I spent Thanksgiving reviewing my Marketing final write up. I didn’t feel like going anywhere for the holiday. The time seemed so short and looked like a great opportunity to get some stuff done that I’ve been procrastinating on. I slept in (8:30 as opposed to 5:30) and quickly found myself at a loss. It was the first time in nearly three months that I didn’t have to be somewhere, meet with someone, or get something done. It was oddly disconcerting! I felt guilty lounging on the couch after eating breakfast and so placated myself by bringing my laptop to the couch and looking at my marketing case while watching movies.
I spent a lot of time catching up on sleep this weekend, and I suspect that people will have restored good humor when we start back on Monday. Saturday, I actually got up and spent time finishing my Christmas shopping (I hate shopping in December!) and writing out my Holiday cards. I could not believe that we have two weeks left in this term. Though I look forward to three weeks off (Oh, My Goodness), I think I may have withdrawal from this new lifestyle.
Next week is looking rough. I’m heading to Cincinnati Monday night for a second interview with a consumer products company and then I’m in New Jersey Thursday and Friday for a Mini Finance Camp with another consumer products company. I will miss my last two classes, and have arranged to attend both a class and a final review session on Saturday at Gleacher. I’m also going to study a little with my mentees on Sunday. So my week is looking packed. My goal is just to stay calm and get through it as I have many other weeks this term. I’m so close to the finish, and I just need to hold it together.
As we head into Thanksgiving, there is a dramatic cliff. I assumed that business school would gradually taper off much like work did. I mean, let’s be honest, nobody does anything of importance on that Monday through Wednesday. Most people are on vacation, and those poor people who aren’t, are usually out by noon to defrost their bird. So I was shocked when we had a fairly regular half week.
I had my first meeting with the scholarship committee for Giving Something Back, the community service organization on campus. We are organizing a scholarship for high school students interested in business. It is a great opportunity for the school to reach more of the community and to educate high school students about business school. We came up with some good ideas and it looks like it will be a great program. There was also a meeting for all first years interested in leadership positions at the GSB. It was obvious that they were expecting a larger audience, and it was odd that more people did not attend. Not that there were only 4 of us, but the comment was made that at some schools the room would have been full. I found it valuable, as they had second years who could attest to the time commitment and down sides to various leadership positions in different organizations, but it also showcased the various ways to serve the GSB community and develop yourself.
We had a fireside chat with an investment bank at a trendy restaurant downtown. It was specifically for African American students from Chicago and Kellogg, and was a relatively small crowd. I always like these small venues because you get a much better sense of the company and the people who work there. Again they had “walking hor’dourves” which seemed ridiculous with the small crowd. I felt bed for the guy as he walked down the line peddling his shrimp, and then reaching the end and turning back to hit the same people he got last time. As I wasn’t terribly interested in the company, I used it as an opportunity to talk with alumni, and successful African Americans.
As sparse as African Americans are now in executive ranks, it was nearly nonexistent twenty years ago, and I’m always curious as to how people dealt with that and what they consider keys to their success. In spite of not serving food (let’s get it straight, hor’dourves do not qualify as food, even “heavy” ones), the event was very nice. As an added bonus, we spotted Larenz Tate of “Love Jones” fame at the restaurant. We acted civilized for once and did not approach (err… bother) him. See we’re representing the GSB well, so far.
It wasn’t until Wednesday afternoon that school started to empty out. It should be noted that as we have over 40% international students, who do not celebrate Thanksgiving, there were plenty of people still around. The weather was awful, as I tried to get to school in time for my 3 o’clock Accounting class. It was cold and sleeting (?), and waiting for the bus was a communal form of torture. There were about 20 of us in Accounting, and the professor stated that many of our classmates had gone to the earlier class. It wasn’t too bad, but people didn’t linger afterwards. Heading back downtown, the buses were crowded as people tried to make it to the bus station, train station, and airports.
I got into the house and collapsed on the couch. But I did use the evening to get caught up on emails and updating my schedule for next week. The four day weekend is reminiscent of a water break in a marathon. You can stop and get some water, but you’d be better off drinking while you’re running.
Last night was Golden Gargoyles. The much anticipated event that signaled the end of LEAD. As rites of passage go, it was a pretty awesome send off. It was fashioned after the Oscars, and was based around the films that each cohort created. We watched the best films created by the cohorts. Then there were awards for the best acting, the best kiss, best dig on another school. I was so surprised by the veracity of pride for the films. People reacted like they’d made the closed list when they heard their film was in the top three. It was amazing, really.
The theme was the 80’s and we were supposed to dress up as an 80’s celebrity or in black tie. Barring a few stick-in-the-mud’s, most people did either one or the other. I dressed up as Miss America 1984, Ms. Vanessa Williams, complete with blue eyeshadow and the oh-so-eighties blush streak. People were shocked, and many of my classmates did not recognize me. I rode the bus to the event, and had no less than six people congratulate me on winning the pageant! It was fun!
It was bittersweet, because we are officially “LEADed”. Many of the facilitators were a little sad at the bittersweet element. It just reinforced how great an experience facilitating is. I’m seriously considering applying for next year. As much as we ragged on class every week, it will be weird not to see my cohort and facilitators every week. The withdrawal alone should encourage bonding in the Winter Garden.
I’ve locked myself out of my home for the first time since school started. I am actually pretty proud of this fact as it is only two weeks to finals, and I assumed I’d start spazzing out about two weeks ago.
Micro wasn’t too bad, after we ended class a little prematurely last week. The professor sheepishly apologized again. We learned about externalities, which are affects of one person in the market on another person. Pretty interesting concept, I guess. We had our last LEAD gathering yesterday. We were supposed to roast our facilitators which might have been fun, if we’d known we’d get such an opportunity. As it is, many of us struggled trying to find ammunition. The resultant attempts were pitiful and left the facilitator awkwardly trying to figure out what was wrong with us. We also got to watch our cohort movie, which I will say with little humility, is awesome!
I attended the presentation for my first choice consulting company last night, after a short and sloppy nap in the Winter Garden. I got to talk to some folks in the Operations practice and learn more about the company. People were out of control, as expected, but not nearly as much as the banking presentations. I ended up staying to talk until 10, so I guess you could say it went well.
I finally got to wear some comfortable clothes this week. Yeah, baby, I’m rocking the jeans. So I meticulously laid my stuff out and made sure I packed our group’s paper for marketing and had my wallet, and I walked out without my keys and no cell phone. After a mild coronary and breathing into a paper bag, I was able to pull it together enough to get on the bus and, in true GSB fashion, worry about it later. Marketing was interesting, as usual. We talked about distribution channels and he gave us the data on our bidding experiment. We discussed our latest case, which most of us did wrong, but that is part of the process. We have a take-home final, which we’re all intending to do over the holiday. We do like to be optimistic, don’t we?
I think the stress is wearing on us. Everyone is kind of freaked out and they don’t look as excited to be here as they did during CORE. We’ve been taking some beatings on the self esteem, though people hopeful about next term. We are bidding on courses for next term, and I have no doubt that my classmates will sufficiently stick it to each other enough to make the bid prices outrageous. It isn’t logical. I plan on taking things that no one else wants to take. Not because they’re bad classes, but those finance folks have got a plan and next term’s agenda calls for Investments, Regression, and Macro. Sounds enthralling, no?
I’ve chucked the plan of aligning with concentrations. I have to take something that I am interested in, and since consulting companies don’t seem to care what you take, I’m going with that for the time being.
We started the week with Interviewing Bootcamp, sponsored by Career Services and the Office of Diversity Affairs. We did practice interviews with alumni and corporate partners, and got some feedback and a video to watch and assess ourselves. (Not that I’m looking forward to actually watching it.) I found myself more nervous than I felt in the actual interviews I’ve done in the last month. I thought the opportunity to talk with recruiters about things they’ve seen in bad and good interviews was very helpful.
We had a fireside chat with a manufacturing company this morning. It was interesting to see a completely different perspective than the usual bankers and consultants. They talked about their strategy program. I don’t know that there are many people who are planning to apply, but I thought it was interesting.
They’ve started a new community building event. Coffee Hour with Dean Kole, where students get a chance to stop by and talk with Dean Kole and other staff about the state of the school, anything that is bothering you, or anything else you can think of and articulate. I thought it was great and I saw a few people I’ve never seen before.
I also attended a dinner given by the Office of Minority Student Affairs. It was for graduate students from all the schools and was a great opportunity to get the GSB out there and visible. We’re not all like the stereotype. They had a cultural band which was extremely loud and apparently playing for a much larger audience than was actually in attendance. We had some fun, poking fun at each other.
It was a rough week! There were two fireside chats on Thursday and a presentation. I learned about banking during breakfast and consulting at lunch and dinner. We had a last LEAD class session on Ethics which was OK. Everybody seemed to be a little tired and ready to move on with our post-LEAD lives.
Marketing class was awesome this week! We were discussing pricing strategies, and the professor used an auction to exemplify price discrimination. We had silent auctions within groups of four for Vosges exotic chocolate bars. We didn’t know what other people would bid or who we were bidding against. Some groups didn’t want the chocolate, for whatever reason, and got the bar for 50 cents. Other groups valued the chocolate very much and paid over 10 dollars for it. We all paid different prices for an identical product based on what we valued it individually. It was an interesting concept, further solidified by the real world example. We really won the chocolate and we really had to pay our bid. (I won a Naga bar made with milk chocolate, coconut, and indian curry. It was excellent!)
I went to the Entrepreneurship Conference on Friday which was OK. I think I may have been too tired to truly appreciate the panelists, though I did appreciate the session on managing change in an organization. I also attended the Management Consulting Group’s Career Forum yesterday. All of the big consulting companies were there giving panel discussions about a day in the life of a consultant, case interviews, and switching careers. It was pretty interesting, but I think I get a better feel (and more questions answered) at the smaller dinners and presentations.
We had a mixer with minority Kellogg students last night which was somewhat disappointing. Surprisingly, there were more GSB students than Kellogg students. I’d planned on attending the Belgian Halloween Party, but after the past week, I was exhausted and wanted more than anything to take a nap. Which I did for about 7 hours.
I was disciplined enough to get up early this morning and do my requisite four loads of laundry. I took a nap and then went grocery shopping, the first time I’ve been to the store in about three weeks. I read my marketing case over dinner and am treating myself by watching a couple of hours of TV. I’m looking forward to the Thanksgiving break for a breather and to get myself together before Finals. It is amazing how quickly the time has passed!
I had the first interview slot of the morning and arrived early. The other students interviewing were either laissez-faire or overly anxious about getting it. I was somewhere in the middle, but I felt comfortable talking to my interviewer. The interview went well, I thought. I didn’t talk too much, had substantive questions, and was enthusiastic about the job. I should hear soon.
I met with my Microeconomics Professor to talk about the homework from last week that I’d blown off to study for Accounting. He’d written at the bottom that he knew I could do better (Ouch!). He answered my questions and sent me on my way.
A consulting company had a fireside chat for minority students last night that was awesome. We had a recruiter and a consultant at our table with five students. It was a really relaxed environment where we could ask honest questions and we got honest answers. I was very impressed with the people who actually seemed normal. They weren’t dragging the ego around, and they didn’t have to defend their intelligence. They seemed self assured and confident that though consulting wasn’t for everyone, you would know if it was for you. The time passed quickly, and I left feeling like it was the first time that I’d left a company reception feeling like I was actually interested in learning more. I think that this could work…
This morning, I got up a little late and had a brief phone screen with another consumer products company who is also planning a Finance Mini Camp at their Headquarters. That one, I wasn’t too sure of. I don’t think I came off as committed to finance, which I guess I really am not yet. Anyway, I then headed for Hyde Park Center where I attended a fireside chat for minority students with a real estate investment bank, their words, not mine. It was pretty interesting, especially as I never would have looked at them if not for this event. It actually sounded a bit interesting, but they don’t have a formalized program for internship recruiting so that’s pretty much out.
I went to Accounting class, and again was mentally prepared for the devastation. This time the agony was extended because the professor had put the tests in our mail folders. She tried to do damage control for people like myself who started hyperventilating, because you can use your grade on the final for your course grade, assuming you do better. In my case, that is pretty much assured. So I am not as distraught as I thought I’d be. I knew I didn’t do well, and I didn’t. So what is there to be so freaked out about?
Now, I’m waiting around so that we can have another dysfunctional marketing meeting. Again, we have two days to turn in a major case, and again we aren’t really agreeing. I guess it can only get better. I’m seriously burnt out and I see the next few weeks stretching out with little opportunity for a break. I’m contemplating opting out of the turkey worship and heading to a spa. I can take my accounting book and really enjoy myself!
I was invited to interview with a company to attend a Mini-Finance Camp at their headquarters. They take 25 first-years from different schools and give them business problems to work on, etc. I’d heard it was a great program. Before the interviews, they asked all of the candidates from Chicago both first and second years to come to a cocktail reception beforehand. It was much tamer than the banking presentations that I’m used to. People were civil. But there was the occasional flub on which many of our stereotypes are based. A second year actually criticized a product’s design and compared it unfavorably to its competitor. Now keep in mind that we were talking to finance people who have absolutely nothing to do with the design of the product, besides the obvious faux pas in blowing up the competitor of your interviewer. It was just bad.
This morning, I worked in Career Services and actually escorted the same interviewers from last night to their respective interview rooms. I went to my Accounting class fully mentally prepared to receive the proverbial beating I deserved from the midterm. The professor prolonged the anticipation until Wednesday.
I got two mentors assigned to me, which is cool. It is just interesting to hear about their experiences. They are both freshman at the University and their concerns are so different from my own. There is some parallels as we’re all getting started, and it gives me some perspective in helping me to remember that I faced their same concerns and did OK. These are the days when I need that reassurance…
Welcome to Alumni Weekend! As this was the first opportunity to introduce the new building to many of the people who paid for it, it was kind of a big deal. I attended the formal dinner at the Fairmont Hotel downtown last night. As I am interested in event-planning, I was incredibly impressed by the centerpieces which were fashioned to imitate the arches of the Winter Garden in Hyde Park Center. They gave several awards to various alumni for service, accomplishment, etc. Each recipient gave short and appropriate remarks, and all was right with the world. It was surprising staid and, sadly, exactly what I thought one of these uptight dinners would be like.
I ended up at a table in the corner with several other students. It felt a little like sitting at the kid’s table for Thanksgiving. We were tolerated but definitely not an integral part. I had the opportunity to talk with an alumnus from Kansas City. We compared notes on Accounting, and he reassured me that he didn’t actually learn accounting until after graduation. So there is hope for me…
I left a little early, (before the dancing started), so that I could complete my part of our marketing assignment. I put in a good three hours and then hit the hay. I got up early this morning to check out the Collegiate Entrepreneur Organization (CEO) Conference at Navy Pier. I was immediately put off when they couldn’t find my name tag and materials. They could account for my hefty registration fee, they just couldn’t find whatever that bought me. It was irritating. I heard from three acclaimed entrepreneurs who had vastly different approaches to entrepreneurship and yet all said the same thing. Only you can make it happen. It was very motivating!
I then attended a session on the first year of start up for a new company given by a GSB alum. It was interesting to hear his trials and tribulations, as he’s going through some of them now. He answered questions honestly and presented well. I did give a resume to one of the companies that were recruiting for an intern. I don’t know that I am even remotely interested, but it seems like recruiting is a habit now. Somebody stop me!
I headed back to Hyde Park this afternoon to get mentorship training, so that I can help out undergrad students. It wasn’t rocket science in terms of the material, but it was interesting to meet other minority students in the medical school, the public policy school, the social services administration school, etc. We had a chance to talk about issues we’re thinking about. It was great to hear a different perspective and to know that students in other schools are facing some of the same issues that we are.
At long last, I’ve returned to my ramshackle house and again bemoan the fact that it is a wreck. I’ve got about four loads of laundry on the floor in the bedroom, at least 3 weeks of handouts, etc. on the bed in the guestroom, and a week of dishes in the kitchen sink. I obviously have things that I should be doing, but I really feel the need to curl up on the couch and watch “Cheaters” amid the disarray. Tomorrow, I will have my pre-dinner with the company I’m interviewing with on Tuesday. So I’d much rather use these few precious hours to remember who I am and that I do not revolve around the various directions I seem to constantly be pursuing all at once. Compared to Pricing strategies and Cash Flow statements, cheating spouses seem pretty simple and straight forward. There is also the added benefit of making my mere student’s existence look pretty good in comparison.
Today was not the best of days. After finding out that most of the country has been lulled to sleep by George W. Bush, I was disheartened enough to read my forty seven emails. I received an email from the company I interviewed with last week informing me that I “would not be considered further for the job as other candidates were better suited.” I didn’t necessarily want the job, but it bothers me that they don’t want me. I also thought it was a tacky way to send me packing. I mean they flew me out and had me talk to seven plus people and then they pass me off with an email.
As I recovered from this blow to my self image, I interviewed on campus to be a mentor for minority undergraduate students. The administrator for the program talked with me for a while and then said she thought that I’d be great. I wish that I’d had someone to help me out as an undergraduate. It is so important and may help my goal of increasing minority enrollment at the GSB. So many minority students don’t know all of the opportunities available because we don’t necessarily have representatives in those fields to talk to. I’m really excited about this as it is something I really like to do and I can make a little money as well.
Just as I was feeling buoyed up from this small success, I was dreading my Accounting midterm. Now let’s be clear. My Accounting professor is awesome. She explains things well, and she genuinely cares whether you learn it or not. I feel comfortable talking with her and/or asking questions in class. I just don’t like Accounting. Therefore I am struggling with it. It is my nature to have difficulty with something that I am not intensely interested in. It has gotten better since we started looking at Financial Statements, but T-accounts were rough!
Talking to other students, we all felt that we weren’t going to do well on this exam. Many people had gone through the practice exams and couldn’t finish them in time. As I’d procrastinated and done very little, I knew I had even less chance of doing well on it. We were all thrown. One person left early, and we suspect that he just gave up. We decided that the test could not be completed in the time allowed without a CPA. This could be good and bad, depending on your perspective. We all do horribly and the curve is forced down so that everyone gets a B. But when we all pass this class and go on to the next class, we will have to learn Accounting and the new material at the same time. Who knows what will happen? The second years were encouraging because we do have the final to work on it, but I’m a little embarrassed to get that test back.
So today, I learned about the roller coaster ride that is business school. We should all be adept at this process, because it is going to be intense next term. Today, I was kicked to the curb, patted on the back, and slapped in the face. It is difficult if you aren’t sure who you are and what you want. Can you imagine next term, when you interview with six companies in a day after finding out you didn’t get the jobs you interviewed for the day before and you failed a test this morning? And what if your girlfriend leaves you in the midst of your crisis! It is a constant struggle not to question yourself. We are seemingly always being evaluated by recruiters, professors, alumni, and fellow students. They say that B-school is competitive. I would argue that it isn’t competing against everyone else, but against your own expectations.
Okay… so I should be studying for my Accounting midterm since I have practically no idea what I’m doing in this class. I naively thought I could go through the practice exam and then attend the review session with the TA. I barely looked at the practice exam this weekend, but I did get caught up with my napping schedule. (It was totally worth it!) And the review session was a wash. I was one of the few that didn’t see the point in sitting there for two hours absorbing nothing, so I left after 45 minutes. Which brings me to this evening (ELECTION NIGHT), when I should be at least cracking open the book, and here I sit typing for you good people while watching the election coverage. Ah well, what are you gonna do?
I had my LEAD Comprehensive Feedback today. Basically, your LEAD Facilitator for your Squad interprets the feedback given by your “Squadmates” and you get a one-on-one opportunity to tell someone you’re drowning at the GSB. I was taken aback with my squad’s feedback of me. They did recognize that I tend to give in too easily when I disagree with the group, but they also thought I was a great leader and would make a great CEO someday. (I also got a couple of votes to become a LEAD facilitator, but we won’t talk about those.) I was amazed at how well these people knew me. It’s been only a short time, but we’ve been through a lot and though they don’t know my nickname or favorite movie, they know a lot about me. By Jove, I think LEAD might actually work. I’ll need a moment to contemplate this development…
Alright, I’ve recovered. My schedule was lightening up and then we entered first year recruiting. So the presentations have started again, and as a whole we seem a lot less enthusiastic than we did at the end of September. The novelty has worn off, and we don’t notice the fancy cheese or the free wine. These presentations are work and they start to feel like work. You get tired of telling people over and over again how much you would just love to do what they do, how you think it is so interesting, and their company is the greatest, blah, blah, blah… Can you tell my tolerance level is dropping rapidly?
I’ve realized that I have to focus myself. Although it seemed neat at the beginning to interview with every functional area, I would like to maintain both consciousness and sanity. I feel as if I’ve talked to everybody and I’m trying to be honest with myself about what I find interesting and what I don’t. It doesn’t seem to matter that you’re making six figures when you want to choke yourself on Monday mornings (if they let you go home). I will figure it out, and in the meantime I’m asking questions. I’ve got another interview and I’m touring a company (informational interview) next week, as well.
This Friday is the Chicago Women in Business Conference. Judging by the deluge of emails I’ve received in the last couple days, I’d say that anticipated attendance is not what they desired. I’ve decided to skip this one as I want to attend the Entrepreneurial Edge Conference next Friday and I think my Marketing teacher would appreciate it if I didn’t skip three classes in a row. This weekend is also Alumni Weekend, so I get to go hob-nob with the Big Dogs on Friday night, in formal wear no less! Wish me luck on my test. I’m gonna need a rabbit’s foot, a four leaf clover, and a box of lucky charms on this one!