What is this?

An accounting review...

Another week, a class finished.

Executive MBA programs move fast. Real fast.
I've already finished a professional responsibility/business ethics class. The assignments are still due, but all sessions are done.

We're half way through accounting and have a mid term in two weeks. I went and picked up a workbook and cheatsheet to get me thru this. Accounting is no fun if you don't have a strong background, and is THE bootcamp of an MBA. If I can get thru this, then I will be fine. If I can't then I won't. Simple as that.

Week one - done

I made it home from an exhaustive first week at school. Being away from home and being in class from 9am-9pm is a sacrifice, but very necessary to really get started.
Tuesday night was a 'mentor' reception and Thursday night was a 'partners' recpetion, both done to make us newbies feel a part of the program.

Pics from the end of the evening 'mentor' reception.


I kept asking 'when do the bride and groom get here?'

Accounting review begins on Tuesday night, and I can use all of the accounting help I can get. The professor is amazing and relates this weird accounting language to real life, but it is like learning a new language. Marketing and Professional Responsibility are easy enough to understand, just take a bit of work to do the reading and assignments.

No turning back now...

I made it...

They start you off with a week long program, to make sure you're fully Immersed, about an hour away from school, a local 'retreat.'

I've had my picture taken, sat thru a session on protocol, learned who my group is, had a few buffet meals, and honestly did more than I thought I would have done during a Sunday 'orientation.' Accounting starts at 9 am tomorrow, and I will need my sleep, given I left my place at 8 am and began my sessions at noon.

Here are a few pictures from my 'home' for the next week, as I start accounting, professional responsibility and marketing. So far people are nice and engaged. That's what I like, nice and engaged.

My 'living room'


My clothes hung up, just like at home! But with more room!

I passed the test!

Before starting the program, I have to pass a Quantitative Skills Assessment Exam. I thought it was going to be this long an involved test that I was going to have to spend weekend hours studying for. The study materials were sent on a CD Rom. I don't remember the last time I used a CD Rom. CD Roms are horrible, slow, noisy, and over all I didn't learn much from it. I mostly used Google to study the concepts.

I had to pass with 80%, and I was given 3 times to take the test. After reviewing concepts for close to 2 hours last night, I figured I'd burn through one of the times just to see where I stood.

I passed on the 1st try with 88% First mission: accomplished.



My books come next week, and thats when the real studying begins.

2 months and counting

I had a reception with the faculty and a few new students last night in the Presidential Suite. Classes don't officially begin for another 2 months, but this was a nice little meet and greet to help the students start to feel that this is for real.

I could not resist taking a few pictures of the regal presidential restroom. I would love to have one of these once I finish the program.



Reminds me of another great bathroom I saw at Hearst Castle.

The purpose of this blog.

I have established this blog to document my time while getting an Executive MBA. Since starting the process of exploring what program may be best for me (a long long time ago), I've found that current and former students are very helpful and proactive in giving out advice about their program. Part of the appeal of an MBA is to build one's network. (If that last sentence offended you, then business school may not be the best place for you.)

So this blog will be a way for me to share with others what its like to work full time and go to school (mostly) full time. I won't name the school or the company, as those things don't really matter. I've learned from my other 2 blogs that I love to include pictures I take in the blog, because a picture really can tell a story better than I can, so expect to see pictures where appropriate.

I started my main blog 2 1/2 years ago when I moved to New York from San Francisco.
Honestly, if you don't know me, the blog will seem kind of random and dumb. But if you do know me - it’s basically all of the stories I would tell you when I see you anyway. I knew I wouldn't be seeing a bunch of friends as frequently, so that was the motivation to create that blog.

I also did a blog that documented my trip to India and Japan. I don't update it anymore, but I share it with colleagues who go to India for work, or friends who are traveling to Japan.

So why Google AdSense on this blog? My last job in the bay area was working for an SEO/SEM firm that had mostly for profit education clients. For profit education spends alot of money online including key word buying through Google AdSense. Since this blog will cover my trip of geting a grad degree, I thought I might roll the dice and throw on an AdSense module on the blog, as I know there is demand for the types of keywords this blog will generate. Plus it was one more thing I have always done for the companies I work for, but never done for myself. So I thought why not...

I've just accepted...

I faxed in my acceptance letter this morning. Classes begin in August.

I hope to document all of the trials and tribulations associated with going to business school part time while working. So, I've reserved this url and plan to document the 'trip' on this blog.

Here goes nothing.