Since I started here at Anderson I have been told repeatedly that the point of business school is not to learn, but to build a network and find a job. (Under this view, it makes sense that the acronym for business school is BS). Essentially, they say that grades really don't matter, the time I spent studying for the GMAT was a waste and that I should be networking and socializing as much as possible.
Well, that wisdom was put to the test last week as we plowed through midterm exams. They started the previous Thursday with Accounting, which tested our knowledge of direct and indirect method cash flows, balance sheets and ratios. We had a small reprieve for the weekend, but then dived head first into three tests in three days starting on Wednesday with Managerial Economics (which ended up being an hour and a half of setting marginal revenue equal to marginal cost). Stats followed on Thursday, which baffled the majority of us, and midterms ended with a nice three hour marketing final on Friday at 8am analyzing Vistakon's introduction of 1 Day Acuvue contact lenses.
It's tough to believe, but I am now 1/12 of the way done with business school, and have already collected four of the 96 credits I need to graduate. Recruiting is just starting to heat up, and my schedule for November is filling up quickly with corporate recruiting events. When I get my graded tests back in a week or two and can compare those results with the results of my networking activities, I'll know if I've been spending too much time with my books or with my classmates.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Potato Chips
About a month ago, Mike and I purchased a 10 lb bag of red potatoes at Costco. In the past, we've bought some awesome things at Costco - a pound of goat cheese for $8, 2 pounds of pine nuts for $9 (they no longer sell them unfortunately) the fresh stuffed pasta, and potstickers. The 10 pounds of red potatoes, however, was immediately a mistake. We aren't even halfway through the bag yet, and we've had roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes, grilled potatoes, you name it. Well, I was inspired tonight. Linda, Mike's mom, gave me a ceramic knife and mandolin on her visit this past weekend, and I put the mandolin to good use. I sliced up 6 potatoes and fried them. That's right, I made homemade potato chips!! Have you ever had a hot, salty potato chip? They are delicious. The only thing bad about making chips is that you have to do them in small batches, and it is really easy to eat them as fast as you cook them!
On a totally unrelated note, the job search is finally in full swing. After a few weeks (let's be honest, it's been a few months) of putting it off, I finally realized that I need a job. So several versions of the resume and cover letters are ready to go, and I've been submitting them to open positions at local hospitals. Wish me luck!
On a totally unrelated note, the job search is finally in full swing. After a few weeks (let's be honest, it's been a few months) of putting it off, I finally realized that I need a job. So several versions of the resume and cover letters are ready to go, and I've been submitting them to open positions at local hospitals. Wish me luck!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Mike's Midterms = Meg's Rocky Horror
Mike is in the middle of midterm madness right now. He has one today, tomorrow and Friday. He has been very diligently studying over the past few days. This of course has very little to do with me, except that I try to stay out of his way while he is doing this. So last night while he and his books were sprawled across the kitchen table I laid on the couch watching TV. My show of choice last night was Glee. It was a good episode featuring Rocky Horror Picture Show music and mayhem. At the conclusion, I decided I was going to watch the real thing. Yes, that's right, I have this cult classic on DVD. So I popped in Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon and Meatloaf, added the "audience participation" captions (e.g. "Throw Rice", "Squirt Water Guns'") and did the Time Warp for about an hour and a half. I had forgotten how weird that movie is. Especially the end when the aliens start shooting lasers out of pitchforks.
There is a small movie theater down Santa Monica that we think plays a midnight viewing of Rocky Horror every Saturday night. I sort of want to go to one, just to see if people still dress up and dance. I'm also scared to go because people might actually dress up and dance. Has anyone been to a show and either witnessed or participated in costumes, toast throwing, or any other Rocky Horror activity?
There is a small movie theater down Santa Monica that we think plays a midnight viewing of Rocky Horror every Saturday night. I sort of want to go to one, just to see if people still dress up and dance. I'm also scared to go because people might actually dress up and dance. Has anyone been to a show and either witnessed or participated in costumes, toast throwing, or any other Rocky Horror activity?
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Crate and Barrel
Let me start off this post by saying that gift registries befuddle me. When buying gifts for significant events for others, it seems like a great idea. I know what someone wants, in what style, what color, and how many. It is a nice feeling contributing something to someone's everyday life that you know they will use and appreciate. But the idea of me personally putting together a list of things I want... well, it feels weird.
Sunday morning Mike and I headed to Beverly Hills, a block off Rodeo drive, to go to a Crate and Barrel engagement/registry party. Party is the wrong word - they gave us danishes and mimosas and a scanner and said "The store is closed for the next two hours. We have folks making juice and espresso and pancakes... go have fun, and go register!" So it was more like a cheesy "buy our stuff, and tell others to buy you our stuff" kind of gathering than a party. But, I have to say that I sort of had a good time, especially in the kitchen stuff (shocker). There are so many gizmos and gadgets that I don't need, but would be really cool if I had to play with in the kitchen. Some things that we do need we ended up not registering for there. For example, it would be great to have an even number of plates and bowls that matched. Or real drinking glasses instead of the plastic cups we've saved from basketball games in college and Nat's games from DC. Or more than three wineglasses (collectively, we started with 8 when we moved to DC, but we tend to break them often. Ironically only when washing them, not when drinking out of them). Anyways, despite feeling weird about the whole thing, we ended up with breakfast, mimosas, a pair of heart-shaped champaign flutes as a "thank you for coming", and another topic to post about on the blog!
Sunday morning Mike and I headed to Beverly Hills, a block off Rodeo drive, to go to a Crate and Barrel engagement/registry party. Party is the wrong word - they gave us danishes and mimosas and a scanner and said "The store is closed for the next two hours. We have folks making juice and espresso and pancakes... go have fun, and go register!" So it was more like a cheesy "buy our stuff, and tell others to buy you our stuff" kind of gathering than a party. But, I have to say that I sort of had a good time, especially in the kitchen stuff (shocker). There are so many gizmos and gadgets that I don't need, but would be really cool if I had to play with in the kitchen. Some things that we do need we ended up not registering for there. For example, it would be great to have an even number of plates and bowls that matched. Or real drinking glasses instead of the plastic cups we've saved from basketball games in college and Nat's games from DC. Or more than three wineglasses (collectively, we started with 8 when we moved to DC, but we tend to break them often. Ironically only when washing them, not when drinking out of them). Anyways, despite feeling weird about the whole thing, we ended up with breakfast, mimosas, a pair of heart-shaped champaign flutes as a "thank you for coming", and another topic to post about on the blog!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Pink's
Saturday afternoon Mike and I were feeling the need to get out of the apartment and do something fun. So for lunch we drove out to Hollywood to Pink's, a hot dog stand on the side of the road that has been there for 71 years. I've seen it featured on more than one Travel Channel or Food Network show for having some of the country's best hot dogs. We waited in line a little over half an hour (which I'm told is no wait at all at this place) the whole time agonizing over what dog to get. There are the standards with sauerkraut or chili or cheese, and then there are some innovations, with multiple dogs in one bun, or multiple dogs in tortillas. Check out their menu, especially their specials, some of which are named for stars. After waffling on my decision, I finally decided to go with a spicy Chicago Polish Dog with bacon (mustard, relish, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, and of course the piggy). Mike went with the Ozzy Spicy Dog (spicy polish sausage, nacho cheese, American cheese, grilled onions, guacamole, hold the tomatoes). And a side of onion rings.
We didn't eat anything else the rest of the day we were so full. Both dogs were absolutely delicious. Between the liquid nacho cheese and the guac, half of Mike's ended on his plate, it was such a mess! And though I loved the spiciness of mine, it lit my mouth on fire for the next hour. We can't wait to go back. I think my next order will be the Lord of the "RINGS" Dog (10" stretch dog with yummy BBQ sauce topped with onion rings).
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Thursday is the new Friday?
One of the benefits of being back in school is that my "work week" has been reduced to just four days. Classes are scheduled on either Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday, leaving Friday completely open. What do college students of any age do when they have a free night? Yep, drink, and usually drink heavily.
All of a sudden, I now have three weekend nights that are supposed to be filled with adult beverages and socializing. Well, as any of you who know me well know, it's been about six years since I've been able to drink two nights in a row and not feel awful. So I've had to change my weekend philosophy and now Thursday is now the new Friday, Friday is now movie night in with Meg and Saturday and Sunday haven't changed.
One of the reasons Thursday is now my new Friday is the presence of free beer. Every Thursday starting at 4:45pm, we have Anderson Afternoons. Simply put, the student counsel (yes, this really is like high school) buys a couple of kegs, a case of wine and a bunch of food and all students are invited to get shitcocked. Surprisingly, we often have corporate sponsorship (some company that is trying to recruit on campus), meaning that instead of Miller Lite and pizza we get Fat Tire or Sierra Nevada and Baja Fresh. I don't know how Anderson has convinced companies to sponsor AA, but it's got to be one of the greatest cons out there. And yes, we do refer to it as AA, which is appropriate considering that people drink enough in business school to be confused with alcoholics.
Another reason that Thursday is the new Friday and Friday is now movie night is that as a general rule of thumb, I really don't like people. Socializing three nights a week, plus socializing at school all day is just too much for me. I enjoy working with my learning team, and talking to people one-on-one, but hanging out at a bar hob-nobing it with people three nights in a row isn't really in the cards.
On a side note, professors usually teach just two courses each quarter, and often times will only teach two of the three quarters per school year (don't ask me how three quarters equals a full year, it just does). That means just six hours of teaching each week. Assignments are often graded by PhD students, so little time is spent there. Does that mean professors spend 34+ hours each week prepping for classes and conducting research? As Seth and Amy would say, Really?
All of a sudden, I now have three weekend nights that are supposed to be filled with adult beverages and socializing. Well, as any of you who know me well know, it's been about six years since I've been able to drink two nights in a row and not feel awful. So I've had to change my weekend philosophy and now Thursday is now the new Friday, Friday is now movie night in with Meg and Saturday and Sunday haven't changed.
One of the reasons Thursday is now my new Friday is the presence of free beer. Every Thursday starting at 4:45pm, we have Anderson Afternoons. Simply put, the student counsel (yes, this really is like high school) buys a couple of kegs, a case of wine and a bunch of food and all students are invited to get shitcocked. Surprisingly, we often have corporate sponsorship (some company that is trying to recruit on campus), meaning that instead of Miller Lite and pizza we get Fat Tire or Sierra Nevada and Baja Fresh. I don't know how Anderson has convinced companies to sponsor AA, but it's got to be one of the greatest cons out there. And yes, we do refer to it as AA, which is appropriate considering that people drink enough in business school to be confused with alcoholics.
Another reason that Thursday is the new Friday and Friday is now movie night is that as a general rule of thumb, I really don't like people. Socializing three nights a week, plus socializing at school all day is just too much for me. I enjoy working with my learning team, and talking to people one-on-one, but hanging out at a bar hob-nobing it with people three nights in a row isn't really in the cards.
On a side note, professors usually teach just two courses each quarter, and often times will only teach two of the three quarters per school year (don't ask me how three quarters equals a full year, it just does). That means just six hours of teaching each week. Assignments are often graded by PhD students, so little time is spent there. Does that mean professors spend 34+ hours each week prepping for classes and conducting research? As Seth and Amy would say, Really?
LA at its Finest (or most absurd)
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