Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Chicago Interview
It's been nearly two months since I decided to close the blog. However, I couldn't help but notice that there are still people visiting my blog! What gives? Haha
Anyway, to get to the point. A friend has suggested that I update the blog with the news of my interview with Chicago GSB. Yup, I managed to get an interview with Chicago! :) It was held mid-February.
The interview was held at a Starbucks. Although I was tempted (and others suggested) that I ask my interviewer whether it would be ok to come dress in business casual, I figured that asking such a question would only make me come across as, dopey. So, there I was, dressed in a suit waiting at Starbucks for the director of an MNC to question me about my motives to attend Chicago. Please keep in mind, the temperature was about 26 - 28 degrees :( Not the best time to wear a suit.
The interview started pretty ok, some small chat about where the interviewer stayed (within walking distance of Starbucks) before moving on to a walkthrough of myself. I realize that maybe I should have state my short term/long term goals as something else other than strategy consulting - mainly because I have to admit, I know little about strategy consulting - as it would open me to very specific questions from a person with far more experience in strategy than I have.
True enough, we moved into my goals and started discussing startegy. I was given a case study on the spot! I think I flopped that, easily :( spent time discussing my current position, my weaknesses (I hate this bit) and my previous experiences. Then there was a very indepth discussion about my extra curricular activity, which I have to admit is something unique. One question which I was not really prepared for was 'What would you do to change the organization?'. Quite a curve ball, but thankfully I was able to address that issue after 5 seconds of desperate thought.
Well, that's about it for the interview. All in, it was 1 hour 15 minutes. Quite a grilling compared to what I've read about other peoples' 30 minute long interviews. I've discussed the time length with somebody who says that's the norm time length for a job interview over here. Too short would have been bad, and anything longer would have been bad - longer doesn't necessarily mean that they are interested, but rather that the interviewer just want to be 100% sure that he's going to reject you!
Other than that, I really haven't been doing much. Work has been eating up my time quite a bit. I'm expecting a few changes to be made to the department. Morale is at an all time low. Turnover is goin to hit 40% just for the the first half of the year. Basically, it looks like I'm stuck on a sinking ship :( Anybody out there who wants to hire me to do corporate strategy? I'm definitely looking to do that.
I will be posting on March 27, the day after admits are announced for Chicago GSB. I'm hoping against all hope that I might be given an admit. But realistically, I think that's highly doubtful. Well, till then!
Anyway, to get to the point. A friend has suggested that I update the blog with the news of my interview with Chicago GSB. Yup, I managed to get an interview with Chicago! :) It was held mid-February.
The interview was held at a Starbucks. Although I was tempted (and others suggested) that I ask my interviewer whether it would be ok to come dress in business casual, I figured that asking such a question would only make me come across as, dopey. So, there I was, dressed in a suit waiting at Starbucks for the director of an MNC to question me about my motives to attend Chicago. Please keep in mind, the temperature was about 26 - 28 degrees :( Not the best time to wear a suit.
The interview started pretty ok, some small chat about where the interviewer stayed (within walking distance of Starbucks) before moving on to a walkthrough of myself. I realize that maybe I should have state my short term/long term goals as something else other than strategy consulting - mainly because I have to admit, I know little about strategy consulting - as it would open me to very specific questions from a person with far more experience in strategy than I have.
True enough, we moved into my goals and started discussing startegy. I was given a case study on the spot! I think I flopped that, easily :( spent time discussing my current position, my weaknesses (I hate this bit) and my previous experiences. Then there was a very indepth discussion about my extra curricular activity, which I have to admit is something unique. One question which I was not really prepared for was 'What would you do to change the organization?'. Quite a curve ball, but thankfully I was able to address that issue after 5 seconds of desperate thought.
Well, that's about it for the interview. All in, it was 1 hour 15 minutes. Quite a grilling compared to what I've read about other peoples' 30 minute long interviews. I've discussed the time length with somebody who says that's the norm time length for a job interview over here. Too short would have been bad, and anything longer would have been bad - longer doesn't necessarily mean that they are interested, but rather that the interviewer just want to be 100% sure that he's going to reject you!
Other than that, I really haven't been doing much. Work has been eating up my time quite a bit. I'm expecting a few changes to be made to the department. Morale is at an all time low. Turnover is goin to hit 40% just for the the first half of the year. Basically, it looks like I'm stuck on a sinking ship :( Anybody out there who wants to hire me to do corporate strategy? I'm definitely looking to do that.
I will be posting on March 27, the day after admits are announced for Chicago GSB. I'm hoping against all hope that I might be given an admit. But realistically, I think that's highly doubtful. Well, till then!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
8 Jan 2008
It's time to submit Chicago GSB.
I can't really explain how the last 48 hours have been, but to sum it up in a word, stressful. I was scared that my PPT wouldn't turn out right, that my reader friends wouldn't get back in time, and only today, at 2.30pm, my reader turned in his remarks that tore up my Essay 1 - it called for a re-write!
So there I was, in the office, looking stressed and hunched over the computer, editing Essay 1. Thankfully, most of the office work was done, and that I have an trainee whom I can pass work off to.
Apply Online is loading now. Need to upload my essays and such. I've read through my application 6 times.
The stats.
Essay 1: 81 versions
Essay 2: 32 versions
PPT: 27 versions
54.9 mb of text and then some pictures.
I'm uploading the PPT now, approximately 7.8 mb large. My life in 4 slides.
I would like to thank the following people,
jelt, bsd_lover, tai kor Jimmy, my sister, kuhu, aviroop, tomvu
Who have worked with me on this application. I guess it all boils down to pressing the submit button.
I've decided to stop blogging for the time being. I guess, I've been blogging about applying for an MBA for the past 2 years, it's been a good journey - I've learnt a lot and made good friends. I had a good time, but I think I would like to move on. I'm thinking about applying to NUS and INSEAD but that's not confirmed. If I get accepted into Chicago GSB, I'll definitely attend and probably start a Chicago GSB student blog, if not, who knows?
I would like to thank you for reading my blog today, and maybe over the past couple of months. I wish I had more meaningful posts, stuff that really discussed the application process and all that, but I think at the end of the day, this blog was just to share about my feelings more than anything else.
So, if you would like to contact me (especially if you're a Malaysian thinking about learning more about doing an MBA or the GMAT), drop me an email - hopeful.wannabe (at) gmail.com
Till then, all the best to all of you.... it's been fun.
It's time to submit Chicago GSB.
I can't really explain how the last 48 hours have been, but to sum it up in a word, stressful. I was scared that my PPT wouldn't turn out right, that my reader friends wouldn't get back in time, and only today, at 2.30pm, my reader turned in his remarks that tore up my Essay 1 - it called for a re-write!
So there I was, in the office, looking stressed and hunched over the computer, editing Essay 1. Thankfully, most of the office work was done, and that I have an trainee whom I can pass work off to.
Apply Online is loading now. Need to upload my essays and such. I've read through my application 6 times.
The stats.
Essay 1: 81 versions
Essay 2: 32 versions
PPT: 27 versions
54.9 mb of text and then some pictures.
I'm uploading the PPT now, approximately 7.8 mb large. My life in 4 slides.
I would like to thank the following people,
jelt, bsd_lover, tai kor Jimmy, my sister, kuhu, aviroop, tomvu
Who have worked with me on this application. I guess it all boils down to pressing the submit button.
I've decided to stop blogging for the time being. I guess, I've been blogging about applying for an MBA for the past 2 years, it's been a good journey - I've learnt a lot and made good friends. I had a good time, but I think I would like to move on. I'm thinking about applying to NUS and INSEAD but that's not confirmed. If I get accepted into Chicago GSB, I'll definitely attend and probably start a Chicago GSB student blog, if not, who knows?
I would like to thank you for reading my blog today, and maybe over the past couple of months. I wish I had more meaningful posts, stuff that really discussed the application process and all that, but I think at the end of the day, this blog was just to share about my feelings more than anything else.
So, if you would like to contact me (especially if you're a Malaysian thinking about learning more about doing an MBA or the GMAT), drop me an email - hopeful.wannabe (at) gmail.com
Till then, all the best to all of you.... it's been fun.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Throughout the application process, I've learnt a few things that I would have loved to have known at the beginning.
i) Have a team of people to support you in your essay writing. Readers and editors. Preferably, get a current student (though they're always busy), an admit (only if you're applying for round 2 onwards), another applicant (somebody you feel that you can trust not to rip off your content - which is harder than it seems especially if you've got different goals) and a phd student as a proof reader.
ii) Don't be afraid to re-write your essay from scratch. Or re-structure something that you've just spend 3 weeks perfecting. Sometimes it's worth the pain and trouble. I think the saying is "Don't be afraid to kill your babie." Because if you don't, you might never improve your essay.
iii) You can get sick of writing essays. After looking at an essay for the 20th time, you're bound to feel brain dead when it comes to editing it. Take a break for a day or two. Do something else different.
iv) Each paragraph should have a situation - action - result, and a focus. Crop off anything that dilutes that focus.
v) Your goals don't have to be unique. But you must be able to relate to them.
I'll add more stuff when I remember and think of it.
i) Have a team of people to support you in your essay writing. Readers and editors. Preferably, get a current student (though they're always busy), an admit (only if you're applying for round 2 onwards), another applicant (somebody you feel that you can trust not to rip off your content - which is harder than it seems especially if you've got different goals) and a phd student as a proof reader.
ii) Don't be afraid to re-write your essay from scratch. Or re-structure something that you've just spend 3 weeks perfecting. Sometimes it's worth the pain and trouble. I think the saying is "Don't be afraid to kill your babie." Because if you don't, you might never improve your essay.
iii) You can get sick of writing essays. After looking at an essay for the 20th time, you're bound to feel brain dead when it comes to editing it. Take a break for a day or two. Do something else different.
iv) Each paragraph should have a situation - action - result, and a focus. Crop off anything that dilutes that focus.
v) Your goals don't have to be unique. But you must be able to relate to them.
I'll add more stuff when I remember and think of it.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
And it's a ding for Tuck.
Nevertheless, I have full confidence in my Chicago application!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Congratulations to all Chicago R1 admits and all the best to Wharton applicants.
:)
I don't have much to say today. A lot on my mind. I'm thinking about ending this blog after Chicago R2 results come out. If I get in, I'll probably start another semi-anonymous blog on Chicago. If I get dinged, I think it's time that I moved on.
If I get dinged, I realize that it's not easy to move on out of the MBA applicant lifestyle. For once, I will have spare time to do what I want without worrying whether I'm able to perfect an application. To pursue other interests without wondering whether I should put them in my essays.
To my wonderful 13 readers, what do you think? :)
Nevertheless, I have full confidence in my Chicago application!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Congratulations to all Chicago R1 admits and all the best to Wharton applicants.
:)
I don't have much to say today. A lot on my mind. I'm thinking about ending this blog after Chicago R2 results come out. If I get in, I'll probably start another semi-anonymous blog on Chicago. If I get dinged, I think it's time that I moved on.
If I get dinged, I realize that it's not easy to move on out of the MBA applicant lifestyle. For once, I will have spare time to do what I want without worrying whether I'm able to perfect an application. To pursue other interests without wondering whether I should put them in my essays.
To my wonderful 13 readers, what do you think? :)
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