tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316421680961450722024-03-12T23:38:39.978-04:00Omne's MBA JourneyMakin' Your Way In The World Today, Take's Everything You've Got!Justin Berthelothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10941899854239355016noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431642168096145072.post-6840498296642019312010-09-01T20:55:00.003-04:002010-09-01T21:08:01.039-04:00The 2nd Year BeginsWhat an amazing, crazy, busy, relaxing, unexpected three and a half months it has been. I find myself back on campus for the start of my second, and final, year of the MBA program. I've had a full slate of classes, met some of the first years, and begun the madness that is sure to be the remaining two semesters.<br /><br />China<br />In a word, China was absolutely amazing! The trip started with us being deplaned due to the smell of smoke and further delays, meaning our arrival was much later than anticipated. First stop was Beijing and all the sites and attractions it has to offer. Highlights were definitely the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. Xi'an and the Terracotta Warriors was next, followed by the World Expo in Shanghai. The trip capped off with a few magical days in Hong Kong. We saw tons of cool sites, met amazing people and learned a ton about doing business in China. If you have the means, I can't recommend it enough.<br /><br />The Internship<br />Again, awesome. My number one choice sent me to Chicago for the summer. Anyone who's ever been to Chi-town knows how awesome it is during the summer and I can assure you, it lived up to its hype ten fold! My internship saw me getting lots of exposure to parts of the business I never expected, traveling to many different cities and learning from great people. It reaffirmed why I wanted to work there in the first place and I remain committed to making that work.<br /><br />The Second Year<br />So now, the second year has begun. I don't know why, but I had the impression the second year was easier than the first. WRONG! It seems more work, less structure, and much more responsibility. It's one thing to work on three group projects simultaneously when you're in one group for all three; it's quite another to have three separate groups. On top of that, we are now the head dogs in terms of clubs and organizations. No more learning from the older class on what it takes to lead a student club, now it's up to us to keep things moving forward and motivate and include the new first years. It'll be quite a challenge, but one I'm sure we're all up for!<br /><br />Here's to a great second year!Justin Berthelothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10941899854239355016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431642168096145072.post-54938756915801319722010-05-07T12:20:00.003-04:002010-05-07T12:35:05.679-04:00School's Out, Bring On China!It's officially over. The first year of my MBA experience came to an end Wednesday with my last final. It's been an amazing year, filled with highs (Project Nicaragua, an amazing internship offer, etc.) and lows (social dynamics of differing personalities, overloaded schedules). I've learned a bit, grown a lot, seen some cool stuff, done some cool things, and survived the first half. Next up, China for two weeks, then back to Ohio for a few days, then off to Chicago to start my internship!<br /><br />So, let's talk China. This is a school-sponsored trip, so we'll be traveling with two faculty members and will receive credit. There's a great group of first year MBAs going, but there is representation from the Charlotte and Winston-Salem Evening and Saturday programs as well. The trip will take us to Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, and Hong Kong (with a possible side trip to Macau). What I'm most looking forward to is the World Expo, which is in Shanghai. Almost 200 countries will be there and it will be an amazing experience. I'm also excited for the typical touristy stuff: the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden Palace, etc. It will also be great to see how the Chinese work and live; we'll be visiting both foreign and local companies.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_yr9bmSoyY8E/S-RA-nLWGCI/AAAAAAAAABo/rokaWmrRT2I/s1600/DSCN0201.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_yr9bmSoyY8E/S-RA-nLWGCI/AAAAAAAAABo/rokaWmrRT2I/s320/DSCN0201.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468567291947259938" /></a>We leave extremely early in the morning tomorrow, 6AM. Today is packing day, and there's a lot to bring for two weeks!Justin Berthelothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10941899854239355016noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431642168096145072.post-70531957872488069732010-04-25T19:31:00.003-04:002010-04-25T19:45:27.958-04:00Almost DoneWow...I don't know when it happened. One minute you're trapped under an insane amount of work, figuring out which assignment to slack off on, juggling the coming exams and presentations. Next thing you know, you take a look at the calendar and realize in less than two weeks, it's all over. The first year of your MBA journey will be over. It's amazing how quickly it all happened!<br /><br />There's only a few days left before the second years graduate, the first years head off for their summer adventures and begin their internships. The coming week will not be fun: exam tomorrow, presentation Tuesday, presentation Wednesday, quiz and paper Thursday. If I make it that far, the following week is just an exam and another presentation. A week from Wednesday, and I'm done! So where will my summer begin?<br /><br />China! I'll be spending two weeks in China, going from Beijing to Xi'an to Shanghai and finally Hong Kong. It'll be a nice mix of cultural stuff and business visits. My main thing is going to be the World Expo; I think I could spend two weeks there, but I'll likely only have a day. I'm definitely pumped for this trip. Unlike Nicaragua, where the language barrier wasn't so much of an issue, there will be a huge barrier in China. When I get back, I'll have two weeks until my internship starts. So, I'll have to pack up and move to...<br /><br />Chicago! My last entry I spoke of heading to Atlanta. Literally the day I was going to sign my offer letter, I received word from the CMC office to hold off for a day. The next afternoon, I got an amazing offer from a company that would send me to Chicago. The offer absolutely blew me away, so I had to accept! I've never been to Chicago, so this will be an experience. I've started looking at housing options, I've got my start date, so I'm hopeful I'll have something before I leave for China (don't want this hanging over my head while I'm there).<br /><br />Things are falling into place across the board for MBAs. It seems people are getting and accepting offers every day, and the mood is starting to lighten for the majority of the class. Exciting things are happening all around us and it's a great time. I can't wait for the next adventures in my life. More to come!Justin Berthelothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10941899854239355016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431642168096145072.post-2515140522687153342010-03-30T20:24:00.002-04:002010-03-30T20:34:56.375-04:00March EndsTomorrow is the last day of March. It's been two months since I last updated the blog, and for that I sincerely apologize. Pretty much since the moment school started back up in January, everyone has been running a hundred miles an hour. It's been difficult to get on any sort of legit schedule; things change so rapidly, without notice. Hopefully, things will calm down for the final mini, but probably not.<br /><br />So, let's talk classes. We are finally at the point where we have declared concentrations and selected two electives for mini four. I'm enrolled in Financial Statement Analysis and Practical Issues of Marketing; my concentration is marketing. I went back and forth between marketing and finance, but in the end decided to stick with what I know. Most of my interviews were for marketing positions, and sitting in on the finance elective found me applying to switch classes DURING class. I'm certain I made the right decision!<br /><br />Trips: I spent my spring break in Nicaragua for Project Nicaragua. Basically, we consult with local business owners and teach seminars on basic business concepts. The people we taught and work with can have pretty primitive business knowledge, yet they are some of the smartest people I've met. If there was something they didn't understand, it was usually our fault, not theirs. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and I cannot wait to get back. This is why I came here, to do things like this.<br /><br />Jobs: This is where it gets interesting. I did quite a bit of on-campus recruiting. I had an offer from one company, with a deadline to let them know the day I got back from Nicaragua. I had asked for an extension, as I was waiting on two more offers. They said no, so I said no. It was one of the scariest things I've ever done, turning down a sure thing in this economy for possibilities down the road. Luckily for me, it paid off, as I was offered a summer position with one of my top choices! I'm pretty pumped, and it's an enormous load off of my shoulders.<br /><br />What's upcoming? Two electives, three required courses, finding housing in Atlanta, going to China for two weeks before the internship starts, and becoming an uncle. Things move quickly in B-school!Justin Berthelothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10941899854239355016noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431642168096145072.post-80331805968518222532010-01-22T18:57:00.002-05:002010-01-22T19:06:08.455-05:00Such A Long TripWell....it's certainly been awhile! I apologize for not posting for the last few months, but things just got crazy busy for awhile. By the time I was ready to write about something, ten more things had crept up and blogging got put on the back burner for awhile. Hopefully it doesn't get like that again!<br /><br />So what's happened in the meantime? Thanksgiving, Christmas break (a whole month!), finals, and internship stuff. Last semester ended with a blowout party, which was nice. Finals went well, I got pretty good marks on all my exams and ended up with a decent GPA. Over break I did some networking for my internship, which was somewhat successful. All in all, not too bad.<br /><br />As soon as I got back to school, things were back in full swing in no time! Three classes carried over from last mini (quant, finance and marketing) and three new ones began (macroeconomics, operations and information technology management). With the new classes comes reshuffled sections. Half of the teams from my old section joined half the teams from the other section. It took a few class sessions for everyone to get a feel for the others, but now the debates are lively.<br /><br />Internship stuff is also happening. I had two interviews this week, two more next week, and one the week after. This, along with preparations for the Marketing Summit and Project Nicaragua's March trip have kept me super busy! It doesn't stop though, you've got to keep pushing forward as best you can. I still wouldn't trade this for anything!Justin Berthelothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10941899854239355016noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431642168096145072.post-78085965419721016352009-11-11T22:34:00.003-05:002009-11-11T22:41:50.216-05:00Is it break yet?Things sure are busy in Winston-Salem! It's been almost a month since my last post, and for that I apologize. We were told by the second year students that this time of year is the busiest. They weren't kidding! It seems each week we've got a final, a project, or some mix of both. We've finished two courses so far, Managerial Economics and Management Communications. This weekend we write our case final for Quantitative Methods, then take that final exam Monday. On Tuesday, our accounting projects are due. Next Monday and Tuesday, our accounting and finance exams. Then we have a break for Thanksgiving, then as soon as we get back, our main project for Organizational Behavior is due, followed quickly by a marketing final. Phew!<br /><br />On top of that, we still have regular classes, complete with pop quizzes and lengthy readings. My advice to any prospective student: invest in a comfortable chair and some good lighting. Your eyes and back will thank you! The quiz count this week is three so far, with another one to come tomorrow. I wouldn't say this was an abnormal week, but definitely a trying one. With all these projects and exams and classes coming to a head, things feel at a bursting point. I keep telling myself, December isn't far away!<br /><br />In other news, things continue to progress on other fronts. Various groups continue to meet and discuss issues and trips. The Wine Club had a rousing meeting where we tasted various new world reds. The Marketing Summit team continues to plan and strategize for this year's event. Project Nicaragua has selected its group for the January trip. The international trips have been announced and people are excited to figure out where they want to go next May. Football season is about to end, but the Demon Deacon basketball team is set to begin!<br /><br />It's definitely a period of change right now. The weather is changing. The leaves have packed up and headed closer to terra firma. Some classes are ending, others are beginning. We are nearly one quarter of the way through our MBA, and it feels like just yesterday we started this crazy adventure!Justin Berthelothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10941899854239355016noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431642168096145072.post-65834737997692936972009-10-16T16:57:00.003-04:002009-10-16T17:06:48.859-04:00Fall BreakToday is our "fall break." A whole one day of classes free. I spent my day off sleeping; went to bed at 2AM, woke up at 1PM. It was amazing. A perfect use of my free time! Now it's back to business and getting some work done. Since lots of people headed out of town for the weekend, it should be pretty quiet here in Winston-Salem.<br /><br />We had our first exam on Monday. 3 hours of accounting was pretty rough. More exams are coming up in the week to follow, as we end the first mini and begin the second. Most classes carry over between minis, so it's not like we have a fresh slate of professors or anything. Just a new seating chart (I move from the cushy confines in the back row to the first row off to the side) and new material.<br /><br />I've talked a lot about balance in business school, as have several other bloggers. What is the right balance between class work, activities and personal time? Honestly, I don't think there is one. I don't think I'll ever reach a point where everything fits into my schedule. Some weeks coursework is light, so I focus on myself or other obligations. Other times, I have tons of work for classes and everything else falls by the wayside. Mostly, it's a mix of stuff and it's impossible to fit everything in.Justin Berthelothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10941899854239355016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431642168096145072.post-79097356428442466782009-10-08T18:50:00.002-04:002009-10-08T19:00:23.208-04:00They Said It Would Be HardAnd they were right! From when we first arrived on campus, the second year students told us that October (along with February) is absolutely brutal in terms of workload and the busy factor. They weren't lying. Just this week alone I've had three presentations, a pop quiz, six meetings, a deliverable for econ and many other things. This weekend is my reunion and homecoming, but we also have an accounting final Monday morning. This is a crazy balancing act!<br /><br />I fully understand what they mean when they say October will test your will. While mine hasn't broken, it is definitely being pushed to the limit. I don't think I've woken up and felt confident about my work for that day. I continue to plug away and try and do the best I can; at the end of the day, that's all you can ask of yourself.<br /><br />Last Friday I had my first interview for an internship. I had heard about it from our Career Management Center and spoke with several students who did this same internship last summer. For my first interview, I think it went well. It was completely behavioral, as I'm sure most of mine will be. I did get a nice bag of swag, which is always nice! It was also my first attempt at a career fair. It can be daunting, walking up to potential employers and literally throwing yourself in front of them. While a good number of companies were not in my future plans, it was excellent practice.<br /><br />Things continue to spin dangerously close to the ridiculous line here at Wake Forest Schools of Business. You can see stress levels rising each day when someone has a presentation or interview. It's October, so the first mini is almost over. Can't believe 1/8th of our MBA program has gone by!Justin Berthelothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10941899854239355016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431642168096145072.post-15368460289557042442009-09-29T18:29:00.003-04:002009-09-29T18:34:03.648-04:00Caught In The StormAnd they say it's only going to get worse! Wow! This whole MBA process sure is a trial-by-fire for time management and prioritization skills! Do you finish your quant homework or work on a cover letter for that internship deadline? Go to your Marketing Association meeting or Ambassador training? Watch How I Met Your Mother or sleep? All tough decisions!<br /><br />September is coming to a close, and I think all us first year MBA students have a good grasp on just how difficult this whole experience will be. There's simply too many things to do. Too many assignments, deliverables, team meetings, project meetings, clubs and organizations...don't even think about personal time! My DVR is certainly getting a workout.<br /><br />It's important to take time for yourself, or you'll never get out alive. This afternoon, after my Project Nicaragua meeting, I decided to go for a run. I didn't go as fast as I used to, or as far, but it was good to take a half hour and do something just for me. <br /><br />So what's coming up in MBA world? Several presentations and group projects, Career Quest MBA fair in College Park, Maryland, and soon...exams. On the unofficial Head Under Water scale, I'd say it's up to my chin right now.Justin Berthelothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10941899854239355016noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431642168096145072.post-79145362755668414132009-09-19T16:39:00.002-04:002009-09-19T16:54:24.380-04:00It's A Whirlwind!Phew! When they said an MBA program is a lot of work, they weren't kidding. When they said time management is a big issue, they were sugar-coating just how difficult it can be. And it's only been a few weeks! It's not even October yet! It's going to be an interesting two years.<br /><br />Elections for first year positions in various student clubs took place over the past week. I'm the first year representative for the Babcock Marketing Association and the Communications Committee of the Marketing Summit. I'm also involved with the Wine Club, Strategy and Consulting Club, Student Ambassadors and the intramural soccer team. Of course, I still have a full course schedule and have to find a job for the summer! Yes, recruiting has begun.<br /><br />The CMC office does a very good job preparing us for the madness that is recruiting. They help you identify your passions and your purpose, so that you can effectively search for internships you can be happy doing. A few companies have held information sessions, industry panels start soon, and the ratio of polo shirts to suits seems to move closer to 1:1 each day. Career Quest, a recruiting fair in College Park, Maryland, takes place in early October. There will be many companies there, even some government agencies. <br /><br />I had identified a possible internship, and luckily for me, two second year students did the same internship last summer and both got offered full-time positions a few weeks ago! They have been invaluable resources as helped greatly as I scrambled to meet a very tough deadline. I heard about the internship on a Tuesday, and applications and resumes were due on Saturday! I spent a good deal of time working through my resume and talking with my career counselor. I made the deadline, and given the time limitations, I'm pretty happy with my effort!<br /><br />Things are definitely in full swing here at the Schools of Business. Campus is abuzz with activity, as students work tirelessly on the latest quant assignment, while gathering information for a communications presentation and waiting for a career panel to begin. Intramurals have begun, clubs are starting to set things in motion for events and trips, and quizzes and grades are appearing in mailboxes. Such is the life of a first year MBA student!Justin Berthelothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10941899854239355016noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431642168096145072.post-22779110335457176182009-09-04T18:24:00.003-04:002009-09-04T18:30:28.566-04:00Where Does The Time GoThe first few days of my MBA? Fairly manageable. My first full week? Good lord! Now I know what everyone meant when they said "Just wait, it'll get crazy soon!" I'm experiencing first-hand the whole notion that there's simply too much work and not enough time to do it all. As performances begin to slip, panic sets in. And on top of that...<br /><br />The SGA Club Fair was yesterday afternoon in the courtyard of the law school/business school. All the clubs were there with their representatives, including the Dean, as well as food and beer. Nothing like spending a sunny afternoon having a beer and learning about the different clubs and organizations! There's simply too many clubs you find yourself signing up for; I think I finished with seven or eight.<br /><br />Top on my list were the Marketing Summit and Marketing Association. I also signed up for Project Nicaragua, NetImpact, Strategy and Consulting Club, Ambassadors, the Wine Club and the intramural soccer team. Can I do it all? Absolutely not. I figure pretty quickly I'll need to make some tough choices and widdle this list down to something that vaguely resembles manageable. The question is: what to cut?<br /><br />Tomorrow is the first football game of the season, and with it the first tailgate! I haven't been to a game since 2004, back when Wake wasn't as competitive. I hear things have changed a bit; there's actually a lottery system for tickets now! Luckily I got one. Can't wait to enjoy some free time and watch Baylor go down!Justin Berthelothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10941899854239355016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431642168096145072.post-44805402056608090512009-08-26T18:37:00.002-04:002009-08-26T18:42:28.448-04:00The First DayToday was the first actual day of my MBA program. Following about 18 months of GMATs, essays, school visits, interviews, nervous hours waiting on acceptance notification, down-time, and a whirlwind orientation, we finally got down to business. I think I speak for all my classmates when I say, let's get started!<br /><br />We had been given some pre-work for certain classes...read this book, do these problems, etc. I think everyone was fully prepared, which led to lively discussions and learning interesting things. If the rest of the program is like this, I'm pretty excited! Of course, then the real work was assigned. I think as soon as classes were done, my learning team assembled in a study room for the next few hours and started hammering through the assignments for Thursday and Friday. Accounting and Quant seem to be giving people the most headaches right now.<br /><br />All in all, it was a good first day. Wednesday is also donut day, we the lounge was filled with boxes of Krispy Kreme donuts and coffee, and I think everyone appreciated the opportunity to take a break in between classes and enjoy a snack. It's back to the grind tomorrow. My team is already planning on meeting tomorrow morning, to make sure we're ready to go on that days assignments (and to possibly avoid having to meet three times in two days!)Justin Berthelothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10941899854239355016noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431642168096145072.post-25014733397870066902009-08-23T13:24:00.003-04:002009-08-23T13:34:18.490-04:00And So It Begins!Greetings all! It's been awhile since I last wrote anything. Honestly, I didn't think I'd keep blogging once school started. But, after some encouragement from my new classmates, I figured what the heck!<br /><br />So, what's been going on with me since June? I stopped working at the end of June, went to Vegas for a few days, relaxed around the house, paid way too much money to fix various things on my car, packed up my few possessions and headed to Winston-Salem on August 6th. I mostly just set up my room in the house and tried to meet as many of my new classmates as possible. Good times were had by all, and on Thursday of last week, orientation officially began.<br /><br />Five days of orientation may seem like a lot, and I figured it would drag on. Surprisingly, it's been better than my expectations. Donovan Campbell, our first speaker on Thursday, was awesome. I never expected an opening speaker at an MBA program to be so emotional! I think all 400 people in the room were deeply moved. I've ordered his book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Joker-One-Platoons-Leadership-Brotherhood/dp/1400067731/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251048540&sr=1-1">Joker One</a>, and I look forward to finding some free time to read it!<br /><br />Friday, we got our free laptops, section and team assignments (go team ten!), and learned more about how the next two years will go. Yesterday was team building...for seven hours. I went in with an open mind and had a good time. I definitely came away with a better appreciation for my new teammates! All I can say is, we got eleven people through a hula-hoop in 5.7 seconds.<br /><br />There's still two more days of orientation...Monday is more information sessions, Tuesday is Community Plunge, where all new students make a splash in the community by volunteering. Classes start Wednesday, and I'm already under a load of assignments to be completed!<br /><br />I'll definitely try and keep up with blogging during the school year, and I'm also on <a href="http://twitter.com/justinberthelot">Twitter</a>. I look forward to sharing this journey with everyone!Justin Berthelothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10941899854239355016noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431642168096145072.post-85521595940523833652009-06-17T13:02:00.004-04:002009-06-17T13:06:51.647-04:00Things Are Starting To RollIt seems every other day, when I check the admitted students website, there's a new form or piece of information. I posted the other week about some forms being put online; now, most of them are available. Also, the economics pre-term work is up; I need to find a book and start studying. I'm almost done with the Excel portion and plan to do the accounting work when I get back from Vegas.<br /><br />Housing is taken care of, so I finally have a place to live. It's a house, down the road from campus, with a fellow MBA student. Also, the specs for our laptops have been posted. I held out a tiny sliver of hope that we'd be getting Macbook Pros, but alas, WFU stuck with Lenovo. Each student (Wake provides laptops to every student; undergrads replace theirs after their sophomore year, and you keep the laptop once you graduate) will get a shiny new Lenovo Thinkpad T400 during orientation, as well as a printer. Cool stuff!<br /><br />I have five more days of work left! It sounds so strange to think, after more than four years, it will soon be overJustin Berthelothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10941899854239355016noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431642168096145072.post-69331626652037613242009-06-04T15:03:00.002-04:002009-06-04T15:14:19.444-04:00Let The Work BeginAsk and you shall receive! I checked the admitted students website and lo and behold, two of the three pre-term assignments were posted. I've got some Excel prep work to do and I have to choose one of three options for financial accounting practice. I remember a bit of accounting from my undergrad days, but as my current job doesn't use much of it, I've forgotten most of it. I'm most likely going to choose the online option, for $55. I hope it's intuitive and easy to follow!<br /><br />Also posted was the medical form. I have until July 1st to track down my medical records (not easy when you've moved twice in the past year and a half) and get a physical. I haven't been to a doctor since 2000! There's still more stuff to be posted (insurance, course registration, etc.) but at least it seems like we've officially moved from admitted students to actual studentsJustin Berthelothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10941899854239355016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431642168096145072.post-114856641953424652009-06-02T12:54:00.003-04:002009-06-02T13:01:15.900-04:00June....The calendar has turned to June. Summer is starting soon, the weather is finally getting some regularity (no more thirty degree temperature differences in a 24-hour span!), and lazy times are descending. I'm in my last 28 days of working at my current job and as I transition things I find myself with tons of free time. I think I only have five more deliverables!<br /><br />In terms of school, I've started taking stock of what else must be done. I see health insurance forms, medical history and physical to be completed, pre-term work yet to be announced. I wish it would all start now so I can get going, instead of waiting around. Some of my future classmates have already moved to Winston-Salem and I look forward to joining them next month. <br /><br />One thing I've noticed is that I've stopped following the new applicant bloggers (class of 2012), instead focusing more on the current students and my fellow admits. I'm very thankful that <a href="http://julydream.blogspot.com">JulyDream</a> has continued to update her blog throughout her internship, otherwise I wouldn't have much to read!Justin Berthelothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10941899854239355016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431642168096145072.post-14163682205581444572009-05-26T15:53:00.002-04:002009-05-26T16:01:11.976-04:00What A WeekendSorry it's been over a week since I last posted. Not a whole lot on the MBA front. I studied my budget pretty hard core and decided that getting rid of my current car is probably a good idea. There's not a whole lot of room for large car payments in an MBA budget! I also started filling out my Master Promissory Note from my chosen lender. Exciting stuff, eh?<br /><br />Memorial Day weekend was a blast! As I have too much vacation/personal time left, I took off Thursday for Charlotte. What followed was a crazy weekend of too much golf, too much drinking, Lebron James hitting a miracle three-pointer, an Indians come-back win over the Reds, a piggyback ride gone horribly wrong, an escaped Pomapoo, and a near death experience on the West Virginia turnpike. Needless to say, I needed more recovery time than I gave myself.<br /><br />Next up on the MBA front is to finish my Master Promissory Note so that I actually get money from the government, finally take care of the living arragements, and begin to go through what I have, what I'll bring, and what I'll need to buy.Justin Berthelothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10941899854239355016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431642168096145072.post-62463720809604574482009-05-13T20:37:00.003-04:002009-05-13T21:25:37.385-04:00Why I Decided On An MBAThis is a post I've wanted to make for a long time, but I think it took me actually going through the process to gain a better understanding of what I meant. It allowed me to more clearly articulate how I arrived at the decision to get my MBA. Essentially, I'm answering the Why MBA question, after the fact and without the limits of a normal essay.<br /><br />My undergraduate experience was different than most students. I spent two years at one school then transferred into another; however, while I received time credit for what I did at School A, I didn't receive course credit. That meant I would need to retake English, foreign language, math, etc. And I was paying for it myself. I didn't have four more years to restart college! So, I doubled up my course loads, did full summer sessions and managed to finish School B in two and a half years. That's good, but I missed out on a lot of stuff. I never got to go abroad, never took spring break or summer trips, or had the opportunity to take a class for FUN! I missed that.<br /><br />Cue to that first job, that first paycheck and a sense that college paid off. Cue to a worried feeling of being typecast into a certain job function. Cue to panic over the sense that, despite a degree in business management with a focus in marketing, you find yourself writing SAS/SQL code for eight hours a day with little responsibility or management potential. Cue the fear of being stuck.<br /><br />In late 2007, that fear grew into a desire to change myself, to step out of the rut I found myself in and do something about it. I spoke with family, friends, work associates, crazy drunks at the bar. Over time, the thought of going back to school and getting my MBA crept into my head. I started looking into it more, reading up on the GMAT, selecting a wide range of schools that interested me, narrowing down that list once I realized they were pipe dreams. By January of 2008, I knew the MBA was the right path. Each little nugget I read, each website I scoured, the lights would flash in my head: MBA!<br /><br />I felt an MBA would serve two purposes. First, it would allow me to have a real college experience, albeit one a bit more structured. I would start on the same level as everyone else, striving to the same goal at the same time. I'd have the opportunity to go to China or Japan or wherever, visit companies and learn about things I was actually interested in! I'd meet people with common interests yet diverse in their backgrounds. The social and cultural implications fascinated me; I couldn't get enough of reading about the experiences of people already in school and how much I wanted to be a part of that.<br /><br />Second, an MBA would help solve my career crisis. I could spend two years refining what it is I'm meant to do. Should I be a brand manager? Is corporate strategy more interesting? Does the nomadic lifestyle of a management consultant strike my fancy? Can I actually handle quant-based courses? I'd leave with my masters, with a new set of skills and the knowledge that would allow me to succeed in whatever venture I so chose.<br /><br />All of these things piled up on me and kept me focused throughout the application process. An MBA almost made too much sense, it solved all my problems in one fell swoop. I couldn't NOT go. I couldn't suppress that desire. I HAD to make it happen. And happening it is.<br /><br />So, that's my MBA story. The time is right, the desire is there, and I'm ready to get started.Justin Berthelothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10941899854239355016noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431642168096145072.post-28112651513116466102009-05-12T13:49:00.002-04:002009-05-12T14:04:20.537-04:00The More Things ChangeNot much really going on the past week, hence no updates. 49 more days until I'm done with work, which is awesome. I got a chance to play some golf over the weekend, and I find myself wanting to play more and more. I know golf is an effective business tool and I'm definitely looking to improve my game. In light of that, I'm heading to Charlotte over Memorial Day weekend to visit my brother and play a few holes. I realized I still have six personal days I need to take from work before I'm done, can't let those go to waste!<br /><br />The look of the blog has changed a bit. First, I changed some colors to be closer in line with the black and gold of Wake Forest. Second, I removed the Hit List of my schools, replacing it with a calendar of upcoming dates. There you will see what trips I have planned coming up. I'll have more updates soon.<br /><br />One thing I did want to bring up: if you have been admitted to a school and know 100% that you will not be matriculating, PLEASE let that school know in a timely manner. There are thousands of people in Waitlist Purgatory who die a little more each day, waiting for an update. If you know you're not going, help out the waitlisted kids and withdraw.Justin Berthelothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10941899854239355016noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431642168096145072.post-70521897900159377502009-05-04T14:28:00.002-04:002009-05-04T14:38:03.383-04:00Welcome to MayThe calendar has turned to May. What does this mean for MBA applicants? It's pretty much the end of the line for Class of 2011 hopefuls. May is the final round for decisions, so if good news was headed your way, it'd be there by now. Myself? Well, I got an interesting status update at UNC today. I had previously been waitlisted in January and March. At that point, I decided Wake Forest was the choice for me. However, I forgot to actually let UNC know, even though they requested a decision from me several times. So, I get the email, log in to my account, and see that they have selected me for the "Final Waitlist." They mentioned they are oversold for this year, which makes you wonder why they'd continue to ask people to stay on the WL.<br /><br />I'm committed to Wake Forest. I've paid my deposit, visited twice since getting admitted, met some very cool people and am excited about starting my life once again in Winston-Salem. MBA admissions are never easy. There's no roadmap, no Excel spreadsheet about why or how decisions are made. Why would Carolina, after telling me too many kids sent in deposits, ask me to continue to hold out on the waitlist? Even after I ignored their emails about notifying them about a decision? I don't get it.<br /><br />Other than that wrinkle, I picked my final work date and let both my current boss and my soon-to-be-new-boss-from-the-new-company know. There wasn't much of a surprise. June 30th, a mere 57 days from right now! It's going to be hard to finish, I can already tell. My work will continue to slow until there's nothing left to do. How will I deal with the boredom?Justin Berthelothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10941899854239355016noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431642168096145072.post-60383841673731891172009-04-28T20:24:00.002-04:002009-04-28T20:27:40.298-04:00B-School Photos and Best of BloggingJust a quick update.<br /><br />First, <a href="http://blog.accepted.com/">Accepted.com</a>'s Beautiful B-School Contest is currently going on and submissions must be in by Thursday, April 30th. I'm a judge for this and can't wait to see all the photos of the various business school campuses that you guys submit!<br /><br />Second, I'd like to extend hearty congratulations to all the winners of <a href="http://blog.clearadmit.com/2009/04/best-of-blogging-2008-2009-results/">Clear Admit's Best of Blogging Awards</a>! All the winners did fantastic jobs and it was difficult to vote on some of the categories! I hope this inspires everyone to continue with their blogs.Justin Berthelothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10941899854239355016noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431642168096145072.post-53367139250098650282009-04-23T16:17:00.002-04:002009-04-23T16:26:39.626-04:00Evolution of a B-school ApplicantGetting in: that's the easy part! Now is when all the other stuff begins to creep up on you. First, you've got to pay for school. I'm fortunate with my scholarship, but I still need a little bit to cover cost of living. I went through and did the entrance exam and I now feel like I know everything about student loans (other than what I used to know, which is how to sign my checks each month!) Next up is selecting a lender. This doesn't seem difficult: my four options all carry the same rate and the same repayment plans/benefits.<br /><br />Next, you've got to quit your job. I had targeted the end of June, and I think I'll stick with that. My bosses know I'm leaving, just not the exact date. I'm giving a lot of transition time, as I've seen the horrors of someone leaving without properly setting the stage for others to take over the work. I can't wait for my party!<br /><br />Keep up to date on Facebook! This may seem a strange topic, but it's true. Most schools have an admitted students page on Facebook. I had met some people prior to RCW, so I felt I had a good base on conversation when we actually met. It's also nice to keep in contact with those you met.<br /><br />Finally, set yourself up mentally and physically for B-school. Spend time with family and friends. Read non-business books. Catch up on some TV shows, like The Wire or Big Bang Theory. Go to the gym and work out or run. Relax! You've made it this far, the next couple of months are the calm before the storm of school.Justin Berthelothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10941899854239355016noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431642168096145072.post-46580413294424414732009-04-21T15:55:00.002-04:002009-04-21T16:22:27.488-04:00Red Carpet Weekend RecapAfter taking a recovery day, it's time for my recap of Red Carpet Weekend, Wake Forest's admitted students weekend. I drove down to Charlotte on Thursday to see my brother, before heading up to Winston-Salem Friday morning for the start of festivities.<br /><br />As I hadn't yet sat it on an actual class (only mock classes during Showcase Saturday and Scholar's Weekend) I elected to visit one this time; my student host took me to a global competitive policy course. The professor was very engaging and the students had a lively discussion; my only complaint was that it would have been nice to have had a chance to read the case ahead of time so that I could better follow things. Otherwise, it was good. I also took time to visit my old bosses at the law school and talk to financial aid about some questions.<br /><br />After a lunch (segragated like a junior high dance: boys on one side and girls on another) there was a house/apartment hunt. Having gone there for undergrad, I opted to go see a friend's house instead, where I'll be living next year. Great house! I checked in to my hotel before heading out to the Deacon Tower for a reception. That place is awesome! Met some old friends and some new faces, then split with a group for a dinner. Not as good as last time, but enjoyable. After dinner we all just went home to sleep. We were told Saturday would be a long day, to get lots of rest and eat breakfast!<br /><br />Saturday was a blur. First, breakfast at the hotel, then a welcome by the program director followed by some lovely games of Human Knots. We all felt a bit closer after that! There was a student services roundtable after that, where I had a chance to learn more about Student Government, Project Nicaragua, the Marketing Summit and other stuff. After another career services panel, it was lunch time.<br /><br />When lunch was finished, we headed over to Graylyn for more team building. Today's task: in teams of six, build a little pink bike, name it, make a cheer, then race it. One caveat: each member of the team had a "challenge." I was blindfolded; others were unable to speak, unable to touch, unable to use their dominant hand. I got to race the bike (though not blindfolded, thankfully!) and it was tiring! Nap time after that!<br /><br />We had a wine tasting which was awesome. Outside, sipping some fine wines with my new friends. Dinner was lovely, had some good conversation with a few people I hadn't met yet and good a different perspective on school. We all headed out to the bar after that to unwind before calling it a night (actually, the bar called it a night when they closed!)<br /><br />All in all, a great weekend. They announced that a few people actually paid their deposits right then and there, a testament to how much fun the weekend was!Justin Berthelothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10941899854239355016noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431642168096145072.post-2786041541332872362009-04-16T08:00:00.003-04:002009-04-16T08:07:05.938-04:00Off to Carolina, part 827I start my drive down to Carolina in an hour or so (after stopping to get a haircut). I can't wait to get away for a few days and focus on something other than funerals or work problems. I find I can barely contain my enthusiasm for starting my MBA; I'm sure my family and friends are sick and tired of hearing about the clubs and classes and networking and international trips and etc. and etc. It's hard to focus at work, knowing my time is limited and I'm there purely for a paycheck or to pass work off to someone else.<br /><br />Red Carpet Weekend has a lot of events to do. I'll be meeting with financial aid to go over my scholarship and money issues, sitting in on a competitive global policy class, saying hello to my former bosses at the law school, finding an apartment, reconnecting with the people I met at Scholar's Weekend, finding a place to live, meeting new admitted students, team building activities, learning about Project Nicaragua and various other student services and attending dinners/social events. I'll need a vacation after this!<br /><br />Lastly, I wanted to say farewell to <a href="http://tombaornot.blogspot.com/">MaybeMBA</a>. Hers was one of the most honest and refreshing MBA blogs out there, with the added benefit of being told from the perspective of a parent MBA student. We will miss your words and insight!Justin Berthelothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10941899854239355016noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431642168096145072.post-71586110388057988262009-04-12T12:32:00.003-04:002009-04-12T12:38:53.604-04:00Easter SundayWhat a week...It's been about as emotionally draining as any I've ever experienced. My grandfather passed away on Monday, so we had that funeral on Thursday; a close friend's father passed Tuesday, so we had that funeral Saturday. I only worked for three days, I've spent way too much time away from home doing things I'd rather not do. Now it's Easter Sunday, time for ham, deviled eggs and potato salad.<br /><br />Thankfully, this coming week is Red Carpet Weekend! I'm looking forward to getting away from the home front for awhile, seeing everyone I met during Scholar's Weekend and just unwinding for a bit. Focusing on something other than funeral arrangements and hugs and tears is definitely what I need right now.<br /><br />Big congratulations to all of the <a href="http://blog.clearadmit.com/2009/04/best-of-blogging-nominees-2008-2009/">Clear Admit Best of Blogging Award nominees</a> for this year! Reading the blogs of <a href="http://mbaveggie.blogspot.com/">TienyChesney</a> and <a href="http://julydream.blogspot.com/">JulyDream</a> helped me through my own application process and motivated me to write my own blog. These are excellent resources, and as JulyDream said the other day, extremely therapeutic!Justin Berthelothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10941899854239355016noreply@blogger.com2