Business school selection

I think almost everybody gets headache when it comes to business school selection. Well, at least I do. The word “fit” is the keyword. I have struggled to find that fit since my whole application process began. I do have some criteria. There are strict criteria and loose ones. So let’s see what those criteria are:
1. Strict: Schools without loan-friendly option (loan without co-signor) are absolutely out.
2. Strict: I don’t like all case-based teaching method, so Harvard and Darden are crossed out.
3. Loose: Because I live in tropical country, I prefer schools located in warm area.
4. Loose: Based on my undergraduate experience, I prefer schools with close-knit community.
5. Loose: I dislike schools in remote area, so schools like Tuck is out from my radar.
6. Loose: I love schools that offer dual-degree programs in education because it will help sustain my career goal.

Based on those filters and other personal thoughts, here is my temporary list in the order of preference.
1. Stanford. Strength: location, dual degree program in education, strong brand name
Weakness: my chances are somewhat remote
2. Ross. Strength: dual degree program in education, good brand name
Weakness: location
3. Yale. Strength: close-knit community, good brand name
Weakness: location
4. Fisher. Strength: I think I have decent shot for acceptance in this school, close-knit community, attractive scholarships program
Weakness: Not considered as top US business school, brand name in Asia is not as strong as other US business school I select
5. Nanyang. Strength: close proximity to my home country, top 50 in FT MBA 100 2008, good brand name in Asia, likelihood for acceptance (in accounting terms) is probable, attractive scholarhips program
Weakness: Does not in line with my dream of getting an MBA from US business school

I’m still thinking whether to apply to Stanford. In the mean time, I use GMAT score as indicator. If my score is below Stanford’s average, I will opt out Stanford from my list. Well, my first GMAT attempt is horrible. I’m even ashamed to share the score in this blog. Anyway, I’m planning to retake in October. If the score gets better, maybe I will apply to Stanford in round 2. So guys, what do you think of my list?

Nervous breakdown

Alright I exaggerate… a bit.. There were two I considered important events these past two days. The first one was the assignment as instructor for training held by my country’s institute of public accountants. About 50 participants showed up from small and big accounting firms. Small firms were mostly critical and annoying! Big firms were rather quiet. A participant tested my accounting knowledge by questioning a particular area he already knew the answer. My senior manager later told me that he was just showing off and that I shouldn’t bother to take him so seriously. Well, it was quite an experience. I bet most of them were confused: why me, a "little girl”, about half his/her age or even one-third! I heard a participant telling his friends that I could be the chairman of our accounting institute 20 years later. Whether he was joking or for real I couldn't tell. I don't care anyway.. I'm not interested.

The second one was promotion day. My name was not listed as one of the promoted ones in the pop-up message in our system or the announcement board. True, I was disappointed but I kept my head up, smiling and congratulating those who succeeded. I tried not to think at all and concentrated more on my job.

Later in the afternoon, HR partner announced that the salary letter was ready for collection. I was reluctant to get mine as my boss was on leave. But I was deadly curious. Perhaps deep within my heart I wished the letter would say differently and that I was promoted. Until I opened my letter and said: Congratulations, you are promoted to XXX position with salary XXX!! The next morning, the HR manager realized the mistake himself then came to apologize and promised to get my name on the promotion list. I didn’t really care anyway. All that matters was that black and white letter signed and sealed! Hmmmm, it gave me shock therapy for the entire half day.

Dreams still alive

Thanks to all of you who have been supporting me, specifically to Bee, Paige, Soni, and anonymous. And yes, I’m keeping my dreams alive!

I’m still cramming for GMAT. I make new study plan and force myself to study at least 2 hours on weekdays and 4-6 hours on weekend. I’m planning to take the test around August. Yup I know it’s rather too late but that’s the month I have less commitment of. Hopefully I will get decent score.

In between my GMAT study, I'm preparing for the upcoming internal and external training. While I'm pleased to be trusted for such important events, the thought of big 4 accountants firing complex questions is more a horror than honor.

Early this month, I'm announced as champion for one of my office CSR projects. I’m organizing the 1708 book drive. Yup, we aim to collect 1708 books, children’s books. Why 1708? Hmmm.. If I share, my location will unveil :) I'm glad my friends support me. They help me design posters and pop-up messages, take pictures for the posters, arrange storage bin and spaces for the books, etc. A close friend promises that if I don’t reach the 1708 target, he will donate the remainder. So I guess we will accomplish the target. Pray for me folks :)

Having second thought

It’s been almost 2 months off the blogging community. In these past 2 months, I’ve been dealing with a difficult family situation. I can’t tell what the situation is but it is the reason why I’m having second thought: whether I should go with my plan to apply this year, defer or the worse case is let go my whole dreams.

I could deal with being far away from my family but there is no way I can loose my 2-year income and become indebted to huge amount of money. Given current situation, my family will not allow me because I know they need my support, either in terms of my physical presence and financial supports.

I don’t know what to do. I’m so confused. Any advice friends?

PS: Congrats to all admits and welcome aboard 2009 applicants!!

Short update

Been almost a month since my last post.. Why? Not much have happened. It's busy season.

The INSEAD Information Session. Didn't go. Why? I had meeting. I won't apply to INSEAD anyway.

Still manage to spend about an hour each day to study GMAT. I intentionally haven't taken the free test prep from mba.com. Will do after I finish the PR. So far, I like PR. It's easy to understand. This week gonna be data sufficiency.
Thanks to Paige and Bee for their advices. I will use the Manhattan GMAT.

Plans:
1. Going to Seoul in May for training.
2. Set GMAT test date.
3. Teach again. Just one class: current issues of accounting.
4. Discuss with my ex lecturer about my career goal. He already volunteered himself to be recommender!
5. Finalize bschool list. I have 2 or 3 "fit" schools but given my profile, it's too beyond my reach. I'm gonna need safety school.
6. Networking!

Gotta go.. Have another meeting.. [sigh] I'm so sleepy... zzzzzzzzz

Felt relieve

Last week, I got the "unexpected" call. I finally passed national public accountant certification.. And today my pic, along with 7 other pics, was posted in a national newspapers which also stated that we (18 participants) were the new graduates among 306 participants who took the exam. I'm so excited.. coz that means no more tax study (I hate it since college time)... What a relieve..

Bout my progress.. Well, I took Curly Bee's advice (Thanks Bee!). I leave the TOEFL and start attacking the GMAT. I bought the OG 11th ed and Princeton. At first I didn't want to buy Princeton, however, after reading a blog that said Princeton was good with basic math, I decided to go with it. FYI, I suck at math, particularly high school math. I'm also thinking to buy Manhattan and Kaplan. I don't know. Is it too much?

Work, work and work

Last week I got the much "dreaded" appraisal from my direct boss. I've been expecting the "red flag" since I join the technical department. I don't like public speaking or rather... I'm not used to it and I don't have the confidence. My mind keeps talking: if you don't deal it now, how can you handle the MBA? That also discourages me from this whole process. My heart tells me: don't give up! Cia you!

This morning we had this urgent meeting discussing a delicate transaction. All of the meeting participants were male except me (most of my firm's leaders are male.. quite the opposite to next door firm) and I'm also the youngest (most of them are about twice my age!). So, after talking back and forth for 3+hours (in addition to a total of 5 hours spent on last Friday and Monday), finally the technical concluded that we could not conclude!! Gosh.. So why spent long hours to discuss something that we even didn't come any closer to an end.. It's a process, process, process.. Dissenting opinions or no position are normal in our technical world.

Last week, I attended a meeting with tax and legal department of my firm to advise a publicly listed client whose parent incorporated in Japan. From the client side, the CEO, GM, and the Finance & Accounting Director were all Japanese, except one local GM credit. The client wished to set up a new business for their company. I was needed to present local accounting standard relevant for the business. Luckily, my tax director has quite an understanding of accounting standards so she presented what she knew to the client before I took over for the details. The night before the meeting, I was so freak out. I was afraid I could not handle it. After the meeting, I knew I could do anything with confidence and proper preparation.

Last week, my firms held US Risk & Quality training update. One of the topics presented was relating to the credit crunch in the US. We have assessed that insignificant impact would rise in our region. So, what if I decide to study in the US, whether I will be impacted too? I read a post in clearadmit.com on this topic [Darden Dean: Don’t Let the Current Financial Crisis Dissuade You From an MBA Thursday, 17 January 2008]. If I may quote from Dean Robert Bruner "My advice to MBA students and applicants is still to pursue your long-term career vision."

That's all about the work front. Bschool application progress? Not much. All I can say that a local foundation invites me to a scholarship information session. Does it mean that I have the potential? Hehe.. I don't think so. The scholarships are so limited, only 4 goes to USA. Tough competition I would say. So, I don't rely too much on this. No matter what, with or without the scholarships I will go to apply this year, definitely. I'm pretty much determined.

....

Been violating my own resolution. Quite busy lately and procrastinating a lot!

So, without further ado, these are my progress:

1. Wharton Coffee chat
Didn't make it. I'm totally a loser. Don't ask me why.

2. TOEFL
No progress at all!! I'm thinking of taking up a class but it's so pricey!

3. At work
11 - 16 working hours per day. Been so long not staying up till dawn.
I don't think I want to come back to the audit world again.. Well, maybe on part time basis. One of my bosses suggested me to take up at least 5 clients a year to keep me on the cutting edge and stay competitive. I think I'm gonna do exactly that.

My office is experiencing resource shortage at an alarming rate. I guess every big 4 does.
Everybody works crazy hours. Today I spot the "imported" staffs from South Africa and Phillippine! I've heard stories that one of them asked my friend places to hang out. Other responds sharply that we here never hang out.. Everybody works diligently and goes home straight after work to get decent sleep. Ha!

4. Personal life
Broke up yet again... after restless reconciliation and long hours of consideration.. I'm tired and it actually distracts my concentration at work and study. I just can't control it.
After only 1 day, I begin to think to reconcile again. hmmm... I don't know how long I could stand it.

5. Upcoming event
I'm going to attend the INSEAD MBA Information Session on 20 February 2007 hosted by McKinsey. In addition to that, I also register the on campus event in Singapore on 16 May 2007. Wish I could make it.

So, I guess that's it! Time to return to the land of reports..

First ever

For almost 2 years, today is the first ever my working hours start exactly at 8am. Yippeee... I broke my laziness!! It is also the first ever I see the sky so blue after all these cloudy and moody months!! Hmmmm I love morning sunlight, morning breeze...

So.. I've made no significant progress on the speaking and writing sections since last week. Same old song.. no time, no time baby... or lazy.. lazy? Within the coming 2 weeks, my working hours will be getting worse as I need to meet the crazy deadline. I have 2 clients in the same time. The reporting package and critical documentation will be due within 1 week. This means the numbers must be locked by then. I will spend the remaining week furnishing the final accounts and dealing with the rubbish. Despite these all burning tasks, I'm still active on my other job desc, the technical staff one. O God, I really need the strength.. or maybe a nice and sufficient sleeping hours? Well, no need to be ashamed of.. I loveeee sleeping a lot.. I can do it endlessly... I usually need at least solid 8 hours to get myself fresh and bright. But this is not the case if you are an auditor.

One last news, I will join the Wharton coffee chat on 11 January 2008 (my birthday ^_^) at 6.30pm, and my first ever meet and greet with Bschool student. I'm so excited. My manager have grant permission to leave early from the client site. Hmm.. I think I will prepare the question list tomorrow..

New Year & Resolutions

Happy New Year 2008..

Hi.. welcome to my blog (yeah yeah.. another MBA aspirant blog)

To have a brief picture of me, this is my stat:
Sex: female
Age: going to be 27 this month
Year of experience: 4+
Occupation: technical staff/auditor in one of the Big 4
Location: South East Asia
Undergraduate: accounting major from local college
GPA: above average

With the New Year spirit still high, these are my only two resolutions:
1. regular blogging (at least once a week, revisit 20/06/08 once a month)
2. apply to Top Bschools this year (and get acceptance!!)

I have this MBA passion since I graduate and this year I want to keep it for real. The process itself has started last year in early November. Ever since, I never stop researching. These are my progress:
1. Career goal: soul searching stage hasn't ended but it gets clearer than ever
2. Bschool selection: in progress
3. TOEFL study: still polishing the speaking and writing abilities, plan to take the test on February 2007. TOEFL books I currently use: Kaplan, OG from ETS, Barron
4. MBA books currently read: Your MBA Game Plan, MBA Admission Strategy, How to Get into the Top MBA programs

So little time so much to do.. [sigh]

Folks who read my blog, kindly leave your comment.. I appreciate any input, critics, questions, anything relates to MBA, my life, the blog.. Thanks bunch!! ^_+