MBA or bust.

I had thought this blog was dead, but I got a question from Bill, and I think it would be valuable to add some sort of update.

Bill’s Question:

“I know you’ve basically retired this blog about a year ago, but I was wondering if you’d share some of your observations of your first year at Kellogg, the forthcoming summer internship, etc. I’m curious to hear about how closely your experiences are tracking with the expectations you may have had while you were preparing and writing this blog.”

Well, I’m just going to jot down some bullets, since that’s what I do. Organizing my thoughts into a cohesive entry would be too much work and not my style!

• The Fall quarter was miserable and overwhelming for me. I hadn’t been in school for almost eight years. Sitting through a lecture without distraction was torturous. Also, I was learning material that was completely foreign to me and competing with classmates who were more familiar with the material/concepts. It took some time to accept being average or below average (which is bound to happen when you’re in a top-tier school, but still…it takes getting used to)…and it also took time to understand that grades don’t really matter. Years of academic success are hard to shake.
• My classmates are brilliant yet down-to-earth. Sometimes it baffles me that these seemingly ordinary people are so accomplished. It is hard not to feel small around such stars…but I have to remind myself that the administration also saw something in me, too. What it is, I have yet to figure out.
• Winter quarter was slightly better on the academic front, but the added stress of interviewing for internships compounded with my first ever winter (learned the hard way my car could read negative temps)…made for a miserable few months. I am accustomed to acing all my interviews. Hell, I give good interview. People love me! However, when competing against your classmates who are equally charismatic, employers use the nitty gritty to weed you out. Even though I felt I was well prepared (over-prepared, even), I got GRILLED in many of my interviews and often left feeling defeated. I had a gazillion interviews, landed 3 offers, and will be working in NJ this summer. In this economy, I feel lucky to have an internship since some of my classmates are still scrambling to find something.
• Spring quarter is much better. I’m taking classes I’m interested in (e.g. Marketing) and not taking things I don’t understand or care about (e.g. Microeconomics and Finance). I have more time to socialize, play softball, train for a triathlon, explore Chicago, and travel.
• What they say about strained relationships in bschool has been eerily accurate. I broke up with my bf of 9 years prior to leaving for Evanston. No regrets. I am dating someone new…no, not a classmate (though I am by far the exception). Among my peers, there has been a fairly high relationship mortality rate: broken engagements, divorce, long distance relationships not working out…even breakups among couples who moved to Evanston together. Of course, there have also been new couplings, engagements, babies, and healthy couples flourishing. Life continues to happen and change.
• Business school is a lot more work than I thought it would be, but in the end, I do see it paying off. The alumni network is super helpful whenever they can be. The speakers we are able to draw are amazing.
• I’ve had some great professors, some ok professors, and some TRULY AWFUL professors who have no business teaching anything. I had high expectations for the teaching caliber at a top 3 bschool, but I guess it was unrealistic. Some great researchers are awful teachers, but that’s part of the job. Just pay attention to the evaluations and get advice from the 2nd years so you don’t end up with someone who can’t teach (though sometimes it is inevitable for the core curriculum).
• My 6-week trek through Europe was amazing. My KWEST trip and spring break (both in the Caribbean) were relaxing. I’m traveling as much as I can while I have the time, even though I don’t have the money.
• There are a gazillion social events every night of the week and you’re always going to miss out on something. Kellogg has a strange affinity for costume parties, which I loathe. But there’s a plethora of other events that I show up at…something for everyone…even misanthropes such as myself.
• Would I do it again? Certainly. What would I do differently? Maybe I wouldn’t take classes so seriously the first quarter…other than that, I am now having a blast. You just gotta survive the first two quarters and the rest is supposedly cake. If spring quarter is a taste of it…2nd year will be awesome!

I’ve been nominated for Clear Admit’s Best of Blogging! Voting happens in the next week or so…

But I’m leaving for a two week vacation tomorrow. I’m flying on American but on the 757s which aren’t affected by the groundings. Hopefully I get to my destination without any trouble. I’ve got some zip lining through the rain forest, hot spring soaks, volcano hikes, ATV adventures, and lots of beach time with my girl friends scheduled. I’m also using this trip as a test run for packing light. I actually have extra room in my backpack. However, I’ve been known to stuff extra clothes in at the last moment when there is space.

My Europe trip is falling into place. I’ve got this spreadsheet that probably makes me appear crazy outlining my destinations, transportation costs, hotel reservations, etc. I don’t have my restaurants and activities planned, but I do like to keep track of my expenses as well as know where I’m going to be, how I’m going to get there, and where I’m going to sleep.

There probably won’t be too much blogging here moving forward. I’ll leave this site up since I found reading other peoples’ experiences from the previous years really helped me prepare my application this year. If you have any questions please feel free to email me. Good luck to the incoming class of 2010 and to next year’s applicants for class of 2011!

Oh yes, and I officially gave notice of my resignation earlier this week. YAY! Only six weeks of work left after I return from vacation.

…besides work:

• Plan my Costa Rica/Belize trip. Still not sure what we want to do on the tail end of our Costa Rica trip yet. So far, we’re going to be in Arenal and Monteverde swimming in hot springs, hiking to volcanoes, and zip lining through the rainforest canopies.
• Play Scrabble & Boggle on Facebook
• Plan my European trip. Flights have been purchased! Now I just have to finalize my agenda. The first few weeks overlap with the Eurocup, which should be fun, but makes Salzburg and Vienna a little more expensive and difficult to secure housing. I’ve never stayed in hostels before, so Austria will be my first time. I’ve booked two days of hostel respite in Vienna via my Starwood Points, and then a few more days of hostel living in Bratislava before I meet my friend in Budapest. We’ll be watching the Eurocup Quarterfinals in Budapest and Zagreb. The final match will be somewhere on the Dalmation Coast. And then onwards to Greece and the Cyclades before I return home. Still gotta research ferries, train schedules, hotels, etc…but its all falling into place. I’ve been a bit obsessed with this trip for the past week…took a while to iron out the details of my solo Austrian leg. For you Greece/Croatia experts, do you suggest we prebook accommodations given we’ll be there late June and all of July?
• Ponder my last day in the office. I think it’ll be June 5.
• Pass my work on to my direct report…transition planning!

As much as I travel, I really dislike packing and unpacking. I never actually unpacked from my last trip to Orlando…I’m just rearranging things for my trip to Evanston for DAK. I’ll be home for a few days and then I’ll probably rearrange things again for my trip BACK to Orlando.

I hate being limited to the items that I bring. I never pack efficiently (it would take too much time to repack) so I’m always embarassed of the size of my suitcase. I’m even more embarassed when I travel to colder climates. I’m ALWAYS cold so I have to pack lots of warm clothes…which take up a lot of space. I work mostly with boys and its amazing how many days of suits they can fit into a small carryon bag. Although I’m not a major girly girl, I still need shoe options. Oh, and my toiletries take up a lot of space.

How am I going to fit everything I need for six weeks in Northern Europe, Eastern Europe, and East Africa all in one backpack? That will be a challenge.

I can’t wait to get into a bikini. Hawaii has been canceled, but Belize and Costa Rica aren’t too far away!

I got my scholarship letter from Duke last week. It was SIGNIFICANTLY more than I expected, but not significant enough to change my mind. I’m going to break up with Fuqua and send my deposit to Kellogg after I return from DAK.

I’ve got some exciting (and not so exciting) travels both for work and pleasure scheduled for 2008…now that I kind of know where I’m headed next fall:

Jan: A week in Orlando (yuck) for my company’s national sales meeting.
Feb: Chicago for DAK. Another week in Orlando (yuck, again) for work.
Mar: Hawaii (couldn’t resist since tickets on Hawaiian are ~$300). Chicago for work.
Apr: Costa Rica & Belize (celebrating the year of 30 with my girlfriends)
May: Seattle for work…maybe Miami.
Jun/Jul: LA, East Africa (will probably skip Kenya since there presently is election turmoil), Eastern Europe, and maybe Southeast Asia.
Aug: drive my car out to Chicago (assuming I’m going to Kellogg), get settled in, KWEST trip.

I’m pretty settled on the idea of going to Kellogg, but I’m still going to the Super Saturday interview to keep my options open. Yay! I’m excited for the months ahead.

The severe storm caused a blackout at the office today so everyone went home. The email server was down so there wasn’t much I could do. I work from home on Fridays so I didn’t witness the worst of the storm, but when I did emerge from my apartment to go to the gym and get a pedicure, there were trees down EVERYWHERE. Big huge ones on top of cars and blocking streets. Traffic lights out. Streets flooded. My entire block and a few blocks surrounding are completely blacked out–except my building! Yes, we are weather weenies when you compare it to the kind of stuff places like Chicago see fairly frequently.

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In (late) 2008, I turn the ripe old age of 30. I have always been the youngest in the workplace…but when I start business school, I’ll be on the older end. Two years older than average. Bummer!! Hopefully I can keep up with the brilliant 24-year-olds. If I had applied at 24, there’s no way I would have gotten into business school. My most valuable career experiences happened between 24-28: start-up, IPO, acquisition, working for a multi-national company, managing acquisition integrations, managing disparate multi-national teams, etc.

Yikes.

Happy New Year!

As I prepare for my Super Saturday interview, I’m reminded of why I applied to Haas in the first place. When I visited campus, I felt a true fit: academically, culturally, personally. I did not feel this glove-like fit when I visited Duke or Kellogg (I never visited Wharton. Can’t stand Philly).

However, I’m in love with the prospect of living in Chicago and experiencing something completely new. I went to UC Berkeley for my undergrad (1 hour from home), currently live thirty minutes from where I grew up, and work less than five minutes from my parents’ house. I know more Kellogg alumni than I do alumni from any other school and admire all of them (except one). I’m a little bit intimidated by the young, party school image. While I like the sauce (I’m in sales/marketing–we drink a lot), I am no longer young enough to go three nights in a row and still be functional the next day.

Ten days ago, I had pretty much decided I was moving to Evanston in August. I made an opportunity cost spreadsheet. Factoring in lost income, I don’t save any money by going to Haas. In fact, I lose $30k by staying in school an extra semester. If I consider my biological clock (which isn’t ticking, btw) and the boy I am committed to, this is my only chance to ever experience life outside of California. If I’m going to be a mother in my mid-/late-30s, does it even matter if I have an MBA/MPH vs. MBA or do I gain more with an extra 6 months of work experience? How much does motherhood set me back?

I’d never considered having children until my bf asked me to lay out a five-year plan for our relationship. While I’m still not entirely sold on children, I’m completely sold on grandchildren. I guess you have to pass through Point B to get to Point C.

Having grown up poor, I’ve always made financially prudent decisions as an adult. I make more than most of my peers but live a significantly more frugal lifestyle. I try to always live below my means so that I will never be in a position of need. Perhaps it is time to splurge on myself and make a decision based on want rather than need. Is this my last hurrah?

We’ll see how things play out. Maybe I’ll hate DAK and fall in love at Super Saturday. Maybe the opposite happens. Maybe Haas doesn’t accept me and the decision is made. Who knows. In either case, I fully comprehend that I’m in a great position and whichever way I go, I’ll be on a great path.

Perfect fit vs. almost fit? Blue & Gold vs. Purple & White? Bears vs. Wildcats? Berkeley vs. Evanston? old vs. new? status quo vs. total change?

If I choose Kellogg, I don’t have to finish my calculus class (which I still haven’t started). If Haas chooses me…blech, calculus. AND possibly microeconomics.

It is amusing how the folks over at ClearAdmit alternate between referring to me as either male or female from week to week.

Excited about the prospect of moving to Chicago, but still waiting to hear from Haas. $50k saved + 2 master’s degrees is nothing to scoff at. I have known this since the beginning: regardless of the outcome from Haas, I will be disappointed. If I get in, I’ll be disappointed that I’ll be staying in the Bay Area rather than moving somewhere new. If I don’t get in, I’ll be disappointed that I can’t attend a GREAT healthcare MBA program where I get two internships and graduate with two master’s degrees with significantly less debt than at any other institution.

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I glanced at my paystub this morning and realized my income matches most post-MBA salaries. That’s a lot to give up for the next two years: hello ramen, good-bye fine wines.

This is the first time in a while that I’m not training for a race, studying for a test/class, swamped at work, traveling for work, or worrying about applications/interviews. The boy just finished school last week. Neither of us have any idea what to do with all this extra free time…

Of course, I should start my calculus class (two months wasted already), get back into running shape, read through my backlog of the Economist, call my friends, visit my parents, research scholarships, clean my room (three suitcases from three trips are in various states of unpacking), wrap Christmas presents, and do a million other tedious things. However, I just find myself staring at the TV…and as everyone knows, this is a particularly bad time to be watching TV due to the writer’s strike.

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While browsing through my blogstats, I followed a referral link. The blogger turns out to be my ex-roommate’s ex-boyfriend’s sister’s boyfriend. Got that? I only figured it out because of their dog. Small world. I guess the guy is going back to school as well.