes, I know!!! Hey, at least I don't steal music, that's all I'm saying. If Sallie Mae only knew where her loan money was goin' ... sheesh.
Where is Sallie Mae's money going.... well, I bought some presents for my parents at the bookstore today. Got my mom a Columbia Christmas Tree ornament (am I still allowed to say Christmas? It will always be Christmas to me). She eats that crap up so she should love it. I got my dad a Columbia coffee mug, since he drinks coffee and all and I have no idea what else to buy him. What do you give the guy who's never used an ATM in his entire life? Ya, well that's my dad. If I knew jack about tools I could get him something clever, but I can't even use scissors properly. Can you tell I've been drinking tonight? ok, got to go to bed.
So, I guess this is part 2 from my previous post.
It's almost 2 AM and I 'm awake. This almost never happens. But, after my 5-hour Econ final this afternoon, I took a nap and now I'm wide awake. And downloading music again at dangerous rates. If I told you how much I've spent on iTunes in just one year, ummmmm, you'd think I was a crazy woman. (hey now, I know what you're thinking and I'm not that crazy!) Honestly, there are days where I forego food so that I can spend my food money on music. Is that sad? That IS sad. yes, yes, I know!!! Hey, at least I don't steal music, that's all I'm saying. If Sallie Mae only knew where her loan money was goin' ... sheesh.
Where is Sallie Mae's money going.... well, I bought some presents for my parents at the bookstore today. Got my mom a Columbia Christmas Tree ornament (am I still allowed to say Christmas? It will always be Christmas to me). She eats that crap up so she should love it. I got my dad a Columbia coffee mug, since he drinks coffee and all and I have no idea what else to buy him. What do you give the guy who's never used an ATM in his entire life? Ya, well that's my dad. If I knew jack about tools I could get him something clever, but I can't even use scissors properly. Can you tell I've been drinking tonight? ok, got to go to bed.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Ya, I really shouldn't even be blogging but...
it's either blog OR continue studying Econ for the 14th hour in-a-r-o-w. Oh man. So I choose blog.
Anyway, I'm here to discuss finals at Columbia. Dude, talk about competitive. People flat out say I want an A+++++++++++ in Corporate Finance or I will die. Ya, how sad is that. My entire cluster has disappeared. I'm only getting 60 emails a day instead of 150. Now, that's progress.
And I thought a 4 hour test would be really horrifying, BUT it's not so bad if you can tune out the relentless coughs, sniffles, sneezes, typing noises, and foot tapping while you are trying to bust out some crazy bond calculations. Actually, if I didn't have the iPod to tune out these distractions I would probably go nuts and murder a beautiful clustermate. I am that out of it. So instead, I set my iPod to repeat the same song over and over. One song has gotten me through 8 hours of testing so far (2 finals), and 5 more hours tomorrow. OH YA!!!!! Why one song? Hearning the same song allows me to kind of tune it out. iTunes has told me that I've listend to this song 86 times. 86!!! That's got to be some record for me.
So, friends, I am here to spread the joy of my "Finals Anthem" with you today... The song is "Everyone Choose Sides" by the Wrens, a fantastic indie band that could, and should, blow your socks off.
So, if you would like to hear the entire song legally and for free, go here:
http://www.absolutelykosher.com/musicfiles/Everyonechoose.mp3
AND, even BETTER than listening to a song 86 times, I can hear them LIVE next month in New York!!!! Yay!
Anyway, I'm here to discuss finals at Columbia. Dude, talk about competitive. People flat out say I want an A+++++++++++ in Corporate Finance or I will die. Ya, how sad is that. My entire cluster has disappeared. I'm only getting 60 emails a day instead of 150. Now, that's progress.
And I thought a 4 hour test would be really horrifying, BUT it's not so bad if you can tune out the relentless coughs, sniffles, sneezes, typing noises, and foot tapping while you are trying to bust out some crazy bond calculations. Actually, if I didn't have the iPod to tune out these distractions I would probably go nuts and murder a beautiful clustermate. I am that out of it. So instead, I set my iPod to repeat the same song over and over. One song has gotten me through 8 hours of testing so far (2 finals), and 5 more hours tomorrow. OH YA!!!!! Why one song? Hearning the same song allows me to kind of tune it out. iTunes has told me that I've listend to this song 86 times. 86!!! That's got to be some record for me.
So, friends, I am here to spread the joy of my "Finals Anthem" with you today... The song is "Everyone Choose Sides" by the Wrens, a fantastic indie band that could, and should, blow your socks off.
So, if you would like to hear the entire song legally and for free, go here:
http://www.absolutelykosher.com/musicfiles/Everyonechoose.mp3
AND, even BETTER than listening to a song 86 times, I can hear them LIVE next month in New York!!!! Yay!
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Finals are Coming
Soooo, life is going to truly suck the next few days (9 days to be exact). I have 4 finals and a 20 page paper to write.
Finals are no joke at CBS. They are each 4 to 5 hours long! I seriously dont think I have the attention span to work on something like accounting for that long. Even during the GMAT, which was also 4 hours, I had to get up, go outside, and take a walk because I couldn't sit still for that long.
The good part is that we only have 1 final per day and then we get a month off to do whatever we want. I don't have major plans this winter, but some of my classmates are going on some really cool trips: New Zealand/Australia, Asia, South America. It's all New York for me, baby! Actually, I have some plans in works for a trip back to California, where it's 75 degrees and not 35 degrees like it is here. Should make for a nice January.
Finals are no joke at CBS. They are each 4 to 5 hours long! I seriously dont think I have the attention span to work on something like accounting for that long. Even during the GMAT, which was also 4 hours, I had to get up, go outside, and take a walk because I couldn't sit still for that long.
The good part is that we only have 1 final per day and then we get a month off to do whatever we want. I don't have major plans this winter, but some of my classmates are going on some really cool trips: New Zealand/Australia, Asia, South America. It's all New York for me, baby! Actually, I have some plans in works for a trip back to California, where it's 75 degrees and not 35 degrees like it is here. Should make for a nice January.
