Time is also running out for planning what I will do in the 2 months between work and school. Here is the plan in my head, which is not being implemented in any way at the moment, and has not been confirmed on any level:
May 28th: Last day of work
June 7th (ish): Fly to Israel
June 14: Start Volunteer Program in Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv
July 8: End of Program
July 15th ish: Leave Israel
Travel: Egypt? Jordan? Turkey? Croatia? --> Need to find some travel partners
August 1st - Arrive in Barcelona, secure apartment
August 5th (ish) - August 19th (ish) - Greece with Starr
August 23rd - Start new Life in Barcelona!!!
Time is running out. I need to start making things happen...
Monday, March 8, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Between now and then...
Things are moving really quickly now, and I feel like I'm running out of time. Everything feels so temporary. I have to start thinking about leaving my apartment, packing up my life, etc. There are all the things I want to do here before I leave, too....
I probably only have these next 3 months left here in San Diego. In these 3 months, I need to lose 10-15 pounds, since I will undoubtedly gain about that much in what has been described as a hellish first 6 months at IESE. I need to start applying for loans, visas, etc...
I have 12 weeks of work left. That's 12 weekends. Of those, the following are already booked:
March 12: Park City
March 18: LA
March 25: Vegas
April 16: LA
April 23: SF
April 30: Alicia in SD
Some weekend in May: SB Wine Tour
That leaves 7 weekends for getting my life in order. Not that I'm complaining, this is all AWESOME, but time is running out.
I probably only have these next 3 months left here in San Diego. In these 3 months, I need to lose 10-15 pounds, since I will undoubtedly gain about that much in what has been described as a hellish first 6 months at IESE. I need to start applying for loans, visas, etc...
I have 12 weeks of work left. That's 12 weekends. Of those, the following are already booked:
March 12: Park City
March 18: LA
March 25: Vegas
April 16: LA
April 23: SF
April 30: Alicia in SD
Some weekend in May: SB Wine Tour
That leaves 7 weekends for getting my life in order. Not that I'm complaining, this is all AWESOME, but time is running out.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Decision made!
I made up my mind a while back, but I suppose I should make it official.
I've officially decided I will attend IESE this upcoming fall.
I guess it was never much of a difficult choice to make - once I visited and met people, it was clear. On paper, ESADE did appeal to me a lot more, but being on campus really did make the difference. The whole assessment day/networking selling day the school did in NYC also sealed the deal. And the fact that the economist ranked it #1 didn't hurt also, but I know better than to base everything solely on ranking. Although, when you get into the #1 anything, you GO!
In any case, I'm going. Considering the future, and the fact that EVENTUALLY, I want to come back to California to settle down, it makes sense to go with the more established name with more connections and a stronger reputation. I've also learned that education truly is what you make of it, and there is no doubt that I will be more challenged at IESE. In light of that, I think I'll be able to make more of it.
I'm terrified and excited!!!!
I've officially decided I will attend IESE this upcoming fall.
I guess it was never much of a difficult choice to make - once I visited and met people, it was clear. On paper, ESADE did appeal to me a lot more, but being on campus really did make the difference. The whole assessment day/networking selling day the school did in NYC also sealed the deal. And the fact that the economist ranked it #1 didn't hurt also, but I know better than to base everything solely on ranking. Although, when you get into the #1 anything, you GO!
In any case, I'm going. Considering the future, and the fact that EVENTUALLY, I want to come back to California to settle down, it makes sense to go with the more established name with more connections and a stronger reputation. I've also learned that education truly is what you make of it, and there is no doubt that I will be more challenged at IESE. In light of that, I think I'll be able to make more of it.
I'm terrified and excited!!!!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Now what?
I definitely never EVER for a SECOND considered the possibility that I would be admitted to BOTH SCHOOLS. IESE & ESADE have both offered me admission to their September 2010 intake. Both schools are awesome, both are places I'd be very happy at. Both involve me going VERY deep into debt. Yeah, IESE's about 20K more than ESADE, but in the grand scheme of things, those 20K are pretty insignificant so I need to not consider that in my decision making process.
From the acceptance e-mails alone, you can just tell that I'm going to get a lot more personalized attention at ESADE than IESE - ESADE's acceptance e-mail was so gushing, so excited, so helpful, full of contacts and information and an offer of anything I needed to help me through the process. IESE's was like...congrats. Here's where you pay, and here's how much. But, on the other hand, they're #1....when you're number one, you don't have to kiss anyone's ass. And, on that same token, when you're accepted to the #1 anything, you don't say no!
I have a lot of factors to consider:
1. Where I'm gonna grow the most professionally
2. Where I'll grow the most personally
3. Alumni connections for jobs post graduation
4. Alumni connections for jobs in the US
5. Reputation...but that's an easy one.
What attracted me to ESADE was their claim of Career Services working with you from the moment you're admitted to start developing your profile and start you on the right path to searching for your dream job. Their "LEAD" program sounds like something I'd be intensely benefited by, that kind of 360 approach to leadership development and mentorship. Their workload, which is somewhat less than IESE, sounds like I would get more out of it. Its hard to learn when you're just constantly rushing to get things done. On the other hand, I always do better, the more I'm challenged. But preparing 3 cases a night just sounds excessive to me! So i think overall my time would be more enjoyably spent at ESADE. IESE's focus, as evidenced by their reputation, is on the Banking & Consulting industries, and that's where most of their connections are and companies recruiting on campus come from. I'm not interested in either of those industries. ESADE seemed to have a lot more going on with Energy companies, with innovative technology, etc.But then again, that's what I think I want to do now - that might change. On a broader level, IESE probably offers more opportunity. They are more established, have broader alumni contacts, in more places in the world.
I'm gonna be engaging in this back and forth a LOT...
From the acceptance e-mails alone, you can just tell that I'm going to get a lot more personalized attention at ESADE than IESE - ESADE's acceptance e-mail was so gushing, so excited, so helpful, full of contacts and information and an offer of anything I needed to help me through the process. IESE's was like...congrats. Here's where you pay, and here's how much. But, on the other hand, they're #1....when you're number one, you don't have to kiss anyone's ass. And, on that same token, when you're accepted to the #1 anything, you don't say no!
I have a lot of factors to consider:
1. Where I'm gonna grow the most professionally
2. Where I'll grow the most personally
3. Alumni connections for jobs post graduation
4. Alumni connections for jobs in the US
5. Reputation...but that's an easy one.
What attracted me to ESADE was their claim of Career Services working with you from the moment you're admitted to start developing your profile and start you on the right path to searching for your dream job. Their "LEAD" program sounds like something I'd be intensely benefited by, that kind of 360 approach to leadership development and mentorship. Their workload, which is somewhat less than IESE, sounds like I would get more out of it. Its hard to learn when you're just constantly rushing to get things done. On the other hand, I always do better, the more I'm challenged. But preparing 3 cases a night just sounds excessive to me! So i think overall my time would be more enjoyably spent at ESADE. IESE's focus, as evidenced by their reputation, is on the Banking & Consulting industries, and that's where most of their connections are and companies recruiting on campus come from. I'm not interested in either of those industries. ESADE seemed to have a lot more going on with Energy companies, with innovative technology, etc.But then again, that's what I think I want to do now - that might change. On a broader level, IESE probably offers more opportunity. They are more established, have broader alumni contacts, in more places in the world.
I'm gonna be engaging in this back and forth a LOT...
Thursday, February 11, 2010
ACCEPTED!? Again?!
I'm in complete and utter shock. I received my acceptance from IESE this morning!!! After the weekend of hell they put all of us through, resulting in my coming home on Sunday night convinced that I stood no chance, after them pushing off the decision for weeks, after me thinking, good freakin' riddance, they actually WANT ME!? I woke up this morning and, as usual, obsessively checked my phone. I had an e-mail saying admissions decision from IESE, but the decision was an attached PDF, so I figured, its gotta be a rejection. But my phone wouldn't open the attachment, so I stumbled to my computer (which of course froze and had to be restarted) with my eyes still blurry cuz I was basically still asleep. So I was in complete disbelief when I finally opened the stupid PDF. The congratulations was short but sweet:
On behalf of the MBA Admissions Committee, I am pleased to inform you of our decision to offer you
a place in the IESE Full-Time MBA Program starting September 2010. Congratulations on
earning a well-deserved place and welcome to IESE!
I have been accepted to the program ranked #1 in the world by the ECONOMIST. I mean, SERIOUSLY!??!?!
http://www.economist.com/business-education/whichmba/
The next 4 paragraphs (surprise surprise!) were about money, how to transfer it, and when to transfer it by. Now I have to make a decision - by March 12th. Holy CRAP. I never thought I'd be in this position!! AHHH!
On behalf of the MBA Admissions Committee, I am pleased to inform you of our decision to offer you
a place in the IESE Full-Time MBA Program starting September 2010. Congratulations on
earning a well-deserved place and welcome to IESE!
I have been accepted to the program ranked #1 in the world by the ECONOMIST. I mean, SERIOUSLY!??!?!
http://www.economist.com/business-education/whichmba/
The next 4 paragraphs (surprise surprise!) were about money, how to transfer it, and when to transfer it by. Now I have to make a decision - by March 12th. Holy CRAP. I never thought I'd be in this position!! AHHH!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
ACCEPTED!
I recieved an e-mail from the ESADE admissions commitee at 630 am this morning - I have been accepted!!!!!
Happy e-mail:
Happy e-mail:
Dear Kathrine,
It is with great pleasure that I write to inform you of your acceptance into the Full Time MBA- English track Programme at ESADE Business School!
Congratulations and welcome to the ESADE Business School community! We think that you are a perfect addition to a class that includes professionals from all over the world with one ambition: to be Global Leaders who Deliver.
The Admissions committee discusses every single application in detail, looking for the best and the brightest. We believe that you have what it takes to successfully complete our academically rigorous and demanding programme.
We also think that you will be an asset to the greater ESADE Business School community and challenge both yourself and your classmates to raise the bar in the business world.
I will now send you another e-mail with the documentation to reserve your seat in the Programme as well as next steps in terms of financial aid and registration, as the class is filling up quickly. Please do let me know if I may answer any questions or provide you with additional information.
Looking forward to seeing you next September
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Interview Whirlwind: IESE Assessment Day, Day 8
What an exhausting, roller coaster of a day!!! Kinda wanna die right now...but yeah, whatever.
Of course, I got no sleep last night. If I could sleep the night before big, important events, I probably wouldn't be me. That being said, I'm proud of myself for surviving today on no sleep, even if I did f it all up in the end.
The day started with some coffee and small talk - typical. We then had to sit there for 2 hours while each candidate came up and introduced themselves for two minutes. 2 minutes, which often stretched into 3, times 30 people, plus time for questions...it was long. I felt like you could tell from people's introductions whether or not they'd be admitted - personality really came through. I made people laugh with by making fun of myself in my picture that I drew where I'm saying "yes" in 4 different languages like "YES! I want to go to IESE", but I don't know if it was just polite laughter. We were supposed to talk about something unique about ourselves. I talked about being a Russian Jew, doing crew, and having spent the last 5 NYEs in different cities. I framed it as "What I thought made me unique in each stage of my life". She then asked me about my picture and I talked about Yoga & Creative Writing. I think I did pretty well. At least I had things to say, without boring people. This one guy spent 5 minutes telling us a story about how he's a Big Brother and his Little Brother got mixed up with a gang and the kid's mom called him and blah blah blah - like, yes, that's a great organization and its great that you do that, but you're trying to sell yourself here and you're selling yourself as well-intentioned but dull. He followed this story with an equally boring story about how he's not good at golf...I wish there was a way to know if he's getting in!
We were then separated into groups of 6, and given cases that we had to analyze and prepare to present to the other groups. Our case was about a guy who had 3 great career opportunities in front of him and we had to figure out which one would help him achieve his goal of having the "greatest positive social impact". It was pretty simple, even if corny. I busted out my mad facilitation skills (Thanks, incredibly difficult people at SDG&E who go off on tangents every day and press the reset button at the end of every meeting) and I think our group actually came together well. The Bulgarian chic and I obviously had some serious differences in opinion but I think we worked through them professionally. I hope they noticed my "facilitation skills".
Watching the other groups present was unnerving as the admissions directors really tore them apart. Regardless of their answers or decisions, they turned everything around on them, arguing for the opposite approach and really making the whole class jump through hoops trying to prove that their opinion was correct. Obviously there's no correct answer but you have to justify your reasoning, which is tough when its being attacked from all sides. We were really lucky - by the time we presented, everyone had kinda lost steam and our presentation went extremely smoothly.
I thought I did a good job overall, not falling out of my chair to be heard like the girl next to me, but raising my hand when I had something unique to contribute and not overdoing it...or so I thought. The rest of the day was listening to the other groups, trying to participate, stay focused, look "awesome" etc. After presenting, you feel like your work is done so you kinda relax, but you still have to pay attention and participate.
Unfortunately, by the time the 6th group went, around 4:30pm, I was completely out of it. I couldn't explain for the life of me what the 6th case was about. I didn't say a word, thinking the worst was behind me and half the time when I did raise my hand, I wasn't called on.
So there I am, off in Kate land, analyzing in my head who I think will and will not be accepted and then out of the silence, I hear my name...
"Kate".
Nani, the admissions director leading the discussion had called on me. There wasn't a question preceding it, or anything. The room had been silent. I had NO IDEA what the class had been talking about. All I could muster to stumble out was "I'm sorry I wasn't fully engaged in that part of the discussion..."
Nani muttered something about "All you guys are falling asleep" and called on a guy sitting behind me who's company the case had actually been ABOUT. A couple minutes later, she called on some other guy, named Sam or something and said "Sam, what do you think?". This kid was clearly as caught off guard as I had been earlier, since his response was "About what?".
Obviously, at this point I was devastated and feeling humiliated. They then told us that we would be receiving our decisions on February 15th or 20th. At that statement my hand shot up. I was promised my decision by Feb 5th - should I not expect that anymore? They practically laughed at me for even asking. What I realized in the follow up questions is that the 2nd round applicants (me!) were being considered with the 3rd round applicants. So I got no advantage by applying before the new year. Needless to say, I'm pissed, and frustrated, and generally exhausted. I worked my ass off to get that stuff in on time, and now that's not being given any consideration. And now, the last thing they remember about me is my not paying attention. Absolutely fabulous.
Of course, I got no sleep last night. If I could sleep the night before big, important events, I probably wouldn't be me. That being said, I'm proud of myself for surviving today on no sleep, even if I did f it all up in the end.
The day started with some coffee and small talk - typical. We then had to sit there for 2 hours while each candidate came up and introduced themselves for two minutes. 2 minutes, which often stretched into 3, times 30 people, plus time for questions...it was long. I felt like you could tell from people's introductions whether or not they'd be admitted - personality really came through. I made people laugh with by making fun of myself in my picture that I drew where I'm saying "yes" in 4 different languages like "YES! I want to go to IESE", but I don't know if it was just polite laughter. We were supposed to talk about something unique about ourselves. I talked about being a Russian Jew, doing crew, and having spent the last 5 NYEs in different cities. I framed it as "What I thought made me unique in each stage of my life". She then asked me about my picture and I talked about Yoga & Creative Writing. I think I did pretty well. At least I had things to say, without boring people. This one guy spent 5 minutes telling us a story about how he's a Big Brother and his Little Brother got mixed up with a gang and the kid's mom called him and blah blah blah - like, yes, that's a great organization and its great that you do that, but you're trying to sell yourself here and you're selling yourself as well-intentioned but dull. He followed this story with an equally boring story about how he's not good at golf...I wish there was a way to know if he's getting in!
We were then separated into groups of 6, and given cases that we had to analyze and prepare to present to the other groups. Our case was about a guy who had 3 great career opportunities in front of him and we had to figure out which one would help him achieve his goal of having the "greatest positive social impact". It was pretty simple, even if corny. I busted out my mad facilitation skills (Thanks, incredibly difficult people at SDG&E who go off on tangents every day and press the reset button at the end of every meeting) and I think our group actually came together well. The Bulgarian chic and I obviously had some serious differences in opinion but I think we worked through them professionally. I hope they noticed my "facilitation skills".
Watching the other groups present was unnerving as the admissions directors really tore them apart. Regardless of their answers or decisions, they turned everything around on them, arguing for the opposite approach and really making the whole class jump through hoops trying to prove that their opinion was correct. Obviously there's no correct answer but you have to justify your reasoning, which is tough when its being attacked from all sides. We were really lucky - by the time we presented, everyone had kinda lost steam and our presentation went extremely smoothly.
I thought I did a good job overall, not falling out of my chair to be heard like the girl next to me, but raising my hand when I had something unique to contribute and not overdoing it...or so I thought. The rest of the day was listening to the other groups, trying to participate, stay focused, look "awesome" etc. After presenting, you feel like your work is done so you kinda relax, but you still have to pay attention and participate.
Unfortunately, by the time the 6th group went, around 4:30pm, I was completely out of it. I couldn't explain for the life of me what the 6th case was about. I didn't say a word, thinking the worst was behind me and half the time when I did raise my hand, I wasn't called on.
So there I am, off in Kate land, analyzing in my head who I think will and will not be accepted and then out of the silence, I hear my name...
"Kate".
Nani, the admissions director leading the discussion had called on me. There wasn't a question preceding it, or anything. The room had been silent. I had NO IDEA what the class had been talking about. All I could muster to stumble out was "I'm sorry I wasn't fully engaged in that part of the discussion..."
Nani muttered something about "All you guys are falling asleep" and called on a guy sitting behind me who's company the case had actually been ABOUT. A couple minutes later, she called on some other guy, named Sam or something and said "Sam, what do you think?". This kid was clearly as caught off guard as I had been earlier, since his response was "About what?".
Obviously, at this point I was devastated and feeling humiliated. They then told us that we would be receiving our decisions on February 15th or 20th. At that statement my hand shot up. I was promised my decision by Feb 5th - should I not expect that anymore? They practically laughed at me for even asking. What I realized in the follow up questions is that the 2nd round applicants (me!) were being considered with the 3rd round applicants. So I got no advantage by applying before the new year. Needless to say, I'm pissed, and frustrated, and generally exhausted. I worked my ass off to get that stuff in on time, and now that's not being given any consideration. And now, the last thing they remember about me is my not paying attention. Absolutely fabulous.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)